Can you help?

I am writing to you from the UK to enquire whether any of your readers might be able to help me with information concerning some of my relatives who settled in New Plymouth in the 1800’s.

In particular I am interested in my great-great aunt, Susan Smith, who arrived with her husband, Thomas, aboard the ‘‘Joseph Fletcher’’ on October 4, 1854.

Thomas died in 1893 and is buried at Te Henui cemetery. Susan made six voyages between the UK and New Plymouth up to 1911 and she died in the UK in 1913. I know that Thomas owned property in Omata and also a house in Devon St.

Thomas and Susan were childless but whilst in New Plymouth Susan lodged with her niece, Emily Parker, in Powderham St. Emily had arrived from the UK with her husband, John Henry Parker, and son, William, in 1880.

John Henry was a jeweller and had a shop in Devon Street from

1881; he passed away in 1913. William married May Carpenter in New Plymouth and they had two sons, Norman Parker (born

1907) and Oswald Henry Parker (born 1910).

There was a court case in New Plymouth in 1915 (after Susan’s death) in which relatives of Thomas brought an action against Susan’s estate claiming that some of his estate should have passed to them, not all to Susan, which is what had occurred.

This whole case has been fairly well-documented.

I am especially interested in contacting anyone who has perhaps been researching the family and with whom I may be able to exchange information.

In addition, if there are any descendants of the Parkers still living in New Plymouth, they may have information or memorabilia of interest.

If any of your readers would like to contact me, my email address is below.

Philip Sutcliffe pjs@pjsutcliffe.co.uk