The dead tell tales
Henry Wilcox, 1849-1936
Henry Wilcox was known as ‘‘the father of local bodies in Franklin’’ – a well-deserved description of a man who had served the public continuously for 43 years. During his time, Wilcox saw several changes in the administration and boundaries of what constituted Franklin as a territorial district. When he took up residence at Buckland in about 1880, the district was administered by the Pukekohe East Road Board. In 1912, Franklin County Council came into being and included his farm. The restructuring in 2010 to form the current Auckland Council absorbed most of Franklin District Council, while the southern part, which included Wilcox’s farm, was incorporated into Waikato District Council.
Born in County Cavan, Ireland, Wilcox left there in 1869 ‘‘eager to be away from a country that had little to offer him with the pending disestablishment of the Church of Ireland’’, according to his late grandson Ian Wilcox in a history written for members of the family. Henry tried his hand at gold-mining at Thames, where his brother John was a mine manager, but then headed for Canterbury. He worked on Longbeach Station at the same time as Bill Massey, later prime minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925. The two men became lifelong friends, working together building bridges on the Kaiko¯ uraChristchurch railway line before shifting north to farm – Massey at Ma¯ ngere and Wilcox at Buckland. Wilcox bought 120 acres, which was covered in bush and had to be cleared.
Buckland’s location between Pukekohe and Tu¯ a¯ kau, on the North Island Main Trunk Line, meant the district was well-placed for access to supplies and distribution of farm produce. By the turn of the 20th century, it was a flourishing farming district. Henry Wilcox was one of the many European settlers who helped establish a strong local economy.
In 1881, Wilcox met Annie Jane Greer, newly arrived from Sligo. He is recorded as saying he didn’t want ‘‘any immigrant girl’’ for a wife, but two years later, he and Annie married. They were to have seven sons and six daughters. Annie suffered a severe stroke in 1910 and died in 1912 aged 51. She had worked ‘‘indefatigably’’ for various ladies’ committees in the district as well as for Massey’s Reform party and the Anglican Church (NZ Herald, February 9, 1912).
But it was Henry Wilcox who made the greater contribution to local affairs: from his first membership of the Buckland School committee and his election to the Pukekohe East Road Board in 1896, he was elected on to the first Franklin County Council in 1912. He was chairman of the council from 1925 to 1928, and also one of the first members of the Franklin Electric Power Board, from 1925 to his death.
Ian Wilcox’s book was motivated by the pride the family takes in Henry Wilcox’s achievements. The book includes some personal touches: Henry had a tendency to be dictatorial and critical, but this was overlooked as he became a figure of veneration in the family due to his status and his longevity. Henry Wilcox died in 1936 and was buried with Annie in Pukekohe Cemetery. The funeral cortege was taken past the Franklin County Council offices, which had been closed for the day and a flag was flown at halfmast from the building. His name will go down in the history of Franklin.
Note: Henry’s grandson Barry Wilcox is bringing the family history up to date and is keen to hear from any other descendants. His email: barryandeileenwilcox@gmail.com.