"Remember me in the family tree, my name, my days, my strife;
Then I'll ride upon the wings of time and live an endless life."
~Linda Goetsch~
THE YEAR 1840185 years ago today, 6 February 1840, Te Tiriti O Waitangi - The Treaty of Waitangi was signed. This was the founding document that had the aim of Partnership between the Maori and the British Crown. This day, referred to as Waitangi Day and by others as New Zealand Day, is seen as New Zealand’s National day.
Just a short 6.5 months later on 29 August 1840, my first ancestors to New Zealand arrived from Yorkshire, England - 4x G Grandparents John and Mary Anne PAWSON nee LAWSON, aged 31 and 29 respectively, onboard the ship ‘Coromandel’, sailing in to Port Nicholson (later renamed to Wellington and now, our capital). In tow with them were their 5 children. A son, Edwin had been born and died on the long 9 month passage out. The siblings were William, 12; Sarah Ann, 9 (later to become my 3x G. Grandmother after marrying James George STEVENSON, born 1832, Kent England, arriving 1854 Lyttelton, NZ onboard the Balnaguith); John, 6; Jonas, 5 and Joseph 2 and a half years. I have mentioned the family in the past in a blogpost.
I’m always in awe of my gutsy settler ancestors and I have many of them.
Celebrating nearly 185 years of my story in New Zealand.
images:
top - John and Mary Anne PAWSON;
bottom - Sarah Ann nee PAWSON and husband James George STEVENSON. Further information: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Q7diLyiTA/
Hunting Your New Zealand Ancestors Stories And Life Events
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PEOPLE ARE MADE OF STORIES AND EVENTS - NOT JUST DATES
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©Sarndra Lees 2021-present, all content including images unless otherwise indicated
Image: Blackbird on grave, Karori Cemetery, Wellington 2013
Image: Audrey and Dorothy - sisters c1941
Image: Flowers growing on a grave, Royston Cemetery, Hertfordshire, U.K.
Image: Well loved antique dolly