family of Thomas BURT - Launceston, Cornwall to Lower Hutt New Zealand 1843 :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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family of Thomas BURT - Launceston, Cornwall to Lower Hutt New Zealand 1843

Journal by ngairedith

Thomas BURT was born in Launceston, Cornwall, England, a son of William Burt and Elizabeth Ann GEAKE
- he and a brother, Richard Burt, emigrated to New Zealand on the 'Attila' in about 1843 (although a passenger list is not yet found)

This obituary was taken from the EVENING POST 15 Sep 1888:
.. Death of Mr Thomas Burt ..
The pioneer settlers of Wellington, those who have witnessed the rising of a populous city and the establishment of thriving settlements in the room of the wilderness which they found on arrival, have to-day to lament the disappearance from their ranks of another of their most sturdy comrades.
We sincerely regret to have to chronicle the death, from heart disease, of Mr Thomas Burt, which occurred at his residence, Lower Hutt, at about 1 o`clock this morning.
Mr Burt was a native of Launceston, Cornwall, and arrived at Port Nicholson about the year 1843 in the brig Attila, being then a robust young man of about 24 summers.
NOTE A message from a family member 24-8-2018 tells us that Thomas arrived on the brig Antilla. This arrived in Dec 1841
The Attila continuing her voyage to Auckland, Mr Burt went with her, and he settled temporarily in the Waikato district, near the site of the present township of Alexandra. He did not, however, remain there long, and a couple of years later found him back in the Wellington district. The manner in which he made the journey is characteristic of the early stages of the colony, and would surprise many of the present generation. Lines of steamers there were none, and sailing vessels were very few, and not at all regular in their services, so Mr Burt had no alternative but to walk most of the distance down the coast. He climbed over the ranges between Waikato and the head of the Mokau River, descended the river in a canoe, and thence came on foot from one native hapu to another, receiving right royal treatment from the Maori en route.
On his return to this district he established himself at Lower Hutt, and shared with his fellow settlers the dangers of the stirring times between 1845 and 1848, when the murders were committed in the valley by Rauparaha`s people, and all the male European inhabitants were placed under arms for their own defence.
Mr Burt`s occupation was that of a storekeeper, but in addition to this, he undertook the conveyance of the commissariat stores from the settled neighbourhood to the camp, which had been formed at Taita, and also brought back some of the dead and wounded from the scene of bloodshed.
Since the days when the terrors of native troubles were at an end, the deceased gentleman has quietly carried on his store at Lower Hutt, in conjunction with one of his sons, and though his ailment forbade any active exertion he was always able to direct the affairs of the business.
Early in his experience as a colonist Mr Burt married the daughter of Mr Wilkie (another old settler at the Hutt), who survives him, and who is supported in her bereavement by a large family, consisting of two unmarried daughters, one widowed daughter, the relict of the late Mr Woods, of Wainui, two sons, and three other daughters married to well-known residents in the provincial district, namely, Mr Robert Orr, Mr Robert Cleland, and Mr Henry Sanson, of Sanson township.
The deceased never took any prominent part in public life as regards local government affairs, but he will live in the memory of all who knew him as one of the good old school of colonists - unobtrusive in manner, open-handed with his means, and ever ready with friendly counsel to any person in need of assistance.
His influence with the natives was considerable, and on more than one occasion his persuasions were of public service, in at least averting bloodshed for the time in the periods of serious conflict.
Mr Burt has always expressed the desire to be buried beside his brother in the Anglican cemetery, Lower Hutt, and there his remains will accordingly be interred on Monday afternoon, at 3 o`clock

Thomas married Elizabeth WILKE in Lower Hutt in 1847
- Elizabeth was born in Perthshire, Scotland in 1826, a daughter of George Wilkie and Ann TAYLOR
- her father returned to Scotland sometime before 1863 which is when he married Jane WALLACE

Thomas and Elizabeth had 9 known children:

1848 - Elizabeth Anne Burt
- she married George WOOD
- she died aged 58 and is buried in Taita

1850 Catherine 'Kate' Burt
- she married Robert CLELAND
- she died aged 91 in 1941

1852 William Burt
- he married Rebecca COPELAND
- he died aged 57 in 1909

1855 Harriet Burt
- she married Henry SANSON
- she died aged 82 in 1937

1858 Ellen 'Nellie'
- she married Robert ORR
- she died aged 72 in 1930

1861 Thomas Burt
- he married Mary McWHINNEY
- he died aged 73 in 1934

1865 Robert Henry Burt
- he died aged 1

1868 Blanche Beatrice Burt
- she married Ernest Broderick JONES in 1893
- she married Edward Percival 'Percy' RISHWORTH in 1908
- she died aged 62 in 1930
- she is buried at Taita

1874 Gertrude Amy Nurt
- she married George James AUGER
- she died aged 92 in 1966

by ngairedith Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2010-04-13 20:39:47

ngairedith has been a Family Tree Circles member since Feb 2008.

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Comments

by kirstykc on 2011-07-04 20:20:41

Hi :) Mary (Thomas's wife) was the sister of Elizabeth McWhinney who is my great great grandmother. She married Frederick Tonks. My Dad (Burnett Martin) had find memories of visiting Aunty Mary in Greytown (?). Take care

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