MLH on Family Tree Circles

William STALKER b.2 Jun 1811 Uldale, Cumberland, England; d. 19 Jan 1888 Torpenhow, Wigton, Cumberland, England
m. 28 Aug 1841 Gilcrux, Cumberland, England;
Margaret DAVIDSON b.31 Mar 1820 Cumberland, England; d. 12 Aug 1907 Woodend, North Canterbury, New Zealand

William & Margaret were from 'Highwood Nook' farm, Mealsgate, Wigton near Carlisle, Cumberland, UK. This was the family estate of 200 acres. This property is of historic interest, having been built in 1852, and is under the Historic and Preservation Places Trust of Cumberland in the north of England (7 miles from Wigton). When it was auctioned on 8 September 1970 it comprised just over 63 acres (From 'The Life & Times of the Bennett Family of Canterbury,1862-1979' by GE Bennett)


children:
*John - b.2 Nov 1842 Whiteheadbrow, England; d.9 Feb 1917 Tinwald, Ashburton, NZ
m.21 Jun 1882 Asburton, New Zealand
Eliza Jane MCCLURE b.1859 Co. Donegal, Ireland; d.1 Jan 1900 Tinwald, Ashburton, NZ
John a Cumberland man, the son of a farmer. He came out in the 'Queen of the Mersey' arriving in 1862. He worked for Stephen Morrisey/Maunsey at Rangiora till 1864 and bought with his savings a threshing mill. Finding that there were too many of them round Rangiora, he moved to Ashburton in 1896. He bought a farm of 150 acres and leased another 60 next door. He invented a straw elevator with a central pulley. He was always thinking of new labour saving ideas. He was a brother of Joseph Stalker of Woodend.

*Joseph - b.24 Aug 1844 Highwood-Nook, Torpenhow, England; d.25 Feb 1914 Woodend, North Canterbury, New Zealand
m.15 Sep 1863 St Jame's Church, Ireby, Cumberland, England
Elizabeth GATE b.1845; d. 1921 Woodend, North Canterbury, New Zealand

Canterbury
Ship: 1223 tons
Captain: Clare
Surgeon Superintendent: Dr Young
Sailed London September 21st 1863 - arrived Lyttelton January 10th 1864
Our appreciation to Betty Enticott for her help with this list
Stalker Joseph 23 Cumberland Farm Labourer
Elizabeth 22

He was a farmer and for 2 years resided between Woodend and Rangiora, but later moved to Church Bush and remained there until the flood in 1868. On that occasion he narrowly avoided drowning, his house being nearly under water and he had to escape through the window and by means of a canoe. All of his small stock were drowned. He made a fresh start on the swamp land near Rangiora, but after another year or two he took a farm near Fernside for a term of 2 years and in 1872 he finally settled at Woodend. In 1883 he went to Britain in the ship 'British King' which took the first shipment of frozen meat from Lyttleton.
Took another trip to Britain in 1910 - he had a paralytic stroke on the way there.
He bought 18.8.91 the beautiful farm of 100acres known as Smarts farm from the exor's of G Kinley.
He had a family of 5 sons and 7 daughters.
'Joe is still struggling along' was typical of his well-known sense of humour.
Left estate of 21,010 pounds

The Lyttelton Times - Friday July 8th 1921
Mrs Elizabeth Stalker who died on Monday evening after a brief illness, was one of the early settlers in the Rangiora district.
She arrived in Lyttelton with her husband, Mr Joseph Stalker, who died seven years ago, in the ship 'Canterbury' in 1864 and they at once made their home on the selection between Woodend and Rangiora. At the time of the great flood in February 1868, they had changed their place of residence to Church Bush, where they met the full force of the flood. The house was nearly under water, and they were saved from drowning by means of a canoe. They lost all their small stock and had to make a fresh start on some swamp land near Rangiora. Eventually thye settled for good on their well-known farm bordering on the sea beach at Woodend. Mrs Stalker proved an ideal settler's wife, and a worthy colonist. Her family consisted of five sons and seven daughters, all of whom with a good number of grandchildren attended her funeral. It is interesting to note that in rearing her large family, Mrs Stalker never used a perambulator or a go-cart. The large attendance at the deceased lady's funeral, testified to the esteem in which she was held in the district.

Obituary-The Lyttelton Times Feb 27 1914
Mr Joseph Stalker, who was well-known figure in North Canterbury for fifty years, passed away at his residence, Woodend, on Wednesday. H was a Cumberland man and came to Lyttelton in 1864. He first settled between Woodend and Rangiora for two years and then moved to Church Bush and remained there until the great flood of 1868. On that occasion henarrlowly escaped being drowned, his house being almost under water, and he made a fresh start in swamp land near Rangiora, but after another year or two he took a farm at Fernside for a term of two years. Finally he settled at Woodend near the sea beach. In 1883 Mr Stalker took a trip to England in the steamer 'British King' which took the first shipment of frozen mutton from Lyttelton. Some three or four years ago, he made another visit to England and during his stay in the Homeland he was seized with paralysis, from which he never fully recovered. Mr Stalker was well known as a breeder of horses, cattle and stud sheep, and for many years was a successful exhibitor at the agricultural shows in Canterbury. He took a keen interest in public matters affecting the welfare of the district, and served for a very long time on the Manderville and Rangiora Road Board, until failing health compelled his retirement. He was held in general esteem for many good qualities and his friends missed him very much from the weekly market at Rangiora and other gatherings when illness laid him aside. He leaves a family of five sons and seven daughters.

*William - b.22 Apr 1847 Highwood-Nook, Torpenhow, England; d.25 Apr 1881 Anama, Ashburton, New Zealand
The details of his arrival in NZ are not known. c1866
He married Jane Smith d/o Hamilton & Ellen nee Major on 21 Feb 1871 at Rangiora and the "Horrell land ownership records' state they went to Ashburton, but it appears they farmed at Tinwald. It is recorded that a William Harvey Bell was his farm manager, who Jane married a year later after William died
William Stalker 1847-1881 Pioneer farmer-settler
South Road, Tinwald 1874
Footstone - William & Margaret Stalker
Ashburton Cemetery

m.21 Feb 1871 Parish Church, Rangiora, NZ
Rose Jane SMITH b.2 Mar 1849 Bangor, Ireland; d.30 Aug 1926 Tinwald, Ashburton, NZ
5th child of Hamilton & Ellen Smith
Travelled to NZ with her parents and other members of the family on the ship 'Himalaya' which left London on 2 Nov 1866 and arrived at Lyttleton 10 Feb 1867. The family settled at Fernside where Hamilton was a farmer. He died on 19 Oct 1873 as a result of a farm accident. At this point she seems to have dropped her first name Rose.
On 25 Aug 1869 she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter Isabella Robson, and on the registration of the birth at Rangiora the informant was Ellen Smith, grandmother of the child.

*Margaret - b.1872 Torpenhow, Wigton, Cumberland, England; d.11 Feb 1894 Ashburton, New Zealand
Record no. A003394
Surname STALKER
First Names MARGARET
Plot No 1 8
Type of Grave SINGLE DEPTH
Cemetery ASHBURTON CEMETERY
Plot Size 29
Age at Time of Death 22 years
Date of Internment 11/02/1894
Date of Purchase 9/02/1894
Name of Purchaser J STALKER

*Nancy - b.1855 Highwood-Nook, Torpenhow, England; d.10 Nov 1884 Torpenhow, Wigton, Cumberland, England; buried St Michaels Churchyard cemetery, nr Wigton, Cumberland, England
never married.

Henry Bentley was an A.B. merchant seaman on the ship "Lord William Bentinck" that arrived in Wellington on the 19th of May, 1841. With five companions Henry ran away from the vessel while it was moored in Wellington Harbour. They hid in the hills and bush at Korokoro until they saw the ship leave. He was subsequently caught and arrested as a deserter, and discharged on promising to join a coastal vessel. After the 1843 Wairau massacre, Henry left the Government brig "Victoria", on which he had worked for some time. Subsequently he served in the militia, and afterwards joined the armed constabulary, serving against the notorious chiefs Tauparaha and Rangihaeata.

Henry married a girl who had been a passenger on the same ship from England. They settled in Karori where there were small land blocks being cleared. In 1853 Henry visited the Australian goldfields. But he speedily returned to Karori and selected land at Masterton.

When Wairarapa opened up in 1855 the family (Henry, Elizabeth and 4 children) travelled to Masterton with two or three other families from Karori. Elizabeth was the youngest at only one year old.

The first settlers in Masterton arrived only in 1854. Henry Bentley was one of those early settlers. That year Henry Burling drove the first dray to the top of the Rimutakas, it was only a track beyond that point. Masterton's 40 acre sections were ballotted at Wellington's Crown and Anchor tavern in April 1855. That's when the Bentleys and the other families travelled to Masterton.

During the Maori scare that followed the initial settlements Henry Bentley served as lieutenant in the volunteers. For over forty years Henry was identified with every movement for the advancement of the district. He was a Council member for a time. He experienced a number of cycles of success and failure, including bankruptcy. He is said to have owned the first donkey in Masterton.

Bentley's farm stretched from Opaki Road, across the Waipoua River, and down past Lincoln Road. The Bentley's section 57 was subdivided for housing in the 1880's. Bentley Street in that area of Masterton is named after Henry Bentley.


Met his future wife on board also coming to NZ

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume II, Issue 110,
26 January 1842, Page 3D
MARRIED
By the Rev John McFarlane
December 16, Henry Bentley, formerly of the County of Sussex, to Caroline Cornford, formerly of Marsden Reach; now of Port Nicholson.


Taranaki Herald Vol L, Issue 11937, 10 April 1902, Page 3

(Per Press Association)
Masterton, April 10 - Henry Bentley, an old Wairarapa colonist, died to-day, aged 84.


Children:
Henry James b.6.11.1842 d.9.3.1843
Thomas William b.18.7.1846 d.18.11.1925 m Fanny SWAN 20.2.1873
Charles b.8.9.1848 d.19.12.1932 m Barbara MUTRIE 20.1.1874
George b.21.3.1851 d.26.12.1895 m Alice WORTH 1888
Elizabeth b.15.7.1854 d.12.3.1919 m John Thomas DUFFY 31.12.1872
James b.12.11.1856 d.10.3.1921 m Jane CREAMER 14.1.1891
m Mary CREAMER 1894
Mary Anne b.21.11.1858 d.30.1.1919 m Robert ANDREW 28.10.1877
Frances b. 13.10.1860 d.1914 m Ernest STYLES 12.8.1881

b. 17.12.1845 Dublin, Ireland
m. 31.12.1872 Masterton, New Zealand
d. 15.03.1899 Masterton, New Zealand

Desc/o DUFFY John Thomas & Elizabeth (nee BENTLEY).
In readiness of our Duffy Family Book being nearly completed, we are gathering in Masterton on 11-13th March 2011 this being the area where JT & Elizabeth spent all their married lives, to celebrate and meet with our clan. Their Chn were: John Henry (m Annie BURLING); Eva Bertha (m John WITHELL); James Herbert George (m Ena CLARKE); Errol Vernon (m Theresa GIESEN nee STEPHENS); Ilma Leonie (m Edgar EATON); Bertram William (m Olive TAPLIN); Norah Caroline (m Joe THOMPSON); Esmond Wilfred (m Nellie MASON); Olive Ioline (m G. REED / R. REARDON); Augusta Mary (m Thomas MCLACHLAN) & Twin Violet May (m Ebenezar LOADER); Evelyn Frances (m Warren WILLIAMS); Iris Isobel (m Arthur CONNOLLY).

Length of residence in NZ at marriage = 12 months

1875/76 Taratahi F/H Taratahi 3 acres bushland

1876 - Application for land No. 5186 - 60 acres, West Taratahi 13 March 1876 - Wairarapa district in the Rangitumau Bend bounded North & West by Ernow(?) lands, East by the Wainuiomapu stream and south by selection of R.F. (?) (200 acres) and being subject to survey and to all prior selection. Section No.134 - Volunteer Certificate No.937 for 30 pounds issued to John Duffy. (copy: ML Hendry)

1875-76 for 85pound a year, held the mail contract Masterton and Castlepoint via Warehama and Nicholl's Ferry.

1877-78 for 100pounds a year, same as above
The route would have run east from Masterton over the present coastal road, as far as Blairlogie when it turned southeastwards and ran to Whareama (Warehama in the old lists), thence northward past Langdale to Te Nui (Nicholl's Ferry originally, then Te Nui to 1909, since Tinui), and thence eastward again to the coast at Mataikona, then down the coast to Castle Point. (copy of letter ML Hendry)

1885/86 Farmer, Masterton - Wises NZPO Directory

1886 - Alfredton Roads Board - JT Duffy requesting board to take steps to have the slips removed from the District Road so that he may be enabled to get some timber through

In 1887 John Thomas Duffy and his family moved from Tinui to the Te Hoe area. His five children were second year pupils at the first Alredton School-then held in Brannigan's barn on Castlehill Road. Some decendants of John Duffy still live around the Eketahuna area today.
John Duffy leased from the Crown, Section 31 (318 acres) opposite the Baker Block at Tawataia.
In 1896 Alexander Stevenson, a Scottish settler and blacksmith, leased Section 31 on which he built a house.

1887- Alfredton School - first year pupils were Brannighans, though they were joined by some Duffy's in the second year.


1888 - Alfredton School roll
Duffy Bertram; Edward; Errol; Henry; Ilma; James

1893/94 Whakataki farmer - Masterton Electoral Roll

1896/7 Run holder Whakataki (north Castlepoint)-Stone's Wellington, Hawke's Bay & Taranaki Directory

1890-95 Settler, Alfredton

NZ Electoral Rolls
1897 - Pahiatua, labourer
residential

From old Wairarapa Newspaper:
Henry Bentley v JT Duffy, claim 4pound 17shillings 6pence. Judgement for the plaintiff by default and costs. (Wairarapa Star 17 March 1897) - extract from letter from Andrew Summers to ML Hendry

Joined Masterton Lodge October 1879 - was asked to leave as never paid