This blog is a collection of the family history research that my grandmother undertook over her life time. It seems a waste that it sits in my cupboard. I am putting it out there for others interested in family history to share. In New Zealand 'whanau' means extended family.
John Lye married Grace Rodd at Martock, Somersetshire. John was born in 1788 at Martock. John died 13 July 1868 at Devonport, New Plymouth, New Zealand. His death notices states he was 83 and one of the oldest settlers in the province. Nana says Grace was born 1787 in Portland, Dorset and that she died 24 January 1874 New Plymouth. Her death notice says 24 January. See below. A genelogy website states she was born Martock, Somerset and that she died 25 January. Her head stone also says the 25 January. She was 87. John and Grace's eleven children were all born in Martock. John was a tenant farmer on the estate of Squire Lilley, whose daughter took a great interest in the family. She instructed the girls in reading, embroidery and the social graces. In 1840 John and Grace emigrated with their eight children on the William Bryan, leaving Plymouth, England on the 19th November 1840 and arriving at New Plymouth on March 31st 1841. ( An account of the voyage is given in Rutherford and Skinner's 'The New Plymouth settlement' at Puke Ariki). John Lye was allocated a small town section in the area known as Devonport. The section was in St Aubyn street adjacent to the Devonport flats. Here he built a small cottage and occupied himself with various laboring jobs in the new settlement. Both John and Grace are buried in St Mary's churchyard, New Plymouth.
Children Lucy Rodd -Born August 11th or 1st 1814. Baptised at Martock 18th August 1814. Died 1 December 1898. Married Edmond Sarten on 27 June 1837. Edmund was born 1817 in Corscombe, Dorsetshire, England. he died 21 August 1860. They had 12 children. See separate blog entry for further information.
James-Born December 15th 1815. Baptised at Martock. 3 Jauary 1816. Died before 1821.
Ann- Born August 3rd 1817. Baptised at Martock. 9 October 1817. Died before 1819. Ann-Born December 5th 1819. Baptised at Martock. February 2nd 1820. Married James Shaw 1841. Children -Ann Matilda Shaw b 1842 m. Charles Moore. He was band master of the 57 Regiment. I have a bit of information about their children if you are searching this connection. Their daughter Ada went onto marry into the collier family in New Plymouth frenchpearce@xtra.co.nz -William Douglas Shaw m. unknown -James Shaw m. Trissie? -John Crewes Shaw m. Unknown -Sarah Jane Shaw m. John Wickstead -James Thomas? -Mary Ann Emma?
Photo of Ann Lye
James-Born September 6th 1821. Baptised at Martock. 2nd Feb 1821. Died before 1827 Mary-Born November 3rd 1822. Baptised at Martock 25 December 1822. Died 4 November 1902. Married Peter Facey Hoskin 1842. Then Archibald Hood on 20 January 1862. William-Born July 31st 1824. Baptised at Martock 14 November 1824. Married Maria Waterman 8 November 1855. She was born about 1818 and died 1879. William is buried 29 Oct 1878 Te Henui Cemetry, New Plymouth. Children -Francis Miriam
-Elizabeth Lye m. Jonathan Chas Adams. Children Charles (died), Charles and Bessie m. ? Matthews -John Waterman Lye m. Charlotte. Children Delma, Amy Edith m. Herbert John Cornwall of Melbourne. John Waterman Lye died 26 January 1942. Charlotte Lye died 30 January 1953 age 89.
James-Born January 1827. Baptised at Martock 11 March 1827. Died 23 November 1908. Buried Waikaraka,North Island, New Zealand. Married Francis (Fanny) Curtain 21 January 1850. She died 28 February 1873, Vernon street, Freemans Bay, Auckland NZ. Children -Rachael Lye m. James Charles Hooker -Margaret Lye m. Unknown -John Lye m. Unknown -David Lye m. Unknown -Josiah Lye m Alicia Elizabeth Murphy -William Lye m. Mary Alice Harkins -Mary Lye m. John Mcleod -Edward Lye m. Unknown -James Lye m. Unknown -Henry Lye m. Unknown -Elizabeth Helvins Lye m. Alfred Black -Mary Ann Lye m. William Black -Richard Faull Lye m. Alice Whitehead -Francis Miriam Lye m. Unknown -John Elvins Lye m. Unknown Elizabeth-Born August 23 1830. Baptised at Martock 14 November 1830. Died 30th March 1872 in New Plymouth. Married Nathaniel Hooker 6th November 1851 at St Mary's New Plymouth. Nathaniel's parent were John Hooker and Jane Vercoe from Cornwall England. Nathaniel died 17 January 1901 in New Plymouth. Both are buried at the Te Henui Cemetrey. Elizabeth's sister married Nathaniel's brother. They had 14 children. Children -Jane Rose (Rodd) Hooker (b.1852) m. Richard Putt -John Franklin Hooker (b. 1854) m. Ellen Oliver -James Hooker (b.1855) m. Hannah Holloway -Robert Newton Hooker (b. 1856) m. Sarah Golding -Samuel Hooker (b.1858) m. Alice Thurza Bishop -Sarah Hooker (b.1859) m. Bennet Pery Harrison -Helen Hooker (b.1861) m. Frederick Atkins -Walter Vercoe Hooker (b.1862) m. Carloline Andrews -Wesley Hooker (b.1864) m. Anna Mary Helena Mundt -Alice Elizabeth Hooker (b.1866) m. Timothy Donovan -Joseph Hooker (b.1867) m. unknown -Emma Hooker (b.1869) m. unknown -Annie hooker (b.1870) m. unknown -Ellen Hooker (b?) m. unknown.
Edward-Born December 11th 1828. Baptised at Martock 8 February 1829. Married Catherine Faull 11th January 1851.Edward died 13 Feb 1916 at Tikorangi, Taranaki, New Zealand. Catherine died 13 Sept 1903 Tikorangi, Taranaki, New Zealand. Both are buried in the Tikorangi Cemetery. This is a photo of Edward Lye.
Agnes-Born November 19th 1832. Died 12 December 1901. Married Henry Hooker 4th June 1855. Henry was born in Devonshire 14 July 1834. He died in hospital in New Plymouth 6 January 1912. They are both buried at Te Henui Cemetery. Agnes died 12 Dec 1901 at her home in Young Street New Plymouth. Children unknown. Below is a photo of Agnes Lye.
Married Peter Facey Hoskin at New Plymouth in 1842 (died in 1860) She then married Archibald Hood at Holy Trinity Church on 20 January 1862. Archibald was born in Newmilns Scotland 24 April 1826. He died 2 January 1913.
Mary and Peter Hoskin had 10 children, two of whom died at an early age (Diptheria) and are buried with their father in St Mary's Churchyard (at the western end of the church) Peter Hoskin died in 1860 aged 40 years. Newspaper clippings say tragically but little could be found.
Children with Peter Hoskin Alice Matilda - born 31 March 1856. Married John Honeyfield 21 June 1876 at Omata church. Children Newton, Nora (Married Bert Inch) and Ruth (drowned). Alice died 1889 aged 33
Richard James -Born 8 February 1853. Married Fanny Ward 19 February 1876. Children Jessie (Married name Goldstone) and Blanch (Married name Martin). Then married Mary Ann Emily Levitt 9 December 1183. Children were Gertrude (Married Roy Henry), Hazel (Married name Anderson), Gladys (Married names 1 Cash and 2 Chas White) and Kathleen. Mary Ann Grace-Born 24 April 1847. Married 1 Hugh Dalghleish Knight at St Mary's Church. (No children). Then 2 Henry Watson (no children). Henry Weston was the owner of the Taranaki Herald. He purchased it from William George in 1867. Henry Weston owned it until 1920 when he died. Nineteen years before he died he introduced his nephew Walter to the business as the manager. On the death of his uncle, Walter inherited the business which he ran on his own until 1930 when the property was registered as a private company. Bessie/Betsy Jane-Born 23 May 1851. Married 1 Joseph Beale (1 child -Valentine). Joseph died before 1888. and then 2 George A Corney. Married on Valentines day 1889. (3 children- Estelle, Enid, Dorothy). Bessie died 7 October 1935 aged 84. Clara Doris -Born 9 November 1860. Married Albert Eric Algar 1888. Had 5 children-Eric, Hayden, Doris, Beethoven, Douglas. This photo is of left to right Douglas, Hayden, Doris, Beethoven and Eric. Clara died 5 April 1928 aged 67.
Josias -Born 6 December 1843. Married Matilda Sommerton. (6 children-Arthur,Grace, Dunston, Aola, Ethel, Beatrix). This photo is of the children of Josias and Matilda. I have no idea why there is 7 children in the photo.
Josias was named after his uncle (Peter Hoskins brother) who had a boatmakers shop in the 1840s where Whites dept store was in the 1980s. For many years Josias (nicknamed Paddy) and Matilda(Mattie) lived in a quaint old house surrounded by a very high fence, on the seaward side and eastern corner of young and Dawson streets. The property was known as "The Pines" due to the immense norfolk pines growing there. Peter Brennan when he was 3, on one of his many unauthorized excusions beyond the confines of 28 Dawson street, once lost his bearings completely until he said "I saw Auntie Mattie's trees" and thus wended his way home. Later the trees were listed as historic trees. See below.
John Rodd -Born 4 August 1845. Married Delia Conroy (10 children-Mildred, Josais Mary, John, Alice, Clara, Claude, Reginald, Keith and Norien). I have information on who the children married. Contact me on frenchpearce@xtra.co.nz if you require this information.
Edward-Born 2 May 1849. Very little known. Thought to have lived in Thames. Some talk that Mary (his Mum) had a grog shop business going with him in Thames.
Helen -Died young Diptheria.Born 26 December 1855. Died 28 June 1861 William Arthur Died young Diptheria. Born 27 December 1859. Died 25 June 1861. Died within days of Helen and a year after their father.
Children with Archibald Hood Thomas born 21 May 1866. Died 29 May 1941. Married Mary Ann Ryan. (1 child-Kathleen Mary)
The following is copied from the obituaries in Diaries of W.H Skinner at Puke Ariki.
"We regret to have to record the death at an early hour this morning, of Mrs Hood one of the earliest settlers of New Plymouth, in her 80th year. The deceased lady was a native of Somersetshire and came out to New Zealand in the 'William Bryan' with her father the late Mr John Lye, and family, arriving at this settlement on March 31 1841."
"For several months she, in common with her fellow passengers, had to endure tent life at Moturoa, and afterwards came to live in a raupo whare built on the site of the house where she died. About a year after her arrival here she married Mr Peter Hoskin, who died in 1860. In the early days of the settlement she carried on business in a small shop which stood where Mr Maynard Ramson's* shop now is, and in 1855 moved into Victoria house situated on the corner of Currie street, where she continued to carry on business until nine years ago when she retired and has since resided in St Aubyn street. Mrs Hood was a very capable business woman and for many years made frequent trips to Auckland in connection with her business. She was also one of the few women who refused to leave New Plymouth during the Land wars. In those days Victoria House was the headquarters of the military staff and of Sir George Arney, the chief justice of New Zealand. In 1862 she married Mr Archibald Hood who survives her. The deceased lady leaves several children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to mourn their loss. The funeral will take place on Thursday." Mrs Hood was buried in the Te Henui Cemetery. *The business referred to was a drapery shop and was later purchased by Whites Ltd.
This photo is of James Lye, Mary Lye (Hoskin/Hood) and John Lye.
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