My Dad's side of the family have been Kiwis for 181 years and I am the 7th generation here. My sister and brother have continued with the 8th generation.
Mr William Andrews age 42
and his wife Mrs Mary Ann Andrews age 33 and 6 children aged from 1 to 19 years of age, traveled some 5 months departing Gravesend England 29 October 1841 and arriving Nelson the following year on the 15th March 1842.
Sailing aboard the Bolton, a 540 tonne 3 masted ship captained by J.P. Robinson and 285 passengers.
I was unable to find a picture of the ship but did find a deck plan, see below. Note where the single men and single women are kept.
There is a written account of the voyage by a passenger Sarah Sharp. "We had a nice time till we got out of the Bay of Biscay, then we had a fearful gale. The sea was mountains high. It commenced on New Year's night, it kept on for three nights; we were all battened down below". ☆
The masts were broken in two, the sails gone, and nearly all the top deck had disappeared. They were adrift with not enough timber to repair the ship. Miraculously a French ship appeared and stayed by the Bolton for 3 days supplying materials and helping to repair the Bolton.
After arriving in Nelson the first few days were not pleasant, and Sarah continues... "There were a lot of little huts made of rushes and flax... my brothers took it in turns to beat the rats away"☆
Nelson was in it's infancy and the Bolton passengers soon discovered building materials were a problem.
However, despite the challenges, some of the men from the Bolton became successful farmers as did William Andrews.
"William Andrews exhibits of wheat and barley drew admiration when they were displayed on Nelson's first Anniversary Day. He had a splendid garden in the Wood area, and later established a farm at Wakefield where he ploughed his first acres with a team of goats, as bullocks were beyond his means. When he
built a bakers oven to supply bread to neighbouring farms, he used the goats to pull a bread delivery cart. A man of many parts, Andrews built a windmill to grind wheat, joined the
Massacre Bay Coal Association, and went to Motupipi with six others to dig coal. He also tried his hand at timber-milling and boat building. He was active
in church affairs and in December 1842, conducted one of the first services in the United Christians Chapel. In later years the citizens of Motueka had dif-
ficulty in getting regular preachers from Nelson, and according to C.B. Jordan
in his 'Yesterdays of Motueka Methodism', .... In 1857 Mr Andrews became a recognised missionary, or hired local preacher. He was paid no regular stip-end, but so greatly was he respected by people of all denominations, that he was in semi-jocular strain, known as 'Bishop' Andrews. To the utmost degree of his strength, he sought to discharge all the duties of a regular minister, preaching at Motueka and neighbouring settlements, leading classes, visiting the sick, burying the dead, and attending faithfully to the spiritual needs of the
people during many years.'
A pioneer of the highest calibre, some of his leadership qualities were passed on to a grandson, Sir Ernest Andrews, who became Mayor of Christchurch, while
other descendants still live in the Waimeas".☆
My Direct Heritage Family Line:
William Andrews
b15May1799 d18Aug1873
married Mary Ann Vaisey
⬇️
Charles Lewis Andrews
b01Jan1820 d02Sep1888
married Lucy Bedford
Edwin Robert Andrews
b03Jun1850 d28may1922
Married Ann Elizabeth Eden
⬇️
Edward Robert Andrews
b8Aug1874 d01Jun1951
Married Cara Stratford
⬇️
Gilbert Lyall Andrews
b31Aug1911 d23Jul65
Married Elizabeth Norma Wilson
⬇️
Max John Andrews
b20Nov1951 d16Jun1995
Married Elaine Atkinson
⬇️
Then Me... Ricky Andrews
☆ source book Pioneer Passengers written by June E Neale.
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