Emigrants | washbourn

The Emigrant Family - 1852 to New Zealand

William Everley Washbourn from ‘Tillingdown’ Farm in Surrey, son of Richard Washbourn (1775-1858) married Susan Ann Hawk in London in February 1841. Their first son was born in 1842; a further 6 children were born in England before the family emigrated to New Zealand in 1852. William had followed his father as a farmer growing wheat on a large scale on the rolling hills of the south Downs, but the repeal of the Corn Laws left him with high priced land, heavy taxes, and a crop no longer profitable. He was consequently eager for a change, and the spirit of adventure urged him on to life in a new land. In 1849, William made an exploratory journey to New Zealand; he liked what he saw in the northern South Island, and decided to relocate his family.

The emigrant parents : Susan Ann (née Hawk) Washbourn and her husband William Everley Washbourn, who emigrated to New Zealand in 1852 and settled in the Nelson district.

The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1852. They left Gravesend and Plymouth on the 650-ton Agra in September 1851 and arrived in Wellington in February of 1852; from there they travelled by small coastal sailing ships to Nelson. They settled initially in Upper Moutere, then Motueka in 1854. By 1859 William has decided that his interests and future lay in the Collingwood district, so he made arrangements to bring Susannah and the children across from Motueka to live. Collingwood was to become their permanent home.

After settlement, another 4 daughters were added to the family, making a total of 11 children. They had mixed success : some died in infancy or at a young age; 3 of them grew to adulthood but remained unmarried. Only 5 of their 11 children married, and so it is that today’s descendants trace their origins to one of these 5 ancestors.

The emigrant family thus was : [NB: Members with descendants shown in bold print.]

William Everley Washbourn, b. 1819; d. 1888 (Father); married Susan Ann Hawk, b. 1816; d. 1885 (Mother). Their family was as follows:

Richard Everley Washbourn (1842-1842); died in infancy.
Susan Julia Washbourn (1844-1924); married William Somerville Orr Caldwell 1866; 6 children.
William John Washbourn (1845-1853); died in an accident at Motueka, NZ.
Henry Philip Washbourn (1846-1937); married Clara Emily Caldwell 1874; 4 sons.
Florence Emma Washbourn (1848-1915); married Edmund Jennins; 3 sons.
Arthur Joseph Washbourn (1849-1933); unmarried.
Constance Mary Washbourn (1851-1916); unmarried.
Amy Washbourn (1853-1853); died in infancy from an accident.
Ellen Gertrude Washbourn (1855-1934); married Arthur Dermer 1877; 5 children.
Maud Alice Washbourn (1857-1937); married George Kirton; 3 daughters.
Edith Henrietta Washbourn (1860-1862); died from an accident.

Roger Washbourn (a descendant great-grandson of HP Washbourn) compiled a list of biographies of the descendants of WE and SA Washbourn following a family reunion in Collingwood in 1990. Many of the biographies were provided by the living; they were supplemented by researched notes of deceased family members. The document contains notes of nearly 550 family members, and of around 90 pages in A4 format, but is not readily available in the public domain. The compiler holds digital files and would be able to reproduce the book on request.

Biographies of the descendants of William Everley Washbourn (1819-1888) and Susan Ann Washbourn [neée Hawk] (1816-1885).

Compiled by Roger Washbourn; October 1998.90 pp. plus charts. Available only from the author.