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PRINTZ FAMILY TREE
HAMBURG - GERMANY
SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA
SOUTHLAND - NEW ZEALAND
Compiled by Colin Dean.
171 Matsons Ave.
Papanui.
Christchurch 8005
New Zealand
1982 - 2003
colinprintz@hotmail.com
ceedy1@xtra.co.nz
Member NZ Society of Genealogists #19606
The PRINTZ family that this Family History pertains to
originated in Hamburg,Germany.It was fortunate that the records (in Gothic
German style) stored in the State Archives have not been destroyed and
I was able to translate them sufficiently to trace the family back to
around 1645.The following traces the family from that time to the present.
Abbreviations used M = Married or Partners
B = Born
D = Died
Ca = Circa
Hans Martin PRINTZ B Ca 1620
= Anna WILLERS M 23-11-1665.They had 6 children 5m and 1f.Our history
comes from the first born.
Hans PRINTZ B 1656 D 6.3.1741
= Catherina FLEGE B 30.11.1664 M 22.9.1693 D25.4.17?? Hans married twice
but our family are from his first marriage.There were 5 children, all
males and our family comes from the last born.
Herman Christian PRINTZ B 22.4.1701 D 6.2.1778
=Anna Maria JENGUEL B 14.12.1715 M 14.5.1736 D 14.2.1781 There were 14
children 5m 9fm.Our history comes from the eighth born.
George Heinrich PRINTZ B 10.8.1746 D 2.7.1821
=Sara Magdalena SCHMIDT B 29.2.1756 M 16.4.1776 D 9.4.1847 There were
five children 2m 3fm.We follow in the steps of the first born.
Herman Lucas PRINTZ B15.12.1776.
Herman was christened at St.Nikolai Church Hamburg on
the 17th.Nov.1776.Little is known of his early years but it is known that
he went to England and was a Mercenary Soldier.He was a private in the
14th. Light Dragoons which was originally raised in 1697.In 1798 they
became "Duchess of Yorks Light Dragoons" their honorary Colonel
being Fredrica,Princess Royal of Prussia and wife of Frederick,Duke of
York,C in C of the British Army.
Whilst Herman was in England he married and had two children.Details as
follows.
= Maria HITCHENS B ? Christened 30.7.1792 M 3.2.1810 at St.Michael,Coventry
Warwickshire.
The only details of their children known at present is
Sarah Magdalena PRINTZ Baptised at Holy Trinity Church,Coventry.England
on the 12th. of March 1811.
Henry PRINTZ b 1812
Jane PRINTZ b 1813
Both the above living at 56 Brook St.Coventry according to CLDS records.
According to the Gaol Register,Dorchester Gaol,1813-1814.
Herman Lucas PRINTZ.
Committed 4th.Sept 1813 for forgery,by James Frampton Esq.
Aged 36 of Hamburg,soldier in the 14th.Dragoons,married with two children,5
ft 61/2 ins tall,black hair,light hazel eyes,brown complexion,pitted in
the face with small pox,a large cut on the throat cross-wise,two front
teeth missing in the upper jaw,a cut across the back of the middle finger
left hand.Orderly behaviour in gaol.
Sentenced to 14 years transportation.
Discharged from Gaol 1st. June 1814 and put on board the
hulk "Laurel" in Portsmouth Harbour.(This was probably a holding
ship prior to Transportation)
Herman Lucas left Dorset 1st.Sept. 1814 on the ship "Marquis
of Wellington"and arrived at Botany Bay on the 27th.Jan 1815.On arrival
he was assigned to work for Mr.Thomas Moore.
A brief history of the founding Colony.......
The Colony of New South Wales was founded on the 26th.
Jan 1788,with the arrival in Port Jackson of a first Fleet of eleven ships
with 759 male and female convicts who had been transported for terms of
seven,fourteen and twenty one years.
The success of this expedition prompted the English Government to send
a second Fleet of six ships in 1789 crowded with approximately 1,260 convicts.Only
five ships arrived in Sydney Cove as the storeship H.M.S. Guardian had
struck an iceburg in the Indian Ocean.
As crime increased in the British Isles,the jails were unable to contain
the criminals so a third Fleet of ten vessels left England in 1791 reaching
Sydney Cove at various times between July and October of that year.
This was the beginning of a steady stream of ships bringing convicts to
N.S.W.Most convicts sent to Australia were guilty of minor offences such
as pick pocketing,shop lifting thieving etc. many of the offences involving
goods of only small value.
A strange aspect of this Penal Colony was that few convicts ever did time
behind bars.From the first there were more Colonists than Prisoners.Their
immediate tasks were to house themselves and find food.Though a sorry
and often drunken bunch they managed to build a viable community.Many
went as free labour to the Military,Farmers and small businesses etc.
Obedience was enforced to a great extent by bribary,perquisites or actual
wages.The settlers could get convicts flogged and this occurred to 45,000
of them between 1831 and 1837.
Early in the 18th. century,settlers poured in from England and altered
the character of the population leading it to what it is today.
Feb.2nd 1815.
Disembarked from the Marquis of Wellington.Forwarded to Liverpool (Sydney)
for distribution.
1819 Clerk to the Principal Superintendant of convicts petitions for mitigation
of sentence.
The 1820 Muster lists H.L.PRINTZ as being assigned to a Mr.Bean.
The 1821 Muster lists H.L.PRINTZ as being emancipated and employed as
the Principal Clerk at the Governments Lumber Yard.He is also listed as
being with wife and child.
Jan to Apr 1822
Jan to Apr 1822 Clerk at the old lumberyard.
1822 to 1825 he has a convict "assigned to him"
The 1825 Muster lists H.L.PRINTZ as Clerk to the Principal Superintendent
of Convicts.
The following is the petition of H.L.PRINTZ to Governor
Macquarie in 1819 leading to his emancipation.
The humble Petition of Herman Luke PRINTZ respectfully
showeth
That the Petitioner arrived in The Colony by Ship Marquis
of Wellington,Betham being the Master, having been tried at Dorchester
in March 1814 and received Sentance for 14 years.
That Petitioner since his arrival been in the employ of
Government,as Storekeeper Clerk at Liverpool,at Government House Parramatta
and at present as Clerk to the Principal Superintendent of Convicts,and
has always conducted himself to the entire satisfaction of his employers.
Your Petitioner from the above Statement humbly emplores
Your Excellency will take his case in Consideration and grant him a Conditional
pardon.
And Petitioner will ever pray
Herman L.Printz.
This Petitioner has behaved
himself to my satisfaction
since his appointment of Principal Clerk to Mister Hutchinson.
Geo Dinute ?
Major 40 Chief ?
The Petitioner has been my Clerk for the last ten months
and has behaved himself with the greatest propriety.
William Hutchinson
Principal Superintendent
On the 31st.Dec.1820 he was granted a Conditional Pardon
and was appointed Principal Clerk at the Government Lumber Yard at a salary
of 50 pounds per annum.His residence was Brickfields approximately on
the corner of George and Goulburn Sts.
Herman formed an association with another convict Margaret Quinn (nee
O'Brien.There is no record of their marriage.
Margaret Quinn arrived in Australia aboard the Canada on the 6th.Aug.1817
after having been convicted in Dublin,Ireland in July 1816 of stealing
apparel and sentenced to 7 years Penal Servitude.It is believed that Margaret
escaped on board the 'Harriet' in December 1817 bound for the Cape of
Good Hope and that she was returned aboard the the 'Hadlow' arriving back
in Sydney on the 23rd.Dec.1818.
It is recorded that her occupation in Ireland was Country Servant.
The 1817 Muster records her as being 23 years old.
The 1821 Female Muster as a Factory Worker.
The 1825 Muster as Housekeeper to Mr.PRINTZ.
The 1828 census lists PRINTZ Selina 7 years
George 4 years
Henry 2 yearsAll born in the Colony,catholic,lodgers at Thomas Hanseys,Baker,Kent
St.Sydney.Also listed is Margaret Quinn.She D 1837
Herman PRINTZ died aged 46,Bookeeper,Sydney Hospital 6th.Dec.1827.
It would appear that after Herman's death Margaret took up with Thomas
Hansey.
The 1825 General Muster for the Colony lists-
PRINTZ Herman.L.
PRINTZ George 2 yrs old
PRINTZ Selina 4 yrs old
The 1828 Colony Census lists
PRINTZ Selina 7 yrs.
PRINTZ George Valentine 4 yrs.
PRINTZ Henry 2 yrs.
This must mean that George Valentine was born either in 1823 or 1824 and
not 1827 as most books quote.It also means that he was a boy of 13 or
14 when he came to New Zealand which makes more sense.
Selina married Samuel Spencer on the 18th.Sept. 1837 at
St Philips Church, Sydney and nothing further is known.The witnesses were
G C Flintoff and Mary Weston.
George Valentine was apprenticed to the Tannery trade and he is where
the rest of this family history will concentrate.
Henry was later known as PRINCE and spent his time mostly in Australia
but did go and work for his brother in Southland and managed one of the
PRINTZ farms at Otatara.He has many descendants in Australia and elsewhere.
GEORGE VALENTINE PRINTZ
Born 14th.Feb.1823 or 1824.Brickfield Hill…cnr George
and Goulborn Sts on St.Valentines day.
He died 6th Sept.1898.Buried at Riverton Cemetery 11th Sept.1898.
The Obituary which appeared in the Southland Times on
the 12th.Sept.1898 reads as follows.
The Late Mr.George Printz
The remains of the late George Valentine Printz were laid in their last
resting place at Riverton yesterday.A special train left Invercargill
in the forenoon,but owing to the boisterous weather only 20 journeyed
from here.A special train from Orepuki,however,brought a large number
of mourners,while residents of Riverton and the surrounding districts
turned out strongly to pay their last respects.The body was conveyed to
the Anglican Church,where the funeral service was conducted by the Rev.Butterfield,the
pallbearers being,Messrs.T.M.MacDonald,B.A.Dickinson, Hy Hirst,J.R.Mills,Wm.M.Tarlton
and J.R.Stuck.While the cortege passed,the bell tolled at intervals and
on arrival at the cemetary,eight of the leading Maoris of Riverton,Colac
Bay and Wakatipu carried the coffin to the grave,into which it was lowered
by the sons of the deceased.
Death has (says the Western Star) been very busy this year amongst the
pioneer settlers of Southland,the last to pass away being Mr George Valentine
Printz,who died at his residence,Havelock Street,shortly after 5 o'clock
on Thursday evening at the age of 71 years.
He was a strong looking man,always fresh in appearance,but during the
last nine months he began to fail,although there apparently was nothing
seriously the matter.He took part in the early settlers procession at
the celebration of Otago Jubilee in March last.and about three months
ago was actively engaged,superintending his farm at Pahia.At that time
he complained of a chest infection and gradually becoming worse,he took
to bed,but it was confidently hoped he would pull through.The last few
weeks however,it became evident that his complaint was more serious than
at first supposed,and his medical advisers saw that recovery was impossible.
Over half a century ago he came to Riverton,and to an old friend,who had
been with him in the early days,he remarked just before his death "It
is 58 years since you and I used to run on the beach at Codfish Island"
George Valentine Printz was born in Sydney on 14th.February 1827.His father
was a German,and died when he was still very young.After his mothers second
marriage,he left home at 10 (14) years of age.Sydney was then,the centre
for the South Seas commerce,and the port whence the numerous whaling expeditions
sailed.The late John Jones had numerous vessels engaged in this industry,which
periodically left for the Oil depots at Preservation and Waikouaiti.George
Printz engaged to go with him to the Preservation Depot,where he landed
in 1837,and was employed at Coopering,Mr Thomas Brown of Riverton coming
over from Sydney with him.
Whales were then plentiful in Preservation Inlet,four boats being constantly
engaged catching.He only remained there one season and in 1838,landed
in Riverton,commonly called Jacob's River,the whaling settlement being
at Tall's Point,a few natives residing on the opposite shore.
There was of course,no town then and not a single settler in the Western
District,now one of the finest agricultural tracts in New Zealand.Here
he engaged with the late Captain Howell,who was working the whaling station
for John Jones,and after serving for three years,he went to the Bluff
to work for the late John Stirling.In 1852,he returned to Sydney,thence
proceeded to the Victorian diggings where he had many experiences but
no luck.Relinquishing digging he came back to New Zealand on a schooner
under Captain Town,and joined with the late Captain Stevens in a whaling
enterprise of their own,at the same time stocking a peice of land near
the Ferry at New River,where the first rabbits were let loose a few years
susequently,with what effect,the bleak sandhills now bear silent but eloquent
testimony.
At this time,while waiting in the bay with a full cargo of oil,a storm
came on and the vessel was wrecked.The cargo was lost,but the crew,after
many hours battling with the waves reached shore,Mr Printz,being for several
hours,dashed about in the surf,lashed to a spar.
Dissolving partnership with Captain Stevens,in 1873,in Sydney,he purchased
a vessel for himself.the 'Sarah Pile',for whaling off the New Zealand
coast,but decided to give up the sea,and on 2nd Jan 1877 sold out to an
advantage.
He then took up Burwood Station,near Five Rivers,where he went in largely
for stock,and when the Wakitipu diggings broke out,he made money rapidly,often
getting fourty pounds for bullocks,which now sell at nine pounds.He was
very successful with this station,and sold out for thirty three thousand
pounds to Messers Lowe and Greenslade.
He then returned to New River where he built a large homestead,his brother,who
predeceased him by about twelve months,managing the farm for him.Mr Printz
shortly afterwards aquired a large farm at Pahia where he raised a good
strain of shorthorns,his bull 'Oxford Wild Eyes' being a well known prize
taker at the various shows.
He was a successfull speculator and always very lucky in his dealings.In
early life,he did not have an educational advantage,but he made up for
this by a natural aptitude for business,in which he showed great shrewdness
and foresight.He was always of thrifty disposition,and learned to save
in days when the temptation to spend was very great,owing to there being
no lack of money.From such a small beginning,he died a wealthy man.He
leaves a widow,a daughter of Captain Howell,and five sons and three daughters,all
grown up.
Re the selling out of Burwood Station other records have it as Messers
Thomas Constable Lowe and John McGregor were the purchasers on the 19th.
June 1868.
Burwood Station consisted of 77,000 acres and was bounded on the North
by the Mavora runholding,East by the Oreti River,South by the Provincial
line and West by the Mararoa River.
The death certificate of George PRINTZ states his age
at death as 71.It is more like 74 or 75.It also lists his fathers name
as Armus Lucas PRINTZ.This is understandable but incorrect.The death certificate
lists his fathers occupation as Commissioner of Government Works Sydney.The
cause of death is cancer of the lung.Apnoea 6 months.
George's farm at Pahia was 7,000 acres which after his
death was split up amongst his sons.There still stands today two of the
sons houses,one has two turrets and has been altered inside.It can be
seen on the road to Cosy Nook.The other which has three turrets can be
seen from the Main Rd.to Orepuki,it is in the main still very original
and has been well cared for over the years.
George Valentine PRINTZ.
1=Pokurukuru daughter of Huruhuru,Chief at Oue.She was also known as Margaret
Pokurukuru.She was baptised by Wholers on the 14th.Feb 1855 at New River
and was about 35 yrs old.George PRINTZ refused to be married to her.Her
case is as 1 Corinthians,7,13, which reads "and a woman who has an
unbelieving husband,and yet he is agreeable to dwelling with her,let her
not leave her husband".They were living at Sandy Point where he had
4 acres in wheat,barley and potatoes,30 cattle and 20 pigs.There were
also 2 children in their care.G.V.P. at this stage is aged about 31 yo.The
remains of his stockyards are still to be seen at Whalers Bay,Sandy Point,Otatara.
Re Huruhuru.Bishop Selwyn met him in 1844 on the Waitaki Ferry and found
him to have pleasing manners and very knowledgeable about place names
in Otago and Southland.
2=Catherine Rissetto nee' Acker.B 1842 D 26th Aug.1885.She
was the daughter of Capt.Lewis Acker and Mere Pi and was born at Ackers
house on Stewart Island which is one of the oldest houses still existing
in N.Z.Acker carted all the rock over from Southland and built his house
at Ackers Point.Catherine was baptised by the Rev.James Watkin on the
4th.March 1844 and on the same day Lewis and Meri Pi were married.Catherine
had 4 children to John Baptiste Rissetto.Her previous husband.
Catherine and George had 10 children in total and the last two died at
an early age,the last child possibly being the cause of Catherines death.
Catherine Acker's mother Meri Pi along with her brother Tiritahi were
sent South from Kaiapohia Pa by their parents Hinepipiwai and Kanuia for
their safety while Te Rauparaha was raiding in the South Island.
Tiritahi stayed on at the Arowhenua Pa at Temuka and many of his descendants
live on there today. Pi travelled on to Otakou Pa on the Otago Peninsula.This
was where she met Lewis Acker who at the time was building small boats
on Stewart Island (Rakiura) and selling them to the Maoris at Otakou..
Pi and her descendants belong to the Ngaitahu / Ngatimamoe
iwi (tribe)
Our Runanga (Runaka in Southern dialect) is
Tuahuriri … North Canterbury
Arowhenua… South Canterbury
Waihopai… Southland Invercargill
Ngaitahu files Meri Pii Acker
List No 972
File No 278
3=Matilda (Tilly) Jane Gordon nee' Howell B 10th.Sept.1857 D 1941.She
was the daughter of Capt.John Howell the founder of Riverton.She had the
task of raising George and Catherines family of 8 children.She bore no
children to George.
The PRINTZ children.
1...Ellen Theresa (Nellie) PRINTZ B 10th.June 1871.D 20th.May
1953.
=...Percival Bernard BERNDSTON B 1877 D 22nd.March 1959.
They had two children 1 -Norman Cuthbert B 13th.Aug.1899.D
5th Sept.1973.
=Evelyn Grace Long B ? D 3rd.May 1978.
2 -Rena Eugenie B 14th.April 1902 M 23rd.April 1929.
=Douglas James Alexander Little B 16th.March 1901.
2...Annie Louise (Airini) PRINTZ B 1872 M 12th.Feb.1900
D 26th.May 1946.
=...Gustave Robert Harrison B 15th.Aug.1870.
They had four children 1 -Esme Airini Mollie B 4th.Oct.1901
M 9th. Oct.1938
=Robert William Ainslie B 8th.Feb.1896.D 14th.May 1971.
2 -St.Clair Rewi Temple B 22nd.Jan.1904.
=Agnes Ellen King B 22nd.June 1906.D 23rd.Aug.1971.
3 -Lonsdale Georgie (Lorna) B.2nd.July 1905.
4 -Lois Roberta B 30th.Oct.1906.M 26th Oct 1929.
D 4th.Nov 1982
=Kenneth Alfred Allen B 6th.March 1903.
3...Henry Albert (Harry) PRINTZ B 1874.Riverton. Attended
Boys High.Dunedin.M 12th.June 1900.D 18th.March 1957.
=...Alice Maude Thomson B 1880 D 9th.May 1961.
They had three children 1 -Raymond Valentine B 20th.March
1902 D 23rd.March 1902.
2 -Eileen Maude B 21st.May 1903 M 23rd.March 1936.
=Guy Aspinall b 5th.July 1894 D 1st.April 1971.
3 -Albert Henry B 19th.Nov.1908 M 16th.Aug.1952.
D25th.Sept.1968
=Sheila May Stuck B 11th.May 1918.
4...George Gosport PRINTZ B 15th.Aug.1875 D 12th.Aug.1947.
1=.Lilley Scanlon…No issue.
2=.Sybil Isobel Wilson…No issue.
5...William Arthur PRINTZ B 22nd.Aug.1877 M 2nd.Feb.1902.D
2nd.July 1955.
=..Lillian Margaret Bellett.B 10th.Jan.1883.
They had four children 1.-Doris Catherine Valentine B 28th.Dec.1901.
1=James Galbraith Wade B ? D 5th/April 1949.
2=James Hikoata Terangi Manning B ? D 25th.Sept.1977.
2.-Isobel Mary B 28th.Sept.1904.D 7th.March 1979.
1=Reginald William Murray
2=William Taipana
3=Eric Raymond Dean
3.-William Leslie aka Basil B 11th.Jan 1914.
D 2nd.Aug.1992.
1=Hilda Ede
2=Doris Berkett
3=Patricia Baird
4=Fay Schumaker
5=Kathleen June Sheddon
4.-John Rewi Gordon B 27th June 1920.Bur.20th.Aug.1971.
1=Maida Narne Cussen.B 11th.July 1918. Riverton.NZ.
2=Florence McPherson B 29th. June 1918.
6...Rachel Matilda (Tilly) PRINTZ B 13th Jan.1879.D 30th.May
1937.
1= Harold Grave
They had two children.
1.-Clarice Valentine B 1901 D 23rd.Nov 1918.
2.-Leslie Mona B 1904 D 1stOct.1925.
2= Archibald Campbell McGavock B 1873 D 21st.July 1935.
7...John Louis (Barney) PRINTZ B 1880.Riverton. M 30th.Dec.1903
D 20th.Nov.1918.
=...Margaret Ethel Bennett.Daughter of Samuel Bennett
of Orepuki.
They had four children 1.-Louis Valentine B 4th.Aug.1904.D 30th.Nov.1918.
2.-Ruruhera Maud B 13th.Nov.1905.D 1955.
= Alfred Vincent Tull.
3.-Rena Victoria B 24th.Aug.1907.D 18th Aug.1975.
1= Charles Barnes
2= Royston Jeffrey McKeitch
4.-John Bennett B 26th.July 1909 D 30th.Aug.1909.
8...Rupert Leslie PRINTZ B 27th July 1883.D 26th July
1948.
1=Ada Bennett
2=Alice Victoria Constance Lindsay B 1848 D 21st.Jan.1967.
8...Charles PRINTZ B 26th July 1882.D 27th.July 1882.
9...Catherine PRINTZ B 26th.Aug.1885.D 5th.Nov.1885.
Catherine PRINTZ died on the 26th.Aug.1885 so it is assumed
that she died giving birth to Catherine.
There is much written about the PRINTZ family and the
following excerpts are noted.
Orepuki Racing Club annual races held Wed.February 9th.1910.
"The office bearers included racing personalities whose names will
still be remembered.They were - President Mr.H.Hirst,Vice Presidents Messers
K.D'Arcy,
J.L.PRINTZ,J.W.McIntyre,W.Crowther,D.Whelan,I.Baty,W.PRINTZ,G.PRINTZ,
A.McPherson,W.H.Alexander,F.Small,A.McGavock,W.Hopgood etc."
In 1873 he bought the brigantine "Sarah Pile"
in Sydney for whaling off the New Zealand coast.He arrived back at Invercargill
on 4th.May 1873.George sold the ship on 2nd.Jan.1877.
The New Zealand Year Book of 1917 lists the following
PRINTZ family.
John Lewis…farmer…Orepuki
Henry Albert…farmer…Pahia
George…farmer…Pahia
Rupert L…electrical engineer…Don St.Invercargill
Wm Arthur…Railway Private Hotel…Leven St.Invercargill.
In Mr Ro.Carrick's "Historical Records of N.Z. South"
there is the following interesting paragraph-
"George Valentine PRINTZ of Riverton (now deceased) was in 1841 a
lad of 14 or 15 years old.He made two trips round the Southwest coast
of N.Z. as ship's boy in a sealer,attending on gangs.He made his third
voyage to the Islands.The Aucklands were then known to the sealers as
Bristow Land.They anchored in Sarah's Bosom (Port Ross),named after the
craft in which Bristow discovered the Islands.In all they landed 14 men.PRINTZ
being one of the number.The Island on which they landed was a flat country,with
sand dunes and shingle beaches.During their first weeks stay they met
with excellent sport and knocked down seals on the open beaches.They also
met wild pigs.PRINTZ there learned the art of killing seals by tapping
them on the nose.In one of their raids they visited the further end of
the Island.Returning to their old quarters thy discovered a craft at anchor.Communicating
therewith,they ascertained she brought a lot of Maoris from the Chatam
Islands.One of the Maoris had been on the Aucklands previously in a whaler,and
it was his advice they came hither.They were not communicative as to the
reason of their migration,and,after equivocating,the sealers were lead
to understand it arose out of tribal disputes.In further communication
they ascertained from the Maori,who had been on the Island previously,a
most valuable part of the seal trade was to be found on the Western shores
of the Island.Unlike the Eastern side it was bold,precipitous,and the
rookeries in many cases were at a hight above the cliffs.Acting on that
information,The gang shifted to North Port.From hence they worked down
into the rookeries under Blackness Point.Results were satisfactory.Re-connoitring
the coast,they determined upon raiding a rookery from the shore.
A THRILLING OCCURANCE.
They arranged the boat party should direct them to the spot,and that the
sealers should lower themselves down the cliffs.Carcases were to be sent
over the precipice and caught by the boating party.A slant of weather
was got,and the arrangement so far succeeded.Seven sealers were slung
over the rocks to a ledge 300ft. down.Getting inside the rookery,it was
found to be a huge aperture,with shelving rocks or platforms 6ft. and
8ft. above the floor.A goodly number of seals lay sretched out,and to
the hasty despatch of these the strikers directed attention.Getting into
a disturbed state,the seals resting on the shelves and ledges unexpectedly
made a simultaneous movement,which brought the herd pell-mell down on
the top of the sealers.In the darkness and confusion it proved a most
disasterous encounter,the dead and dying carcases getting piled up at
the entrance to the cave until exit and light were closed out.One man
battled his way into a crevice clear of the seals,and after a time succeeded
in striking a light.Feeding the light with blubber,a flame was raised,which
enabled two of the others to find their way towards him.None of the three
were seriously injured.A fourth was also rescued but he was to a great
extent helpless.A fifth was wedged in amongst the seals,and as some of
them were alive and dangerous,they had to be killed before he could be
rescued.Having lost their clubs in the melee,some time elapsed before
they were found.Proceeding to clear away the entrance they got the bodies
of the other two,dreadfully torn and mangled,amongst the mass of seals.They
were wrapped in sealskins and lowered down the cliff,from whence they
were consigned to the sea.(From personal recollections supplied by the
late Mr George PRINTZ).
From the book KELLY OF INVERKELLY
George Valentine PRINTZ (1827-1898)
PRINTZ was born at Brickfield Hill,Sydney,on Valentines Day-14th.February,but
there is some doubt whether the year was 1826 or 1827.(in reality…from
the Sydney Musters …it must have been 1823 or 1824).When he was very
young his father died and his mother remarried,and while still a lad PRINTZ
was apprenticed to the tanning trade.John Jones knew the family and invited
the lad to come to New Zealand and become a cooper,with the result that
PRINTZ at the age of 10 (14) reached Preservation Inlet in the last year
of the whaling station,working as mate to Owen McShane.He became known
to the Maoris as Poi Toi (Teoti)-Boy George.
The Preservation Station was abandoned at the end of that season,and Boy
George went to Codfish Island and joined one or two sealing expeditions
round the Sounds.When the Jacobs River Station was set up,McShane was
employed as cooper and sent across to Codfish Island for his former assistant.There
is a story also of a whale being tried out on the beach at Pahia,where
the natives performed an impressive war dance.The whalers cooked some
rice,and Boy George fed one of the chiefs with a mussel shell.The rice
was hot and the Maori's reaction was still a gratifying memory to PRINTZ
in his later years.
In 1851 and possibly earlier,PRINTZ was at Sandy Point,with four acres
of wheat,barley and potatoes,30 cattle,20 pigs,a horse and a spirit still.Two
small children were in his care - Henry Whitelock, a son of "Bungaree"
and Magpie,a Native orphan.He bought out McCoy when the latter sold his
cattle to McDonald Sinclair and removed to Otara.We have already had Robert's
references to his supplying beef,etc,to the rural settlers at Kelly's
Point,and J.T.Thomson in '56 recorded his "lower station" at
Sandy Point and his "upper station" above the present bridge
to Oreti Sands.At this time also he had a residence in Riverton,built
of Australian timber which he had brought.over after an expedition to
the Victorian goldfields.
PRINTZ made an application for his New River run,but it was within the
area reserved for closer settlement,and he took up Burwood,Run 300B (a).The
records show that he was granted a licence from 21st.November,1858.so
that the run was then stocked,and the boundries were from Mount Hamilton
to Princhester Creek.One wonders whether the latter was named after him.The
homestead in those days was on the Oreti,above the present Centre Hill
homestead,and there a township of Burwood is still shown on the map.PRINTZ
sold out at a good figure to T.C.Low and J.McGregor,who proceeded to lose
through the invasion of rabbits some of the money they had made in the
Arrow Gorge with Fox.
George PRINTZ married Pokuru (pronounced Boguru in the southern dialect)
a daughter of the chief Huruhuru at Oue but there were no children;then
Lewis Ackers daughter Catherine,the mother of the PRINTZ family;and lastly
Matilda,daughter of Captain John Howell.
He took up a farm at New River,later managed by his brother Harry Prince
(as the latter preferred to spell the name),and George PRINTZ took up
large areas of cattle country at Pahia and specialised in shorthorns.He
was as successful on the land as on the sea,and left a considerable fortune
when he died at Riverton on 8th,September,1898.
From the book "PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS" by Herries
Beattie.
Herries Beattie acknowledges that these notes came from
those of Mr.R.McNab.
These notes were taken down in 1898 just a few months before George PRINTZ'S
death.
The narrative runs as follows-
My early days were spent in Sydney,where as a mere lad I was apprenticed
to the tannery trade.The way I happened to come out to New Zealand was
in this wise.One day I was sitting nursing my employees baby when Mr.Johnny
Jones passed by,and knowing me asked how I was getting on at my trade.My
answer was doing nothing but sharpening knives and nursing babies.He told
me to go to Bunkers Hill,where he lived,and he would see me again.I went
out and remember that Mrs.Jones gave me a drink of white wine.When Mr.Jones
came he asked me how I would like to go to New Zealand and be a cooper
in his employ.He fired my young ambition by saying I would get cocoanuts
and bananas and all manner of nice things.This dazzling prospect delighted
me right down to the ground,and of course my reply was that I would like
to go to such an inviting spot.
From Herries Beattie 'Unpublished Notes'
Names of the whalers.
A list published in 1898 of those who were whaling at Bluff in the early
days enumerates the following… (with asterisk still there 1911)
William Stirling *
Davis
Dellis
Jim Spencer *
Paddy Gilroy *
George Printz
Jack McDonald*
Jack Tiger
McGregor
William Shepherd
Archie ???? (surname unknown)
Further to the above with asterisks,it is noted that the 1911 list adds
the following
Jack Gregory
Captain Anglem
Ned Palmer
Dick Sisemore
Joe Hoare and a man named Gosslyn
Another list mentions Stirling..Spencer..Gilroy..Printz..Anglem..Jack
Tiger..Archie???..Edwin Palmer..Gregory..Johnny & Bill Parker..Buller..Graham..Hoare..Davis..Sisemore..Dallas..McDonald..Newton..McGregor..Gosslyn..McShane..Wm
Shepard..& Harry McCoy.
Wm Spencer added the following names..Jack Owen..Stewart Coupar..B.Lowry..James
Wybrow & Scotch John.
My Adopted Country.
"Mr.Jones sent me down in one of the ships to Preservation
Inlet,where he owned the shore whaling.That was about 1838,as near as
I can remember.I was at Preservation Inlet for about a year,but the season
was not a good one and the station was broken up,that being its last year.My
next move was to proceed to Codfish Island,where there were a number of
sealers.The sealers worked on the western coast,and as there was no place
there suitable for growing their food it was arranged with the natives
that they should have the little Island.I don't think that they were sent
there because the natives wanted to prevent them kicking up rows but simply
because it was a very good Island on which to grow potatoes.I remained
there until the next whaling season came on,when Johnny Jones set up a
whaling establishment at Riverton.The old cooper employed at this new
station was the same man who had worked at Preservation Inlet,and he said
he must have his mate,the boy-that was me of course-to work with him.I
was about 14 years old at the time.
From the NZ Encyclopedia
1859 Runholder,George Printz - Whaler & Ex Whaler,Burwood and Aparima
Shore Whaler.
Printz owned the 'Éclair' over 100 ton.
George Printz came from Sydney in 1839 and ate his Xmas dinner at Preservation
Inlet with Captain Peter Williams…Boatman and the following year
came to Aparima.On one occasion,he said they had neither bread nor potatoes
for over 3 months and were glad to get Maori cabbage to eat.
Excerpts from A Story of Misadventure
One of Southlands earliest landowners was a remittance
man.An act of capricious fate brought him to New Zealand in the early
1850s.John McKay was drinking in the bar of a Sydney hotel when he was
joined by a whaler,George Printz.They chummed up and made an evening of
it for Printz had time on his hands.He was sailing on the midnight tide
with cargo for the sealing and whaling stations at Stewart Island and
places around the Southland Coast,backloading with oil and blubber.
McKay offered to walk his new friend back to the wharf and watch the boat
sail.When he said he was feeling sleepy Printz invited him to go below
and rest.He probably assured Mckay he would call him in good time.The
ship had cleared the harbour when he woke but the disconcerted mariner
would not,or could not,take him back to Sydney.Landfall on this particular
voyage was Jacobs River, Riverton.
McKay arrived in Jacobs River when the whaling industry had all but collapsed
and the owner of the Station,Captain John Howell was urging his men to
turn to farming.
McKays new friend,George Printz was a notable pioneer too,although he
never enjoyed Howells prominence or degree of wealth.He has been described
as a man of great energy and foresight.Like Howell his adult life was
a far cry from his humble beginnings.He was born in Sydney in 1827 and
later apprenticed to the tanning trade.He was only 10 when when he arrived
at the whaling station at Preservation Inlet.When the station was abandoned
he went to Riverton and later became a whaler and sealer on his own account.
From Hall-Jones book "Goldfields of the South"
In 1880 a six stamper battery,Printz's battery,was erected in the midst
of thick forest on the East side of the Longwoods.Driven by steam it was
named after it's principal promoter George Printz,one of the pioneer runholders
of Southland.It began well with a first crushing of 58 tons of quartz
yielding 47 ounces of gold.But then the reef suddenly ran out and although
short tunnels were put out in every direction it could not be picked up
again.After only one year of operating the battery had to close down.
Nevertheless Printz's battery still stands proudly in the depths of Longwood
forest today.
From Stevan Eldred-Griggs book "The Rich"
Page 14.
Southland for instance,supported the wealth of two or three whaling bosses
who came ashore and turned themselves in to landowners.CaptainWilliamStevens,anEnglishman
of the manliest and most wholesome' type' founded a whaling station at
Riverton and later became the proprieter of sheep stations.A partner was
George Valentine PRINTZ,son of a colonial shopkeeper,apprenticed to the
trade of cooper,who ended up at the age of ten as coopers mate on a whaling
station in Southland.PRINTZ traded in beef,wool and flax,and by the end
of his life he was a wealthy landowner,breeder of Shorthorns and proprietor
of a gold battery.
(George Valentine's father was not a shopkeeper or baker as is reported
in several books.He was a bookkeeper.)
Page 128.
George Valentine PRINTZ for his part fathered numerous children,but family
wealth went fast after his death.PRINTZ property was divided between three
daughters and five sons who settled into robust lives as provincial burgesses
of Southland,William Arthur PRINTZ,fond of the bottle,was a sheepfarmer
at the age of twenty…set up handsomely by his father-but looked 'low'
when he wed the daughter of a publican in St.Kilda.By the age of forty
William himself was a hotel proprietor and like many publicans found his
profits liquid.By the age of sixty he was a labourer.
A drop from the top to the bottom of the social heap in a single lifetime
was not common.Descendants of city capitalists most often found that wealth
took two or three generations to slowly ebb.
Books with references to PRINTZ - ACKER - MAORI ancestry…..
NGAI TAHU LAND RIGHTS HARRY C EVISON
NGAI TAHU LAND RIGHTS SUPPLEMENTS 1-20
HARRY EVISON
JOHN JONES OF OTAGO ALFRED ECCLES & A H REED
SAWDUST & SCHOLARS MARILYN BUNCE
MR SURVEYOR THOMSON JOHN HALL-JONES & A H REED
OTAKOU SCHOOL REUNION 1982
MAORI & MISSIONARY REV.T A PYBUS
WEST TO THE FIORDS F W G MILLER
THE STEWART ISLANDERS OLGA SANSOM
RAKIURA BASIL HOWARD
KING OF THE BLUFF F G HALL-JONES
PAHIA 1820 - 1985 PAHIA SCHOOL
RECORDS OF EARLY RIVERTON
COLAC BAY COLAC BAY BOOK COMMITTEE
GOLDFIELDS OF THE SOUTH JOHN HALL-JONES MORE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN RUNS
H.BEATTIE
THE SOUTH EXPLORED JOHN HALL-JONES
STEWART ISLAND VISITORS GUIDE
DICTIONARY OF NZ BIOGRAPHY VOL I
FROM GOLDFIELD TO FIELDS OF GREEN
MARJORY A SMITH
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