Thomas BARBEN

  General Notes:

Arrived in Wellington, New Zealand on the "London" 12th December 1840. Thomas Barden and Susannah nee Field. In the New Zealand Co. Register of Immigrants who received a free passage to New Zealand was No 1373 Thomas Barden, timber merchant, aged 42, wife Susannah, aged 41 and 3 girls 13, 9, & 7. From the Immigration Register held in London, Application made to Jos.Phipson, 9th June 1840, Thomas Barden, Timber Measurer and Painter,address given as Evans Buildings, Newport St. Bolton Le Moors,Lancashire. Embarkation No. 481.The Bardens and daughters Sarah, Elizabeth and Mary lived in a rough hewn cottage in the lower part of Karori, Wellington until 1846, when they moved to Westshore, Napier and with a Mr Villers could claim to the first white settlers in the district. Their descendents are still living in the Eskdale and Petane districts and are also still scattered in Hawkes Bay. Thomas Barden died 9th October 1855 in Westshore,Hawkes Bay, and was the first burial in Napier cemetery.

"The Barben's, Thomas, Susannah and Mary, moved to Hawkes Bay sometime after 1850. Robina McKain (m Villers and Roe), daughter of Sarah, states in "Early Days" published in 1929, "In 1850, my father, his wife and two little children, and Mr Villers, wife and two children came to Napier and settled at Westshore, where they traded with the Maoris, Š" later she says, "After a time, my mother's parents and their youngest daughter (their second daughter had married and gone to live in Nelson) had arrived from Wellington, also a son of Mr Villers (Charles) aged about 15 yearsŠ." This would certainly suggest that they moved after 1850. I recall a reference, I think in the diary of Sir Donald McLean saying that the McKain family, James and Sarah sailed for Hawkes Bay about 22 Dec 1850. Until 1855 the family was engaged in trading and running an accommodation house. Not until 1855 is there any reference to farming at which time the family moved from Westshore to Petane/Eskdale." ( Note from John Moles)
⁶³

  Noted events in his life were:

• Death Cert. Death: BARBEN, Thomas 55/293 [NZ Deaths Index 1848-1858]
First person buried at Napier Cemetery

Thomas married Susannah FIELD, daughter of William FIELD and Elizabeth, on 18 Oct 1819 in St. Dunstan's,Stepney,London,England.⁶³ (Susannah FIELD was born in 1798 in London,Middlesex,England ⁶³, christened on 14 Jan 1798 in St. Mary Whitechapel,Stepney,London,England,⁶³ died on 22 Oct 1883 in Petane,Hawkes Bay,New Zealand and was buried on 24 Oct 1883 in Eskdale Cemetery,Hawkes Bay,New Zealand ⁶³.)

  Marriage Notes:

1 _UID 2171CD8844E9D41186CEB53A743B7345A3BF