The Second FROUDE Family In New Zealand

The second FROUDE family in New Zealand were Robert and Priscilla FROUDE and children, though they did go back to England between 1869 and 1881.

Robert FROUDE (1837-1923) arrived in New Zealand on the “Mary Ann” on 24^th September 1858, having escorted his brother David’s wife and daughter out to New Zealand. He was single when he arrived but it was not long before he met Priscilla WHITE.

From the book, White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of  Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 To 1900

Captain Ashby's first trip was in 1858 in the barque Mary Ann. Among the passengers on this occasion was Mr. Robert Froude, who in 1862 married Miss White, daughter of Mr. Henry White, who arrived at Auckland with his wife and family by the ship Westminster in 1842. During 1922 the happy couple celebrated their diamond jubilee at Howick. The following year, in March, 1923, at the ripe age of 85, Mr. Froude passed away. Mrs. Froude is now in her 84th year, and is still residing at Howick. Mr. Henry White the father of Mrs. Froude, assisted in the construction of Partington's old mill in Karangahape Road; also the old mill in Little Queen Street and the stone foundations of Pitt Street Methodist Church. The Mary Ann sailed from Auckland the same year for London, taking Home the officers and men of the 58th Regiment.

For information on Partington Mill, an Auckland landmark for 100 years, see here.

 The picture below is of Queen Street in 1852, with the Mill on the Karangahape Road Ridge.

 

Southern Cross Newspaper 20th Oct 1862 Marriage Notice.

On 15th inst, at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hobson St., by Rev John WARREN, Robert FROUDE, late of Belfast to Priscilla, eldest daughter of Mr Henry WHITE, of Auckland.

Robert was 25 and Priscilla was 21 when they married, Robert having been born in Belfast in 1837 (the exact date not known) and Priscilla having been born in Heamoor, Madron, Cornwall, England on 19 July 1841.

Their first child was Emmeline Alice FROUDE, born 1864 in Auckland, who married Robert BYCROFT in 1893.

Their second child was Edith Sarah FROUDE, born in 1866 in Auckland and who died in 1870 in Salford, Lancashire, England. So it appears the family made a trip back to England and visited his brother Thomas FROUDE (1827-1920), who lived with his wife Sarah (MCCAULEY) in Salford.

It was there in 1869 that Robert Henry the third child and first boy was born. He was the only son to reach adulthood and married Mary Jane LAVER in 1891.

Their fourth child was Alfred who was born and died in 1870 at Salford.

Their fifth child, Helena FROUDE also died young, being born in 1873 at Salford and died of bronchitis on 21 March 1874.

Their sixth child was Mabel Priscilla FROUDE born in 1874 at Salford who married George NEWELL in 1899 in Auckland.

Their seventh child was Lizzie White FROUDE born in 1876 in Salford who married Thomas McGREGGOR

Their eighth child was Mildred FROUDE born in 1878 in Salford who became a Nurse and didn’t marry.

Their ninth child was Ethel Mary FROUDE born in 1879 in Salford and who also did not marry.

By 1881 when Jessie Probert FROUDE was born they were back in Auckland. Jessie was also a Nurse and she did not marry.

Their eleventh child was Hilda May FROUDE born in 1886 in Auckland and went on to marry John ARMITAGE in 1913. I am not aware of any children for this couple.
Both the Westminster and Claudine ran aground in Walpole Bay in November 1840. They were repaired and refloated and continued service for the English East India Company, the Westminster then bringing Priscilla out to New Zealand in 1842. The Westminster is on the left.

 

 

The First FROUDE Family in New Zealand

The First FROUDE family in New Zealand were David FROUDE (1830-1912) and his wife, Margaret  (1839 - 1873) nee AGNEW, and their daughter,  Margaret Jane, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, about 1857, who arrived here on the "Mary Ann" on the 24th September 1858. They were accompanied by Robert FROUDE, David’s brother. The ship left Gravesend, London on the 31st May 1858, carrying 117 passengers.

The "Mary Ann" was constructed in 1835 at Yarmouth, Norfolk. The 723 ton ship had been used to carry troops during the Crimean War (1853 - 1856).

 David is not listed amongst the passengers. He came out on an earlier ship, the “Tamar”.

ARRIVAL OF THE TAMAR

The New Zealander January 30th 1858

The barque Tamar, with Captain J ROSS, which arrived in harbour on Thursday at 4 a.m., has made a better passage than any of the last three or four English ships preceding her, having accomplished the run from Gravesend, whence she took her departure on 11 October, in 108 days.

David will have sent mail back to Margaret. Mail in those days took 3 or 4 months to get to England from New Zealand.

Isabella Gibson FROUDE, the couple's second child, was born on the 27 June 1859 in Auckland, nine months after the arrival of Margaret in Auckland. See here.

David and Margaret had married on the 3rd November 1856 in Belfast.

This picture is not of the "Mary Ann" but just a general picture which indicates what it was like on the sailing ships. I have been unable to find a picture of the "Mary Ann".

Next to arrive in the family was Lillian (Lilly) FROUDE who was born 26 Dec 1862 in Auckland. She later moved to Australia.

Then followed  a David FROUDE and a Louisa FROUDE both of whom died as babies.

Then came James Candlett FROUDE born 15 Jan 1866 in Auckland. He also moved to Australia

Alice Emmeline FROUDE was born in Auckland on the 20 February 1867.

In 1869 there was an un-named girl who died at or near birth.

In 1871 Ezekiel Burgoyne FROUDE was born in Auckland, the Burgoyne name probably coming in recognition of Jane Randell Burgoyne FROUDE, David's Aunt who arrived in New Zealand in 1840.

Finally Edith Mary FROUDE completed the family being born on the 1st March 1873 in Auckland. Tragically her mother Margaret died the same day.

At this stage the family consisted of 5 girls and 2 boys, with the oldest girl, Margaret, now 16. It must of been a case of the older girls having to look after their father and the younger children, until Jane Margaret arrived in the family.

David was to marry Jane Margaret HARDING (1836 - 1895) on the 25 April 1877 at the Wesleyan Church at Onehunga.

FROUDEs Who Arrived In New Zealand In The 19th Century

 

Year	Name	Born	Ship
1840	Jane Randell Burgoyne FROUDE	1798	Buffalo
1858	David FROUDE	1830	Tamara
1858	Margaret Jane AGNEW	1839	Mary Ann
1858	Margaret Jane FROUDE	1856	Mary Ann
1858	Robert FROUDE	1837	Mary Ann
1865	John FROUDE	1826	Viscount Canning
1865	Jane Berry MILLER	1819	Viscount Canning
1865	Eleanor Jane FROUDE	1857?	Viscount Canning
1865	Mary Ann FROUDE	1863	Viscount Canning
1881	Robert FROUDE	1851	Sydenham ?
1882	Sarah Ann DEAN	1852	Remington
1882	Sarah Dean FROUDE	1875	Remington
1882	Annie FROUDE	1877	Remington
1882	Isabella Dean FROUDE	1879	Remington
1882	Lillian FROUDE	1881	Remington

As far as my research tells me these are the only FROUDEs who came to and lived in New Zealand before 1900.

In addition there was a visit to New Zealand by the famous Historian, James Anthony FROUDE, who arrived here on the 3rd March 1885. See here.

 David FROUDE's wife, Margaret Jane (nee AGNEW) and daughter Margaret Jane FROUDE appear to have come out to New Zealand accompanied by David's brother, Robert.

John (1830), Robert (1837) and David (1830) FROUDE are brothers and nephews of Jane FROUDE and possibly it were her letters back to the family that inspired them to set off for New Zealand.

Robert FROUDE (1851), was a nephew of John, David and Robert, being the son of their brother, Thomas (1827). Robert's (1851) wife, Sarah Ann DEAN came out with their four youngest daughters on a separate voyage to Robert. Robert arrived in New Zealand on the 21 March 1881, and sent word back for the family to come out. Sarah Ann and children departed from London on January 14 1882 and arrived in Auckland on the 1st May 1882. It must have been quite a task for Sarah, getting all the children from the Manchester area, where they lived, across to London to catch the voyage of the Remington. Then there was the long voyage coping with children who were six, four and two years old together with baby Lillian, and no husband to help her.

The picture below shows the "Remington" photographed several years after their voyage, and by this time owned by a Norwegian company.

 

The First FROUDE To Marry In New Zealand

 

St Pauls Church drawn by Edward AINSWORTH 1843

Jane Randell Burgoyne FROUDE married John PROBERT on the 31 May 1842 at St Pauls Church in Auckland.

Auckland is a huge city these days but in 1842 there were only 2,000 inhabitants. Though few in number they were determined to have a place to worship. So on a site at the end of Princes Street, Governor HOBSON laid the foundation stone for St Pauls on the 28th. July 1841.

On 27th October 1841, Bishop Selwyn was consecrated first Bishop of New Zealand, and an impetus was given to the work by funds raised by him in England, and his subsequent arrival in the colony on the 30th May, 1842.  So it seems likely Bishop Selwyn was at the marriage ceremony of John and Jane held on 31st May 1842.

St. Paul’s, when the troops were here, was always the garrison church, and it was where every Governor of the colony when in Auckland has worshipped. During the Northern Maori War, the church was strengthened and barricaded as a refuge for the women and children when the natives threatened the town.

This painting by William FOX in 1849 of Auckland shows the spire of St Pauls in the middle left and graphically illustrates the smallness of the settlement in the early days.
As mentioned previously Jane came out in 1840 as Nanny to Governor Hobson's children. See here.
Jane was born on the 9th September 1798 in Dartmouth, Devon, England and so was 43 when she married John PROBERT. John was 26. The couple had no issue.

John PROBERT arrived in New Zealand in 1840 also. I've yet to find what he did prior to coming to New Zealand. He was born in Salford, Manchester, Lancashire, England on the 5th December 1815. The following details are taken from his substantial headstone at St Andrews in Epsom, Auckland.

John PROBERT
who died 25 July 1890 aged 75 years
"Born in Machester, England and came to this colony in 1840. He bequeathed a portion of his means to his relatives, the Auckland YMCA, Wesleyan New Guinea and Home Missions and the residue to endow a Wesleyan Theological college in the Auckland district.

He was an unostentatious and exemplary christian and died in perfect peace and the faith of the gospel."

Sacred also to the memory of his wife Jane Randell Burgoyne Froude who departed this life 2 Nov 1893 aged 95 years

"I will both lay me down in peace and sleep"

According to the National Probate Calendar in England his personal estate was 920 pounds. He left 100 pounds to his brother, some must have gone to pay for the headstone and the rest went to other relatives and the Wesleyan church. His brother William Gadsby PROBERT was so upset that he didn't receive more he committed suicide, according to a newspaper report.
See here.

However also see this newspaper report written by the Trustees of John PROBERT's will, which indicates John PROBERT was actually very generous to both William and all the relatives and his estate was much larger. Possibly the 900 pounds was just his estate left in England. 

The other side of the story.

 

The First FROUDE Born In New Zealand

Isabella Gibson FROUDE (the first FROUDE born in New Zealand)

Isabella was born in Auckland on the 27 June 1859. She was the daughter of David FROUDE and Margaret Jane AGNEW. Isabella was the first FROUDE to be born in New Zealand and was named after her grandmother on the FROUDE side, Isabella GIBSON.
Unfortunately Isabella's life ended early. She died on 8 Oct 1888 at sea. She was washed overboard along with her infant son on a trip near Australia ref. Ora MCCORD (Drowned off the Maraoa newspaper Christchurch Press, Wednesday 10 Oct 1888.

The newspaper Reports are below:
The Mararoa, which left Auckland at 6 p.m. on October 3, arrived last night. On Sunday, while approaching the coast, she encountered a terrific gale with fearful sea, which continued till yesterday. At half-past 3 in the afternoon she was suddenly struck by an enormous wave of unusual magnitude, which broke on board with disastrous results. The passengers on the hurricane deck had no warning, and being unable to escape were hurled in all directions. Mrs Henderson (a steerage passenger) and her infant child were carried overboard without any chance of help, and drowned. Two other steerage passengers (Mr White and Mr Herbert) each had his leg broken, and one of the seamen named Jones also had his leg fractured. Another child of Mrs Henderson was fortunately caught by the rail, and hung suspended there until the vessel righted when he was rescued. Several other persons received severe bruises. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 9. Mrs Henderson, the lady who was drowned from the Mararoa, was the wife of Mr H Henderson who recently left Auckland for Ballarat where he is now carrying on business. Mrs Henderson left with her three children in the Mararoa last week in order to join her husband.

The picture is of a memorial stone under the Grafton Bridge, Symond Street Cemetery.  The date of death is wrong on the stone. Picture from the Timespanner Blogspot: See the site here.


THE DROWNED PASSENGERS.

From inquiries we have made there appears to be very little doubt that the lady who met with her death under the sad circumstances narrated in the cablegram was a former resident of Auckland. She was the wife of Mr Henry Henderson, an upholsterer in Auckland, who recently proceeded to Ballarat, where he is now carrying on business. Mrs Henderson left with her three children in the Mararoa last week in order to join her husband. She is well-known in Auckland, and prior to her marriage was a Miss Froude, her father being Mr David Froude, of Surrey Hills. Mr Henry Henderson is a brother of Mr John Henderson, painter, of Wyndham-street. The hurricance deck on the Mararoa runs the full length of the vessel, and the second cabin is situated in the after part. None of the saloon passengers sustained any injury.

Isabella had married Henry HENDERSON in 1882. They had 3 children. One was Henry Percival Froude HENDERSON born 1888 and probably the one washed overboard (no records to prove this) and the other two were David Alexander HENDERSON born 1884 and John HENDERSON born 1886.

The First FROUDE in New Zealand

Jane Randell Burgoyne FROUDE (1798-1893) The First Froude in New Zealand

When the HOBSONs took up residence at Government House they had with them as housekeeper Jane FROUDE, later to become Mrs John PROBERT. She had come out from England with the Governor and his wife as nanny to their children, first to Sydney and then to Kororareka and then Auckland. Her brother (sic, actually nephew) Robert reached Auckland from Belfast on the "Mary Ann" in 1858, served in the second Maori War from the Drury outpost and married Priscilla WHITE, infant passenger on the "Westminster's" 1842 voyage.

Jane's husband, John Probert, was a carpenter with a flair for business and became wealthy from his enterprises and from investments in property. He was a generous contributor to projects of the Methodist Church, to which he left a considerable legacy on his death.

Jane left Plymouth as Nanny, with Hobson, his wife (Eliza ELLIOT), their three children and five servants. They left on Aug 25th 1839 on the "Druid". The voyage was not eventful except that the HOBSON family was increased by the birth of a daughter. They arrived at Port Jackson on 24 Dec 1839. Jane, Hobson and his suite disembarked at Sydney on the 27th Dec. Hobson spent about three weeks in Sydney before departing for N.Z. in H.M.S. Herald, leaving his wife and family in Sydney.

He embarked on Jan 18th 1840, and reached Kororareka on 29th Jan 1840.

Jane and the remainder of the HOBSON family left for New Zealand on the "Buffalo" on April 5 1840. The first troops came across on the same ship under Major Thomas BUNBURY. The "Buffalo" arrived at the Bay of Islands on the 16th April 1840. From the Bay of Islands the Buffalo sailed to Mercury Bay to complete her loading of kauri spars, arriving on July 22, 1840. The vessel sailed from Mercury Bay on July 25, but in consequence of bad weather was compelled to return on the same day. On the 26th a strong easterly gale commenced and increased in violence until on the 28th the Buffalo was driven ashore and became a total wreck.

Jane was 43 when she married John and they had no issue.

Jane(79) and John(62) were witnesses at David Froude's second marriage to Jane HARDING on 25 Apr 1877, at Wesleyan Church, Otahuhu.

Jane was 95 when she died of Paralysis at her home in Great North Road. She was buried at St Andrews Anglican Church in Epsom, Auckland.

 A model of the "Buffalo", the ship Jane FROUDE came out on.