William Harris

Occupation: Sawyer, Farmer

Birth sighted on the Shere Parish records Film. birth written as 18 Oct. Christened: 17 November 1839, Shere, Surrey, England

Census 1841 with his parents and grandmother Sarah (although wrongly entered as Mary) at Albury Surrey.

Travelled to New Zealand aboard the George Fife 1842, at age 3

Married at Mr London's hotel, where his brother George had been killed in a fire six years before. Mr London was Henry William Snr who was married to Frances Sophia nee Monk. Mr London's sister, Mary is witness as well as David Clark..

Electoral Roll

• 1865-81 Horokiwi Valley, Freehold, Horokiwi house and land, section 2
• W HARRIS, farmer, Pauatahanui, 1878, (nzgenweb)
• Electoral Rolls 1893 Horokiwi Valley, Freehold, Farmer, section 2 Horokiwi

Obituary

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 148, 26 June 1928, Page 11

Another old pioneer, and a highly respected Pahautanui farmer, Mr William Harris, died on Friday last and was buried at Pahautanui on Sunday, the Rev Mr Swainsn officiating a the Anglican Church and at the graveside. The large attendance at the funeral was eloquent of the esteem in which the late Mr Harris was held. Practically every family in the district was represented, and many came long distances. Mr. Harris arrived in New Zealand with his parents, the late Mr. and mrs. David Harris, in 1842, when three years of age, in the ship George Fife. The family first resided on the old Porirua Road, near what is now known as Khandallah, and in 1853 took up farm land in Pahautanui, where the parents died, each at the age of over eighty years. The original family of four boys and four daughters, one having died on the way out, was reared at Pahautanui, and many descendants still have their homes there. The late Mr. Harris had a wonderful fund of information as to the early days and doings of the Wellington District, and his excellent memory and keen sense of humour made him a most interesting raconteur to many who took pleasure in visiting him, including members of the Early Settlers' Association. He married Miss Caroline Clark, and reared a family of five boys and five girls, of whom nine are still living - James and Mrs D. Carter, at Pahiatua; Thomas John Stephen and Mesdames Stephen and Thomas Jones at Pahautanui; George, at Eketahuna; David, at Albany, Auckland; Mrs David Gardner, at Whakatane; and Mrs Andrew Anderson, at Te Kuiti. A grandson, Mr Edward Clyde Harris, lives at Pahautanui. Two brothers, Messrs Henry and David Harris, still live on the old family property at Pahautanui, and two sisters, Mesdames Gilchrist and Spicer are residents of Palmerston North. Mr Harris had almost reached his ninetieth year and would probably have lived some years longer but for an accident which entailed his removal to te Wellington Hospital, where he died. Of him it may truthfully be said that he died full of years and good works.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 140, 15 June 1928, Page 11
A few minutes before 6 o'clock yesterday morning the City Ambulance received a call to a farmer, William Harris, aged 89, residing with his relatives near Pahautanui, who had received injuries to his spine when he fell while crossing a room. The ambulances brought the injured man to Wellington, and he was admitted to the Public Hospital at 8:45 p.m.

Buried: Pauatahanui, New Zealand