James Coley, early Foxton resident

Verna Dunn (nee Coley), formerly of Levin, now living on the Goldcoast, Queensland, Australia, has researched the Coleys of Foxton and has shared it on Kete Horowhenua.

• The Story of James Coley, Foxton - Part 1

James Coley 1828-1901 The first Coley to arrive in New Zealand

Married Rebecca Massey

From ruin to respectability

The story of a New Zealand child convict from the age of thirteen years old to his death at seventy three.

Written by Verna Coley - Great Great Granddaughter.

James Coley was neither rich nor famous but came from ruin to respectability. He was born in Sussex, England, possibly in the township of Newick. His true parentage has not been proven as James was not registered nor baptized but I believe that his parents were William Coley born 1801 and Elizabeth Budgen. William and Elizabeth had six children Mary, Charles, James, William, Henry, George these are the names that James and his wife Rebecca gave to their children. This does not occur in any of the other Coley’s who lived in Newick at the time James was born. Also there is a connection with the names of William and Elizabeth, names which James and Rebecca used to name their first and second children. It is my conclusion is that James was born in Newick, Sussex, England to William and Elizabeth Coley. James did not have much of a childhood he was abused and neglected by his parents and by the age of ten was working as a chimney sweep boy around the Newick area.

It would appear at 13 years old that James was heading for a life of crime, on 13^th September 1839 he was convicted with housebreaking and Larceny, he pleaded guilty and on the 31^st December 1839 James was committed to stand trial, the Magistrate was J. H. Slater. Case 28 Quarter Session Court records state that James Coley with a friend John Martin broke into the premises of a James Jacob West by breaking a shop window and stealing one cake, value three shillings and sixpence, eighteen buns, value eighteen pence and four pounds of bread value sixpence. The value of those goods today would be about 59 cents (N Z) James was sentenced at the Lewes Court House, Sussex and received a ten year prison sentence. On 6^th June 1841 James was sent to Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight to be retrained and transported, the prison report states that James had been abused and neglected by his parents, but could read. Boys of Parkhurst would be pardoned on arrival in the colonies (some to New Zealand but mainly to Tasmania, Australia) as long as they took up apprenticeships of a two year period. Quakers of England at the time had arranged for the segregation of young offenders who were not hardened criminals. This would be the equivalent of Borstal or Juvenile Detention today. All the boys were to be taught to read and write and also taught a useful trade. James was trained to be a tailor, as a tailor he would make the uniforms for the inmates. Parkhurst Prison was built as a military hospital in 1805, and then transformed to a prison for boys awaiting deportation, as part of the Parkhurst act of 1835.

James left the Port of Portsmouth [near the Isle of Wight] on the 3^rd June 1842 never to return to his home and family on board the ship “St George” a Barque under Captain Surghrue with 92 other Parkhurst boys. The Ship stopped at Rio de Janeiro for five days for food and water and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on the 24^th September 1842. My research has found some discrepancy about the departure and arrival dates. There is a record of the “St George” leaving England on 31^st May 1842 and arriving at Auckland 25^th November 1842

James was 15 years old when he arrived in New Zealand, the boys were taken in by the Immigration Agent and Harbour Master Captain David Rough who was appointed as the official Guardian to the boys and he immediately tendered them in the Government Gazette as farm labourers. The boys were technically under the control of the acting Governor Shorland.

The transportation of the Parkhurst Boys, then called Immigrant Boys is a dark chapter in the history of New Zealand, unpublicized except in the newspapers of the day. The authorities in New Zealand were not happy about the boys being sent to New Zealand as it was to be a convict free colony. After the second ship the “Mandarin” arrived in 1843 and much protest from the Governor no more boys were sent. Many of the boys were treated with open hostility by some of the good citizens of Auckland. Some of the boys went back to a life of petty crime; there is no evidence of any charges against James. In 1842 Auckland did not have much use for tailors [this was trade James was taught] most of the boys were sent to farms as apprentices. James was apprenticed as a farm boy to W S Fairburn on the 6^th December 1842 it appears that James may have worked for Mr. Fairburn for at least 5years, with his pay being ten shillings for the first year then one, two, three, four, five, up to six pound respectively for the next years. It is stated in James’s obituary that he worked for the Commissariat [Department for the supply of goods] at Ruapekepeke, milling the timber at Onehunga. He is listed as being a "Timber Merchant" on his son George's birth certificate in 1856. James sent away one of the first shipments of timber in the brig called “Hargraves”. It is also stated that he served in the Waikato Maori Wars.

A Story : My Grandfather William Edward Coley was told the story that his Grandfather James Coley had been a Jockey for Queen Victoria [But I think that would be somewhat of a fable as he was in Parkhurst Prison at 13 years old] But my research has found that he was a jockey in Auckland at the age of about 21 years old. James also owned a couple of race horses called “St Patrick” and “Cocky”

Another story: James was caught in an orchard, having stolen apples and that he was caught tickling trout. [I have no evidence of this happening]

James was living in Mt. Eden Auckland when he met Rebecca Massey, they were married on the 8^th May 1848 in St Pauls Church, Waitemata Auckland [This is the oldest church in Auckland] by Rev. Churton. After their marriage James and Rebecca lived in Big Muddy Creek, Onehunga, Auckland on a 100 acre farm. Rebecca had five of her eleven children while living in Auckland. William James, Rebecca Elizabeth, Henry, Robert John, and George Charles. In about 1859 the family moved to Otago in the South Island of New Zealand where I have information that Mary Jane was born in 1862. I have not been able to find a birth registration for her but James and Rebecca were living at Waitahuna at the time Mary Jane was born.

James was an experienced horseman and saw money in settling up a carting business in the Otago Goldfields carting goods to the diggings they lived in the small gold town of Waitahuna, in Otago. James’s daughter Rebecca Elizabeth wrote in her Bible that she attended school there. Waitahuna was a small gold mining town between Milton and Lawrence. From Lawrence the miners travelled a short distance to Gabriel’s Gully one of the riches gold mining areas in New Zealand. James and his family lived in Otago for five to six years, there next move was to Wellington, New Zealand in 1864, they lived in Thorndon North and Bidwill Street Wellington. Their next child Alfred was born in Wellington in 1865. Rebecca had another three children in Wellington Charlotte Ann, Frederick Theophilus, and Edward Arthur. Three of their older children married in Wellington. Rebecca Elizabeth married Theophilus Easton, Henry married Olive Swafford, and Robert John married Elizabeth Pudney. James worked as a carter and general carrier in and around the Wellington area. James also tendered for the completion of Adelaide Road in Wellington and won the contract on 16^th May 1868 at the price of 76 pound 10 shillings which was much cheaper than his rivals. James didn't have it easy in October 1869 James was declared bankrupt and three of his horses, a cart and harness were sold at Auction. James always had an interest in horse racing and in March 1873 he purchased the right from the Wellington Jockey Club to erect stables to rent to the race horse owners. James was not discouraged when he became bankrupt as he went into the sale of general goods such drapery, sheeting, blankets men’s and boy’s clothing in Wellington and on 12^th February 1875 all of James Coley entire stock was put up for Auction this happened just before the family made the move to Foxton where James and Rebecca were to live for the rest of their lives. James again carried on his carting business. His sons George and Henry also worked then owned their own carting business, the Coley Stable was in Cook Street Foxton, they were known for their fine draft horses. They carted goods from Wellington to Wanganui along the coast route. In May 1879 James was to become a councillor in the Foxton Council he took his first seat in a meeting on 21^st May 1879. James was instrumental in the push for the naming of the streets in Foxton in 1880. Sometime after moving to Foxton James again sold drapery, clothing, and general goods this appears to be in Wellington and once again he was declared Bankrupt in June 1883

James and Rebecca lived in Coley Street Foxton 1883, I am not sure of their address before that date. James was a religious man this probably started when he was a child in Parkhurst Prison as they were very strict on religious instruction. It was stated in James's obituary that he was the bell ringer at the All Saints Church [there is a brass plaque recording his service there] and occupied a place in the vestry for many years and attended church regularly although most of his children were married in his home by the Presbyterian minister Rev. Duncan. He was a keen gardener he would enter his vegetables in shows and won many prizes. In about 1892 at the age of 65 he retired from work and devoted more time to the cultivation of his garden.

James died on Monday evening at 23 minutes past 11 on the 28^th January 1901 at his residence in Coley Street. He was 73 Years of age and was attended by his children. James had been ill for 9 months and bedridden for many weeks before his death. His death was caused by a malignant disease of the stomach. James and Rebecca lived to see their oldest son William James die after a fall from a horse, two of their sons George Charles and Henry became councillors of Foxton and their youngest daughter Alice sadly died when she was only 28 years old.

James and Rebecca Coley with courage and determination overcame hardship and despair to become one of the pioneers of New Zealand. By the time James had died in 1901 and Rebecca in 1908 they had made their mark on the country. When Rebecca died in 1908 she had 67 grandchildren and 34 Great Grandchildren. Both James and Rebecca are buried in Foxton cemetery New Zealand.

As of January 2010 I have researched over 2000 descendants of James and Rebecca

Written in 2005 by Verna Coley Great Great Granddaughter

Copyright 2005, Revised 2007, Revised 2010, Revised Mar 2014

vernadunn@yahoo.com.au

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Photos for James Coley

James would have used a horse & cart to take goods to the gold diggings.

The Presbyterian Church where James was the bell ringer:

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church is the oldest building in town. New Zealand's first Presbyterian Missionary, James Duncan, raised funds from all over the Wellington Province to pay for the church, which opened in 1867. It was used as a church until 1970 and became the home of the Foxton Little Theatre in 1971.

Early Onehunga Auckland, this is what it would have looked like when James & Rebecca lived there.

Photo from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onehunga

From: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~tonyf/Fencibles/onehunga.jpg

Foxton School 1909

From: www.teara.govt.nz

Foxton in 1868

On the left of this photograph are the barracks used for housing immigrant settlers when thay had to wait for railway transport after they had arrived at the port of Foxton. It was also used as the Borough Council office when it was formed in 1888.At the back can be seen the privately owned public hall after which the street it is located in, Hall Street, was named. Originally this thoroughfare was known as Loudon Street.

In the middle of the photo is the Court House, built c1865. This section also housed the district's first policeman, John Purcell, appointed in 1867. The Court House was not just used by the judicial system but also by several groups for meetings. Sittings of the Maori Land Court were also held here for, in early years, the only other village in the area was Otaki. This Court House was used until 1929 when it was replaced by the building now housing the Museum of Foxton History

Foxton 1878:

Researcher Verna Coley

vernadunn@yahoo.com.au

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Rebecca Coley

Rebecca [Rebekah] Massey was born on 9^th February 1832 her parents were James Massey and Mary Poole, she was born in Hobart Tasmania, Australia. Her father James Massey was in the British Military he may have been sent to Tasmania as a British soldier to look after the convicts. This must have taken place before 1830 as both his daughters were born there, the family sailed back to England, between 1832 and 1842 as they were living in Cambridgeshire, England in 1842 it was stated in the New Zealand shipping records that Rebecca's brother Robert was born there in 1842.

The lore of a better life and the promise of land and a small cottage drove Rebecca's parents to immigrate to New Zealand in 1847.

Rebecca sailed to New Zealand with her parents, her older sister Mary Ann and brother Robert on the ship called "Sir George Seymour". It left Gravesend, London, England 12^th August 1847 and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on 26^th November 1847. There was a great deal of illness on board the ship and Rebecca was admitted to the Colonial Hospital on her arrival in Auckland.

Rebecca's father, James Massey was a "Fencible" in the British Army based in Auckland, New Zealand, he was a private in the 63rd regiment.

The Royal New Zealand Fencibles were enrolled in England in 1846 - 47. The Corps consisted of discharged British soldiers and sailors, who were of good character, under 48 years of age (it was later lowered to 41), with a minimum of 15 years’ service. Each were enrolled to serve seven years and were offered free passage for themselves and their families with pay ranging from 6 pence to 1 shilling and 3 pence a day, in addition to their pensions, they were offered an acre of ground and a cottage.

Rebecca's father, James Massey sadly died in May 1848 six months after their arrival. He is buried St Thomas Church yard, Kohimarama Rd, Tamaki, Mt Eden, Auckland. Mary Massey, Rebecca's mother then married George Washington at St Pauls Church on 9^th October 1848; the same year James Massey her first husband died, George was also was also a Fencible. George Washington’s, first wife Esther and son George Jnr, immigrated to New Zealand on the same ship as James and Mary Massey aboard the "Sir George Seymour” his wife Esther died of dysentery on board ship just four days out from arriving in Auckland. George Jnr. their son, died shortly after arriving in Auckland in 1847. Although Mary's first husband James had died she was granted land a 6 acre farm at Pakuranga, Auckland (near Howick) this was granted on 20^th May 1852 number [A3-561-5G-102] George Washington was granted a 6 acre farm number [A3-560-5G-313] on the same day next to Mary's who was now his wife. Mary Massey-Washington, Rebecca's mother died on 12^th June 1865 at the age of 60 years of breast cancer. George Washington, Rebecca's stepfather married again in 1865 the same year that Mary died to a Fencible's widow Ann Harcourt who was the widow of James Harcourt.

Rebecca married James Coley when she was 16 years old on 8^th May 1848 at St Pauls Church, Waitemata, Auckland. Rebecca had her first child on 10^th September 1849 in Howick, Auckland. They named the child William James and he was registered by his material Grandmother Mary Washington but his name was misspelt and is spelt as Colley. Rebecca and James settled in Onehunga, Auckland where they had 4 more children.

Rebecca and James had 11 children they are as follows:

Rebecca was 47 years old when she had her last child.

Rebecca moved with her husband James Coley to the Otago goldfields, where he was a carter, then Wellington before they settled in Foxton. Rebecca lived to see two of her sons become councillors in Foxton these sons also owned Flaxmills and were also in the Carting business. One son owned shops in Wellington and had rental properties. The other sons worked as carters, farm hands and in the Flaxmills.

It was said that Rebecca was a skilled nurse, she was the local midwife and helped many babies into the world around the Foxton area. It was said that she was kindly and hospitable, held in great respect by all that she was acquainted with. She was one of the first women on the electoral roll in 1883. It is interesting to note that Rebecca spelt her name as Rebekah. Rebecca died 11^th June 1908 she was 76years old, [her death certificate states she was 64 years old] she died of a intestinal obstruction, pneumonia, heart failure she lasted 10 days. Her last address was Johnston Street, Foxton. At the time of her death Rebecca had 67 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. Rebecca is buried alongside her husband in the Foxton cemetery. Their graves were revamped some years ago, James and Rebecca are both true pioneers of the Foxton area.

Written by Verna Coley

Great Great Granddaughter

Copyright 2005 Revised 2010, Revised Jan 2014

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