A note on the text: We have not corrected Sarah’s spelling or punctuation in these transcriptions, the better to preserve the fragmentary and fugitive effect of the handwritten notes. For the same reason we have preserved Sarah’s corrections and alterations where they occur in her journal entries.
Journal 1: February-October 1860
Eight handwritten pages on faintly ruled paper from an exercise book or similar. The pages are unbound and there were probably more after April and before the September entries. Each page measures 201 x 164mm.
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Spent the day at Mrs P Marshall law proclaimed
24 fine busy making preparations but do not intend leaving until ordered by the Colonel Lieut. Colonel George Murray commander of the Troops in Taranaki
25 fine Mr Gardner came up & offered to take one of the family if it was found necessary to go to town
26 fine Sunday Emily came up
27 fine Sunday Frances to church Emily came up
28 fine
29 fine
29 March fine Corbyn to town
March 1 removed to the Henui 1842 X
Edwin & Corbyn called on to attend the Militia Force sworn in the Governor arrived with 2 steamers 250 soldiers firearms &c &c
2 fine Frances to Mrs Standishes Mr Parris & Rogan went to see William King his answer to the Governor was that he will not give up the land
3 fine Mr Harris’ birthday Very unsettled not knowing if we shall be obliged to remove to town 70 carts preped to go to the Waitera with the soldiers Baggages
4 fine Sunday all quiet
5 fine 56 Reg marched to the Waitara
6 fine burnt the pa’s
7 rain
8 fine Baby born 1841 died March 12 1841 X
All the girls left for the Henui sent furniture in
9 Rain busy preparing to leave
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10 fine Left home for the Henui being unsafe to remain in the country during the war found the girls had made the house very comfortable they left before me a few days
11 fine Kate & Frances went to the Henui Church. Mr H came to dine he called on the Chilmans’ Emily Corbyn & Moore to tea
12 fine Beginning to feel a little at home. The girls walked to the beach Mrs & Mr Gardner called
13 fine Walked with Kate & Frances to the town posted a newspaper to Mrs Rendel called on Mrs S Smith the Hays Mrs D Mrs M brought us some peaches
14 fine Emily Harris born 1837 Mr Richardson brought some apples up in his carriage from Mrs King. Mr Richardson took the girls up in his carriage to Glenavon the children walked to the beach
15 fine at home the girls went out to walk in the evening I walked on the beach in the morning with the two youngest
16 fine
17 fine The English & natives commenced firing fighting one soldier killed 1 wounded 1 volunteer wounded I was very anxious as Edwin & Corbyn were in the bush they came to us about 7 o’clock a messenger was sent to tell them to leave I put the children clean things on for Sunday & they went to bed dressed in case we should have to take refuge in the Church which all the women and children were to fly to if they heard the great guns fire twice (at Waitara
18 Sunday rain the pa taken the natives made their escape
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19 rain The pa was taken the Maoris had made their escape
20 Emily Harris born 1837
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22
23 rain Sent a paper to Mrs Rendel Mrs Flight called
24 rain We all left the Henui took part of a native chapel in the town pa
very busy dividing the rooms. Great alarm in the night when we were all asleep
200 of the soldiers march’d up from Waitara all the volunteers & soldiers went out to Honeyfield farm where a number of hostile natives had assembled & were building a Pa & killing the sheep the force was too week to make an attack on them as they the pa was in the bush Sent a letter to Emma
25 Sunday fine
26 An eclipse of the sun nearly a total eclipse seen at New Ply in 1857
27 fine
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28 fine Great alarm that the Maoris were advancing on the town Papa & Corbyn went off in great hurry with their guns Volunteers Militia & Soldiers went out to meet them & the blue jackets on engagement I with Frances & Kate remained in the street to wait the return of the men until 12
29 fine
All of us harassed & tired out Mr Browns family brought in by native chief friendly) the enemy engaged in picking up their dead, it took 14 carts to carry away the dead & wounded & a great many left
30 fine Capt Cracroft took the Niger down the coast & fired on the Pa’s
31 fine the Governor left
Breakfasted with Mr Sharland saw the family all off to the steamer Airedale with a number of other families for Nelson a quiet night
April 1st fine Arrived in New Zealand 1841
Went to church heard Mr Brown Mr G dined with us Corbyn went to the bush with an escort of militia
2 April fine busy
3 fine I walked to Mrs Sharlands farm & on the beach with Mrs Hay – Mr H & Corbyn out all night together
4 fine Militia volunteers & troops inspected by Col Gold he said the militia & volunteers had acted splendidly in the late engagement with the natives The Wonga Wonga came in & the Tasmanian Maid. Sent a paper to Mrs Hill
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[Pages missing]
Sep 9 Sunday went to church twice with Mr H
10 fine Expedition to the Waitara went to Mrs Standishes to stay the day
11 fine Mr Gardner called Mrs G ill I went to see her Mr Leach buried Mr H attended
12 rain at home writing all day
13 rain Airedale in received letters from Nelson posted one to Mrs Hill & H Harris with the sermons in them answered Mr Moore’s note
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21
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1860 Mrs Veals
Jan 23 Hannah Emma Clara & John Veal commenced
March 19th 2 months due Paid
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22 Sep
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
October
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3
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Journal 2: February-March 1860
Four handwritten pages on faintly ruled paper from an exercise book or similar. There were probably pages after 31 March 1860 because pages 3 and 4 list names of English Harris relatives. Each page measures 230 x 186mm.
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1860 Martial Law. Proclaimed February 23rd by Lieut Colonel George Freeman Murray Commander of the Troops in Taranaki New Zealand
March 1st Mr Harris & son sworn in the Militia Force Governor G Brown arrived with two steamers 250 soldiers fire arms &c &c
2 Mr Parris & Mr Rogan with the Governor’s ultimatum went to the Waitera to see William King reminding him that if blood should be shed it will lie at his door His answer to the Governor was that he will not give up the land
3 Mr Harris’ birth day. 70 carts prepped to go to the Waitera with soldiers baggage &c &c
5th 56 Reg marched to the Waitera
6 Burnt the Pa’s
8th Sent all our Girls to the Henui to a house belonging to Mr Chilman for safety. All the country settlers crowding into the town
10th I left our farm to join the girls at the Henui
14 Mr Richardson took Kate & Frances to Glenavon in his carriage to get apples
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1860
March 17th The English & Natives commenced fighting. 1 soldier killed 1 wounded 1 Volunteer wounded (sailor who [illegible word]
Mr Harris & Corbyn came in from the farm a messenger being sent out to tell them it was unsafe to remain there In case we should have to take refuge in the church we all lay down on our own beds [illegible word] with clothes on without undressing
18 Pah taken, natives made their escape
19 Mr Harris first night on duty from five in the evening until seven in the morning
20 Hugh C Harris’s first night on duty
24 We all left the Henui for the native chapel in the town Pah
28th The Glorious Battle of Waraki against the rebels who were marching on the town
29th The Rev Mr Browns family brought in by friendly natives from their house at Omata where they had been surrounded by the enemy, who were engaged in picking up the dead it took 14 carts to carry away the dead & wounded & many left behind.
30 The Governor left for Auckland
31 Mr Sharland arrived from England left same day with his family for Nelson & a great many others.
June 4 Militia volunteers & troops inspected by Colonel Gold who said the militia & volunteers had acted splendidly in the late engagement with the natives
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[Pages missing]
George Dobson Civil Engineer
Resident Engineer of Holy Head Breakwater
Married Augusta third daughter of James Harris & sister of Edwin Harris, six sons one daughter
Austin the eldest. In the board of Trade where he has been years 1860
Charles Dobson is in one of Greens vessels as midshipson 1860
now Master in the Navy 1867
Hamilton called after Col Hamilton Smith civil engineer James Murray in Mr Hawkshaw’s office with Hamilton
Willie
James Harris – Artist Plymouth. England
Eldest brother of Edwin Harris.
Married Elizabeth Oak daughter of Captain Oak
Captain of King William the Fourth’s yacht Portsmouth
Elizabeth died his wife died Issue James, Jane, Eliza & Kate
James Jun died his son died
Miss Maria Good favourite aunt of Edwin Harris & sister of his mother who always lived in the family a great many years
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[in pencil at top of page] 9 Hyde Park St
The Rendel family
James Meadows Rendel civil engineer F.R.S. married Catherine Harris, daughter of Mr James Harris of Plymouth Devon England. James Meadow Rendel died November the 21st ult leaving a widow and 3 daughters Edith Fanny Emily & four sons Meadows, Stuart, George & Hamilton
Meadows the eldest married Miss Lila Hobson daughter of Capt Hobson first Governor of New Zealand
Meadows took his degree at Cambridge but is now a civil engineer
Stuart married Miss Hubbard daughter of Mr Hubbard St Leonards lodge Sussex late governor of the Bank of England
Stuart Rendel took his degree at Oxford George Rendel Partner with Sir W Armstrong Newcastle
Hamilton
Fanny married Bowen Barrister
Emily Rendell married Wedgewood Esq of Stafford
Edith