The Patchetts
John and Elizabeth, joined on the voyage by their children John and family, Charles and family, Reuben and his wife and the teenagers William, Robert, George and Elizabeth, departed Gravesend (England) on board the S. S. Leicester on the 22nd of October 1876, arriving in Wellington Harbour on the 20th of January 1877. After crossing Cook Strait on the paddle steamer "Lytttelton" (the journey took 23 hours) the passengers were permitted to stretch their legs at the Boulder Bank before proceeding up the Opawa River to Blenheim. John worked as a farm labourer and farmed a property "Kegworth" in the OLd Renwick Road area.
Joseph Patchett, John and Elizabeth's son, born in Muston, Leicestershire, and his wife Mary, born in Welby, Lincolnshire, decided to follow his parents to New Zealand. On the 3rd of November 1877, Joseph and Mary along with their two children Thomas and Annie departed Plymouth on the ship "Gainsborough". On arrival in New Zealand Joseph worked as a farm labourer and also a maltster (turning barley into malt). He also worked as the first gate controller on the Opawa River traffic/rail bridge which was cpmpleted in 1880.
Joseph and Mary increased their family once in New Zealand adding John, Ellen, Albert, Mary, James, REUBEN, and Edward, who was to die at Colincamps, France, in 1918 during the First world War.
Joseph died at the reasonably young age of 43 on the 22nd of May 1892. He was unable to write, having registered Reuben's birthday with an X, his mark. Mary lived to be 82 years, passing away on the 13th of June 1930. Joseph is buried in the Taylor Cemetery, Blenheim and Mary across the road in the Omaka Cemetery.
Joseph Patchett, John and Elizabeth's son, born in Muston, Leicestershire, and his wife Mary, born in Welby, Lincolnshire, decided to follow his parents to New Zealand. On the 3rd of November 1877, Joseph and Mary along with their two children Thomas and Annie departed Plymouth on the ship "Gainsborough". On arrival in New Zealand Joseph worked as a farm labourer and also a maltster (turning barley into malt). He also worked as the first gate controller on the Opawa River traffic/rail bridge which was cpmpleted in 1880.
Joseph and Mary increased their family once in New Zealand adding John, Ellen, Albert, Mary, James, REUBEN, and Edward, who was to die at Colincamps, France, in 1918 during the First world War.
Joseph died at the reasonably young age of 43 on the 22nd of May 1892. He was unable to write, having registered Reuben's birthday with an X, his mark. Mary lived to be 82 years, passing away on the 13th of June 1930. Joseph is buried in the Taylor Cemetery, Blenheim and Mary across the road in the Omaka Cemetery.
The Grays
Charles Gray, the father of Florence, was born in 1864 in Mortlake, Victoria, Australia where he was educated. He was born Charles Sharp and we do not know why he changed his name when he came to New Zealand as a nineteen-year-old in 1883. He farmed at Richmond Brook near Seddon where he was a tenant farmer and was a recipient of a ballot of land when the Richmond Brook Station was divided up. He also later farmed in the Nydia Bay area of Pelorus Sound before moving to Pigeon Valley, Wakefield.
Catherine Clement Francis, mother of Florence, was born in Kaikoura in 1870, the daughter of Thomas and Ellen (nee Alexander) Francis who had been married at St Clement Danes Church in 1864 (explaining Catherine's unusual second name). Catherine married Charles Gray on the 22nd of September 1888 in Seddon. Charles died in 1955 aged 91 and Catherine followed in 1961, also aged 91. Both are buried at St John's Church Cemetery, Wakefield, Nelson.
Florence Patchett (nee Gray) was born at Richmond Brook, Seddon, the fourth and youngest daughter of Charles and Catherine Gray. Her sisters were Frances, Annie and Linda. Florence attended Marama School.
Catherine Clement Francis, mother of Florence, was born in Kaikoura in 1870, the daughter of Thomas and Ellen (nee Alexander) Francis who had been married at St Clement Danes Church in 1864 (explaining Catherine's unusual second name). Catherine married Charles Gray on the 22nd of September 1888 in Seddon. Charles died in 1955 aged 91 and Catherine followed in 1961, also aged 91. Both are buried at St John's Church Cemetery, Wakefield, Nelson.
Florence Patchett (nee Gray) was born at Richmond Brook, Seddon, the fourth and youngest daughter of Charles and Catherine Gray. Her sisters were Frances, Annie and Linda. Florence attended Marama School.
Reuben and Florence
Reuben Patchett was married to Florence Beatrice Gray on the 9th of December 1914 at the Church of the Nativity, Blenheim. They built their family home at 20 Lybster Street where they raised their 12 children. As a young man, Reuben worked as a labourer in various places. He worked in a flaxmill gang at Mirza (a photograph of this gang is reproduced in the book "Flaxbourne - Its People and Their Stories", by Jack Taylor). Reuben then worked for W. E. Clouston and Co in the grain store which was later bought by Pyne Gould Guinness. There were two stores, one at the end of Opawa Street on the riverbank and referred to the "Wharf Store". The other was in the Blenheim Railway Yards and known as the "Brick Store". He worked at both these stores until ill-health forced his retirement in 1945.
Reuben and Florence lived at 20 Lybster Street until their deaths. This year, with the moving out of Mrs Stan Patchett, is the first time in 100 years that a Patchett family has not lived in Lybster Street.
Reuben and Florence lived at 20 Lybster Street until their deaths. This year, with the moving out of Mrs Stan Patchett, is the first time in 100 years that a Patchett family has not lived in Lybster Street.
Notes:
- Elizabeth (nee Dring) Elles, author of "Introduction to Doomsday" 1086, says the Drings or Drengs as sometimes spelt were manor holders at the time of the great property census.
- Extracts from the Dictionary of English and Welsh surnames (author C. W. Bardsley): Patchett - the son of Pache or Pascal - still a well-known Yorkshire name.