Brown, Charles
Description
Major Charles (Carlino) Brown Junior, son of Charles Armitage Brown was educated in Ireland and Italy and arrived in New Plymouth on the Amelia Thompson in 1841, aged 25 years. Charles was a Maori Interpreter and set up the first sawmill in New Plymouth. He served as captain for the Taranaki Militia until 1860 and led a force of 150 at the battle of Waireka Hill, the first engagement between early settlers and Moaris. He achieved the rank of Major in 1864 and was in command when Reverend Whitely and Lieutenant Gascoigne were killed at Pukearuhe. Brown resigned shortly thereafter and returned to politics.
Charles Brown was twice married, first to Margaret Joy Horne with whom he had four daughters and one son (died in infancy). The second marriage was to Jessie Northcroft, and they had three children - one daughter and twin sons.
Suffering from deafness in his old age, Brown was killed by a train at the Devon Street Railway Crossing, New Plymouth. He was accorded a large military funeral with full military honours and is buried in the Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth.
Documents and correspondence related to Major Charles Brown and his daughter Laura Tobin. Includes a sketch book attributed to the Brown daughters and contains sketches of Brown's house (The Pines), The Ironsand Smelter, Te Henui, the Sugar Loaves and views of Mount Taranaki/Egmont.
Object detail
Part 1
Diary.Entries from 2 April 1853-1854 detailing business accounts and financial activities by Major Charles Brown, references to his wife Margaret and daughter Polly. Reversed and used as a scrapbook. Includes newspaper clippings on use of metals and alloys.
Folder.
Letter. To Major Brown from W.B. Messenger, Pukearuhe re the character of William (Bill) Tobin on the occasion of his engagement to Louisa. 6 January 1878
Letter. From John Brown at Grange Farm to Harry. 19 August 1892
Notes on the history of a sofa that had once been slept on by the poet Shelley and had been purchased by Charles Brown and subsequently sold to Seymour Kirkup.
Obituary. Mrs Jessie Brown. 18 June 1942
Typewritten notes. Retirement of Major Brown ; Letter to Brown as Civil Commissioner from T.W. Lewis Undersecretary, Native Office, dispensing with his services. 28 September 1880 ; Marriages of members of the broen and Tobin families.
Copies of writ of summons and statement of claim against Charles Brown of New Plymouth. Memo to W H Tobin and associated letters from Oliver Samuel re the wriit. 1887
Enclosure. A sketch book attributed to one of the daughters of Major Charles Brown.Included amongst the sketches are one of th Brown family home (The Pines) which stood on the hill beside the mouth of the Te Henui river mouth. The ironsand works, the Sugar Loaves, Rata-nui (Ratanui) and two sketches of Mount Taranaki/Egmont. c.1880
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