Messenger family diaries, sketchbooks and bible
Production date
1853-1940
1850-1859
1860-1869
1930-1939
2000-2009
Description
William and Mary Messenger immigrated to New Zealand with their adult children William Bazire, Charles and Jane on board the ship Joseph Fletcher in 1853 and initially settled in Omata. William Senior had been born in Loughton, Essex in 1801 and joined the Royal Navy, seeing action at Algiers in 1816. He later joined the East India Company before coming to New Zealand and died in 1890. Little is known of Mary Ann Messenger (nee Stevens) but it is presumed she lived in the Loughton area prior to her marriage. In 2000 Cecil Messenger, grandson of William Bazire Messenger, returned two taiaha presented to William Bazire in the 1870s to Maniaroa Marae at Mokau.
Collection consists of Mary Messenger's ship board diary dated June 1853 to February 1854 (including genealogical notes), William Messenger Senior's diary January 1859 - January 1860 describing life on their Omata farm prior to the outbreak of the Taranaki Wars (including an insert "Vesper Hymn" with words and tune), a sketch book belonging to Arthur H. Messenger dated 1935-1940 containing pencil sketches and watercolours (including scenes of Wellington and landscapes such as Mana Island from Titahi Bay as well as a pencil sketch titles "Mohakatino River near Mokau; two sketches of Tongaporutu River"), a bible belonging to Jane Jessie Messenger dated 1857 and a collection of photographs recording Cecil Messenger and family returning the taiaha to Maniaroa Marae at Mokau in 2000.
Object detail
1850-1859
1860-1869
1930-1939
2000-2009
Part 1
1. Diary of Mary messenger on the Voyage to New Zealand in the ship "Joseph Fletcher 1853-54
Part 2
2. Diary of William Messenger senior January 1859 - January 1860
Part 3
3. A.H. Messenger sketch book.
Part 4
4. Jane Jessie Messenger bible 1857
Part 5
5. Four loose pencil sketches attributed to A H Messenger - 3 unnamed people and one of Mary King?
Part 6
6. Three photos of Messenger family headstones - Ida Maude, Charles and Arthur Herbert Messenger
Part 7
7. Collection of photographs and copy of newspaper clipping relating to the return of a taiaha to Maniaroa Marae by Cecil Messenger and family 2000
Public comments
Hi, I'm in the UK, Mary Ann Messenger (Stevens) is my Great Great Grand Aunt. Is there any way that I could view her diary, as I would be fascinated? Many thanks.
- Sue Taylor posted 3 months ago.
Hi Min, Thanks for that information. I have checked up on it, and you are definitely correct. I have amended all the records and the changes will show up on the browser next time it is updated. Thanks for your help; it is great to have keen eyed members of the community checking up on us! Lucy
- Lucy Macfarlane, Curator Archives posted 10 years ago.
Hi - I notice that 'Albert' Herbert Messenger is popping up in all your references to our Messenger family. I think you'll find he's Arthur Herbert, the artist. There hasn't been an Albert Herbert Messenger in NZ
- Min White posted 10 years ago.