"Charles Penn arrived in Stratford in 1882 and together with his parents, five brothers and three sisters he set about clearing a 30 acre section in the Hamlet Street area. Despite losing a whare, fencing, and pasture in the great Stratford fire of 1886 the Penn family established the farm and became active members of the community. Charles’ father Thomas was a member of the Stratford Town Board in the 1880s and 1890s and his brother T Harry Penn was Stratford Town Clerk. William, another Penn brother, became editor of the Taranaki Herald. Charles began work for a New Plymouth hardware merchant before returning home to Stratford as a clerk in the office of William Malone, who married to one of the Penn sisters. In August 1900 Charles was appointed Stratford County Clerk, a position he held for over 30 years. When he died at the age of 86 he had spent 62 years in Stratford. His newspaper obituary noted his “retiring disposition” did not prevent him appearing frequently as a violinist in local orchestras." Researched and written in October 2005 by Andrew Moffat Curator Social History. Also see Butler collection for obituary.