Feilding - Archives and Genealogy

10/08/2025

31 August 2025. Sunday. Historic Gorge Cemetery Tour 2:00-3:00 pm. 49718 Napier Road, Woodville. A conducted tour of Woodville's Historic Gorge Cemetery exploring a piece of Woodville’s rich history.
As 2025 is Woodville’s Sesquicentennial (150 year anniversary), the Historic Gorge Cemetery Tours will concentrate on early pioneers of the district. These will include businesspeople and the settlers who took up land in the Woodville Small Farm Association. Meet at the upper gate to the cemetery. (If it’s too wet, there will be a virtual tour at the Rinitawa Gallery). Everyone is welcome to have a cuppa at Rinitawa Gallery after the tour. Tours will be conducted by Joan McIntyre, phone 06 376 5690 for questions and additional information.

22/07/2025

Congratulations

Huge congrats to Bruce McKenzie of Bruce Mckenzie Booksellers Ltd, who won a lifetime achievement award at the Aotearoa Book Industry Awards 2025! It's an honour to share a building with you, sir.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360762692/aotearoa-nz-book-industry-celebrates-award-winners-2025

You'll spot a few other familiar names among the lauded authors too, we're sure.

Learn more about Bruce in this interview on Manawatū Heritage,
https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/fff9e7f6-2ad7-40ab-ad13-ca22506e22c3 or in the book Bold Types: Indie Bookshops of Aotearoa New Zealand by Jane Ussher, Jemma Moreria and Deborah Coddington.

11/07/2025

On Neighbourly Pat Dunmore from Feilding is asking if anyone owns a copy of FLOCK HOUSE FARMING by Timothy Gambrill that they would be willing to sell? Many thanks.

12/06/2025

11/06/2025

150 years ago today, John Jacob, widower, married Angelina Hicks, spinster, on 12 June 1875 in "House of Mr. John Jacob, Feilding". They were the great grandparents of Judy Hank AndJudy Bier and her Palmer siblings and a number of cousins including Ken Jacob. The date looks like 2 June but there is a very small remnant of a downstroke 1 ahead of the two. The ink wasn't flowing well, as evidenced by some other vertical strokes with gaps. The marriage date of 12 June was confirmed on the birth records of their children. I'm wondering if this was one of the first marriages in Feilding. Angelina had arrived on the ship Carnatic into Picton on 10 January, and John on 10 November 1874 on the Star of India into Wellington.
The witnesses, Nancy Print and her son John Print, also arrived on the Star of India.
Post provided by Hank And Judy Bier.

06/06/2025

Immigrants who settled in the Manchester Block continued to travel to New Zealand throughout June 1875.
• The 768-ton iron barque Chile sailed from London on 10 June 1875 with 136 immigrants onboard, and arrived in New Plymouth on 26 September 1875, a passage of 95 days. 105 immigrants disembarked at New Plymouth, and then the ship sailed on, landing at Nelson three days later. None of the passengers were selected by the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation, however two families from the Isle of Man made their way north and settled at Stanway. Thomas and Emma Christian made the journey out to NZ with their one-month-old son Robert Henry Christian; sadly, Robert died of convulsions at Nelson on 4 Dec 1875. Emma (née Keggin) and Thomas Christian are buried at St Michael and All Angels Churchyard, Stanway. Mary (née Clarke) and Edward Craine, and Margaret (née Moore) and Thomas Craine also settled at Stanway. They are buried in the Feilding Cemetery. You can read more about these families in the book Swamps, sandflies, and settlers available for sale at the Coach House Museum.
• The 700-ton ship Helen Denny sailed from Plymouth, via London on 26 June 1875 with 229 immigrants onboard; only one family, selected by the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation. After a passage of 85 days, the ship landed at the Port of Napier. After a stay of six weeks, they sailed on to Wellington. The Jefferies family then travelled to Foxton on the ss Stormbird. After a further journey by horse-drawn tram they arrived at the Immigration Barracks in Palmerston North. The final journey was by horse and dray to Awahuri, and then by foot over a hill to Whisker’s Bush. Eliza (née Hook) and John Jefferies settled their family of 4 children at Bunnythorpe.
• The ship Herschel 743 tons, sailed from Hamburg, Germany on 27 June 1875 and arrived in Wellington on 23 October 1875 with 247 German, Italian and Swedish immigrants onboard, a journey of 115 days. Four names have been identified so far as having settled at Halcombe: Burr; Horn; Lukuschewsky and Wiski.

03/06/2025

in 1874, the East India Company was dissolved after over 200 years of trading. If your ancestors were among the Brits who settled in India during the colonial period, including members of the East India Company, here's how to trace them:

https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/overseas/6-best-websites-for-tracing-your-family-in-india-like-olivia-colman

03/06/2025

03/06/2025

🎉 HUGE congratulations to Suzy Cato on receiving her well-deserved ONZM honour for services to music, television and education! 🌟
For over 35 incredible years, Suzy has been the heart of children's programming, touching countless young lives through her dedication to music, education, and nurturing young minds. Her tireless work promoting literacy, mental health, and well-being for children and families has made such a meaningful difference across Aotearoa New Zealand.
We would like to thank Suzy personally for championing our recent campaign on behalf of Museums Aotearoa "Keep the Lights On".
Thank you, Suzy, for being such a positive force in our communities and for showing us all the power of using your platform to make the world a better place for our tamariki! 💕