Little Research

IMPORTANT NOTICE

On my Wardle page I explained in past years (pre2021) I had claimed Sydney Wardle as my great grandfather.  His mother was Mary Little. When I had my DNA tested by familytreeDNA in 2016, I found that I had no matches to the surname Little. But the connection was still possible. Then in 2021 I had my DNA tested by ancestryDNA and again no Little matches. Also I had a good number of strong matches with the surname Byrne. Following further research and making connection with a Byrne cousin, I decided my great grandfather was not Sydney Wardle, the son of Mary Little, but was most likely John Byrne. See my Byrne research for a full explanation. That mean the Little family, as set out below is not part of my family tree.

My Little Story

The early part of this story, that is, the Littles of Biddestone, Wiltshire is not totally supported by definite proof, but I consider it to be a reasonable likelihood of being correct.

Thomas Little was baptised on 10 June 1705 at Biddestone (1) son of Francis Little and Mary Ouldis both of Biddestone who married at Grittleton on 1 November 1703 (7). Grittleton is a parish north of and nearby to Biddestone.

A search for the baptism of a Francis Little in about 1770-1785 in the parishes of Biddestone and Grittleton found nothing (1). In fact the name Little appears to not be present prior to the late 1690s. However, there are many references to Littles in the parish of Corsham which adjoins Biddestone to the south.

There are two possible baptismal entries in the Corsham parish registers for the baptism of the above Francis Little, the first on 17 May 1679, the son of William and Mary Little, the second was baptised on 25 March 1680, the son of Henery Little (1). As it is not possible to identify which one married Mary Ouldis, the Little research ceases here.

Thomas Little married Ann Kean (6) at St Nicholas Church, Biddestone on 30 March 1730 (2), and their son George was baptised on 13 August 1749 at St Nicholas (1).  Biddestone was and still is a small rural and picturesque Cotswold village.

Thomas and Ann had the following children all baptised at St Nicholas, Biddestone.

John             baptised 30 August 1730
James           baptised 30 August 1730
Steven          baptised 1 July 1732
Francis         baptised 20 January 1733
Jane             baptised 17 Nov 1735
James           baptised 9 Jan 1739
Sarah           baptised 15 Aug 1742
Thomas       baptised 4 Mar 1743
Ann             baptised 23 Jun 1745
Hannah       baptised 11 Jan 1746
George        baptised 13 Aug 1749 (my ancestor)

Seeing that Thomas and Ann had married in March 1730, its likely that John and James were twins and they probably died soon after birth – note another James was born later and neither are mentioned in Thomas’s will.  Some of the dates seem close.  I suspect that several baptisms took place months after birth.  It could be that George was born in 1748.

Note the gap between Jane and James 2.  There is another baptism at Biddestone in this gap with Thomas father, and no mother recorded.  But I would think this is another child to Thomas and Ann (1)

Mary        baptised 22 Sep 1737

Now turning to Thomas’s will.  Thomas mentions his wife Ann, son Stephen (the eldest son it would seem), aged about 26 years, son Francis, aged about 25 years, daughter Jane, aged about 23 years, and son Thomas, aged about 15 years.  After specific bequests he leaves the remainder equally between all his children, except Stephen and Jane.  Jane married Samuel West in 1856.

Its interesting that the cottage mentioned is occupied by a John Kains. The surname Kains could be a spelling variation of Ann’s maiden name Kean.  Also Thomas identifies his father Francis and his brother James.

It is likely that George Little married either Ann Reeves or Ann Champian.  The first took place on 28 August 1775 at Marden, Wiltshire, some 20 kilometres south east of Biddestone, and the second on 7 February 1774 at Calne, Wiltshire, about 8 kilometres east of Biddestone.

It is interesting to note that both these brides appear to have had a mother Mary, with Ann Reeves likely to have been baptised at Castle Combe, just north of Biddestone – 14 July 1754, parents Robert and Mary Reeves. Note that the first born daughter of George and Ann, see below, was named Mary. I tend to favour George married Ann Reeves (1 and 2).  Perhaps, marrying at Marden, well away from Biddestone and Castle Combe, happened because Ann was pregnant with Thomas.

George and Ann made their home in Biddestone, where they had a large family all baptised at Biddestone, probably at St Nicholas (1).

Thomas        baptised 24 March 1776
Mary            baptised 3 August 1777
Elizabeth      baptised 23 May 1779
Ann              baptised 8 August 1780
Francis         baptised 19 May 1782
Hannah        born 16 August 1784, baptised 27 August 1784
John             born 7 September 1786, baptised 17 September 1786 (my ancestor)
Robert          born 3 September 1788, baptised 24 September 1788
Stephen        born 15 February 1791, baptised 13 March 1791

It is likely that George, his father Thomas, and his grandfather Francis, encouraged their sons to learn a trade. The district around Biddestone is made up of small towns, and it was probably getting difficult for the Little families to sustain a living with expanding families. So it may have been a family decision to send John to London to be apprenticed in the coach building industry (4), for John, aged 21 years, married Sarah Murton Brown on 10 December 1808 at St Martins in the Field, London (2).

The 1851 Census states that Sarah was born at Shadwell in about 1786, an inner London suburb on north side of the Thames (8).  Her death certificate says she was aged 71 years in 1855, ie born about 1784 (9).  A search of parish records in that area reveals only one likely baptism, namely Sarah daughter of Alexander and Sarah Brown, born 7 January 1785 and baptised on 27 January 1785 as recorded in the Parish Register for St Martin in the Fields, London (3). There are at least two marriages pre 1785 in this area that could be Sarah’s parents (2).

John and Sarah had the following children.

Sarah Burton (sic) born 27 September 1809, baptised 12 November 1809 at St Ann’s Church, Soho (1).  Her mother’s name was recorded as Sarah Morton Brown.
Sarah married John Graham on 4 January 1829 at St Pancras Old Church, London (2).

John James born 2 May 1811, baptised 26 May 1811 at St Giles in the Field Church, London (1). John married Elizabeth Hemming on 8 June 1830 at St Andrews Church, Holborn (2).

Eliza baptised 13 June 1813 at St Giles in the Field Church, London (5).  Her parents gave their address as 32 Grafton Street, St Anne and John’s occupation was coachmaker.  Eliza married James Drabwell on 26 September 1831 at St Pancras Old Church, London (2).

Ann Elizabeth born 4 October 1814, baptised 18 December 1814 at St Anne’s Church, Soho (1). Ann married Charles Hook in West London in the March quarter of 1840 and died at St Luke, London in the September quarter 1861 (6), probably knowing that her husband and children were to emigrate to New Zealand, see below.

Henry George, born 1816, see below (my ancestor)

Mary Ann, baptised 9 March 1818 at St Giles in the Field Church, London (5).  Her parents gave their address as 3 Winsley Street, St Marylebone and John’s occupation was coachmaker. It is assumed Mary Ann died before 1825.

William baptised 30 July 1820 at St Giles in the Field London (5).  His parents gave their address as 3 Winsley Street, St Marylebone and John’s occupation was coachmaker.  It is assumed William died before 1827.

Harriett baptised 2 November 1823 at St Pancras Old Church, London (1).

Mary Ann born 22 April 1825, baptised 29 May 1825 at St Pancras Old Church, London (1).

William baptised 12 August 1827 at St Pancras Old Church (1).  William married Jane Stroudley, in Holborn, London, in the December quarter 1848 (6), and emigrated to New Zealand, see below.

It is likely that John’s father, George, on becoming a widower, came to London to live, for on 13 July 1839, George Little, carpenter, died of old age, aged 90 years, at 31 Belton Street, Bloomsbury.  The informant was a neighbour living at 30 Belton Street, Maria Tully (7a).  What supports George being John’s father is that the burial service was performed at the non-conformist Whitefield’s Church at nearby Camden (see below regarding David and Margaret Little) (7b).

In 1841 John, coach trimmer, and Sarah were living by themselves in Castle Street, St Martin in the Fields, with the census recording both aged 50 years and not born in Middlesex (8).

In 1851 John, age 62 years, coach maker, and Sarah, age 64 years, were living at 6 Garden Row, Camberwell, on the south side of London.  The census records that John had been born in Biddestone, Wiltshire and Sarah in Shadwell, Middlesex (8).  John’s economic and social circumstances appears to have improved as they were living in Camberwell and John was making coaches with one employee George Nones who lived at the same address.  Up until the 1860s Camberwell was known for its rural outlook and mineral springs.

Their children had by now left home.  While it appears most of their children and families lived in London, Henry and his family moved to Hastings in the early 1840s, but returned to London in the early 1850s.

It seems that Sarah’s health declined as its likely she was living with her daughter Sarah and her family at 12 Lambs Conduit Passage, Holborn, when she died on 31 January 1855, aged 71 years, wife of John Little, coach trimmer (9).  The informant was E Graham. John was by then aged 68, and perhaps for a time he continued working.

I could only find one possible entry for John in the 1861 Census taken on 7 April. A John Little, Proprietor, aged 73 years was boarding at the Euston Hotel in the Parish of St Pancras (8).  The only problem with this record is that the entry states John had been born in Warwickshire.

Sadly John’s daughter Ann Elizabeth, wife of Charles Hook and mother of five children, died in London during the September quarter of 1861( 6).

We will now look at Henry George Little’s life in England.

John and Sarah’s second son Henry George was born on 4 May 1816 and baptised at St Giles Church on 1 September 1816 (1).  Henry probably was an apprentice in the coach building trades during his late teens to his future father-in-law.  He married Mary Little on 17 January 1840 at St Giles in the Field Church (10).  Henry was described as a coach trimmer of Castle Street and Mary’s father was David Little, a coach lace maker of Newton Street.  The witnesses were Thomas Little, Ann Little and William Little.

The 1841 Census (8) shows Henry and Mary were living with Mary’s parents.

Newton Street, St Giles in the Field, London
David Little, age 65, lace maker, born in Middlesex
Lydia Little, age 65 years, not born in Middlesex
John Blandford age 25, journeyman lace maker, born in Middlesex
Henry Little, age 25, journeyman lace maker, born in Middlesex
Mary Little, age 23 years, born in Middlesex
Henry Little, age 6 months, born in Middlesex

A journeyman is a person who has completed their apprenticeship but has yet to be granted the title of master.  It would seem that the recording of David’s wife as Lydia is an error as his wife’s name was Margaret while Lydia may be his mother’s name.

Margaret, aged  70 years, coach lace weaver of 6 Clarks Buildings, died on 30 September 1845 of heart disease; Mary was the informant (11). And her husband David, aged 74 years, a coach lace maker of 6 Clarks Buildings, St Giles in the Fields,  died on 24 February 1848 of apoplexy; the informant was Eleazar Little(12).

Mary was born on 4 January 1818 in Gates Street, St Giles in the Fields, Middlesex, the daughter of David Little, coach and lace maker, and Margaret, the daughter of Edward Williams.  Her birth was registered at the Dr Williams’ Library, London, on 21 May 1818 (13). This Library provided an alternative for nonconformists of registering a birth.  This is an important indicator in the light of later events.

David and Margaret were married on 11 October 1795 at Westminster St Anne, Soho.  The births of other children were also registered at the Dr Williams’ Library (1)

Selina Little, born 15 February 1808
Lydia Chambers Little, born 10 February 1812
Eleazar Little, born 10 September 1814
Eleanor Little, born 10 September 1814
Rachel Little, born 27 August 1816

It is highly likely that David and Margaret had children between their marriage in 1795 and 1808.  Also the above registrations as nonconformists is an indicator that they had become nonconformists sometime before Selina’s birth.

In the 1841 Census David is said to have been born in Middlesex and from his age at death in 1848 he was most likely born about 1773.  David was baptised at Holborn, Middlesex on 21 October 1773, the son of John and Lydia Little (1).  John Little married Lydia Chambers at St Andrews, Holborn, London on 21 August 1769 (14).   This is where my research indicates a possible link to Biddestone, Wiltshire, as a John Little was baptised there on 26 March 1749; parents John and Sarah Little (1)  Another supporting piece of evidence is that David baptised in 1773 had a sister Eleanor baptised in 1771.

This possible link to Biddestone could mean that Henry George married his third cousin Mary in 1840.  They had the following eight  children in England (6)

Henry John, born 1840, St Giles, Middlesex
Selina, born 1843, Hastings, Sussex
Eliza, born 1844, Hastings, Sussex
Harriet, born 1846, Hastings, Sussex
Mary, born 26 April 1848, at 59 High Street, St Clement, Hastings, (my ancestor) father Henry described as a coach trimmer (16)
James, born 1851, Hastings, Sussex
George, born 1854, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Francis William, born 4 November 1855, St Giles, Middlesex

The 1851 Census shows the Little family living at 8 Prospect Place, Hastings, with Henry described as a coach trimmer (8).  The 1861 Census shows that they had returned to London and most of the family were living at 19 Brownlow Street, St Giles, with Henry continuing his trade as a coach trimmer (8).  Fourteen year old Harriett was living with her cousin Catherine (nee Graham who had married Robert Russell Pickering in 1854 (6)) at 15-18 Tavistock Place, St Pancras (8).  Eleven year old Mary was working as a house servant for the Cavanagh family who lived nearby at 39 Tavistock Street, The Strand (8).

It was probably in 1861 that the Little and Hook families made a most significant decision; to emigrate to New Zealand. How did this come about?

In 1861 William Rawson Brame, a Birmingham Baptist minister, founded the Albertland Settlement Association (17).  The purpose of the Association was to organise nonconformists to emigrate to New Zealand. There had been several similar settlement schemes in New Zealand prior this, and the Albertland scheme was the last.  It was named after the recently deceased Price Albert, husband of Queen Victoria.

There were three main objectives.  First to give nonconformists the opportunity of living in a less restrictive society, second to form a new settlement by each member over five years of age receiving a land grant, and third to provide a cheaper shipping cost per passenger.

Brame started a recruiting drive by advertising in the Birmingham newspapers.  Then he set up 27 committees in London and other large towns.  This resulted in holding meetings and social gatherings in order to promote the scheme.  It was probably through Mary Little’s background as being brought up as a nonconformist that the Little and Hook families were attracted to attend these gatherings and in time to register by paying the required subscriptions.

In late 1861 the main Committee sent three representatives to New Zealand to discuss settlement arrangements with the colonial administration and three blocks were selected, Oruawharo, Paparoa and Matakohe totalling 70,000 acres and having 48 kilometres of coastline in the northern reaches of Kaipara Harbour, north of Auckland.  The Auckland Provincial Council settlement scheme provided 40 acres for each man and woman, and 20 acres for each child aged between five and eighteen, provided they paid their own cost to emigrate, and agreed to remain on the land for five years, build a home and commence farming.

One can imagine that in promoting the scheme in England, emphasis was placed on the benefits of living in new Zealand, perhaps making it sound better than it was, as some of the emigrants later found conditions hard to make a living.

There would have been much discussion within the Little clan in London during 1861.  The outcome was that John, Henry and wife Mary, William and wife Jane, Charles Hook and wife Ann (nee Little) decided to join the Association.

About 3000 emigrants set sail during 1862 to Auckland.  They travelled on eight ships hired by the Association, and small numbers travelled on other ships.  Shortly before departure of the first two ships Charles Hook was appointed as Treasurer of the Committee of Management and also as leader of 100 persons in regards to travel and settlement arrangements.

The Committee of Management arranged a program of events to celebrate and farewell the 686 members who were to travel on the Matilda Wattenbach and the Hanover.  On Monday evening, 26 May 1862, there was a Reception, followed by a valedictory service on Tuesday evening, and a grand fete at Bromley on Wednesday afternoon.  Both ships sailed from the East India Docks, London, on Thursday 29 May 1862, after farewell speeches, hymns, and a procession lead by a band, walking to the ships.  On board the Matilda Wattenbach were 352 immigrants (17), including the Little and Hook families of eight adults and eighteen children (15), namely :-

John Little senior

Henry and Mary Little and their children Henry John, Selina, Eliza, Harriet, Mary, James, George, and Francis William.

William and Jane Little and their children William, Ellen, Lucy, Emma, Frederick, and Sarah

Charles Hook and children Ellen Maria, Richard, Mary, John and Ann  (his wife Ann had died in 1861)

Many people farewelling the two ships travelled with their departing relatives and friends down the Thames to Gravesend where the two ships moored for several days.  After speeches of farewell on board, the ships sailed on 2 June.

There were only several incidents on board the 954 ton Matilda Wattenbach during the voyage.  After crossing the equator on 4 July, the ship headed into rough weather.  Strong winds on 27 July brought down her main and mizzen topmasts.  There were two births and five deaths.  After a quick voyage of 98 days via the Cape of Good Hope, the Matilda Wattenbach arrived in Auckland Harbour on 8 September 1862 and the Hanover nine days later.

Following arrival of the two ships, the organisers had expected that arrangement earlier put in place would mean the settlers would be transported north by ship to Mangawai on the east coast.  But for what ever reason the master of the Tasmanian Maid pulled out.  The resultant delay caused groups of settlers to move north by seven different routes.

Settlers had expected to be allocated land within one large block on the shores of Upper Kaipara Harbour – Oruawharo, but on arrival found that there were three blocks available totalling about 70,000 acres – Oruawharo, Paparoa and Matakohe, all in the area of northern reaches of Kaipara Harbour.

No doubt much discussion ensued before individuals decided where to select their land.  Paparoa was said to be of good quality so the Littles and Hooks decided to choose blocks in the Paparoa district.

Among the first to leave Auckland by ship to Paparoa via Mangawai were the Little and Hook families.  On arrival at Mangawai, about 80 kilometres north of Auckland on the east coast, the settlers had to make their own arrangements to travel over land and water to Paparoa, a distance of about 30-40 kilometres depending on the route taken.  However, because the terrain was very difficult to travel over, it is said that some settlers may have travelled up to 160 kilometres over land and water between Mangawai and Paparoa.  Having to make their own arrangements meant most stayed at Mangawai for some days and this very small town did not have much accommodation, so tents were used. From Mangawai there were several routes to choose from, being a combination of bullocks and dray, walking, and by small crafts such as canoes.  It would have been hard going. This was their first “taste” of what life was going to be like.  And the surveyors had also just travelled to the blocks (17).

William and Jane, and their family were entitled to 160 acres on arrival (22) and together with his father John, appear to have settled on lots 43 and part 47, 162 acres, just east of the Paparoa township, as soon as it was surveyed.  As well as farming his land, William assisted his brother-in-law Charles Hook in his store and post office at Paparoa township, and also operated the weekly mail run (by foot in the early days) to and from Mangawai (17).  They left Paparoa in the mid 1870s to settle at Maungaturoto then Helensville (18).

Sadly John, father of William and Henry, died at Paparoa on 5 March 1864 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Paparoa Methodist Cemetery next to and west of the graves of Charles and Sarah Hook (19).  It is said that Charles Hook donated the land for this Church and graveyard and that John was the first to be buried there.  Two years later Mary Hook, daughter of Charles, and grand daughter of John Little, died and was buried with her grandfather (17).

Henry and family were part of the first groups to travel north, but they did not stay as Henry obtained a position with Wiseman’s saddlery in Auckland (20). However, while at Mangawai Henry probably selected a block at Paparoa which he obtained in the 4 December 1862 ballot (17).

Henry’s wife, Mary was pregnant with daughter Zara, who was born in the Auckland suburb of Parnell on 6 July 1863 (21).  In September 1863, Henry appeared before the magistrate in the Police Court in Auckland, to give evidence that he assisted in apprehending a man who had stolen a watch from a shop in Vulcan Lane.  Henry, in giving evidence said he was a saddler living at Parnell (22).

Probably still having doubts about settling on his grant in Paparoa, but still wanting to be part of the scheme, in mid 1863 Henry paid a deposit on a town land lot at Port Albert, on the shores of Kaipara Harbour.  Even before departure from England, organisers had the vision that Port Albert would become the centre of their settlement, and be a large town like Auckland (17)

However, the trustees managing the settlement of Port Albert, issued a notice in the Albertland Gazette of 1 October 1863 that unless conditions relating to the Port Albert town lots were met, deposits will be forfeited and they will cease to have a claim to the lot.  The list of names included H Little and he was given to 30 November 1863 to comply.  Then at a meeting of the trustees on 3 December 1863, it was decided that specified allotments were vacant and deposits forfeited, including Little (23).

Perhaps about this time Henry realised that his large Paparoa block would be worth money and decided to live there for at least the minimum period of five years.  It is very difficult to say when Henry moved from Auckland to live on his block. His daughter Harriet Townley turned ninety in 1936 and the Auckland Star reported that her father “Eventually began farming at Paparoa, where he felled trees to build his home.” (20)

Henry and his family had been granted an entitlement of 300 acres effective on the day they arrived, and the Paparoa Parish map states he received a grant of 260 acres east of Paparoa with a small southern boundary on the Pahi River (24).

The Government Gazette of 21 November 1867 and 2 November 1869, in a Schedule of Assessment, lists Henry as holding 260 acres at Paparoa.

Henry was back in Auckland by no later than February 1871 as the New Zealand Herald of 10 March 1871 advertised a petition dated 23 February 1871, by residents of Auckland, including Henry George Little, calling for Auckland to be constituted as a borough (25).

Perhaps from the early 1870s to the early 1880s Henry and his family lived in Auckland while, from time to time, went to Paparoa to maintain the farm and produce income. Henry appears in the Marsden Electoral Rolls from 1870 to 1878 as holding 260 acres at Paparoa.

It is likely that Henry sold his farm at Paparoa in the late 1870s and purchased a block of land and house from the proceeds, at Auckland.  Wise’s New Zealand Post Office Directory for the years 1880 to 1900 lists Henry as a draper living in Union Street, Auckland (26), while the Auckland Electoral Rolls for 1881 to 1897 lists George as a coach trimmer, freehold, Lot 17, Sec 42, Union Street (26).

Mary died on 25 August 1899 at 42 Union Street, Auckland, of cardiac disease and dropsy, aged 81 years (27).  She was buried on 28 August at the Waikumte Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland.  From the electoral rolls, Henry and Mary’s daughter Harriet and her husband Joseph lived at 23 Union Street at about this time (26), and they would have been the main support for Henry in organising Mary’s funeral and later looking after Henry in his home.

Henry George Little died on 6 September 1902 at Cambridge of chronic disease of the heart and kidneys, aged 86 years (27).  His funeral left the home of Joseph Townley, 23 Union Street, Auckland (28), and he was buried with his wife at Waikumete Cemetery on 9 September.  Cambridge is about 145 kilometres south south east of Auckland and its possible that Henry had been staying with his grandson Walter who was living there (29).

The Little family has contributed significantly to the development of two countries, New Zealand and Australia.

Henry and Mary’s children and grandchildren (30) (there may be more grandchildren than those listed below) :-

1. Henry John, born 1840, St Giles, Middlesex, married his cousin Ellen Little (daughter of William and Jane) in 1873 in New Zealand
children – Walter, Ella Maud
2. Selina, born 1843, Hastings, Sussex, married Thomas North (Matilda Wattenbach settler who remained in Auckland) on 12 February 1863, Methodist Chapel, Auckland
children – Lizzie, Florence, Alice, Henry Leonard
3. Eliza, born 1844, Hastings, Sussex, married 1st George Williams in 1865, 2nd Edmund Marriott in 1885, both in New Zealand
children – 1st George Clarence, 2nd Edmund Henry, Lavinia Effie, Frederick
4. Harriet, born 1846, Hastings, Sussex, married Joseph Townley on 7 July 1868 in Wanganui
children – Christopher Henry, Harriet Mary, Elizabeth Pearson, Leonard, Cecil
5. Mary, born 26 April 1848, at 59 High Street, St Clement, Hastings, married Thomas Wardle on 13 September 1867, at Auckland (my ancestors)
children – William, Henry, Sydney William Henry, Claud, Evelyn, Minnie, Florinda, Wilfred, Walter, Arnold
6. James, born 1851, Hastings, Sussex, married Catherine Linney Kirk on 28 August 1888, at Christchurch
children – George Lawton, Mary, Selina Ellen, Frank, Alfred, William James, Louis, David Claude, Kathleen Clarice, Jeanet Doreen, Eileen Ada
7. George Henry, born 1854, Clerkenwell, Middlesex, settled in Queensland and married Bridget Fuery in 1882 in Queensland
children – Henry James, Roland Wilford, Eva Honor, Laura Winifred, Agnes Mary, Ivy Kate, Sydney George, Gertrude May
8. Francis William, born 4 November 1855, St Giles, Middlesex, married Ellen O’Brien in 1877 in Sydney, Australia
children George H, Annie Florence, Stella M, Eveland A, Bella M, Dora Ellen, Francis Wardle Little
9. Zara, born 6 July 1863 at Parnell, Auckland, married Ellsemere Edwards Triphook in 1886 in New Zealand
children – Clyde Ellesmere, Ellesmere Eric

In October 2012 Australian cousins Grahame, Diane and Virginia attended the successful 150th Anniversay celebrations held in Paparoa.

Notes

1. England, Births and Christenings 1538-1975, familysearch.org, accessed November 2012 and March 2014
2. England, Marriages 1538-1973, familysearch.org, accessed November 2012 and March 2014.
3. Website ancestry.com.au, accessed February 2013
4. The evidence that John was born in Biddestone, Wiltshire is based on John’s entry in the 1851 Census of England and Wales, see later in this story.
5. Parish Register of St Giles in the Field Church
6. FreeBDM, freebdm.rootsweb.com, accessed November 2012
7. Phillimore Parish Registers, Wiltshire Parish Registers – Marriages, Vol 1, page 152
7a. General Register Office, London, Death certificate 1839 – Vol 1, page 60, entry 275, Belton Street is now Endell Street
7b. Ancestry.co.uk, Non-conformist and Non-Parichial Registers 1567-1970, Whitefield’s Church, Camden, London, Common Ground, Entry 4783, George Little, aged 90 years, buried 21 July 1839
8. England and Wales Census Returns, ancestry.com, accessed November 2012.  The age of persons over 15 years in the 1841 census taken on 6 June were rounded down to the nearest 5 years.
9. Death certificate, 30/1855
10, Marriage Certificate 441/1840
11. Death Certificate 334/1845
12. Death certificate 311/1848
13. The National Archives, Class RG5 Birth Certificates from the Presbyterian, Independent and Baptist Registry, Dr Williams Library.  There appears to be no connection between our Williams ancestors and Dr Williams who, after being married twice without issue, died in 1716
14. Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1921, ancestry.com, accessed November 2012
15. Website paperspast, and website albertland.co.nz
16. Birth Certificate 44/1848
17. The Albertlanders – Brave Pioneers of the 1860s, by Sir Henry Brett and Henry Hook, 2003; Albertland, from Wikipedia, accessed November 2012.  I note that a number of members named Williams sailed in later ships; perhaps some may have been related to the Littles through David Little’s wife Margaret (nee Williams).
18. Jane Little’s obituary, Auckland Star, 18 November 1920, page 8, William ran the store at Maungaturoto for Isaac McLeod Senior who some years earlier had built this store.
19. Charles Hook died on 17 January 1888, aged 73, and Sarah, his wife, died on 21 May 1911, aged 97 years, NZ Cemetery Records, mfm 16 – A08.08
20. Website paperspast – Auckland Star, 29 September 1936, page 17
21. Birth certificate
22. Website paperspast – Daily Southern Cross, 30 September 1863, page 3
23. Website paperspast – Albertland Gazette 6 January 1864
24. National Archives of New Zealand, Ref 88 LS-A, A41 Vol 29, parish map of Paparoa
25. Website paperspast – New Zealand Herald, 10 March 1871 page 4
26. Website ancestry.com.au, NZ Directories and NZ Electoral Rolls, Henry and Mary lived at Lot 17, Sec 42, Union Street, while Harriet and Joseph lived at part Lot 17, Section 42, Union Street. probably the same address
27. NZ Death certificates held by author
28. Website paperspast – Auckland Star, 6 September 1902, page 8
29. Website ancestry.com.au – NZ Post Office Directories 1900-1902, Walter, the son of Henry John and Ellen Little, was a chemist and did not marry
30. Websites NSW BDM Index, Queensland BDM Index, New Zealand BDM Index, ancestry.com.au, BDM certificates, Trove and paperspast.

I would like to thank Virginia and Diane for their input.

Grahame Thom