William Nelson Diary Excerpts 1855-1866
Written by George Nelson (Keirunga) son of William from the Diaries of William Nelson
6 January 1855 “Sam” was probably his brother George.
15 Jan 1855 “Miss Molady” was probably Miss Emily Mollady afterwards Mrs Charles Nelson.
“Burbury’s” possibly “Birdingbury Hall” (yes – Pronounced “Burbury”) near Stockton.
19th January 1855 “Stockley (?) “Hockley” perhaps, where the Revd. John Townsend had a school for boys.
27th January 1858 “The Giblins” Alfred & John who afterwards came to New Zealand & settled in Hawkes Bay.
28th January 1858 “Maria” = Mrs. John Townsend, formerly Maria Wayne, W.N.’s cousin.
18th February 1858 “Dick” Perhaps Dick (Alfred) Giblin.
29th May 1858 Mr. Townsend kept school at Hockley. (“Knowle” is a station on the Great Western Railway; the Station for Hockley?)
W.N.
Fifth & youngest son of G.N.
Born in Warwick Eng.
His early youth. Plum pudding. [?] about doing nothing. Beat George & [?] at [?] in the evening [?]. Brewed ginger beer.
24 May 1858. Walked about on the sands & made some holes in it, one particularly, while I was building (it was late [?] I never thought of looking behind me). I was surrounded with water & had to run through it, very much to my inconvenience.
Left school 23 June 1858
8 July 1858 Turned chisel handles.
20 July 1858 Had my first day in the office.
1st Jan 1860. Started work at Reading. Making bacon toaster. Cleaned clock at night. Oiled clock. Reading [?]. Talk & Drawing in the evening. Making bullets. “Pancake supper”.
10th March 1860 “My last day’s [?]”. 19th March 1860 Started at Stockton. Making bullets. Shooting with pistol. Making patterns for engine frame. Reading and writing in evening. Filled up my steam gauge. Read “Baby on Cement [?]”. Mended blind . Gardening. Shooting. Drawing plans for engine. Making patterns for engine.
4th April 1860 In the office at Stockton.
Cutting pea sticks. Tying raspberry canes. Made bench & table for Dick . Got up at 3.20 a.m. to build duck pen. Moulded some brasses. Made dog kennel. Making pigsty in [?]. Making frame for greenhouse, Painting, Glazing. Engine patterns. Shooting. Hunting. [?]
1st January 1860 W.N. went (I think) to one of his mother’s brothers (A Phillbrick) to learn about the tanning of skins.
2nd January 1860 “Bucklersbury” A lane in the City of London.
3rd January 1860 “Jessie” perhaps Jessie Philbrick, afterwards Mrs Richard SADLER Smith.
14th January 1860 “Uncle John” = John Philbrick
15th March “Shuckburg” ? [Shuckburgh] 30th Jan 1862
30th July 1861 13th Feb 1862
5th Dec 1861 27th Feb 1862
29th July 1862
19th March 1860 W.N. started at the Cement Works of Charles Nelson & Co. at Stockton Warwickshire.
15th April 1860 “Ludbrooke” ? Ladbrooke?
20th May 1860
19th May
27th June 1861 (W.N. married Sarah Bicknell in 1865)
20th July 1861 “Dad” seems to have been his brother Charlie. (W.N.’s father died 1850).
24th July 1861 “Tom Blythe” (Father of Hugh B.) Partner in Charles Nelson & Co.
31st July 1861 I suggest S.B. = Sarah Bicknell; E.B. = Ellen Bicknell; H.B. = Hetta Bicknell.
21st Dec 1861 “W. & J. Blackstone” Probably brothers of Mrs. Tom Blythe.
19th May 1862 “Called at Orford Lodge for Sally” (possibly Sally Bicknell).
14th June 1862 Met S.B. (Sarah Bicknell) in Leamington.
1862
22 Ap. Stockton on my horse.
22Ap. Joe Ward moved out of house.
29 Ap. Mother came to work at my house.
6 May Took possession of my mansion. Dined at 1. Tead at 7. Bed at 11.
10 May Hockley on my horse at 1. Had game of rounders.
11 May Birds nests in afternoon. Home to Stockton at 10.20. Bed at 12.
15 May Mrs Goodman to keep house.
17 May Mont Tead with me at Stockton
18 May Lying on the grass afternoon.
19 May Called at Orford Lodge for Sally & her sister at 12 … walked home with Sally.
22 May My housekeeper came. Mrs Goodman left.
23 May Had my carte taken at the Stereoscopic Bay. To Dunmore
30 May Exhibition at 12.
14 June Met S.B. in Leamington.
19 June To the Club at Stockton with Mr Clough at 3.45. Gin & water till 5.30. Looking [?] the dancing till 8.30. Dancing till 10. Home at 11.
24 June T.M. Oldham’s birthday party.
25 June Had a game of fantails till 1 (a.m.) Good [?]. Dancing till 3.15 with a little singing. Greater part of the folk left at 3.20. I stayed behind having two words with the gals. Left at 4.45. Breakfast 5.30. Mill at 6. Lunch at 10. Rode down to Southam to call on Miss Oldhams
1 July Walked with the Miss Oldhams
13 July Cherries in afternoon
9 Aug. Shot blackbirds after tea.
11 Aug. Eight games quoits.
13 Aug. Left at 6. Mill till 6 p.m.
(There is a gap here: The diary resuming 20th Oct.)
25th October 1862 Boarded the “Devonshire” for New Zealand.
1 Nov. Log of mutton rc [recieved]
8 Nov. Main [?] rc
10th Cow
24th Nov American Ship Neptune
2 Jan 1863 Sitting with Capt. Holt all afternoon making his anemometer
21st Discussing centrifugal [?] Capt. H. from 8 to 10.30 and again on the 22nd from 8 to 11.
3rd Feb 1863 Sighted New Zealand
7th Feb 1863 Landed at Auckland
8th Feb 1863 Wreck of H.M.S. Orpheus on Manakau Bar. “wrapped ourselves up in blankets & lay down on the floor”
12th Feb. 1863 “To Land Office”
13th Feb Unpacked & brought home our [?]; put it together in afternoon.
15th Feb Inspecting farmland.
17th Feb Walking about Dr. Hole’s farm at Papakura; learning to drive bullocks
23rd Feb Unpacked copper: [?] grindstone. 24 & 5 Washing nearly all day.
3rd March Sailed for Whangarei to inspect properties.
6th March Stayed the night, perched up on a shelf in the roof.
14th March 1863 Returned to Auckland.
16th March 1863 “Turning up grindstone in afternoon”
“Williams spent the evening with us.”
20th March 1863 “Fred left for Coromandel by steamer”
21st March 1863 “Went to tea with Williams at Clearmont House”.
1st April Reached Raglan … very tired & glad to get to our journeys end
6th April Back in Auckland
12th April 1863 “St Mary’s in morning & St. Matthews in evening”.
13th April 1863 “Making work bench all day”.
14th April 1863 “Making bedstead all day”.
16th April 1863 “Washing all day”
18th April 1863 “Making table”.
23rd April 1863 “Making desk”
26th April 1863 “St Mary’s in morning. St. Matthew’s in evening. Writing to Mother in afternoon.”
28th April 1863 “Cleaned out the well”.
3rd May “St Mary’s morning & evening” T. Williams to tea”.
7th May 1863 “Fred left (by the Lord Ashley) for Napier”. “Went to the Flower Show”.
13th May 1863 “Building pigsty”.
23rd June “With T [TC] & J [JN] Williams to look over Lynch’s farm”.
1st July 1863 “To the barracks by seven: sworn into the Militia”.
13th July 1863 “Took my arms up to the Orderly Room”.
23rd July 1863 Left by the Wanga Wanga for Napier.
26th July 1863 “Came inside the Iron Pot at 9.30”.
28th July 1863 “Arrival at Wellington. Had a long yarn with the Bishop (Hadfield).
31st July 1863 “Left by the Ladybird at 7.15 a.m.”
1st August 1863 “Anchored in Nelson at 7.30 a.m.”
4th August 1863 “Disgusted with Nelson, I took passage to Wellington.”
8th August 1863 “Ashore at Lyttelton 2 p.m. .. walked over the hill & to Christchurch by bus.”
16th August 1863 To Rangiora
20th August 1863 To Lincoln
2nd September 1863 Reached Akaroa
5th September 1863 Left Akaroa
14th September 1863 “Fred came in while I was having my breakfast, having obtained a month’s leave from Auckland”.
21st September 1863 Left Christchurch.
24th September 1863 “Reached Napier… to the Masonic, where we slept”.
25th September 1863 “Met [JN] Williams, had a chat, then to bed”.
26th September 1863 “Out with Williams in evening”.
27th September 1853 “Church in morning. Rode out to Havelock with Williams in evening; slept there.”
28th September 1863 “Up at 5.15 … rode to McLeans (Maraekakaho) to breakfast; on to Smith’s (Hector Pope Smith) to drill. Dined with Smith; then rode on to William’s with Herrick by 6.30.”
(Williams was James Nelson Williams, who at that time owned the property at Kereru now held by the Turnbull family.* “Smith” was Hector Pope Smith owner of “Aorangi”, later known as “Olrig”, which included what is now known as Mangatahi”. “Herrick” was Colonel Herrick, in charge of the local forces.
29 September 1863 “Down to Herrick’s and back”.
30th September 1863 “Militia drill from 11 to 1 and from 2 to 4.
5th October 1863 “My first day’s work”.
4th November “Williams & I left McLeans at 5.30 and got into Port for breakfast.
* This property has recently been purchased by Ruth Nelson & another (Ruth is the daughter of Frank Nelson & Winifred Williams – daughter of J.N. W. W. [?] 1949
6th November 1863 “Left Napier 3.30: Tea’d at Havelock; left again at 6.45 for Te Aute, which we reached at 10.15. Very dark & raining nearly all the way”
9th November 1863 Rode to the Kereru.
17th November 1863 “Marking Herrick’s lambs 1800”.
26th November 1863 “Rode with Williams over to Te Aute.”
27th November 1863 “Up at 5: rode down to Port by 10 a.m. Breakfasting at Havelock. Left Napier for Lord Ashley at 2 p.m.
29th November 1863 “Arrival in Auckland about 11 a.m.
1st December 1863 To Whangamarino… found Fred there.
4th December 1863 Returned to Auckland
6th December 1863 St Paul’s in morning: heard Bishop Williams.
8th December 1863 “Walked up to T. William’s. Went aboard the Lord Ashley and left at 4.45”
9th December 1863 “Ship so full that we are not able to get anything to eat.”
10th December 1863 Anchored in Napier 11 a.m.
11th December 1863 Left at 7 a.m. Rode out to Clive to breakfast with Ferguson. He & I then rode on to McLean’s to dinner. I went onto the Kereru about 4 p.m.
12 Dec. 1863 J.N.W. commenced sheep-shearing.
15th Dec. 1863 Rode over to Powdrell’s place in the afternoon.
24th Dec. 1863 Making target for rifle shooting.
26th Dec. 1863 Williams gone over to Te Whana Whana to mark out sheep yards.
31st Dec. 1863 Down at Herrick’s playing cards with Smith till early in the New Year.
7th January 1864 Agreed to take Powdrell’s place.
13th January 1864 Finished shearing today.
14th January 1864 Commenced shearing Herrick’s flock.
15th January 1864 Went up to Powdrells yesterday & took possession of 130 head of cattle.
17th January 1864 Walked up to Brown’s Lodge with Morecroft & Williams.
19th January 1864 Did my first days work at Brown’s Lodge: mowing with Saunders all day.
23rd January 1864 Haymaking all day. Cards with H.W.R.S. (Smith) down at Herricks in evening.
25th January 1864 Haymaking for Williams.
26th January 1864 Thrashing grass seed at the Lodge all day.
2nd February 1864 Rode over to Te Whana Whana in the morning up to the Lodge in the afternoon.
3rd February 1864 Herrick finished shearing.
8th February 1864 “Putting up Woolshed on the Maori run with Herrick.”
10th February 1864 “Commenced shearing on the Maori run.”
17th February 1864 “Started for Te Aute at noon, managing to lose my way. Put up at Peter Miller’s.
18th February 1864 “Made another start for Te Aute, which I reached at 10 a.m. Walking about with Coleman all afternoon.”
19th February 1864 “Left for Port at 10.30 a.m. Dined at Havelock. Went on to S. Hill’s place on the Tuki Tuki and reached Port about 6.30 p.m.
25th February 1864 “Down to the Spit by 10.00. Left Gill’s at 12 for Havelock. On to Te Aute for dinner with Addie.”
26th February 1864 “Looking at some cattle in the morning. Rode up to the Kereru after lunch. Williams out burning.”
27th February 1864 “Riding a strange horse … managed to get [?] over his head, not getting damaged. Duff called. Williams gone to the back country to bring in horses.
1st March 1864 “Laying the floor of sitting room at the Lodge. First day of Napier Races.”
2nd March 1864 “After cattle all morning. Everyone away at the Races.”
5th March 1864 “Herrick came home. Went down below with him for apples and cucumbers.”
6th March 1864 “Rode up to the Lodge to get peaches with Herrick”.
7th March 1864 “Left at 7a.m. for Te Aute, which I reached at 12.30 p.m. Riding about with S. Williams looking at cattle all afternoon.”
8th March 1864 “Walking about all morning with S.W. & Purvis Russell. Rode down to Port by 9 p.m. Spent a very fine evening listening to Bousfield and old Hunter.”
9th March 1864 “Down to the Spit after dinner for letters from Lord Ashley. Rode up to Havelock with Hadfield by 7 p.m.
10th March 1864 “Rode onto Te Aute with Hadfield & Cruikshanks to dinner. On to Homewood to help Williams drive sheet. Got back about 7.15. Found Mrs Thompson & Capt. Newman at Te Aute.
11th March 1864 “Left at 6.30. Drove 800 sheep as far as Mason’s by 6.30 p.m.
12th March 1864 “Left at 7. Drove sheep to Smiths.”
13th March 1864 “Drove sheep home by night”.
16th March 1864 “Drove Smith’s mare over to Te Aute.”
17th March 1864 “Mustering & drafting cattle.”
18th March 1864 “Started with cattle from Te Aute at 10 a.m. Reached Smiths at 11 p.m. by moonlight.”
19th March 1864 “Drove onto the Kereru by 3 p.m.
Stewart & Morecroft up.
21st March 1864 “Cards with Morecroft in evening. McDonald here in evening.”
22nd March 1864 “Breakfast at 6.30. Rode down to Port by 12.30. Down to the Spit for some hours. Playing billiards with Mr. Kinross all evening, then up to sleep at his house.”
23rd March 1864 “Playing Williams nearly all day. Richardson at the Club in the evening.”
24th March 1864 “Settled matters with Powdrell in the morning. Down to the Spit for dinner. Up with Kinross at 10 p.m. to sleep.”
25th March 1864 “Rode out to Neave’s with Richardson & Maltby, then on to Kereru alone. Williams driving sheep from McLean’s.”
27th March 1864 “Walked up to the Lodge with Herrick & Williams in the morning.”
28th March 1864 “Thrashing grass seed all day. Fishing party out.”
29th March 1864 “Riding after cattle all day.”
30th March 1864 “Up to the Lodge in the morning. Setting the house to rights all day. Spent the first night “at Home” with Addie.”
3rd April 1864 “Williams & Morgan came up.”
5th April 1864 “S & J Powdrell up.”
15th April 1864 “Repairing stockyard all day.”
20th April 1864 “Rode up to Duffs with Morgan.”
21st April 1864 “Marking a line for cross fence & chaining grass paddock. Pigeon shooting in afternoon.
22nd April 1964 “Sowing grass seed in the morning. Burning Big Hill in afternoon.”
23rd April 1864 “Sowing grass seed all day on Big Hall.”
29th April 1864 “Digging well & pond.”
3rd May 1864 “Hunting cattle in the Kereru all day.”
8th May 1864 “Down at Herrick’s all day.”
9th May 1864 “Rode up to Duff’s with Williams.”
10th May 1864 “Making cutting across the creek.”
14th May 1864 “Cutting track through the bush.”
22nd May 1864 “Rode up to Duffs with Morgan. McCulloch up to dinner.”
24th May 1864 “Killed & salted pig.”
25th May 1864 “Down to drill at Aorangi.”
26th May 1864 “Round the cattle in the morning. Killed bullock down at Williams’s in afternoon.”
31st May 1864 “Cutting firewood in the bush all day.”
3rd June 1864 “Killing pig & building wheelbarrow.”
5th June 1864 “Fred came down from Auckland.”
7th June 1864 “Rode up from Port with Fred.”
12th June 1864 “Herricks all day.”
19th June 1864 “Herrick & Morgan up.”
21st June 1864 “Rode with Herrick & Jack to Te Aute.”
23rd June 1864 “Rode home.”
24th June 1864 “Drill.”
25th June 1864 “Finished sledge.”
7th July 1864 “Built work bench.”
Sun. 17th July 1864 “Rode down to McLean’s with Williams & Fred.”
25th July 1864 “Down to Port with Herrick & Addie.”
15th August 1864 “Planting potatoes. Fred gone to Herrick’s drafting.”
27th August 1864 “Finished safe; gardening.”
29th August 1864 “Stumping”
30th August 1864 “Nursing Tom and gardening.”
5th September 1864 “Fencing all day.”
12th September 1864 “Making yokes all day.”
13th September 1864 “Branding & drafting.”
16th September 1864 “Sledging firewood.”
20th September 1864 “Rode over to Te Aute with Jack.”
21st September 1864 “Went to Russell’s Cattle sale at Waipukurau. Bought a few cows … To sleep at Mount Herbert.”
28th September 1864 “Ploughing with grey filly.” Lock up & spent the evening with us. (Samuel Locke was a surveyor.)”
30th September 1864 “Drill.”
5th October 1864 Killing bullock in afternoon.
6th October 1864 “Cutting up bullock. Made stretcher.
7th October 1864 “Dined with Duff. Jack & Williams home from Te Aute.”
11th October 1864 “Cutting up bullock. Raining in afternoon. S. Williams & Leonard Williams here all night.”
13th October 1864. “Rode up to Duffs with S. Williams. Back to Williams’s to sleep.”
15th October 1864. “Home after breakfast. Morecroft & George with all the Kereru Snells spent the day & night with us.”
21st October 1864 “To Te Aute. Found Aunt Williams & two of my cousins there.”
22nd October 1864 “Riding about with Coleman after cattle.”
23rd October 1864 “Walking about & talking to Coleman.”
9th November 1864 “Making dry road across creek all day.”
11th November 1864 “Planting potatoes all day.”
14th November 1864 Ditching all morning
15th November 1864 “Taking cows down to Herricks in morning. Cutting firewood in the bush all afternoon.”
28th November 1864 “Left at 5: got the cattle in: commenced branding at 7.30. Drove to port with Williams at 9 a.m.
29th November 1864 “Rode out to Pakowhai, then on to Te Aute with Williams by 5 p.m. Gaisford here.
30th November 1864 “Left at 3.45 a.m. Rode home by 10am. Packing up for England in afternoon.”
1st January 1865 “Church in morning. On board the “Northam” at 2 p.m. Weighted anchor at 5 p.m. and sailed for Galle.
14th January 1865 “Dropped anchor in Galle at 5 p.m. Ashore at 5.30. Walked up to Blythe’s to dine.
17th January 1865 “Aboard the Nubia at 8.30 a.m.”
25th January 1865 “Arrived in Aden at 6 a.m. … Drove out to the Tanks … sailed at 4 p.m.
30th January 1865 Arrived at Suez 11 p.m.
31st January 1865 “… Went aboard the train for Cairo at 2 p.m. …Put up at Shepheard’s”
1st February 1865 “… did the Pyramids” … Drove up to the Mosque at night to see the illuminations
2nd February 1865 “To see the Mosque by daylight. Drove out to the Shubra Gardens & through the Turkish Bazaar. To a ball & a theatre in the evening.
3rd February 1865 “Left … Cairo at 7.15 a.m. and reached Alexandria at 3 p.m. … Not a bed to be had … could not get aboard steamer … a concert in evening.
4th February 1865 Did Pompey’s Pillar & Cleopatra’s Needle on donkey. Went aboard the “Poona”.
5th February 1865 Left Alexandria 5.30 p.m.
10th February1865 Ran into Malta at 4 p.m.
11th February 1865 Left Malta at 7 a.m.
13th February 1865 Passed between Sardinia & Corsica at 12.00 a.m.
14th February 1865 Reached Marseilles at 8 and left at 11.30 for Paris: reached Lyons at 7.30 p.m.
15th February 1865 Arrived in Paris at 7 a.m. and left at 8 a.m. for Boulogne, which we made by 1p.m. Crossed the Channel in the “Lord Ward” Left Folkstone at 4.30 for London and got in at 7.
16th February 1865 Left Paddington at 12: stayed at Reading with my brother till 4.45: went on to Warwick: drove to the Lawn to spend the night.
17th February 1865 (The Sammy here referred to would be his brother George.)
3rd March 1866 On board the “Kaikoura” at 1 p.m. … our party consisting of Mr & Mr W. Nelson; Mr. 7 Mrs. Townsend; Alfred & John Giblin.
4th March 1866 Sailed at 10.20 a.m. with a most splendid day.
5th March 1866 Reached Plymouth at 3 p.m.
8th March 1866 Sailed from Plymouth at 2 p.m.
12th March 1866 Dining under difficulties: seal carried away at dinner time with Jim Williams & five others aboard.
16th March 1866 Reached St. Vincent at 7 p.m. .. Averaged eleven knots on the run from Plymouth.
20th March 1866 Sailed at 5 p.m. for the Caffe.
29th March 1866 Detention of six hours to clean boiler tubes.
30th March 1866 Lost one blade of screw during the night.
7th April 1866 Reached Capetown 3.15 p.m. Parkes Hotel to tea & bed.
10th April 1866 Sailed at 6.15 p.m.
18th April 1866 Engines stopped for four hours to clean boiler tubes
21st April 1866 Engine stopped seven hours – [?] broken.
3rd May 1866 Lost another blade of screw sometime during the gale.
4th May 1866 Working with only one blade to the screw.
5th May 1866 Sighted Cape Otway at noon.
7th May 1866 Berthed alongside wharf by breakfast time. Spent the day between the “Otago” & “Kaikoura”. Met Millar on the “Lincolnshire”
8th May 1866 Between the Kaikoura & Melbourne all day.
14th May Sailed at 7 a.m. for The Bluff.
19th May 1866 Reached Bluff at 4 a.m. & left for Dunedin at 6 a.m.
20th May 1866 Anchored alongside “The Auckland” and transferred luggage & left in [?] at 2 p.m.
22nd May 1866 Left Lyttelton at 12.30 p.m.
24th May 1866 Left Wellington at 4 p.m.
25th May 1866 Reached Napier at 5 p.m. Went onshore with Fred at 7.30 & up to Kinross’s to sleep.
28th May 1866 Left for Te Aute at 4.15 with Fred & Moorsom: reached Te Aute at 10.10 Sent on our family by cart in the morning.
29th May 1866 Rode over to Arlington with Fred in afternoon.
31st May 1866 Rode back to Te Aute in afternoon.
4th June 1866 Left Te Aute with Sally & servants at 11.45 a.m. in Mr Williams’s cart: reached Arlington at 3.40 p.m.
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