Eyles Family History

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Request #1 dated 31 March 2005 from mikewry@tpg.com.au

Seeking contacts to help with family tree of Daniel Eyles born 17 September 1790 North Waltham, Hampshire, England and married Jane Primmer 7 April 1814 East Meon, Hampshire, England before emigrating to New Zealand

His parents were likely Charles Eeles and his wife Hannah of North Waltham, Hampshire, England

children of Daniel and Jane Eyles were

(1) Elizabeth Eyles born 1815 East Meon, Hampshire, England who married Thomas Tidd SQ 1840 St Leonards Foster Lane , London, England

(2) Amelia Eyles baptised 14 September 1816 East Meon, Hampshire, England who married (a) Thomas Cresswell 4 July 1835 Medstead, Hampshire, England (b) John Holdaway 7 August 1842 Nelson, New Zealand

(3) Mary Eyles baptised 22 November 1818 Lasham, Hampshire, England who married David Norgate in 1842

(4) Charles Eyles baptised 11 February 1821 Lasham, Hampshire, England who married (a) Mary Ann Dunkley (2) Selina Higgins

(5) William Henry Eyles baptised 16 March 1823 Lasham, Hampshire, England who married Amelia Thorne in New Zealand

(6) Jane Eyles born 1825 Lasham, Hampshire, England who married (a) Thomas Bridgeman 1 April 1843 in New Zealand (b) William Gillis 29 August 1861 Boggandilla, Queensland, Australia

(7) Ann Eyles born 9 May 1828 Lasham, Hampshire, England and baptised 15 June 1828 Normanby Street Independent Chapel Alton, Hampshire who married Edward Cresswell 12 September 1846 in New Zealand

(8) John Eyles born 2 February 1831 baptised 2 April 1831 Normanby Street Independent Chapel Alton, Hampshire Lasham, Hampshire, England who married Mary Driscoll 1861 in New Zealand

(9) Benjamin Eyles born 1833 Lasham, Hampshire, England baptised Normanby Street Independent Chapel Alton, Hampshire

(10) Esther Eyles born 1834 Lasham

(11) Ezra Eyles born 1838 Lasham, Hampshire, England who died at sea on ship ‘Mary Ann’ in 1842 on voyage to New Zealand

Some further brief notes

Amelia Eyles first husband Thomas Cresswell was an emigrant in the early party put together by the New Zealand Company to settle in New Zealand. He boarded the “Whitby” and set sail for a new future , but was struck by typhoid fever. On arriving in the harbour he was transferred to the “Will Watch” but died 22 November 1841 being the first white person death in the settlement. He was buried on Haulashore Island at Glionby Point overlooking the harbour and his gravesite is marked by a monument. Amelia was living with her father in law William Cresswell and her 4 children ages 1 to 9 and sister Ann Eyles 13 in Medstead, Hampshire at this time

Some brief background to the New Zealand Company and the beginnings of the Nelson settlement

Colonists would pay for Land titles before leaving England. The profits would be used to buy land from the Māori, start public works, and enable free passage to New Zealand for selected emigrants. A land order title would grant the emigrant the right to participate in a ballot on arrival, in order to determine his sector of land.

In September 1839 The New Zealand Company sent it's first three migrant ships to New Zealand. These ships were "The Oriental", "Aurora" and the "Adelaide". Before leaving, the future settlers agreed to a code of law by which they would be governed until Britain officially took over New Zealand, and this in spite of warnings by the British Government that The New Zealand Company was operating illegally, and that any land title claims could not be guaranteed as legal.

Captain Arthur Wakefield arrived at Wellington in 1841, in command of the expeditionary vessel, the 'Will Watch,' to found the Nelson settlement somewhere in the Middle Island, and to take his instructions from his brother, Colonel Edward Gibbon Wakefield, the New Zealand Company's agent.  The Colonel wished his brother to go south to Port Cooper, where, as whalers had told him, there was a good harbour and plenty of level country.  Lieutenant Governor Hobson, however, forbade the southward expedition, and limited the choice of a site for the settlement to Blind Bay; hence Nelson was for years known as "Hobson Choice." Nelson Haven was discovered on 20 October 1841.  The other expeditionary vessels were the 'Arrow' and the 'Whitby' with 100 pioneers from England. A year later they were joined by their wives and children.

On October 21 the Arrow anchored outside the haven. On 4 November 1841, Wakefield saw the Will Watch safely anchored inside the haven. The Arrow commenced unloading on 8 November. The Will Watch began discharging cargo on 10 November. Captain Arthur Wakefield, was the expedition leader. William Blundell set up a forge and sawyers established a sawpit near 150 acres of bush on the far side of the Maitai River. This area was later to be called The Wood. The first four emigrant ships, Fifeshire, Mary Ann, Lloyds and Lord Auckland had all arrived in February 1842.

On board the “Mary Ann” arriving in 1842 were

Daniel Eyles 44 Ag Lab

Jane Eyles 44

Mary Eyles 23

William Eyles 18

Jane Eyles 16

Ann Eyles 13

John Eyles 11

Benjamin Eyles 10

Ezra Eyles 2 who died on the voyage from England

Amelia Cresswell 26 ( wife of Thomas Cresswell and daughter od Daniel and Jane Eyles)

Edward Cresswell 15 ( Amelia’s brother-in- law)

William Cresswell 6

Elizabeth Cresswell 4

Mary Cresswell 2

Charles Cresswell 3 weeks

Amelia’s sister Elizabeth Tidd (nee Eyles) was also on board the Mary Ann with husband Thomas Samuel Tidd and daughter Esther 6

In England pre emigration the 1841 census provides some further family information

1841 Census Lasham, Hampshire, England Registration District Alton

reference HO107/385/19

Daniel Eyles 45 Ag Lab BIC y

Jane Eyles 42 BIC y

John Eyles 10 BIC y

Ben Eyles 8 BIC y

Ezra Eyles 3 BIC y

Esther Eyles 7 BIC y

Of the older Children

Amelia now Mrs Cresswell and Ann Eyles were living in 1841 census with Amelia’s father in law in Medstead, Hampshire

1841 Census Medstead, Hampshire

William Cresswell 58 Ag Lab BIC y

Amelia Cresswell 25 BIC y

William Cresswell 9 BIC y

William ? Cresswell 5 BIC y

Elizabeth Cresswell 3 BIC y

Mary Cresswell 1 BIC y

Ann Eyles 13 BIC y

Charles Eyles had enlisted in the 1st/11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot that were to be garrisoned in Colony of Australia 1845 to 1857

1841 census Georges Square Barracks Stoke Damerell, Devonport, Devon, England

Charles Eyles 20 Soldier Private 11^th Regiment BIC n

July 1845 the 11th Headquarters and three companies sailed from Chatham on board the "Castle Eden" for Sydney. The balance of the Regiment sailed on board the "Ramilies" in August of that year. Transferred to Hobart but due to internal discipline problems with the 99th Regiment, they were recalled to Sydney in 1846 to restore Law and order.

In 1857 the Regiment returned to England

Charles married Mary Ann Dunckley likely in England about 1845 before his regiment was sent to Australia .

They had a son Charles William Eyles born 30 March 1846 in England who died 29 April 1846 , then 2 children in Geelong Victoria Australia in 1848 and 1850 departing Melbourne for New Zealand on the brig “Spray” 22 December 1852 with 4 other children born in Nelson, New Zealand . Charles and Mary Ann separated and Charles moved to Blenheim and with is defacto Selina Higgins raised another 8 children

After an initial period of growth and prosperity the settlement started to decline , the main reasons appear to have been due to insufficient land , inadequate finance , and other problems associated with a new settlement. Organised immigration ceased until the 1850’s and the laborers had to accept a significant cut in their wages By the end of 1843 artisans and laborers began leaving Nelson and by 1846 some twenty five percent of the immigrants had left the settlement. It was still the second largest town in New Zealand though

It was during this period Jane Eyles and her husband Thomas Bridgeman ( married in April 1843 ) emigrated to Australia to find a better life. After the death of Thomas, Jane married William Gillis in 1861 Boggandilla, Queensland Australia

The rest of the family remained in New Zealand

Grandchildren of Daniel and Jane Eyles (nee Primmer)

Esther Tidd b 1834

Thomas Samuel Tidd b 1842

Mary Ann Tidd b 1850

Elizabeth Tidd b 1852

Amelia Jane Tidd b 1857

William Cresswell b 1835

Elizabeth Cresswell b 1838

Mary Jane Cresswell b 1840

Charles Cresswell b 1842 died at sea 1842

Ann Holdaway b 1843

Charles Holdaway b 1844

Edwin Holdaway b 1845

Ellen Holdaway b 1847

Sarah Holdaway b 1849

Henry Oscar Holdaway b 1851

Thomas Holdaway b 1853

Albert Daniel Holdaway b 1855

Phoebe Marinda Holdaway b 1857

Ada Amelia Holdaway b 1859

Albert Arthur Holdaway b 1863

George Norgate b 1843

Frank Norgate b 1845

Henry Norgate b 1846

Mary Ann Norgate b 1850

Charles Norgate

Sarah Norgate

William Norgate

Jazeb Norgate b 1859

Charles William Eyles b 1846 England

Elizabeth Mary Jane Eyles b 1848 Australia

Harriett Eyles b 1850 Australia

Charlotte Eyles b 1852 New Zealand

Hester Eyles b 1854

Walter Nugent Eyles b 1856

Charles Samuel b 1859

Cecilia Eyles b 1860

Charles Eyles b 1861

Lucy Louisa Eyles b 1863

Frederick William Eyles b 1865

Albert Edward Eyles b 1866

Florence Eyles b 1869

Winifred Eyles b 1871

Amy Gertrude Eyles b 1875

Charles William Eyles b 1846

Mary Ann Eyles b 1847

Eleanor Eyles b 1849

Charles Eyles b 1851

Eleanor Jane Eyles b 1852

Frederick Eyles b 1854

Alice Eyles b 1856

Catherine Elizabeth Eyles b 1858

Anna Eyles b 1860

William Daniel Eyles b 1862 drowned in creek 1864

William Daniel Eyles b 1865

Lillian Amelia Eyles b 1867

Robert Edward Eyles b 1869

Charles Daniel Bridgeman b 1845 Gosswyk New South Wales Australia

Jane Bridgeman b 1847 Clarence River District New South Wales Australia

Francis Gillis b 1850 Brisbane then Colony of New South Wales now Queensland Australia

Ellen Gillis b 1852 b 1850 Brisbane then Colony of New South Wales now Queensland Australia

Katherine Gillis b 1854 Brisbane then Colony of New South Wales now Queensland Australia

Alice Gillis b 1856 Dalby Queensland Australia

William Patrick Gillis b 1858 Ipswich Queensland Australia

Agnes Gillis b 1862 Boggandilla Queensland Australia

Ida Amelia Gillis b 1872 ?

Jane Cresswell b 1847

Eliza Cresswell b 1848

William Daniel Cresswell b 1850

John Cresswell b 1852

Thomas Samuel Cresswell b 1854

Robert Cresswell b 1856

James Edward Cresswell b 1859

Ada Martha Cresswell and Albert Henry Cresswell (twins) b 1861

Annie Bertha Cresswell b 1863

Amy Eliza Cresswell b 1863

Frank Cresswell b 1867

Lily Cresswell b 1869

Esther Jane Eyles b 1859

John Israel Eyles b 1860

Ann Eyles b 1864

Charles Eyles b 1867

Rose Eyles b 1868

Daniel Eyles died 7 October 1870 aged 80 at Stoke , Nelson New Zealand

Jane Eyles had died soon after their arrival 19 June 1842

Request #2 dated 31 March 2005 from mikewry@tpg.com.au

Seeking contacts to help with family tree of William Gillis and wife Mary of Limerick, Ireland married prior to 1820 - their Descendants include

· William Gillis who married Jane Eyles 29 August 1861 Boggandilla, Queensland, Australia

Their children were

Francis born 1850 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia ( still then part of Colony of New South Wales)

Ellen born 1852 Brisbane

Katherine born 1854 Brisbane

Alice born 1857 Dalby, Queensland, Australia

William Patrick born 1858 Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Agnes born 1862 Boggandilla, Queensland, Australia

Ida Amelia born 1872

Request #3 dated 31 March 2005 from mikewry@tpg.com.au

Seeking contacts to help with family tree of Benjamin Primmer who married Martha Newland 4 May 1795

East Meon, Hampshire, England and raised a large family

Their children

Samuel born 1795 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Jane born 1797 Lasham, Hampshire, England married Daniel Eyles 1814 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Elizabeth born 1799 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Mary born 1802 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Benjamin born 1805 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Joseph born 1807 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Edmund born 1810 East Meon, Hampshire, England

William born 1812 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Daniel born 1814 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Henry born 1816 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Frances born 1818 East Meon, Hampshire, England

John born 1821 East Meon, Hampshire, England

Request #4 dated 31 March 2005 from mikewry@tpg.com.au

Seeking contacts to help with family tree of Richard Newland who married Rebecca Chase 6 July 1766 East Meon, Hampshire, England