The RAKAIA which arrived in Wellington September 9th 1879
- The passenger list had the HART family as Colonial Nominated Passengers:
Richard Hart aged 42, (1837-1903) a Shipwright from Devonshire
Susan Hart aged 40, (1839-1909 nee LUCKHAM) his wife

- and their 6 sons:

Albert Hart aged 13 (b.1866)
- Albert died 14 December 1940 aged 75
- he is buried Plot 007 - Block 007 at Ashhurst Cemetery

John Hart aged 9 (b.1870)

William Hart aged 7 (b.1872)

Robert Hart aged 5 (b.1874)
- Robert died 25 January 1932 aged 68
- he is buried Plot 002 - Block 027 at Ashhurst Cemetery

George Hart aged 3 (b.1876)
- George died 22 May 1943 aged 67
- he is buried in Plot 007 - Block 002 Area C at Kelvin Grove

Thomas Hart aged 1 (b.1878)

Richard Hart died 20 February 1903 aged 66
- he is buried in Plot 017 - Block 024 at Ashhurst Cemetery
his wife Susan died 11 August 1909 aged 71
- she is buried in Plot 018 - Block 024 at Ashhurst Cemetery

Thanks Ngaire,

Additional details for you -

Albert HART b 13/9/1865 d 12/12/1940 married in Ashhurst 27/1/1897 Louise Ann de VAUTIER b 31/3/1872 d 29/1/1945.

John William HART b 1868 d 1868 (Hull) prior to their departure from England.

John Richard HART b 14/4/1871 d 14/3/1935 married in Palmerston North N.Z. 24/12/1889 Sarah Jane JARVIS b 29/3/1871.

William Henry HART b 25/5/1872 d 11/4/1957 married in Feilding 14/3/1893 Annie Eva PAWSON b 2/1/1869 d 5/7/1960.

Robert HART b 24/2/1874 d 25/1/1932 married Louise Adeline GIFFORD b 3/10/1866 d 10/10/1956.

George HART d 22/5/1943 married Mary Dear BAUCKHAM b abt 1879 d 14/4/1954.

Thomas HART b 12/8/1877 d 13/8/1957 married 25/3/1903 Eliza WALLIS b 20/3/1880 d 21/2/1928.

Hello Malcolm,

I haven't been in touch for a long time as I have been too busy to do much with the family history recently.

I just wanted to add a word of caution about 'John William Hart' b/d 1868. I am only partly sure that he is one of ours - and I cannot check without ordering the birth certificate (expensive). When I was looking through the birth registers for our family several years ago, I found this name in a registration district just half a mile from where Richard and Susan were living. It could have been theirs, and their next child was called 'John' which was sometimes a sign that an early child by that name had died. However, it was a densely populated area, and 'John' and 'Hart' were not uncommon names, so I included the name in the original tree only as a 'maybe'.

Regarding your request for early family photos, I think it unlikely that there would have been a wedding photo as I think they were very poor. The reason they married on Dec 24th would have been because it was one of the few days in the year when was no charge for a church wedding, and they would not have had to lose a day's pay to have the time off. The reason Richard had moved from Salcombe was the decline in the shipbuilding industry at Salcombe in the early 1860s. It would appear from the marriage certificate that Susan moved to Hampshire to join Richard, aided by the Salcombe family who ran the boatyard. It would not appear that any other family were there, although Jarvis and Partridge were both Salcombe boat-building names!

I do however have a photo of Susan Luckham in later life, standing outside the family home in Ashurst with her son, Thomas, his wife, and their child. If you do not already have this I would be happy to e-mail it to you.

Best wishes.

Bev

Hi Bev,

Great to hear from you and thank you for the additional information. No, I do not have this photograph and would appreciate this. My mother Phyllis (now part blind) and just turned 86 earlier this is still in good health apart from her sight. She would love to hear that another photo has turned up.

Thanks

Malcolm.
malcolm.lind@xtra.co.nz