Samuel Charles Farr (1827 ? 1918) was a 19th century builder and architect in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- he was born in Baldock, North Hertfordshire, England, in 1827, a son of a builder and was exposed to architecture through observing his father's work, but he did not receive formal training, which required working for an architect for four years.

In 1849, Mary Ann PAVITT (1826-1912) from Theydon Garnon visited friends in Baldock for a farewell, as she was to emigrate with her family to New Zealand. Samuel and Mary Ann fell in love and became engaged. She was the oldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Pavitt.
The Pavitt family and Samuel Charles Farr left London on 19 November 1849, in the barque Monarch for Auckland. On 5 March 1860, while The Monarch was crossing the Tasman Sea in a heavy gale, her rudder was carried away. The vessel drifted with the wind to the south of Stewart Island and it took a fortnight to get a temporary rudder installed. The Monarch then made its way up the east coast of the South Island, but a week later the new rudder was carried away and was lost. On 2 April 1850, The Monarch managed to reach Akaroa, and there 41 passengers, including Farr, decided to remain.

In 1877, for the Akaroa Mail newspaper, Samuel Charles Farr told the story of the voyage of the 375 ton barque Monarch to New Zealand
The voyage of the barque Monarch, 1850


Samuel and Mary Ann's intention was to get married as soon as possible after landing. However, there was no official available to perform the ceremony, and they did not have rings. Samuel made his own ring from a half-sovereign, and shortly afterwards the local magistrate, John Watson, was appointed Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. On 15 June 1850, the ceremony was performed, and this was the first marriage celebrated in the Canterbury Region. Samuel subsequently received commissions to make six similar rings

From 1862, they lived in Christchurch

Samuel Farr has a number of firsts against his name:
* the first marriage in Canterbury
* he designed Akaroa's first church
* designed New Zealand's first iron verandahs
* built the first jetty that was erected for the Governmen at Akaroa
* and he started Sunday schools in Canterbury

As a leading member of the Acclimatisation Society, he stocked almost every lake and river in Canterbury with fish and was instrumental in introducing the bumblebee to New Zealand.
His most notable building is Cranmer Court, the former Normal School, in the Christchurch Central City; this building is to be demolished following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

SAMUEL & MARY ANN had 2 CHILDREN
... 1
? 1852 - 1926 Annie Stevens Farr
- Annie married Dr Francis MacBean STEWART (1838-1906) L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. (Edin.), Physician and Surgeon in 1875
- they had 6 known children:
? 1876 - 1876 Fiona Gertrude MacBean Stewart
- Fiona died aged 7 weeks
? 1877 - 1915 Douglas Everard MacBean Stewart
- Douglas married Edith Illa FISHER (1876-1932) in 1902
? 1879 - 1882 Norman MacBean Stewart
- Norman died aged 3
? 1880 - 1966 Harold MacBean Stewart
- Harold married Mary Jennie MILLS (1887-1960) in 1911 in Christrchurch & had 8 children
- Harold & Mary died in Lower Hutt
? 1882 - 1962 Fiona Macbean Stewart
- Fiona wasn't married
? 1885 - 1940 Kenneth MacBean Stewart
- Kenneth married Ellen Mary ECCLES in 1910

... 2
? 1859 - 1937 Everard Cecil Farr
- born in Christchurch, Everard was an Architect in Wellington
- Everard married Catherine FORD (1858-1885) in 1881
- they had 2 daughters
? 1882 - 1960 Ruby Mabel Farr
- Ruby married Arthur Douglas STUBBS (1877-1929) 3 Dec 1902 in First Church, Dunedin
- Ruby next married John Thomas PAVITT (1875-1973)
- son of Edward PAVITT (brother of Ruby's grandmother Mary Ann) & Charlotte ABBOTT (1839-1919 whose sister, Harriet Rose Abbott married another brother, Thomas Pavitt (1836-1921))
? 1885 - 1918 Daisy Kate Farr
- Daisy married Albert John Percival BRITTAIN (1883-1964) in 1908

CATHERINE Farr died 8 June 1885 aged 27
- she is buried Plot 1342C, Block 0 at Addington cemetery
Everard next married Mary Cairns KEAND (1861-1919) in 1887
- daughter of John KEAND & Elizabeth HUNTER of Riccarton, Christchurch
- Everard & Mary had 4 children
? 1888 - 1889 Gladys Mary Farr
- Gladys married Douglas Benjamin MOODIE in 1929
? 1890 - 1940 Heathcote Everard Farr
- Heathcote married Winifred Alice PIPER (1888-1970)
? 1892 - 1871 Leila Elizabeth Farr
- Leila didn't marry
? 1901 - 1942 Neville Northland Farr
- born in Wellington, died in Christcuhrch aged 41
- Neville married Alice Victoria WHITE (1902-1969) in 1929
MARY CAIRNS Farr died 2 May 1919 aged 55
- she is buried Plot 28, Block 33 at Bromley cemetery, Christchurch
EVERARD Farr died 4 Oct 1937 aaged 78
- he is buried Plot 29, Block 33 at Bromley cemetery


Mary Ann Farr died 24 September 1912 aged 86
Samuel Charles Farr died 14 July 1918 aged 91
- they are buried Plot 1020C, Block 0 at Addington cemetery, Christchurch

... see also Samuel Charles FARR reminisces "Life at Akaroa" 1849-1900

PHOTO
Samuel Charles Farr c1900