William SUNNEX married Eliza WEBLEY in 1826 in Bredhurst, Kent

they had 5 children to 1839 then sailed in 1841 on the TYNE leaving London on 25th March 1841, arriving in Wellington on 9th August 1841

On board was the first Chief Justice of New Zealand, Sir William Martin and also the first Attorney General Mr William Swainson

The TYNE sunk 4 years later just outside Wellington when it struck rocks off Sinclair Head in a violent storm

... On her son William`s birth record in 1839, Eliza`s surname was spelt WHIBLEY and husband WIlliam`s was spelt SUNNIX and according to one source the name of Sunnix has been spelt at least 40 different ways and is slmost impossible to trace back. That, plus the family appears to have been very nomadic and have wandered almost aimlessly around Kent ...

William and Eliza had another 4 children in Taita

- their children were:
1826 - 1887 Frances Sunnex
- born Upchurch Sittingborne
- married Charles MUDGWAY in Wellington in 1846
- they had 8 children

1827 - ? Mary Ann Sunnex
- born in England and was on the passenger list of the Tyne
- nothing is known about her

1828 - ? Sarah Sunnex
- married Robert CLARKE

1836 - 1922 Maria Ellen Sunnex
- married George SOUTHEE in 1855 in Lower Hutt
- they had at least 12 children
- George died in 1904
- Maria remarried to Robert James FERGUSON in 1907, she was 71

1839 - 1918 William Sunnex
- married Annie Louisa SYMES in 1888
- William died aged 79 in Wellington

1841 - 1897 Thomas Charles Sunnex
- first child born in Taita, New Zealnad
- married Elizabeth HANNING in 1872
- they had a possible 8 children
- Thomas died in Carterton aged 56

1843 - 1926 John Sunnex
- married Mary Ann THOMAS in 1870 in Taita
- they had 10 known children
- he died in Taumarunui aged 83

1845 - 1893 Emma Elizabeth Sunnex
- possibly born in Carterton
- married Charles David HARRIS in 1866
- Charles was the 8th of 13 children to Abraham Harris and Sophia Harris
- Emma & Charles had at least 8 children
- Emma died in Martinborough aged 47

1850 - 1902 Phoebe Ann Elizabeth Sunnex
- married Joseph WYETH in 1873
- they had at least 7 children
- Phoebe died aged 52 in Trentham


Eliza was widowed in July 1883
- (William died in Upper Hutt aged 89)
- this appeared in the EVENING POST on 6th December 1884:
... William Sunnex, Thomas Sunnex, and John Sunnex, were charged with having neglected to obey an order for the contribution of 6s 8d each towards the weekly support of their aged mother. Wm. Sunnex was the only defendant who appeared in person. He said he was a labourer and lived at the Upper Hutt. He had only been able to earn ?2 during the past two months, and it was quite impossible for him to pay 6s 8d per week towards the support of his mother. His Worship decided to adjourn the case against this defendant until next week. Thomas Sunnex`s case was struck out, the accused having paid up the amount in arrears. His Worship decided to hear the charge against John Sunnex at Masterton on the 16th instant.

Eliza died in Upper Hutt in 1897 aged 89
- she is buried at St James