James 'Worser' Heberley - 1809-1899
ngairedith
.... NOTE
The name has been recorded variously over history as: Heberleig, Heberlein, Hebley, Heberly, Heberley, Hebberley, Herberley
JAMES HEBERLEY was born 22 Jan 1809 in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, a coastal town in Dorsetshire, south coast of England. He was a son of Johann 'Jacob' Heberley (Heberleig) (1761-1817), of Württemberg, Germany & Elizabeth Curtis (1785-1826) of Wyke Regis, Dorset. His father Jacob was a Master Mariner and is reputed to have been a German Pilot during the Napoleonic War. About 1790 Jacob was captured at sea by James Curtis, an English Privateer and taken to Weymouth. Of interest, he may have been the James Curtis who was one of the owners of the slave ship British Tar. While he was in confinement Jacob fell in love with James Curtis's daughter Elizabeth and they married on 2 Jan 1809 in Weymouth. Eight years later, in 1817, Jacob was drowned off the coast of England when his brig 'Nancy' was lost with all hands (History of Dorset). James Heberley was only 8 years old. His mother had to take up work, took him from school and sent him to live with his 'Uncle Smith' who was the manager of the Estate of Lord Henry Seymour on the Isles of White.
At the age of 11, James ran away to sea. He also became a Whaler and Master Mariner. He arrived in Sydney in 1928. In Feb 1830, after landing the first cargo of whale oil in Sydney, James, on John 'Jacky' Guard's schooner 'Waterloo,' headed for NZ. They arrived later that year in the South Island.
. . . NOTES
* James Hayter Jackson (1800-1877) first came to NZ as a mate of the Waterloo in 1829, also under command of Captain Jacky Guard.
Captain 'mad Jacky' Guard (1791-1857) was a convict sent to Sydney in 1815. Much has been written about his life adventures and are a must read.
James 'Old Worser' Heberley died 26 Sep 1899 by drowning in Picton Harbour. He was 4 months from 91
James had a brother in NZ
1817 - 1898 Frederick Matthew Heberley
Frederick married Eleanor/Ellen Brown (1817-1887) in 1848
* arrived in Wellington 27 June 1855 on the New Era (Eleanor is recorded as Jane. Jacob as age 2). Settled in Greytown
their known children
* 1849 - 1930 Maria Hebley
..+ Charles Robert Blake 1866 & 12 children
* 1851 - 1928 Jacob Richard Hebley
..+ Sarah Ann Kelly (1851-1940) 1874 & 4 children
* 1855 - 1935 Sarah Ann Hebley (born at sea)
..+ Sydney Stidolph in 1876 & 10 children
* 1857 - 1932 John James Hebley (born Picton)
..+ Mary Downey in 1878 & 10 children, including Ellen
* 1860 - 1921 Elizabeth Ann Hebley
..+ John Mills in 1877 & 5 children. + William Thomas Littlecott in 1908
* 1863 - Mary 'Polly' Hebley*
* 1865 - Isabella Hebley*
..+ Arthur Leevers in 1886
* 1869 - Emma Jane Hebley
..+ Francis John 'Frank' Mountain in 1886 Died Australia
* In Jan 1879, Mary & Isabella left their home in Molesworth street, because of "father's beatings" and stayed with Lucky Hickey. Lucy was charged with abduction
______
James was married to Maata Te Naihi Te OWAI (1807-1877) at Cloudy Bay, on 13 Dec 1841, by the missionary & community leader, Rev Samuel Ironside.
Maata, also known as Te Naihi Te Owai, Mata Te Naehe or Te Wai Nahi, was a daughter of a Te Atiawa chief, Aperahama Manupoinga. James was 31 and Maata was 33. On that day Rev Ironside also baptised their first 3 children.
James & Maata had 9 known children in Cloudy Bay
This is an ongoing project so the dates, ages, number of children etc are tentative and will change at any time. I have edited this list a number of times and still not sure it is correct. Therefore, as always, use as a guide only to your own research
x 8 of their children reached adulthood
x .. 1 ..
1832 - 1873 Mary Anne 'Mere Maki' Heberley
born 27 Dec 1832
Mary married Robert Woodgate (1822-1863) in Wellington 5 July 1854.
Mary next had a de facto relationship with his brother, William Henry Woodgate (1827-1877).
Mary died 23 Nov 1873 aged 40 in Queen Charlotte Sounds
* Her widower William, then lived with her daughter from her 1st marriage (his niece) Susan Woodgate (1858-1931), daughter of his late wife Mary & his late brother Robert. In Dec 1876 William was found guilty of Wilful Murder of his illegitimate child with Susan. After deliberating for 55 minutes the jury found him guilty. He was sentenced to death and hanged 25 Jan 1877 at Picton, making him the 37th person to be hanged in NZ and the last to be hanged in the Marlborough Sounds.
.. 2 ..
x 1833 - 1909 John Heberley
John married Charlotte Hockey (1841-1908) in Nelson 14 June 1858. Charlotte was born in Glastonbury, Somerset to Stephen Hockey & Ann Granfield who are buried in Blenheim.
Marlborough Express, 25 March 1908 Hebberley - On March 24th, at the Picton Hospital; Charlotte, the dearly beloved wife of John Hebberley. Deeply regretted.
Thames Star, 3 Sep 1909 Bluff, Sep 3 John Hebberley, a resident of Picton, died suddenly yesterday morning on board the Government steamer Hinemoa. He made the trip in order to see his sons, who are on Campbell Island, shearing sheep for the Hon Captain Tucker of Gisborne (who has a run on that island) and also whaling in the neighbouring waters (see photos below). It is supposed that death is due to heart disease. Deceased was accompanied by one of his sons, whom he had been visiting.
Marlborough Express, 3 Sep 1909
OBITUARY Mr John Hebberley Dies On Return From Campbell Islands.
Bluff. The late Mr Hebberley, who was 76 years of age left his home at Te Awaite a short time ago to visit his sons on the Campbell Islands, where the are engaged in the whaling industry. Two hours after arrival of the Hinemoa at the Bluff on her return from her trip south, Mr Hebberley was taken ill and expired some time after. Mrs Hebberley predeceased her husband by about a year and a grown-up family is left to mourn the loss of a father of whom they may well be proud.
Picton Quite a gloom was cast over the town this morning when the news arrived of the death of Mr John Hebberley. It will be remembered that, about a month ago, the deceased gentleman, who was a very old resident of the Sounds, and at one time one of the Te Awaite waters, left to join the Government steamer Hinemoa, on her periodical trip to the Islands. Mr Hebberley's intention was to visit the Te Awaite 'boys' who are whaling at the Campbell Islands and *especially to carry the news of the death of his old comrade, Mr Norton, to the latter's sons, who are among the party*. The Hinemoa returned to the Bluff this morning early. Soon after the vessel's arrival, Mr Hebberley, who was accompanied by his son and one of the Nortons, was taken seriously ill and suddenly expired. Bluff, hale and hearty, with an intrepid spirit, and withal a kindly disposition, he, in his younger days, often braved the dangers of Cook Strait in pursuit of the great mammals of the deep. During later years he had followed the more peaceful life of sheep-farming and for the greater part of the time had lived in Picton, where his friends and relatives are numerous. To them the people of Picton tender their deepest sympathy.
* This is incorrect information in the newspaper. His 'comrade' and father of the Norton boys on Campbell Island (see photo below), was James 'Jim' Norton who married Annie Keenan and who did not die until 19 May 1914. John's sister, Sarah Heberley (#child 4), married William Henry Keenan, Annie's brother.
.. 3 ..
1834 - Charles Thomas Heberley
.. died young
.. 4 ..
x 1839 - Sarah Heberley
Sarah married William Henry 'Pire' Keenan (1839-1892) in Nelson 3 April 1858 & had 8 children.
* William was a son of William Henry Keenan (1806-1880) & Takune Katarina 'Catherine' Hikimapu (1810-1894)
NZ Herald, 12 Nov 1880
The Marlborough papers announce the death of Mr William Keenan who had lived fifty years in Queen Charlotte Sound.
.. 5 ..
x 1842 - 1898 James Heberley
.. married Elizabeth Membrey (1845-1871, buried Napier) in St Paul's Church, Thorndon, Wellington 9 Jan 1863 & had 3 children.
He next married Catherine Emily Alexandra Slater (1844-1933, buried Napier) 2 March 1872 & had 3 children.
Daily Telegraph, 2 May 1898 Hebberley - At Napier, on April 30th 1898, James Hebberley, of Tarawera, aged 56 years. The funeral will leave the residence of Mr W. Slater, Gladstone road, tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2 o'clock
.. 6 ..
x 1844 - 1889 Joseph Heberley
.. married Martha Freeman (1854-1883) in Picton 7 March 1875 & had 5 children.
Martha died 24 June 1883 aged 28
Nelson Evening Mail, 28 June 1883
HEBLEY - On June 24th, at Picton, the wife of Mr Joseph Hebley and fourth daughter of Mr Freeman, Dovedale, aged 28 years.
Joseph died 12 June 1889 aged 35
Marlborough Express, 12 June 1889
OBITUARY News reached town to-day of the death of Mr Joseph Heberley, of Picton, which took place this morning from consumption. Deceased, who was about 40 years of age, was well known and esteemed in the district, where he at one time acted as temporary Harbor Master. He leaves two sons and a daughter. Deceased was a widower and his father, the well-known original pilot of the Sounds, survives him. He was a member of the Foresters and of the Picton Rowing Club and took a lively interest in all kinds of acquatic sports, being an expert at sailing.
* After Joseph's death, their sons Thomas & Herbert, moved to Wellington and lived with uncle Jacob (see below) where they too became accomplished carvers. Herbert carved the meeting house Whatu Tamainupo for Ngati Whatua and Thomas was later employed as the Maori carver at the Dominion Museum in Wellington. Thomas' daughter, Flora Heberley married Sir Makere Rangiatea Ralph Love, Mayor of Lower Hutt.
.. 7
x 1845 - Thomas Heberley
.. nothing known
.. 8 ..
x 1849 - 1906 Jacob William Heberley aka Hakopa Hepero
.. moved to Wellington where he became a Te Ati Awa carver. He moved to Greytown and married Annie Sarah McLachlan (1859-1920) 30 Aug 1877 & had 13 children
.. 9 ..
x 1856 - 1909 Henry 'Harry' Heberley
* Henry was a Boilermaker
.. married Helena Barker (1862-1907) in 1883
their known children
1884 - 1935 Olive Ethel Habley
- married Lawson Ashton Brown in 1909
1894 - 1973 Henry Frederick Joseph Hebley
- married Lena Elizabeth Margaret Velvin in 1919, left for America directly after and died in Pennsylvania, USA
Helena died 1 Jan 1907 aged 42
NZ Times, 2 Jan 1907
HEBLEY On January 1st, at her residence, Somerset street, Christchurch, after a long and painful illness, Helena Hebley, beloved wife of harry Hebley and second daughter of William Baumber Barker, Sherwill street, Feilding; aged 42 years; deeply regretted. At rest.
* She is buried Plot 48, Block 3E at Sydenham, Christchurch
Henry died 6 Feb 1909 aged 57
Star, 6 Feb 19090
HEBLEY February 6, at his late residence, Somerset Street, Spreydon, Henry Hebley; aged fifty-seven years. At rest, after a long and painful illness
* He is buried Plot 46, Block 3C, Sydenham, Christchurch
MAATA died 20 June 1877 at Oyster Bay aged 69.
NZ Mail, 14 July 1877
HEBLEY - On 20 June, at his residence at Picton, the beloved wife of Jas. Hebley, aged 65(sic).
* James then moved in to Picton and there, thirteen months later, on 13 July 1878, he remarried, to Charlotte Emily JOYCE (nee Nash 1829-1898).
* Charlotte was born in Kent and arrived on the 'Isabella Hercus' in March 1851. She first married Matthew Lee JOYCE (1820-1868) in 1851 & had at least 8 children. She was then 19 and Matthew was 31. One daughter was the grandmother of Janet Frame the NZ novelist. They lived for a time in Riccarton, Christchurch where Matthew was a Butcher in partnership with Charles Turner. Matthew drowned 10 June 1868 possibly in Hokitika. Charlotte next married James Heberley. She was then 46 and James was 60
CHARLOTTE died 14 Oct 1898 aged 68
Marlborough Express, 17 Oct 1898
OBITUARY Another old resident of Picton, Mrs Hebley(note spelling), of Waikawa Road, died on Friday night, after a long and severe illness. Mrs Hebley came to Picton at the time of the Wakamarina rush. At the time of her first husband's death she removed to Blenheim for a few years, but returned to marry Mr Hebley, who is a very old identity and has resided in Picton ever since. She has been a great sufferer of late, but seemed slightly better for the weeks preceding her death.
WORSER died 26 Sept 1899 aged 90 (4 months from 91)
* The Coroners report records that he had climbed out of a window (broken by him the previous Friday) and had wandered off, eventually to be caught in the mud at the harbour. He was found about 250 yards from the wharf, floating in an upright position with his stick in his hand. The stick was a walking stick which had been carved by his son Jacob. The end of this stick is buried with James. In his pockets at the time was, among other things, a pension cheque for £12 10, six sovereigns, a £1 note and two pennies, a purse key, a penknife, a matchbox, a receipt for £3 18s 7d and a handkerchief.
Marlborough Express, 27 Sep 1899
DROWNING FATALITY A man named Hebberly, aged 92 years, commonly known as "Old Worser," left his home at midnight on Monday and as he had not returned on Tuesday morning, search was made for him. The police went to Waikawa and other places, but no one had seen him. About 3.30 yesterday afternoon, Mr H. Norgrove, returning from the Grove, saw the body floating in the water in the bay and picked it up. The body was conveyed to the Picton Hospital to await instructions from the coroner. Mr Hebberly claimed to be the oldest resident in the colony.
Evening Post, 28 Sep 1899
Many old settlers will have been sorry to hear of the sad death of Mr James Hebberley (better known as James "Worser"), who was accidentally drowned in Picton harbour on Tuesday. Deceased was some 25 years ago pilot at Wellington, but has lived in Picton since then. Mr Hebberly was nearly 100 years of age and has left a considerable amount of property in Wellington and Picton.
Hastings Standard, 9 Oct 1899
An Old Colonist Mr James Heberley, who was drowned in Picton Harbor last week at the age of 91 years, was one of the oldest of the old settlers. The Picton Press says he had known New Zealand intimately for 72 years, having made his first acquaintance with the Bay of Islands in 1827, in a whaling vessel, and been a Marlborough resident since 1830. He became familiarly acquainted with that most ruthless of warriors, Te Rauparaha, the terror of white men. Deceased well remembered his return with 500 prisoners from the famous raid to Kaiapoi 67 years ago; witnessed the murder of the prisoners, and the cannibal orgies which ensued. He afterwards owed his life to that same Rauparaha, who threw his cloak over him just in the nick of time to save him from a Waikato tomahawk upraised to brain him.
In 1836 (sixty years ago) he piloted Captain Wakefield and his party in the Tory to Post Nicholson, thus witnessing the first-dawn of colonisation in the purchase of Wellington for a miscellaneous cargo, including slates and slate pencils and Jews' harps and beads. He afterwards accompanied Wakefield's party to Wanganui and Taranaki, where further 'trade' in land was done. Among the party landed at Taranaki was Dr Diffenbach, the naturalist of Wakefield's expedition and the doctor has recorded how he and Mr Heberley successfully scaled Mount Egmont, being the first whites to stand on top of the mountain - Christmas Day 1839.
Evening Post, 3 Oct 1899
An Interesting And Stirring Career
Early Days In Maoriland
James Worser Heberley ~ Whaler, Adventurer, Trader, Harbourmaster.
Mr James Heberley, who was drowned in Picton Harbour last week at the age of 91 years, was one of the oldest of the old settlers. The Picton Press says he had known New Zealand intimately for 72 years, having made his first acquaintance with the Bay of Islands in 1827 and been a Marlborough resident since 1830.
The son of a sailor, he ran away from home at the age of 11; served on a fishing smack, ran away again on account of the cruelty of his master. He made several trips across the Atlantic, had a brief experience on a man-of-warsman, and he shipped in 1826 in a convict ship for Sydney.
He had two years of adventure in the South Seas, and whaling brought him to the Bay of Islands in 1827. Many a desperate fight, many a wild orgie, he witnessed these days. He came to Queen Charlotte Sound in 1830, and made it his home. There he became familiarly acquainted with that most ruthless of warriers, Te Rauparaha, the terror of white men. Deceased well remembered his return with 500 prisoners from the famous raid to Kaiapoi 67 years ago; witnessed the murder of the prisoners, and the cannibal orgie that ensued.
He afterwards owed his life to that same Rauparaha, who threw his cloak over him just in the nick of time to save him from a Waikato tomahawk upraised to brain him.
In 1839 (sixty years ago) he piloted Captain Wakefield and his party in the Tory to Port Nicholson, thus witnessing the first dawn of colonisation in the purchase of Wellington for a miscellaneous cargo, including slates and slate pencils and Jew's harps and beads. He afterwards accompanied Wakefield's party to Wanganui and Taranaki, where further "trade" in land was done.
Among the party landed at Taranaki, was Dr Dieffenbach, the naturalist of Wakefield's expedition; and the doctor has recorded how he and Mr Heberley successfully scaled Mount Egmont. Mr Heberley, being in advance of Dr Dieffenbach (Johann Karl Ernst Dieffenbach 1811-1855), was, in point of fact, the first white man to stand on top of the mountain - Christmas Day, 1839.
In the early days of Wellington, Mr Heberley acted as pilot, and his wife's relatives (influential chiefs) gave him the bay still called after him "Worser" Bay.
His first experiences at Te Awaite were gruesome in the extreme. Cannibal feasts and inter-tribal fights were the order of the day. Mr Heberley had not only seen the fights, but had taken part in them. One of them lasted over three weeks, and in it over 200 were killed.
He was at Te Awaite at the time of the Wairau massacre, and remembered the incident well. Though very imperfectly educated, he devoted a good deal of his leisure at one time to compiling notes for an autobiography, and before he died preliminary arrangements had been made for their publication.
For some years past deceased had been in receipt of a pension of £50 per year (2012 equivalent of $175 per week) from the Government for services rendered in the early days. He was twice married - first to a Maori of high standing and afterwards to Mrs Joyce, who predeceased him by only a few months.
Pelorus Guardian, 10 Oct 1899
IN MEMORIAM James Heberley (Old 'Worser')
Another interesting link between the past and present history of the Colony has just been broken by the death of old Mr James Heberley, or better known among the old settlers as "Old Worser". Forty years have passed away since the writer of this first became acquainted with the deceased, who was then considered one of, if not the best, pilot on
the New Zealand coast; and, although at that time he had passed his 50th birthday, he was one of the most active and energetic men in a boat or on the hills, or in any other capacity, that you could meet anywhere. The yarns he could spin and the various experiences he could relate of what had transpired in the early days of the Colony, besides the exciting scenes he had passed through from his early boyhood, had a charm to the young mind never to be forgotten. He was one of those naturally gifted men who, without receiving the benefits of education, would never be beaten in anything he wished to accomplish and the ingenuity he often displayed was sometimes marvelous. Poor old 'Worser!' We can only regret his last moments were passed in the unsuccessful struggle against a watery grave; for, in his humble way, he was one of the greatest pioneers who ever came to New Zealand.
Bush Advocate, 1 Feb 1890
An Old Man Of The Sea We (Evening Post) had a visit to-day from a veritable old identity in the person of Mr James Herberley of Picton, the first New Zealand pilot. Mr Herberley, or, as he is commonly called in Marlborough, "Old Worser" is 81 years of age and came to the colony in 1830 in the schooner Waterloo, from Sydney. He was appointed pilot at Wellington Heads in 1841, by Colonel Wakefield, on behalf of the New Zealand Company and served in that capacity for three years under Captain Chaffers (Edward Main Chaffers) who was Harbormaster at the time. Our visitor, who, in spite of his age, is hale and hearty, claims to have been the first white man to scale Mount Egmont. He commenced the ascent in company with Dr Dieffenbach, but the two raced at the finish and Mr Heberley got to the top first. The old gentleman had made arrangements for taking part in the procession on Jubilee Day, but unfortunately missed the boat at Picton. For some time past he has resided in the neighbourhood of that township, where he has acted as pilot, without pay. A singular coincidence is that Mr Herberley's birthday is on the 22nd January, so that when he celebrates the birthday of the colony he celebrates his own. A short time ago he petitioned the Government for a small annuity for his services as pilot. Sir George Grey backed up the old veteran's application and the Public Petitions Committee recommended it, but we regret to say that in spite of this the Marine Department sent him an intimation on the 14th October last that as Parliament had not voted any money out of which payment of the kind could be made, they could not carry out the Committee's recommendation.
In the early days of Wellington, Heberley acted as pilot and his wife's relatives gave him 'Worser' Bay. His first experiences at Te Awaite were gruesome in the extreme. Cannibal feasts and intertribal fights were the order of the day. Mr Heberley had not only seen the fights, but had taken part in them. One of them lasted over three weeks and in it over 200 were killed. He was at Te Awaite at the time of the Wairau massacre and remembered the incident well.
Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 Aug 1908
OLD WELLINGTON The following letter appeared in the Post:- There having been considerable correspondence as to the late Mr Heberley and "Worser" Bay, perhaps you will allow one who was acquainted with 'Worser' Heberley for nearly forty years, to give his quota respecting him. In the first place, all your correspondents are wrong as to his name, which was James, not John, the latter being the name of his eldest son (still living). Had the old man's diary - which he said he kept, but which was rather disjointed, so I have been told - been properly preserved, a very readable story could have been compiled. To condense my statement, form what he told, I think Mr T. McKenzie's story respecting the name of 'Worser' is nearest the mark. Mr Heberley first landed in New Zealand in 1825, at the Bay of Islands, in a whaler, I think. After knocking about the coast he reached Te Awaiti, Tory Channel, in 1830, landing there just in time to see the remains of a human feast the North Island Natives had just partaken of, leaving behind them the fires burning and human bones laying about. He afterwards resided for some years at the native pah on Pipitea Point and at the Bay, which took the name 'Worser' and occasionally went on a sealing expedition to the West Coast, calling at the Nelson boulder bank for that purpose, where there was then no white population. He afterwards took up land in Queen Charlotte Sound, and had it not been for his Native wife he would probably have been killed at the time of the Wairau massacre.
I met him first at a social gathering in Picton during Christmas, 1861, and he then told me what I have stated. He was a jolly old buffer and I have spent many a pleasant evening listening to stories told by him and other old whalers of the Tory Channel. Mr Heberley acted as pilot to many vessels in Wellington and Queen Charlotte Sound, for which services he was afterwards pensioned by the General Government. Just before his untimely death he said: "I am over 90, old man, and hope to live to be 100." He lived in Picton for some years before his death, which was very peculiar. Being missed from his home, search was made, and his body was ultimately found in Picton harbour, standing upright in the water, his feet just touching the bottom, his eyes open, and his walking stick in his hand, the water just covering his head, the only thing giving a clue as to his whereabouts being his hat, which was floating on the water near by. On being lifted into a boar the eyes closed and his hand released the grip of the stick. Mr Heberley's recipe for a cold was not bad. It was to eat a dozen red herrings and drink three quarts of cold water. "That's the thing to bring a sweat on," said he. But I never tried it. He owned property at Pipitea Point and at Worser Bay.
James is buried Plot 28, Block 28 at Picton Lawn Cemetery with a James Heberley (no age or date).
Back row: 2nd left Charles 'Charlie' Heberley (1887-1916) (or brother Walter 1879-1966).
Centre: 1st left Henry 'Harry'/'Gundy' Heberley (1876-1957), 3rd left John Thomas Heberley (1874-1952), the group leader. zoom in
* James's account of the trip Hazardous Work
. . .NOTES
* Their father, John Heberley, died whilst on his way to visit them on Campbell Island (see child 2 above).
* There are also 4 Norton brothers above - 4 of 13 children (7 sons) of James 'Jim' Norton (1843-1914) & Ann Elizabeth 'Annie' Keenan (1848-1902). Their mother's brother married John Heberley's sister.
Back row: last right Richard 'Dick'/'Shot' Norton (1883-1938).
Centre: 2nd left (between the 2 Heberley brothers), John Peter 'Jack' Norton (1875-1940)
Front row: 1st left Timothy 'Tim' Norton (1877-1941) & last right Henry Wiari 'Harry'/'Yank' Norton (1879-1918),
* Three of the above Norton brothers, Dick, Harry' & Tim enrolled for war on the same day (so having consecutive army numbers 40236-40239) along with brother, Wilfred Emanuel 'Manny' Norton (1890-1939).
Harry was Killed In Action in France
Ballad for Worser Heberley
written by Ian Wedde for the Heberley Family Reunion, Pipitea marae, Easter 1990. It reads in part ..
In 1830 with a bad Southerly abaft
soon after April Fool's Day
on big John Guard's Waterloo schooner
through Kura-te-au I made my way
And I was just a sad young bloke
with a sad history at my back
when I ran in on the tide with mad John Guard
to find my life's deep lack
Seaspray blew over the seaward bluffs
the black rocks ate the foam
my father and my mother were both dead
and I was looking for home
But what could I see on those saltburned slopes
but the ghosts of my career:
my father a German prisoner from Wittenburg
my grand-dad a privateer ..
Written in 2002 by Heather Heberley:
Charles Thomas Heberley (1918-2000)
Those who heard Charlie speak will never forget him. He was a kaumatua of the Ngati Awa people and a born story-teller. In the two years before he died he spoke to over 20 groups around Nelson including the Nelson Historical Society, recounting his life as a whaler.
Whaling brought hard men to our shores in the 1800s, many of whom met and later married Maori women and raised families throughout New Zealand. Charlie's great grandfather, James 'Worser' Heberley was one of these early whalers, arriving in New Zealand first in 1826 on board the Caroline. Four years later he joined Captain John Guard in setting up the first shore-based whaling station in New Zealand at Te Awaiti. This was two bays down Tory Channel from Okukari, the farm Charlie bought in 1945 ... more at link
Related Journals
by ngairedith
Profile | 
Research |
Contact | Subscribe | Block this user on 2012-09-15 22:48:27
ngairedith has been a Family Tree Circles member since Feb 2008.