John William Beaufort (1846 - 1907)

Born 26 Nov 1846 in Dublin, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Jane (Livingstone) Beaufort — married 1885 in New Zealand

Descendants

Died 1907 at about age 60 in Mangatainoka, Pahiatua, New Zealand

John Beaufort migrated from Ireland to New Zealand.

Biography

JOHN WILLIAM BEAUFORT 1846 - 1907

John William Beaufort was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1846, and educated at Malborough College, in Wiltshire, England. His father was Edward Daniel Beaufort, a civil engineer who followed his son, John William Beaufort to New Zealand

John Beaufort went to sea as a sixteen year old, as midshipman of the Mermaid which made a voyage to New Zealand in 1862. He liked what he saw, and returned to Dunedin, New Zealand a year later, as third mate in the ship Stornaway.

He took a job as cadet in the Survey Department, working in the Manawatu on the survey of Palmerston North.

He joined the Kai-iwi Cavalry Volunteers, [1] fought in Titokowaru's war of 1868 [2] when Titokowaru led a campaign against the confiscation of Māori land in Taranaki. He also took part in the hunt for Te Kooti,who escaped from the Chatham Islands to lead and lead British troops a merry dance through the rugged East Coast hinterlands. They never caught him. [3]

Peace restored eventually, John Beaufort rejoined the Survey Department, and in 1885 joined the Pahiatua Road Board as engineer. He became engineer to the Borough Council, and Borough Council Clerk in 1895,

He played chess, and was well known as a first class cricketer. He also took a great interest in photography, His portraits of Pahiatua Council Staff can be seen in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Wairarapa Daily Times 10th June 1907 [4]

FATALITY AT PAHIATUA.

A man, named John Beaufort, surveyor, was found by two men at the foot of a staircase about ten on Saturday night, he evidently having fallen down stairs. He was conveyed to the hospital and a doctor summoned, but the man died at eight on Sunday morning. The deceased leaves three grown up sons here, a wife and two children being in America, and a daughter in Australia. An inquest is being held.

The inquest found he fell while intoxicated [5]

Manawatu Standard 14th June 1907 [6]

The late Mr John Beaufort, whose death occurred at Pahiatua on Friday evening under circumstances already published, was a member of a well-connected English family, being a nephew of the Earl of Beaufort and of Miss Maria Edgworth, the novelist. (note : his family connection was to the Earl of Howth)

Burial

John William Beaufort, aged 60 years (born : 26/11/1846) occupation: Surveyor and Engineer died 9/06/1907 and buried 11/06/1907 in Mangatainoka Pahiatua Cemetery - Main Section Block:3 Row (Alpha) Plot Number:6 Grave:41

Sources

• N.Z. MARRIAGES - 1885/1298 - Margaret Jane Livingston & John William Beaufort
• N.Z. DEATHS - 1907/3495 - Beaufort John William aged 61 years
• The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District] p: 1020 [7]
• Tararaua District Council Cemetery Records [8]
• http://anglicanhistory.org/nz/blain_directory/directory.pdf