Samuel Hewlings (1819 - 1896)

Born 15 May 1819 in Wallingford, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Ngā Hei (Unknown) Hewlings — married 21 Mar 1861 in Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand

Died 23 Feb 1896 at age 76 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

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Biography

Samuel Hewlings is Notable.

Samuel Hewlings was born in Wallingford, Berkshire in 1819. He was the son of Hugh Hewlings and Sarah Piper. ^[1]

Samuel arrived in New Zealand in 1841 and was a notable colonist, eventually becoming the Chief Surveyor of the Province of Canterbury. Much of the work he undertook was in South Canterbury, where he resided for many years. He was also the first mayor of Timaru. He died in 1896.

Samuel trained as a surveyor in England and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on 24 December 1841, on board the brig Antilla with other members of the New Zealand Company. His journey had been eventful: he left Plymouth on the New Zealand Company contracted ship Prince Rupert, which was wrecked off the coast of South Africa, near Robben Island, with the loss of five lives. Some of the survivors remained in South Africa; others, including Samuel, continued their voyage on the Antilla.

He was initially engaged in surveying in the Bay of Islands, where in the late 1840s or early 1850s he met his wife Ngā Hei (also known by her Anglicised name Jane Elizabeth). She accompanied him to South Canterbury where most of their children were born.

Note: According to Macdonald’s notes (see below), both Samuel and Ngā Hei had been married previously.

Samuel is credited with erecting the first dwelling on the site of the future township of Geraldine in 1854, a bark whare (hut) with a thatched raupo roof, which stood on what is now Talbot Street. A large totara tree, planted to mark the birth of a child, survives to this day, opposite the present day Police Station.

Note: The whare became a much loved and well-documented Geraldine landmark. It was later used for offices and the town’s first school. It burnt down in 1897. ^[2]

On 7 October 1857, Bishop Harper baptised four daughters to Samuel Hewlings and Nga Hei, and in 1861 they were married in the bark hut by the Rev. Charles Fraser with William Kenneth Macdonald (Orari), stockowner, and Catherine Macpherson, gentlewoman of Raukapuka, as witnesses. ^[3]

Samuel and Ngā Hei’s four daughters are well-documented and described as “pretty, wild, shy, active and healthy“ (see notes below) although their names are not. There are records for Charlotte (1851) and Elizabeth (1853). The names of the other two daughters are conjectured variously to be Jane, Ann, Kate, or Fanny, and supposedly born between the years 1850 and 1855.

Note: Some sources incorrectly cite Alice Hewlings, who married Robert Chisholm in Timaru in 1866 as Samuel’s daughter. Alice was in fact the daughter of William Henry Hewlings of Leicester, Samuel’s brother - Alice was his niece. ^[4]

Samuel and Ngā Hei had three more children after 1857: Sara (1860); Fred (1862); and Catherine (1863). According to Macdonald’s notes, they separated soon afterwards, with Ngā Hei returning to Northland with their youngest child. Ngā Hei passed away in Russell in 1881.

After living in South Canterbury for many years, and serving as Timaru’s first Mayor, Samuel retired to Christchurch in the early 1870s. His marriage was ostensibly over, and tragically, three of his daughters had already died (where and when is not clear; some sources suggest in England when Samuel took them there in 1861 to receive an English education. A ‘Jane Hewlings’ is documented as having died in London in 1862 ^[5]). Elizabeth and Sara both died in Canterbury in 1872; and Fred was lost at sea in early 1884.

Samuel remained a generous benefactor to the South Canterbury region after he retired to Christchurch, for example, donating land for the Temuka Sunday school in 1892.

He passed away at his home in Armagh Street in 1896, survived only by his youngest daughter, Catherine, who died in 1944 without issue.

Obituaries were published in many newspapers:

OBITUARY.

It is with much regret that we have to record the death of Mr Samuel Hewlings, which look place at his residence, Armagh street, on Sunday evening. Mr Hewlings was born in England in 1820, and was for some time engaged on the ordnance survey work there. He came out to the colony in the very early days, and at first took up his residence in Auckland. Acting on the advice of the late Mr Cass, he came to Canterbury, and was associated with that gentleman ia the survey work of the province for some years. He succeeded the late Mr Cyrus Davie as Chief Surveyor of the province of Canterbury in 1871, and held that position until 1875, when the Provincial Government was abolished. Since then he has lived in retirement, and though he has been in failing health for some time past his death came rather suddenly. He leaves one daughter, and has been a widower for seven years.^[6]

Obituary. —Mr Samuel Hewlings, formerly chief surveyor of the province of Canterbury, died at his residence, Armagh Street west, on Sunday evening, at the age of seventy-six years. He was bom in England in 1820, and, after having been occupied in ordnance survey work in the Old Country, came to Auckland in the early days of the colony. He was associated with the late Mr Thomas Cass in survey work in Canterbury in the fifties, and afterwards, for many years, he resided in the southern part of the pro vince. In 1871 he became chief surveyor of the province in place of the late Mr Cyrus Davie, and retained the office until the abolition of the provinces in 1876. He afterwards lived in comparative retirement, and for a considerable time previous to his death was in failing health. His death, however, came rather suddenly, and a few days ago he was able to walk out in the streets. His wife died about seven years ago, and he leaves one daughter. His funeral will take place at Timaru to-morrow on the arrival of the express from Christchurch. ^[7]

Obituary.

Mr Samuel Hewlings, formerly chief surveyor of the province of Canterbury, died at his residence, Armagh Street, Christchurch, on Sunday evening, at the age of seventy six years. He was horn in England in 1820, and, after having been occupied in ordnance survey work in the Old Country, came to Aueklaud in the early days of the colony. He was associated with the late Mr Thomas Cass in survey work in Canterbury in the fifties, and afterwards for many years, he resided in Geraldine and Timaru in charge of the surveys in South Canterbury, and part of his duty was laying out the Government township of Timaru. Whilst in Timaru he was chairman of the Municipal Council, and on the Borough being incorporated Mr Hewlings was elected its first Mayor. In 1871 he became chief surveyor of the province in place of the late Mr Cyrus Davie, and retained the office until the abolition of the provinces in 1876. He afterwards lived in comparative retirement, and for a considerable time previous to his death was in failing health. His death, however, came rather suddenly, and a few days ago he was able to walk out in the streets. His wife died about seven years ago, and he leaves one daughter. His remains were brought down to Timaru yesterday for interment, and a few old official and private friends accompanied them. Old identities of Timaru attended, but the funeral was not a large one.^[8]

His remains were interred in Timaru cemetery. ^[9]

There are Hewlings Streets in Christchurch, Timaru and Geraldine, and a Hewlings Place in Temuka.

Sources

1. ↑ England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J38R-GZB : 4 February 2023), Samuel Hewlings, 1819.
2. ↑ Fires. — Geraldine's oldest landmark was destroyed by fire at 2.30 o'clock yesterday morning. It was an old bark house erected in 1857 by Mr S. Hewlings, and was used originally as the head-quarters of the surveying operations from Rangitata to the Waitaki. The structure was formed of upright slabs and thatched with bark. Of late the property was in the hands of Mrs Angus Macdonald, and has not been occupied for a year or two. There was no insurance upon it, and the fire is believed to be the work of some person maliciously inclined, as it is the second instance of the kind that has occurred at Geraldine since Saturday last. The Town Board is offering a reward for information leading to the discovery of the culprit. Star (Christchurch), Issue 5929, 22 July 1897, Page 2
3. ↑ https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nzlscant/hewlings.htm
4. ↑ MARRIED.February 13, at Timaru, by the Rev. George Barclay, Bobert Alexander Esq., Bank of New Zealand, eldest son of Robert Chisholm, Esq., Auckland, to Alice, second daughter of the late William Henry Hewlings, Esq., Leicester, England. Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 92, 16 February 1866, Page 2
5. ↑ England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NKJ-2DX : 31 December 2014), Jane Hewlings, 1862; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Islington, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
6. ↑ Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9349, 25 February 1896, Page 6
7. ↑ Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10890, 25 February 1896, Page 4
8. ↑ South Canterbury Times, Issue 8455, 27 February 1896, Page 2
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166529568/samuel-hewlings : accessed 9 July 2022), memorial page for Samuel Hewlings (15 May 1819–23 Feb 1896), Find a Grave Memorial ID 166529568, citing Timaru Cemetery, Timaru, Timaru District, Canterbury, New Zealand ; Maintained by Cyndi (contributor 47314338) .

• https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22364349

• https://collection.canterburymuseum.com/objects/712170/macdonald-dictionary-record-samuel-hewlings#&gid=1&pid=7

Research Notes:

The following notes are a transcript of a record, handwritten in ink on rectangular card, with biographical information for Samuel Hewlings. Written by George Ranald Macdonald for the Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biography project, 1952-1964.

Hewlings, Samuel (1820 -96) Maling says he was taken on as a contract surveyor at the end of September 1849 and did a traverse of Heathcote and part of Christchurch. He had been with Cass in the Prince Rupert in 1841 and was shipwrecked off Capetown and came on to New Zealand in the Antilla landing at Auckland. Hewlings and Cass were again companions on the Bernicia in 1848.

He was born at Wallingford Berkshire and arrived at Auckland in the early days of the Colony. There is a gap in news of Hewlings between his landing in Auckland and his return in the Bernicia: and another gap from the termination of his work for Thomas until he started his work in South Canterbury in 1854. He made a first marriage of which nothing is known by the writer; he married his Maori wife at Geraldine in 1861. Torlesse mentions Hewlings as being in Canterbury in the middle of the 1850's.

He accepted the position of a Government surveyor on 8.9.1854 at £25 a month. He completed the triangulation of South Canterbury under contract. In 1855 he made surveys of the Rhodes's land and in 1856 he surveyed some of the Studholmes selection. He built his totara bark hut in Geraldine in 1854 opposite the present P.O. Jollie in his account of his life said he met Hewlings and shared the bark hut with him. Jollie had as his assistant William Young and Hewlings was then living with his Maori wife (her name Nga Hei, so spelt in the Marriage Register; but Jollie gives her name as E Ware.) and there were four Maori girls. So the totara hut must have been full. Torlesse in a land-buying expedition to South Canterbury, notes 24.6.1857 “went to Hewlings at Geraldine to select Morphett’s land had a game of whist- Dumoulin and Macpherson also there (these two from Raukapuka); four pretty half caste girls." In November 1860 Torlesse was there again and transferred to Hewlings his agency for Geraldine bush land.

Jollie says Mrs Hewlings was the daughter of a chief and was a quiet orderly good-looking woman; lips tattooed. Hewlings had met her in the North Island, He says the girls were pretty, wild, shy, active and healthy. Hewlings did what he could to educate them and was a good father to them. He took the two eldest to England in 1861. Jollie and Col. Lean (?) saw these two in England. They both died there. The two younger were educated in Sydney and both also died. Another daughter died at Akaroa when about 12 or 13. A son was born in 1861 and lived and was called Frederick. When a baby girl was born after Frederick, Mrs Hewlings left him and returned to the Bay of Islands with her baby. Hewlings was married in his totara bark hut on 21.3.1861 by the Rev. Chas Fraser of St. Andrews, Christchurch and the marriage is in the St. Andrews Marriage Register. W.K. Macdonald of Orari was the witness. Mrs Hewlings was a widow (b. 1826) 6 years younger than Hewlings.

Jollie and Hewlings already knew each other well but the meting at Geraldine apparently led to the two taking on contract surveying together in South Canterbury at 3/- per acre. The Government was well pleased with his work and later offered him the position of Chief Surveyor of Canterbury, which he accepted. When he surveyed the township of Temuka he chose a better site than the one already chosen, surveyed it himself and subdivided it with successful results. He called it Wallingford after his birth place.

He lived in Timaru during the 1860's and was a member of the first Timaru Borough Council and was first Mayor of Timaru 1868-70. He was one of the first commissioners for Timaru Park; the other two were Belfield and Luxmoore. He was chairman of the Timaru Municipal Council in 1867 and received the Governor, Sir George Grey, in that year.

He succeeded Cyrus Davie as Chief Surveyor on 1.9.1871. The surveying in Canterbury had been widely criticised. Probably the system of contract surveying led to hasty and scamped (?) work. Major Palmer R.E. who came to New Zealand to observe the Transit of Venus was asked to report on the surveys of N.Z. to the N.Z. Government. He spoke highly of the surveys of Otago but was very critical of the surveys of Canterbury north of the Rangitata. Those South of the river, he said, were good.These were largely the work of Hewlings. J.C. Boys wrote to the papers defending the early Canterbury surveyors and pointed out that Palmer had made no attempt to check the surveys on the ground. However when Baker came from Otago to become Chief Surveyor of Canterbury he found the surveys in a considerable mess and it took him years of hard work to get them right.

Hewlings retired from the post of Chief Surveyor at the end of 1876. He had a difference with Kennaway(?), Provincial Secretary over the appointment of a surveyor. He would not accept Kennaway’s nominee. In a Provincial Council debate (LT. 25.6.1874 Leader) he was attacked apparently because he was not polite enough; his professional competence was not in question. Private patronage was alleged.

He was a churchwarden at St. Lukes up to 1873. He was a member of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute November 1868. He was elected a member of the Christchurch Club in 1873. Towards the end of his life he was nearly blind and wore dark glasses.

E.J. Burke described him as “bronzed and strong.” After his death 40 acres in Temuka were sold on account of his estate at £35 per acre. His wife died about seven years before him. He died at his home, Armagh St. West 23.2.1896. His half caste son Hugh Frederick was educated at Christ's College 1878-79 and played for the football and cricket teams and played Otago XV v. Canterbury XV.

https://collection.canterburymuseum.com/objects/712170/macdonald-dictionary-record-samuel-hewlings#&gid=1&pid=7