Arthur Guyon Purchas (1821 - 1906)

Born 27 Sep 1821 in St. Avans Grange in the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK

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Died 28 May 1906 at age 84 in Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

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Biography

Arthur Purchas migrated from United Kingdom to New Zealand.

Arthur Purchas lived in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Arthur Guyon Purchas was a notable clergyman, surgeon and musician and was a pioneer in early New Zealand.

He was born in Wales in 1821. He was the son of Robert Whittlesey Purchas, an architect, and Marianne Guyon.

He had a private education and was apprenticed to a doctor in 1836. He studied under Addison & Bright at Guy's Hospital and gained his M.R.C.S. and L.S.A after 3 years. This was followed by an appointment as resident surgeon at Southern and Toxteth Hospital, Liverpool.

Having heard Bishop Selwyn preach, Purchas was inspired by the potential for missionary work in New Zealand, but as he was not yet qualified, Selwyn encouraged him to complete his studies before embarking for New Zealand.

In 1844 Purchas sailed for New Zealand as ship's surgeon on the Slains Castle. He travelled to Nelson, Wellington, New Plymouth and Auckland before sailing back to England. With a brief stop in Sydney on the way, he had time to help found the Sydney Choral Society during his stay there.

Back in England he became involved in missionary affairs and married his wife Olivia Challinor who was the daughter of merchant Charles Challinor of Liverpool. It was considered essential that missionaries be married before commencing work in the field. They married in 1845 at the Church of St Catherine in Liverpool. Arthur's occupation on the marriage record is "Gentleman".

Purchas was the ship's surgeon on the Penyard Park in 1846 which sailed via New South Wales. He joined the staff of St. John's College, where he gave valuable service as medical officer, in 1846.

He continued his studies for the ministry and was ordained deacon in 1847, becoming the same year vicar of St. Peter's, Onehunga, and was ordained priest in 1853. Onehunga had a military settlement for Fencible Soldiers during the 1840's.

Rev. Purchas was involved with the New Zealand Wars in the 1860s. His skill with the Maori language and negotiation averted several likely attacks. He remained a friend of the residents of Mauku, where he provided clerical support monthly, for many years, and was instrumental in relief and assistance being provided to them during the New Zealand Wars. His parish in Onehunga became the central office for recruiting soilders for the war during the 1860's, and a place where many injured people were first taken from surrounding districts, being close to a port. His medical talents were in demand.

Mrs Selwyn wrote in her Reminiscences: “… besides acting in his medical capacity he was a great gain to the community from his musical powers, he taught the boys, both English and Maori, to sing and the Chapel services were greatly enhanced by their music”. He was one of the compilers of the New Zealand Church Hymnal.

Reverend Purchas also had a talent for design, and is reputed to have designed St Bride's church in Mauku (where he was also an officiating minister on many an occasion), and did a great deal of architectural work for St. Peter's and its vicarage. His talent for sketching was well noted and it is believed that he assisted Selwyn and Thatcher in designing the well-known “Selwyn Churches” that came to be dotted around the countryside.

On retirement from the ministry he continued medical practice.

Arthur Purchas died while on a visit to Hastings with his daughter (Mrs Seth-Smith). He caught a chill on the journey and contracted acute bronchitis.

He was buried at Purewa Cemetery in Auckland, aged 84. He was survived by 10 children, four sons and six daughters, of his family of 14. The New Zealand Herald paid him this tribute: “He laid the foundations of all that is good and true in the social life of the colony”. The Auckland Star said: "He was the friend of all, the enemy of none."

The Te Ara Encyclopedia also has the following tribute to Arthur Guyon Purchas:

Arthur Purchas's contribution to the growth of the colony will probably never be fully evaluated. He came at the beginning of colonisation and lived to witness the country's development from tents and shanties to towns and cities – from primitive settlement to dawning nationhood. He sought neither personal wealth nor fame, but was content to serve the community as doctor and priest on a modest stipend of £90 a year. He stimulated the cultural life of the colony and played a part in fostering the growth of respect and understanding between Maori and Pakeha.

Sources

• England Freemasons Registers 1845 - Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Register of Admissions: Country and Foreign 'G', #656-765, fols 1-312; Name: Arthur G . Purchas; Gender: Male; Initiation Date: 4 Dec 1845; First Payment Year on Register: 1845; Year Range: 1837-1862; Profession: Surgeon; Lodge: Loyal Monmouth Lodge; Lodge Location: Monmouth; Lodge Number: 671; Folio Number: 61
• Church of England Marriages & Banns -Source Citation: Liverpool Record Office; Liverpool, England; Liverpool Registers; Reference Number: 283 CTN/3/2; Source Information: Ancestry.com. Liverpool, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Name: Arthur Guyon Purchas; Gender: Male; Age: Full Age; Marriage Date: 27 Dec 1845; Marriage Place: Liverpool, St Catherine, Lancashire, England. Father: Robert Whittlesey Purchas; Spouse: Olivia Challiner
• New South Wales Passenger Lists - Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Name: Arthur Guyan Purchas [Arthur Guyon Purchas] Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales; Voyage Arrival Date: 11 Aug 1846; Vessel Name: Penyard Park
• New Zealand Gazette, 2 April 1860 - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, The New Zealand Gazette, 1860-1894 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Name: Arthur Guyon Purchas; Residence Date: 3 May 1860; Residence Place: Wellington; Publication Date: 2 Apr 1860
• NZ City & Area Directories, 1904 - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, City & Area Directories, 1866-1954 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Reverend Arth Guyon Purchas; Year: 1904; Residence: One Tree Hill
• New Zealand Death Index - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Death Index, 1848-1966 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Name: Arthur Guyon Purchas; Death Date: Apr-May-Jun 1906; Registration Place: Hastings, Auckland, New Zealand; Folio Number: 886
• New Zealand Cemetery Records - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Name: Arthur Guyon Purchas; Birth Date: 27 Sep 1821; Death Age: 84; Death Date: 28 May 1906; Death Place: Auckland; Burial Place: Auckland, New Zealand; Cemetery: Purewa; Spouse Name: Olivia Purchas; Spouse Death Date: 21 Jun 1904
• Te Ara Encyclopedia biography - 'PURCHAS, Arthur Guyon', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
• Obituary in Auckland Star - OBITUARY.,Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 126, 28 May 1906
• Tribute to Late Dr Purchas by Dr Giles - published in the NZ Herald Volume XLIII, Issue 13191, 31 May 1906