Welcome to my random history of our ancestors and their families. It's an ongoing project, and posts will be added, edited and updated as further information arrives. Feel free to add comments or email me (see contact box to the right of this post) if you would like to share, correct, or clarify information. If you are a long-lost relative also searching for information on the family, I'd love to hear from you.
Thomas Logan Williamson is one of our family's "founding fathers" and one of the most mysterious of our ancestors in that I have not been able to find anything about him before he arrived in New Zealand, or anything about his arrival in New Zealand. (There is no evidence to suggest that he was born in New Zealand.) With such a common name, it is easy to confuse him with other Williamsons; however, there are some definite references to him available online, and some assumptions can be made.
(Note: July 2016 - we've found him. Check out this post for more details.)
It can be assumed that he was born in England, Scotland, Wales or even Ireland, although I've not been able to find any records so far. He was married to Elizabeth McKenzie (more on her later - she certainly deserves it!) by 1846-7.
The earliest references to Thomas Logan Williamson in Papers Past place him at Kawau in the mid 1840s. The indications that this is our Thomas Logan Williamson are that he was definitely a sea captain, and there are several other references that place him at Kawau during this period (including his eventual connections with the Kawau-based McKenzies - his future family-in-law.)
Relevant Kawau background:
The Bon Accord Mining Company of Aberdeen bought Kawau Island in the mid 1840s and settled it with workers on the strength of the copper deposits discovered there in 1844. Captain James Ninnis - mine manager - brought a party of miners from Cornwall in early 1846, and for a while there were between 200 - 300 workers and their families living on the island. [Great-grand-mother Annie Leathart, grand-daughter of Thomas Logan Williamson, was born on Kawau Island through another sea-faring connection.]
James Ninnis and Thomas Logan Williamson must have known each other as they were both at Kawau at the same time in the 1840s, and also at Onehunga, where Ninnis had a store in the 1850s, and most likely in Waiuku at the beginning of the 1860s, where Ninnis had a flax mill and our Thomas could have been placed. (Except Ninnis was a very strong Temperance man, and Williamson - if he was a hotel keeper later on - appears not to have been, so they may not have been close associates.)
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| House of mine manager Captain James Ninnis. later incorporated into Mansion House by Sir George Grey. Thomas's father-in-law, James McKenzie, is thought to have assisted with the building of this house. More on him later. |
Kawau ore was intended for Wales via Sydney, but its propensity to spontaneously combust meant that ore was not best transported in wooden vessels. Consequently, a smelter was built on the island. Note: Thomas transported copper ore in a wooden schooner!
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| Copper mine engine house. |
In its early stages of mining, ore from Kawau was about one third of Auckland's exports; however, the mine was unprofitable and lost considerable money over time, eventually closing by 1855. In 1862, Governor George Grey bought the island as a private retreat.
The following are some references to Thomas Willliamson - master of the schooners Bon Accord and Toroa (although not owner). There are other online references to these vessels without acknowledgement of any specific master, so we cannot assume it would have been Thomas as master every time they are mentioned, and there are still other mentions of these vessels with different masters. Even so, we cannot assume that Thomas was idle between mentions in shipping intelligence from available sources.
1845
There are several shipping intelligence records of a cutter called Glengarry with Williamson as the master travelling between Auckland, Waiheke, Thames, Bay of Islands, and Whangarei. Interestingly, there is no time that two Williamsons appear as masters in Auckland at the same time, so I'm cautiously optimistic that this could be our Thomas. The new cutter Glengarry was built in Auckland and was completed in June 1845.
I have found in the NZ archives several references to letters written from Thomas Williamson to the Colonial Secretary between August and September 1845 for permission to take the Glengarry to Wangarei [sic]. This proves that Thomas Williamson was, indeed, the master of the Glengarry at this time, and is increasingly likely to be our Thomas. The archives reference is Item ID: R23519013 ACGO 8333 IA1 45 / 1845/1858 . The letters can be accessed at NZ Archives, Wellington, and is free to check out if you visit yourself, otherwise it's $50 per half hour for a researcher to process it. I think I'll save it for a Wellington visit.
July 18, cutter Glengarry, Williamson, master, for Waiheke, in ballast
August 5 inwards (Auckland) Glengarry, Williamson, master, from Waiheke, with gum.
August 7 outwards, for Waiheke, in ballast. If this is our Thomas, he must have been the first master of the Glengarry.
August 9 Glengarry cutter, Williamson, master, from Waiheke, in ballast
August 13 Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, for Whangarei, in ballast
August 19 Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, from Whangarei, with cattle and grain
August 25 Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, for Whangarei, in ballast
September 1 Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, for Whangarie, in ballast
September 8 inwards (Auckland) Glengarry, Williamson, master, from Whangarei, with cattle, wheat and potatoes
September 10 outwards, Glengarry, Williamson, master, for Whangarei, in ballast
September 18 inwards Glengarry, Williamson, master, from Whangarei, with timber, wheat and potatoes (Note: The schooner Diana , Banks, master, from Russell, was in port at the same time. Banks is one of the Vincent family ancestors on the Lawrence side. Looks like our people knew Mark's people . .. )
October 7 inwards, Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, from Whangarei, with timber, potatoes and wheat
October 10 inwards, Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, from Thames, with kauri gum
October 18 inwards Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, from Thames, with kauri gum
October 21 outwards Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, for Coromandel harbour, in ballast
October 25 Glengarry, cutter, Williamson, master, for North Cape, in ballast
From November 1845, the Glengarry's master appears to be McMillan , and in July 1846 John Millan (same person?) although there are still some times where Williamson is listed as master.
1846
The Auckland Police Census of 1842 - 1846 places Thomas Williamson, mariner, at Wyndham Street, Auckland, in 1846. It can be safely assumed that this is our Thomas.
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| A random picture of a schooner - not sure if it's anything like our Thomas captained, but it will give you an idea. Any better images greatly appreciated. |
March 17 Glengarry, Williamson, master, from Bay of Islands, with sundries;
March 19 Glengarry, Williamson, master, for Whangarei, in ballast
Note: From May onwards, it looks like Thomas had a change of vessel.
May 30 schooner, Bon Accord, WIlliamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
June 6 schooner Bon Accord, Williamson - master - to and from Kawau, in ballast
June 8 ditto
June 13 schooner, Bon Accord, Williamson, master from Kawau, in ballast
23 June 1846 , schooner Bon Accord Williamson, master, coming into Kawau with a cargo of ballast and leaving (for Auckland) the same day with a cargo of sundries.
June 27 schooner Bon Accord, Williamson - master, from Kawau with ballast and to Kawau with sundries;
July 1 schooner Bon Accord, Williamson, master for Kawau, in ballast
July 7 schooner Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from Kawau, in ballast and same to, to Kawau , in ballast
July 28 Bon Accord from Kawau with ballast.
August 4 Bon Accord from and for Kawau with ballast.
August 21 Bon Accord from Kawau and the Barrier, with passengers (named).
September 8 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau, in ballast.
September 22 & 24 Bon Accord - in and out
October 6 Bon Accord from Kawau with ballast.
October 21 Bon Acccord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau, in ballast
November 5 schooner Bon Accord, Williamson, master from Kawau, in ballast, and for Kawau in ballast same day. (Note: the schooner Victory, Leathart, master, was frequently in port at the same time as Thomas) from Kawhia to Manukau. Thomas's daughter Elizabeth married Robert Alexander Leathart about 1847 - could this Leathart be him? It will at least be a relative.)
November 9 from Kawau, in ballast
December 17 schooner Bon Accord, 17 tons, Williamson, master from Kawau, in ballast, and for Kawau in ballast same day.
December 31 from and for Kawau in ballast
1847
Daughter Annie Williamson born to Elizabeth and Thomas some time in 1847. (Need further verification and details.)
January 13 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from Kawau in ballast.
January 18 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, for Kawau in ballast.
February 9 Schooner Bon Accord, 17 tons from and for Kawau, in ballast
February 24 Schooner Bon Accord, 17tons , WIlliamson, master, from and for Kawau,in ballast
May 4, and May 14 Bon Accord, Williamson, master (see below)
May 12 Schooner Bon Accord, Williamson, master, 17 tons from and for Kawau, in ballast
May 15 A man by the name of Thomas Williamson contributed 5 pound subscription towards the building of a Presbyterian church in Auckland, in connection with the Free Church of Scotland. There is no proof that this is our Thomas, but he is placed in Auckland at this time, and his wife's family were from Scotland, so there's a strong chance that it could be him.
June 1 Schooner Bon Accord, Williamson, master, 17 tons from and for Kawau, in ballast
June 17 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
June 24 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
August 11 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from Kawau with ballast
August 12 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, for Kawau with sundries
September 24 - Bon Accord from Kawau
September 29 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast
October 6 Bon Accord, WIlliamson, master, from Kawau in ballast
October 21 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
November 12 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
November 17th, Thos. Williamson, captain of the schooner Toroa (76 tons) left . . . . for Kawau, with a load of ballast.
The Toroa was the property of the Kawau Mining Company and was intended for the conveyance of their copper ore and regulus.
1848
Daughter Elizabeth Williamson born to Elizabeth and Thomas some time in 1848. (This is our great-great-grandmother and mother of Annie Leathart, our grandmother's mother.)
January 12 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
January 20 - 21 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
February 3 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
February 23 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
March 11-14 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
1849
Daughter Jane Williamson born to Elizabeth and Thomas Williamson. (Need further verification and details.)
July 16 Bon Accord, Williamson, master, from and for Kawau in ballast.
November 10 Toroa, schooner, Williamson, master, 75 tons, from Kawau, with 55 tons of copper regulus.
November 16 Toroa, schooner, Williamson, master, 76 tons, for Kawau, in ballast
By November 30th 1849 "Quick" is listed as master for the Bon Accord, so this is probably the end of Thomas's association with the schooner, although the name "Bon Accord" obviously had a resonance with the family as their home in Onehunga was called "Bon Accord" and Thomas's wife, Elizabeth, ran a hotel called the Bon Accord. More on this later.
1850s
1850
Margaret Wood Williamson daughter of Elizabeth and Thomas WIlliamson born. (Need further verification and details.)
February 6 Toroa from Kawau with ballast, (incidentally the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi), and to Kawau on February 8 with 14,000 bricks.
February 8 Toroa schooner, Williamson, for Kawau with 14,000 bricks.
April 27 in "Arrivals" it says Toroa, 76 tons, Williamson, master, for (not from) Kawau with ballast. Could have been a typo? (See below.) In another publication it has the Toroa from Kawau on April 27.
In the same announcement, it says the Tororoa, 58 tons, with Williamson as master, left for the East Cape with sundry cargo - including 14 cases of gin! See below for the entire cargo. There is another mention of a vessel named "Tororoa" from Whangarei arriving in Newcastle in 1902, but its unusual - or a coincidence - that these two vessels are so similar in name, and have the same named master. Note the differences in wieght. This will need further investigation for clarification.
Note: In another publication the vessel is called Toroa with Williamson as the master, but I wonder about the difference in weight from 76 to 58 tons?
(Note: The is a vessel called Thomas in port at the same time with Williamson listed as master. It can't be the same Williamson as he would have to be in two places at once. Who is this Williamson, I wonder? More investigations . . .
May 28 Toroa arriving in Auckland from Hawkes Bay. (Also given as May 29 in another publication)
June 1 Toroa 56 tons, Williamson, for the East Coast,with sundries, W.S.Grahame, agent.
July 25 Toroa (see below) Note: the vessel underneath had Leathart as his master - not sure which one, but definitely a relation of his daughter Elizabeth's future husband.
August 5 Toroa is cleared for Sydney via Kawau to ship 69 tons of regulus (a metallic form of a substance obtained from smelting).
September 17 Schooner Toroa, 57 tons, (Williamson) from Auckland 1st August, via Kawau 16th, (arrived Sydney 31st August)
1851
July 8 Bon Accord from and to Kawau, Thomas WIlliamson - returning to the island with a cargo of 3 tons of sugar, 1 cask of tallow and 3 chests of tea.
Note: This seems quite unusual for Thomas to be back as master of the Bon Accord at this time as he has been master of the Toroa for over a year.
1852
Daughter Julia Williamson born to Elizabeth and Thomas at Kawau Island. There is some evidence to suggest that Julia was born in 1850. (Need further verification and details.)
February 7 Julia Ann 20 tons, (Williamson) (2 men) to Auckland from Port of Hokianga, with cargo of potatoes
February 10 Julia Ann 20 tons, (Williamson) (2 men) to Auckland from Mongonui. (See link for February 7). It looks like Thomas called in to Mongonui on his way back to Auckland. Note that Thomas has a daughter Annie, and a daughter Julia born this year , although not sure whether the child was named after the boat or vice-versa. Thomas's sister-in-law was called Julia (Julia Annie), so it seems to be a family name.
November 15 Julia 27 tons (Williamson) for Matakana - 1 cask beef and bag flour
Note 1: that the name is Julia Ann and Julia (with Williamson as master); it could be assumed that these are the same vessel.
Note 2: September 1852, a vessel (schooner) called the Julia with Thompson as master arrived from Canterbury via East Cape and Poverty Bay; then left for Melbourne. There is no evidence that Thomas was aboard or if it was the same vessel as mentioned above.
Research puts a Thomas Williamson in Waiuku in the mid-1850s. There is no solid confirmation that this is our Thomas Logan Williamson, but my assumption is based on finding an (unverified) reference to Thomas Logan Trail being born in Waiuku (1857). I have no verification of that, but have based all the following research on that possibility. If it's not our Thomas Logan Williamson, then here's a lot of research on someone else's Thomas Williamson.
This came as a complete surprise to have possible Waiuku connections back that far, as we had always thought that our first family connection with Waiuku was on our grandmother's father's side (Richard John Harris), but this is on her mother's side (Harris - Leathart - Williamson). I wonder if she knew because none of us have any memories of her saying she had earlier connections with Waiuku. The Williamsons' connections with hotels and the Harris family's connection with temperance could be a factor
Thomas Williamson was definitely one of the first store owners in Waiuku. During the years 1855-57, Edward Constable leased the Kentish Hotel to Thomas Williamson, but I can find no online record of him applying for, or being granted, a licence.
1855
April 3 This is advertisement placed several times prior to the event. This suggests that Thomas Williamson and Edward Constable had a relationship covering business, social and civic events. At some stage, Thomas and someone named McKenzie have a store in Waiuku. If this is our Thomas, it would be logical to assume that the McKenzie could be from his wife's side of the family, and that the person listed as A McKenzie, below, would be the co-owner of the store. There is a little evidence to support this. (See September, below.)
April 14 Here's a report of the above-advertised races. Constable and Black are mentioned, but it appears Williamson may not have owned a speedy horse. Charles F Black is listed as a gentleman and a freeholder in the 1857 elections information. By 1858, Black had moved to Nelson.
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| Edward Constable - the only known photo |
June 5 Messrs Williamson and Mackenzie are mentioned - inferring that they are export traders of Waiuku - in a letter to the editor by the secretary of the Waiuku Improvement Society.
June 19 This is an advertisement for subscriptions to a patriotic fund, and people to whom these subscriptions can be paid have been listed geographically - including unspecified "Country Districts". Messrs Constable, Black and Thos. Williamson have been listed together. This must be Waiuku, and the same Thomas because all three names can be placed at Waiuku at that time. Edward Constable - unquestionably Waiuku; Black can be placed with Constable at other events that same year (see above), and Thomas has already been identified as being in Waiuku. (See earlier entries.)
September 4 Mrs Williamson and Mrs McKenzie together donated 2 pound 2 shillings to the Patriotic Fund, and Th. Williamson donated 5 pound. From this, and the way it is listed, we can assume that Mrs Willamson and Mrs McKenzie were close friends, relatives or associates and had some sense of civic pride and community connection - and I wonder if they ran the store. In the days where women were mostly invisible in newspaper articles, or were referred to by their husband's initials, (even in notices of the births of their own children!) it is interesting that these two women are listed separately from Thomas. In the absence of any other evidence of Williamsons in Waiuku at the time, we can assume that Mrs Williamson is his wife - and possibly the Mrs McKenzie mentioned could be his mother-in-law or sister-in-law - and related to the A McKenzie, steward at the Waiuku races. The difficulty is - who is A McKenzie listed in the stewards of the Waiuku races mentioned above. It undoubtedly would be a male. It could be that the McKenzie is no relation at all - just a co-incidence, yet there is some connection insinuated through the listing of names together in the Patriotic Fund. The earliest reference to Mckenzie is 1855, May 18, where Mr McKenzie is named as providing transport across the Waiuku portage, owning a waggon, 2 horses and 2 bullocks. Mr Constable is also mentioned as having a team for transport.
October 9 The post office is opened and Thomas Williamson is its first post master. (1) This must be the same Thomas. I wonder if the post office and the store were in the same building?
1856
January 7 The Julia Ann (Godden master) arrived and departed for Kawau. If the Julia Ann was Thomas's vessel, had he leased it to someone else, or was he employing someone else to be the master? It's fair to assume this is the same vessel.
January 8 Thomas must have been witness to a very tense law-and-order situation between Maori authority and government authority, and possibly - with good reason - could have been well-concerned for the safety of his premises and patrons.
Following an attack on, and robbery of, a Karaka settler, the Native Commissioner was despatched to Waiuku to apprehend the known perpetrators, who had apparently committed other offences in the district. He was met by four of the offenders, chief Katipa and about 30 of his tribe. Negotiations were held in the open air outside "Williamson's Hotel" (must be the Kentish?) There were about 30 Europeans present - most likely including Thomas and his family. While there appears to have been some acknowledgment of the transition from "barbarity to civilisation" and the leniency which could be accorded, there was also a feeling that this "semi-savage" people had learnt right from wrong and were "manifestly deteriorating on the social scale".
The chief offered compensation and would hand the men over if they would not be punished, but pardoned with "a few words of advice" from the Governor. Katipa also asked what sum his "good friend the Governor" (Grey) would pay him for the surrender of the men. The Commissioner said he had no authority to make promises or payments, but that the Governor was a just man. The Europeans present offered their aid in support of "law and order", but with no means of enforcing his authority, and no doubt aware of the volatile and tense atmosphere, the Commissioner believed that "order" would be better served by "neglecting the law".
The tone and bearing of the natives was - uncharacteristically for Waiuku, it is noted - insolent and exasperating. Maori had crowded on the verandah and were hassling every European coming on and out of the door. The thieves stripped to the waist and, wielding spears and tomahawks in front of the entrance to the hotel, sent a message to the Commissioner to come and get them if he wanted them. The Commissioner, it seems, called their bluff and entered the hotel to wait inside, ignoring further messages from outside. The offenders outside advised the Europeans that they would wait for the police to prove they could fight as well as they could steal. At the time the article was printed, negotiations were still in progress.
June 21 Julia Ann (Godden) 20 tons from Kawau.
June 23 departed for Kawau.
In June 1856 Thomas Williamson sells his store to George Jenkins (1)
October 21 Thomas Williamson's Inn (Kentish Hotel) is listed as a polling place for the election of the district superintendent (member of provincial government). It is interesting that Thomas is not listed as an elector in any of the online-available lists. This means he was probably not a landowner or lease-holder - or didn't qualify. (Will research that further.)
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| Kentish Hotel late 1800s |
October 22 Sale of clipper schooner Julia Ann. Note: it says vessel is new had has only made two trips, so it can't be the same as the one mentioned with WIlliamson as master (above). This Julia may not be related at all - but it's an odd co-incidence.
November 29 1856 Mr T Williamson's Inn, Waiuku, listed as location for viewing plans of lots for sale at Pura Pura - and other land for sale locally.
1857
May 7 Thomas gives up the Kentish Hotel to Arch. Campbell who was to become another well-known Waiuku identity.
July 12 a son born to Thomas and wife Elizabeth nee McKenzie; Thomas Logan Trail (often misspelt Trill) Williamson. Interestingly, finding this one piece of information on an online McKenzie family history document saying he was born in Waiuku (while searching for Thomas Logan Williamson senior) led me to the whole Waiuku connection side of my research. From such small snippets do mountains grow! Thomas Logan Trail's Waiuku birth has not been verified.
1858
May 1 Thomas Williamson is the chairman of a political meeting at Campbell's Hotel (formerly known as Williamson's Hotel, aka the Kentish Hotel) to elect the representative for the area. There meeting was very well attended by settlers, traders and other inhabitants. Could this be our Thomas? He does not appear in any electoral lists, but he would not have been a freeholder or a leaseholder so would have been ineligible to vote. I guess that makes him an ideal chairman - even though he clearly states his preference for the candidate who was eventually elected - Mr D Graham.
1860
Son Duncan Williamson born to Elizabeth and Thomas (Need further details for this.)
May 24 This must be the same Thomas - but it's quite unusual. Thomas Williamson and Dr George Topp from Waiuku are amongst a group of Europeans (including bishops and significant clergy) at a great hui at Ngaruawahia where chiefs of Waikato tribes (including those from Waiuku) were discussing whether to join the Taranaki war. Maybe he captained the vessel they travelled in down the Waikato River - the only reasonable way to get to Ngaruawahia. Doctor Topp was a very well-known Waiuku character, and was the local doctor as well as "Medical Attendant to the Natives of Waiuku and Vicinity". Topp was a former army doctor at the Crimean war. He learned Maori language and customs, and although he was a heavy drinker - and often intoxicated - it did not seem to detract from esteem in which he was held, or impair his ability to treat patients. Interestingly, he was also charged with the care of Maori at a hui at Kohimarama in 1860 - and their good health, and not one death "even amongst the aged" was attributed to the care of Doctor Topp - and a good English diet . . .
Part 2 of this post will be completed soon and seeks to answer these questions:
- when and why did the family leave Waiuku?
- what happened next?
- were there any more children?
- where did they go?
- how and when did he die . . .
- Is this our Thomas, and if not, where's ours and whose is this?
Also, in a new post, I'll focus on his wife Elizabeth who I'm looking forward to getting to know better .
Part 2 of my research on Thomas Logan Williamson.
Part 3 of my research on Thomas Logan Williamson.
Further sources and supporting information:
(1) Information from Early Days in Franklin, Nona Morris, (1999 edition), Page 57, 58, 62 (notes)
Waiuku and District by Brian Muir, (1957)
- Page 7: It says that in 1858 Williams' Hotel was the Waiuku Hotel. I wonder if this could be Williamson's Hotel? (There are many factual errors in this book; however, it is recognised as the earliest history of Waiuku, and the author was about 13 at the time of writing.
- Page 11: Mr T Williams first postmaster (opened 9th October 1855). Other evidence indicates that this was Thomas Williamson.
- Page 17: Mr T Williamson given as postmaster.
Other:
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Here's another link the The History of Auckland (see links to other websites top right-hand corner of this blog). This version is the Project Gutenberg version and can be scrolled though easily. It also has http links , including from the contents.
I am indebted to distant-cousin Daryl Coup for his work on the McKenzie founding family, which first introduced me to great-great-great grandfather Thomas Logan Williamson - and the vast extended McKenzie family of Elizabeth, his wife.
