Charlotte Jane was one of the First Four Ships in 1850 to carry emigrants from England to the new colony of Canterbury in New Zealand.
The First Four Ships refers to the four sailing vessels chartered by the Canterbury Association which left Plymouth, England, in September 1850 to transport the first English settlers to new homes in Canterbury, New Zealand. The colonists or settlers who arrived on the first four ships are known as the Canterbury Pilgrims.
Sir George Seymour was built in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear in 1844 by Somes Brothers. She made one voyage transporting convicts to Australia and at least one carrying emigrants to Australia and one to New Zealand. A fire at sea in her cargo in December 1867 forced her crew to abandon her.
Francis Jollie was a politician in New Zealand.
Edward Dobson was Provincial Engineer for Canterbury Province, New Zealand from 1854 to 1868.
Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson was a New Zealand surveyor, engineer and explorer. Born in London, he came to Lyttelton, New Zealand, in 1850 on one of the First Four Ships. He is best known for taking the first party of Europeans over Arthur's Pass.
James Townsend was an English wine merchant, who in later life was a pioneer settler in New Zealand's South Island. He was also an amateur cricketer.
Edward Brenchley Bishop was the fourth chairman of the Christchurch Town Council, and seven years later the sixth Mayor of Christchurch in 1872–1873. Born in Maidstone, Kent to a wealthy family, his family lived in Belgium during his childhood. He took his father's profession as a distiller and worked in London for 21 years. His sister Susannah emigrated to New Zealand in 1849 and in the following year, many Bishop siblings followed her on the Charlotte Jane, one of the First Four Ships of organised settlement of Canterbury. With his brother Frederick, he had a large farm just south of Christchurch, and the suburb of Somerfield continues to use their farm's name. The brothers were spirit merchants in the city.
Michael Brannan Hart was the publican of the White Hart Hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand, that stood on the corner of High and Cashel Streets. It was Christchurch's first hotel. Hart, originally from Freshford, Somerset, England, was one of the first settlers of Christchurch. He was a colourful character and stood for elections to the Canterbury Provincial Council and Parliament, but was unsuccessful. He was elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1869, and was chosen as Mayor of Christchurch 1873–1874 by his fellow councillors. He gave the first chain to the Christchurch mayoral chain. He was the first mayor to wear regalia, modelled on the robes of the Lord Mayor of London. He intended to leave the robes to Christchurch City Council, but after a disagreement, he changed his will and the robes were buried with him.
Leonard Harper was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Crosbie Ward was a 19th-century member of parliament in New Zealand.
The Clontarf, an immigration clipper ship, sailed from England to New Zealand between 1858 and 1860 on commission for the Canterbury Provincial Council, the governing body of Canterbury Province. Sailing under the flag of Willis, Gann and Co, it set out on its first voyage from Plymouth on 20 September 1858, and after a journey of 105 days arrived at Lyttelton, New Zealand on 5 January 1859 with 412 immigrants. Six infants and one adult died on the journey, plus there was a still-birth.
Charlotte Godley was a New Zealand letter-writer and community leader.
Hannah Rebecca Frances Caverhill was a New Zealand diarist and homemaker. She was born in England, and emigrated to New Zealand with her family at age 16, where she began keeping a diary of her daily activities. She later married a Scottish farmer and settled in North Canterbury, where her diaries recorded the family's life and work. In 1981, her diaries were published in two volumes as A Year at Hawkswood.
The Town of Christchurch by-election in 1860 was triggered by the resignation of Richard Packer as the Member of the House of Representatives for the Town of Christchurch electorate, and occurred during the term of the 2nd New Zealand Parliament. The previous representative of the electorate, the politician Henry Sewell, had returned after three years in England and the general expectation was that Sewell would be the sole contender for election. The Lyttelton Times wrote several provocative editorials, generally endorsing Sewell for his obvious ability, but criticising him for not publicly talking about his policies and plans. Sewell eventually arranged a public meeting the evening prior to nomination day; this was the only public meeting during the election campaign. After a lengthy address, which was favourably received by the Lyttelton Times, a second contender for the office put his name forward at that meeting: the publican Michael Hart. Sewell, a former premier and one of New Zealand's most senior politicians at the time, was successful against the political novice Hart.
Charles Obins Torlesse was a prominent surveyor for the Canterbury Association in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Thomas Cass was one of New Zealand's pioneer surveyors.
Mary Townsend was an artist and an early English settler in Canterbury, New Zealand.
George Dobson was a New Zealand surveyor and engineer who was murdered in the Brunner Gorge on the West Coast by the Burgess Gang after being mistaken for a local gold buyer.
The Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial commemorates the pioneer women of Canterbury in New Zealand. After arrival by sea in Lyttelton Harbour, early settlers had to cross the Port Hills via the Bridle Path to reach Christchurch or the Canterbury Plains. The memorial was unveiled at the summit of the Bridle Path in 1940, 90 years after the First Four Ships had arrived in Lyttelton. The impetus for having a memorial was for Christchurch to have a contribution for the New Zealand centennial commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Hence, the Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial commemorates two events that happened ten years apart.
United Kingdom