BLACKBRIDGE CEMETERY
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
SPEEDY FAMILY
The two Speedy families were recruited by New Zealand Company agents McEwen and Miller on 2 November 1840.
Speedy, Wm. Agri. Lab., Stormont Field by Perth M 29/28
Speedy, David, agri. Lab. Methven by Perth, M 36/35, B 12, 8, 6, 4 G 10, 2
Speedy, Elizabeth, sempstrefs, Methven by Perth, S 14
The Speedy family arrived in Wellington on the Lord William Bentinck on 19 May 1841, the ship having left London on 1 January of the same year. The ship was under the command of Captain Crow, and was listed as weighing 444 tons.
Speedy David 36 Agricultural Labourer
Hellen 35
Elizabeth 14 Sempstress
John 12
Mary 10
William 8
Graham 6
David 4
Margaret 2
Speedy William 29 Agricultural Labourer
Anne 28
David Speedy had married Helen Speedy at Methven, Perthshire on 12 March 1826. Their family were all baptised at nearby Fowlis Wester.
Elizabeth bapt. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire, 4 January 1827
John bapt. Fowlis Wester, 5 October 1828.
Mary, bapt. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire, 13 June, 1830.
William bapt. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire; 26 July 1832.
Graham bapt. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire, 3 January, 1835.
David, bapt. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire, 17 September 1836,
Margaret bapt. Fowlis Wester, 15 September 1839.
Peter Speedy died in Lower Hutt in 1924 at the age of 82, so he must have been born shortly after the family arrived in New Zealand.
James Speedy died in 1927 at the age of 82, which would put his year of birth at about 1847, just before civil registration commenced.
William Spidey (sic) married Ann Hutton at Methven on 30 June 1833.
David and William appear to be the sons of John Spiedy and Janet Dier, who married at Methven on 30 August 1795.
St. Beans Church in Fowlis Wester. Dates back to the 13th century.
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In the 1845 Juror’s List, David Speedy of Kai Warra is listed as a labourer.
On the 1847 Electoral Roll for Port Nicholson, William Speedy of Thorndon Quay is listed as a carter.
The first land farmed by the Speedy family was part of Section 37 in the Hutt, which was on the western side of the Hutt River, close to where Wairere Road joins the SH 2.
Grants under purchases from the New Zealand Company. 1852 David Speedy, 8 acres 1 rood. (1 December 1852, Wellington Independent)
Deed No.875 (folio 1003) Country Section 48 Hutt District. Plan in Deed: Yes
Conveyance dated 10 October 1857. Deed registered 12 October 1857. George Scott of the Valley of the Hutt, farmer to David Speedy of the Hutt, farmer. Bounded towards the south by Country Sections 37 and 185, towards the west by Country Sections 185 and 184, towards the north by Country Sections 184 and 51 and towards the east by Country Sections 49 and 46. Signed by George Scott in the presence of John E. Smith of Wellington, solicitor and A. Pringle, Hutt, farmer.
Deed No.876 (folio 1004) Country Sections 48 and 49 Hutt District. Plan in Deed: Yes
Mortgage dated 10 October 1857. Deed registered 12 October 1857. David Speedy of the Valley of the Hutt, farmer to George Scott of the Valley of the Hutt, farmer. [Section 48] Bounded towards the south by Country Sections 37 and 185, towards the west by Country Sections 185 and 184, towards the north by Country Sections 184 and 51 and towards the east by Country Sections 49 and 46. [Section 49] Bounded towards the north by part of Country Section 52, towards the northeast by the River Hutt, towards the south by Country Section 46 and towards the northwest by Country Section 48. Signed by David Speedy in the presence of John E. Smith of Wellington, solicitor and A. Pringle of Hutt, farmer.
This transfer of land occurred ten days before David Speedy Snr died on 20 October 1857. He was buried at Blackbridge Cemetery in Lower Hutt, one of the first two burials there. It would appear likely that it was David Speedy Jnr who was purchasing the land.
This section appears to be immediately north of the original eight acres, and was situated where Belmont School now stands. Speedy Creek flows through the area, and just off SH 2 is Speedy’s Reserve.
Life was not always straightforward on those days, particularly for a property so close to the Hutt River, as this newspaper report shows:
Wellington Independent, Volume X, Issue 1319, 9 October 1858, Again, we say, pity is a mere insignificance, when nothing is done to prevent, but rather, to lay the foundation of a greater and more telling calamity than the mere losing of a fence and come that calamity will, most assuredly, despite the piling of the banks, &c, if nothing else is done but the patching up of the old bridge. But in regard to the cause in chief of such heavy inundations, we know that when the river has found a shorter, course above, by Mrs. Speedy's and through Mr M'Hardie's lands, it must come done with greater rapidity and greater force, and of course requires a freer escape below. Why could the hydraulic engineer not observe this, when brought to pronounce upon the subject? Well now, sir public, look below the bridge, and see what an accumulation of sand and mud is there—a complete dam-dyke, preventing the free passage of water; and certainly when a torrent is disallowed to pass in one direction, it must be kept back until it forces a passage elsewhere, to the hazard of every thing superficial lying in its way. (extract only)
David Speedy appears as a member of the Committee for the Hutt District in 1857
Elizabeth Speedy married Thomas Caverhill in Wellington on 2 March 1848. The marriage ended tragically when Thomas drowned in the Wairarapa later in the year.
NZ SPECTATOR A melancholy and fatal accident occurred to Mr. Thomas Caverhill, the Manager of Mr Clifford's station at Warekaka, Wairarapa, on Saturday last. Mr. Caverhill was engaged with some other persons in driving cattle across the river Ruamahunga, which at that place is about fifty yards wide, at a ford near Mr. Gilles' station he entered the river on horseback below the ford, and on arriving at the opposite bank the horse sprang up the steep bank, but missed its footing and fell, and it is supposed must have kicked Mr. Caverhill and stunned him, as both horse and rider sank to the bottom of a deep hole in that part of the river. After dragging the river the body was recovered and was found to be much bruised about the face the body was buried at Wairarapa. The deceased had only been married eight months. 20 December 1848.
We regret exceedingly to state that a melancholy accident has occurred at Wairarapa, involving the loss of a very intelligent and respected man, Mr. T. Caverhill He was crossing the river on Saturday when, from some unknown cause, both horse and rider foundered and did not rise again. On Sunday the settlers collected around the spot where Caverhill had been last seen, and after dragging for some time his body was recovered. The unfortunate deceased was buried on Monday, and all the neighbouring residents paid their last tribute of respect by attending the corpse to the grave. (Wellington Independent 20 December 1848.
Although it is not recorded in Births, Deaths and Marriages, Thomas William Caverhill was born in 1849, and it is almost certain that he was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth, born after the death of his father.
Elizabeth died in 1880 at the age of 53, and is buried in Blackbridge cemetery in Lower Hutt.
John Speedy married Diana Bruce in 1860.
At Fountain Hall. Te Aro, Wellington, on the 8th. November, by the Rev. W. Kirton, Mr. John Speedy, to Miss Diana Bruce, both of the Hutt. (Wellington Independent, 7 December 1860)
Their children were: David John 1862, Helen Duthie 1864, Keren Happuck 1866, Jessie Bruce 1868, Diana Bruce 1869, Mary Margaret 1871, Catherine Annie 1872, Peter Bruce 1874, Lionel John 1877, Fanny Beatrice 1879, Marion Florence 1881, Olive Ruth 1883, Rachael Alexandrina Irene, 1884, John and Duncan Stanley 1886.
The birth of the eldest, David John, is recorded in Wellington, but the other births are all registered in the Porangahau district of Hawkes Bay, so the family must have moved to that area in the early 1860s.
John took up land at Herbertville, near Cape Turnagain not long after he arrived in Hawkes Bay. He obviously succeeded in farming in this district, as the following four advertisements show.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5313, 21 February 1879, Page 1. For sale sixty good Merino Rams for Sale; cheap. Whole flock, young and old. Apply to John Speedy, Wainui.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5956, 26 April 1881, Page 1. FOR SALE, 80 HEAD OF CATTLE, one, two and three years old. Steers and Heifers, ten Cows, with or without calves, 400 fat merinos, 400 full-mouth ewes, merino. Apply to JOHN SPEEDY, Wainui.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6528, 12 April 1883, Page 2. Mr John Speedy, Wainui, has for sale about 1000 merino ewes and wethers.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6999, 30 October 1884, Page 1. FOR SALE, 1500 wethers and 500 ewes (merinos) JOHN SPEEDY, Wainui.
He was also very involved in local affairs. He was a JP, a member of the Patangata County Council and very involved in the affairs of the local rabbit board, as rabbits were considered a major problem in the area by the early 1880s.
Daily Telegraph , Issue 3063, 21 April 1881, Page 2. WILD RABBITS.As conflicting reports of the continued spread of wild rabbits along the coast towards Hawke's Bay were of daily occurrence, and expressions freely indulged in as to the callousness of the Hawke's Bay settlers in paying so little attention to the certain inroad of these pests, Mr John Speedy, with the approval of the settlers of Wainui, wrote to and asked Mr Murray, who is in charge of the stations held by the late Mr Armstrong, if he would kindly name a day upon which he could attend a meeting of the settlers in the neighbourhood.
Other references in the newspapers of the time are:
[FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT. August 26, 1893. We have had a rather big fire since last I wrote. Mr John Speedy had an eight-roomed house destroyed. The origin of the fire is one of those mysteries that the police cannot solve, but they have certain suspicions, which may turn out correct some day. The house was insured for £350, but the contents were uninsured. They were valued at £200 at least, and nothing was saved.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5159, 22 August 1878, Page 1. NOTICE. ANYONE found hunting with or with out dog or gun on my property will be prosecuted, JOHN SPEEDY. Wainui, July 24, 1878.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11199, 15 April 1899, Page 3. NOTICE. SHOOTING Strictly Prohibited on Burnview. JOHN SPEEDY..
Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9849, 16 July 1914, Page 5. The death occurred at Burnview, Herbertville, on Monday, of Mr John Speedy, the oldest settler of the Herbertville district, aged 86 years. Mr Speedy was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and arrived in New Zealand when about 12 years old on the "Lord William Bentinck." His youth was spent in the Hutt district, and the first land he took up was at Puketitiri, near Napier. After that he went to Herbertville, where he has resided for the last 50 years. Deceased leaves nine daughters and three sons. Three of the former and Messrs Norval and Stanley Speedy are at home, the others being Mesdames Nicholls (Kumeroa), Pillans, J. A. Riddell and J. Armstrong (Dannevirke), F. Armstrong and P. V. Smith (Akitio) and Mr Bruce Speedy (Featherston). Deceased's wife predeceased him about four years ago.
Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 135, 7 December 1908, Page 7. DANNEVIRKE, This Day. The death is announced of Mrs. John Speedy, of Herbertville. Deceased was on a visit to her son-in-law, Mr. James Armstrong, of Glengarry. She had been in failing health, and expired suddenly last evening. The late Mrs. Speedy was 68 years of age, and had resided at Herbertville for 45 years. The interment takes place at Herbertville.
In a report in the Manawatu Standard on 20 January 1912 following the death of Janet (Jessie) Saunders (nee McHardie) there is the following report (extract only) “There is another incident worthy of notice of which the deceased lady was the only remaining eye witness. It appears that Mr John Speedy (an old veteran who still resides at Blackhead, Hawke's Bay) performed a very courageous act as a young man serving in the militia in the early forties. Amid a shower of bullets, young Speedy rushed out, picked up a wounded sergeant, and returned to safety with him on his shoulder. Medals for bravery were not bestowed indiscriminately in those days as they are now, and the brave rescuer received no recognition for his noble deed in rescuing Sergt, Palmer. Mr Speedy's claim on his country for a medal was brought forward a few years back, and after considerable inquiries it was found that the late Mrs Saunders was the sole surviving witness of the incident. At the time in question she, with her parents, was hurrying away to the stockade for protection.”
Mary Speedy married Alexander Pringle in 1851. Alexander had arrived in Wellington on the London on 13 August 1840, having been recruited in Perth a month earlier. He is described as a dyer and scourer, aged 17.
Their children were:
Helen 1852, N R 1855, N R 1857, James Baird 1859, John 1862, William Birrell 1864, Graham Speedy 1867, NR 1869, Arthur Henry 1871. William died in 1866 aged one year.
In 1859 Alexander purchased a block of land from Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and at the same time took out a mortgage to the same person. The acreage is not given. This land is described as part of section 38, bounded on the east by Joseph Fry, and in the south by Stephen Fagan, so was probably near what is now Connolly Street in Lower Hutt.
In the 1872-73 Electoral Roll for the Hutt, Alexander’s address is recorded as “Camp Ground” which would indicate that it was close to Boulcott Farm.
Alexander died on 16 August 1900, and Mary on 17 November 1912. Both were buried at Blackbridge cemetery in Lower Hutt.
William Speedy married Fanny Groves, 1859. Their children were:
William Groves 1862, David Graham 1864, John Frederick 1866, Helen Florence 1868, Hector Albert 1871, Emily Annie Edith 1875, Fanny Groves 1878. William’s birth was recorded at Ahuriri, David’s in Wellington but the other children were all born in the Porongohau district from 1866, so William must have followed his brother John to Hawkes Bay.
When his youngest daughter was born on 5 May 1878, his address is given as Wainui. His wife died the following day. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5085, 25 May 1878, Page 2. SPEEDY.—At Wainui, on the 6th May, Fanny, the beloved wife of William Speedy; aged 36. Deeply mourned.
Later that year William re-married. On 22 November 1878 he married Matilda Helena Thorn Campbell. There were five children of the marriage; Paul Douglas 1879, Elsie Rebeckah 1881, Philip Gordon 1882, Annie Florymel 1885, Heber Campbell 1887. William was farming Pippibank station.
The following extracts from local newspapers give some idea of the activities of William Speedy over the years.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1011, 6 January 1869, Page 3. The following, among other promotions, appointments, &c, are notified in a New Zealand Gazette dated 31st ult In the Armed Constabulary. William Speedy to be Ensign. Date of commission, 2nd Dec, 1868.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5024, 5 March 1878, Page 3. I hereby Give Notice that any Person infringing my Patent for a Wool Press will be proceeded against, according to law, without any further notice. WILLIAM SPEEDY.
Daily Telegraph , Issue 3554, 29 November 1882, Page 3. WANTED— For the country, a good General Servant, must be strong, wages £1 per week. Apply by letter to Mrs William Speedy, Wainui, Cape Turnagain
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6932, 11 August 1884, Page 4. On Saturday evening the nucleus of what I trust will eventually become a volunteer company, in the form of some thirty residents, formed themselves into a rifle club, Mr William Speedy, an old and respected resident, being unanimously elected as president of the club, with Mr Edward T. Coppen (schoolmaster to the township) as hon. secretary, and Mr Pillans, of Tautane, treasurer.
Daily Telegraph , Issue 5539, 31 May 1889, Page 3. WANTED A Governess or Tutor. First-class English and Music required, also Elementary, French, Latin, and Drawing.: Good salary given to a competent teacher., Apply with references to William Speedy, Pipi Bank, Wainui, Cape Turnagain.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8827, 18 November 1890, Page 2. GOOD ON BOTH SIDES.
ln June last the Union Steamship Company's Tarawera lost a lifebuoy through heavy weather on the coast, and it found a resting place at Cape Turnagain. Constable Lawless reported the finding of the buoy to Inspector Kiely, who communicated with the Union Company, and it was ordered to be sent on to Napier, where it only arrived by the Kiwi a few days ago, with a note stating that it had been doing duty at the landing shed since it was found, and had proved very useful. On receipt of this information the local manager of the Union Steamship Company immediately returned the buoy as a present to the people using the landing shed, in case of accidents, and the residents of Herbertville acknowledged the gift in the following address: - To K. Puflett, Esq., Agent of Union S S. Company of New Zealand, Spit. We, the undersigned residents of Herbertville, Tautane, and surrounding district of Cape Turnagain, being all more or less interested in the landing and shipping of goods at Cape Turnagain, hereby acknowledge and tender our sincere thanks to Mr Robert Puflett for his handsome and useful present of a life-boat to be kept at the landing sheds, Cape Turnagain in case of accidents. J. E. Riddell, Thomas Avison, Geo. Somerville, John Speedy, Arthur Herbert, Hugh Handyside, Thos. Woods Herbert, Ernest F. Levy, George Balsillie, Patrick M'Nalty, George Cripps, William Speedy, Elizabeth Cittadini, J. C. Pascoe, Henry G. Hirtzeh, Ed. Field, W. and C. Hales Charles Herbert, W. C. Turner Robt. J. Sidwell, John Patterson, Daniel Davies, John F. Speedy, E. J. Lawless, John A. Munro.
Bush Advocate, Volume IX, Issue 699, 8 November 1892, Page 3. ALLEGED ROBBERY FROM A DWELLING. (by telegraph.) (from our correspondent.) Herbertville This day. A police information was heard this day before Messrs W. S. Speedy and S. Franklin, J.P.'s, that Daniel Connor did on or about the 5th November 1892, at Woodbank, Herbertville, feloniously break into the dwelling house of one Graham Speedy and steal therefrom current coin amounting to 33s. Accused was committed to stand his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Napier.
William died 1894 aged 62.
Graham Speedy married Emily Groves in 1862. Their children were:
David Henry 1863, Albert John 1864, Annie Elizabeth 1866, James Groves 1868, N R 1870, Emily Mary and Louisa Ellen 1871, Fanny Helena 1874, Margaret Pringle 1875,Lillian Carsehill 1877, Graham McHutchon 1882, Harold Colin 1885. The eldest son, David Henry, had his birth registered in Wellington, but all the others were born in the Porongahau district. Clearly the family moved to southern Hawkes Bay at about the same time as John’s and William’s families
.
Daily Telegraph , Issue 4554, 8 March 1886, Page 2. The Porangahau licensing election was compromised. The Wainui people wished for a share of representation on the committee and so nominated two strong men from their locality, and being numerically much stronger than Porangahau were able to carry them. When this became known the latter place chose three of its best men and a poll was avoided. Messrs Graham Speedy, C. Herbert, A. H. Price, P. Hunter, and the Rev. Mr Simcox therefore were declared elected, and are to hold the first meeting for the election of chairman on Saturday next.
Daily Telegraph , Issue 7458, 31 August 1895, Page 3. The Rev. Dr. Sidey desires to tender his warmest thanks to the following persons who have kindly contributed to the scholarship fund that is being raised by the Presbytery of Hawke's Bay for the education of a student at the University for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand,— Messrs James Anderson £5, John Chambers £5, Rev. Dr. Sidey £5, Dr. Todd (Waipawa) £3, Messrs Robert Todd (Kaikora) £3, Graham Speedy (Wainui) £3, Mrs Bryson (Napier) £1, Mr John Begg £l
Graham too became very involved in the affairs of the local rabbit Board, as these newspapers extracts indicate.
Bush Advocate, Volume V, Issue 346, 29 July 1890, Page 2. The Board met at Porangahau, on Saturday. Present—Messrs H. Handyside (chairman), J. H. Coleman, A. H. Price, Thos. Crosse, and Graham Speedy. Mr Price said that until a majority of the stock-owners had expressed approval of the introduction of stoats and weasels, the Board would not be justified in spending public money on importing them. Mr Speedy also spoke against the motion, which was then put and lost, Messrs Price, Coleman, and Speedy voting against, and Messrs Handyside and Crosse for their introduction. Accounts totalling £117 6s, were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.—Telegraph. (extracts only)
Daily Telegraph , Issue 5234, 24 August 1891, Page 2. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning the case of Graham Speedy (on behalf of the Rabbit Board) versus the Hon. J. D. Ormond, for a breach of the Rabbit Act, was called on for hearing. The complaint was that Mr Ormond had neglected to eradicate rabbits from his run at Wallingford. The Clerk of the Court, Capt. Forster, said the summons had been sent to Wellington for service on Mr Ormond, but he would not accept it, pleading privilege during the time the Legislative Council was in session. Mr Cornford, who appeared for the Rabbit Board, said this was a matter that was altogether within the discretion of the Court. The case was one of misdemeanor, and was a criminal proceeding. He quoted Russell on Crime," and said this was just as much, a crime as any other statutory offence punishable by the Court. The word misdemeanor was applied to all those offences for which the law had not provided a particular name. The privilege question was for the Court to consider, but he thought if Mr Ormond accepted service and applied for an adjournment, that was the proper course for him to have taken. Mr Cornford said he did not know under what advice Mr Ormond had acted; the matter had been brought under his notice, and his refusal to accept a piece of paper was another matter. The R.M. perused the Act under which members were privileged in this respect, and said it seemed to him that a misdemeanor was an indictable offence—one on which a person could be committed for trial. The present charge appeared to be neither a felony nor a misdemeanor, but he thought the constable should have handed the summons to Mr Ormond and have done with it. Mr Cornford concurred. It was eventually decided to adjourn the matter for a fortnight, the summons to be re-issued.
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11510, 16 April 1900, Page 2. DEATH. SPEEDY.On April 9th, 1900, at his residence, Woodbank, Herbertville, Hawke's Bay, Graham Speedy, aged 65 years.
Daily Telegraph , Issue 9915, 12 November 1900, Page 4. The wills of the following deceased persons have been finally certified for the amounts stated: Graham Speedy, Napier, £17,183 16s 3d.
Go to the second page of the Speedy narrative for the second part of their story.
