| Notes |
- Henry's father was a John NEALE.
- [Not at all sure that this is entirely accurate - John NEALE the mill owner had a son Henry born in 1820 who remained unmarried]
Henry Neale was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in 1812. He was one of
eight sons and his father either owned or managed a Mill in the area
-(Stroud is a very old cloth-making town). They were a very respected
family who shared a love of music and every Sunday the eight boys sang
in the choir of the Church of England Parish Church where their father
was the organist for many years.
Henery grew into a man of medium height with brown curly hair, a beard,
broard shoulders and a wide forehead. The family bible has a entry
which states he married his first wife, Amelia Bournman, "about 1825".
This is obviously incorrect but he must have married when very young as
their first child William Henry was born at Chalford, Stroud, in 1833
and their second son, John William was born three years later in 1836.
When Henry's father died the brothers quarrelled about his estate and
Henry was so upset over this, that rather than have anything further to
do with the argument, he announced that he was going to emigrate to New
Zealand. Another brother followed his example and decided to go to
Australia. There is no record as to whether they sailed on the same
ship with the brother disembarking in Australia, but a nephew from that
country visited his New Zealand relatives in Auckland about 1900.
Henry and Amelia with William aged nine, John aged six and Amelia aged
three months sailed from London in 1842. The "Auckland Chronicle" of
Saturday, March 25th, 1843, states: "The Union barque Mark Todd
Commander, arrived on Thursday evening, direct from London. Left
Gravesend on 18th October and by stress of weather was compelled to put
into Cowes where she left on 29th October". Henry and Amelia
disembarked on Thursday March 23rd at a spot named Mills Folly Auckland.
Henry and Amelia had three more children in New Zealand, Annie, Emma,
Joseph (my Grandfathers father). Henry later married again to Mary Ann
Lambert. They had a daughter Mary Ann.
[From Leo & Shirley Neale Donegal@xtra.co.nz]
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