Biography

Henry Wilson was born about 1850 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England. He arrived in New Zealand around 1872.

Henry married Catherine McNamara from County Cork, Ireland on 1st November 1875 at Havelock, Waitahuna, Otago. It was a marriage of convenience, since Catherine had difficulty finding work (there were signs everywhere at the time saying “Irish need not apply”). Henry wanted a wife and mother for his future children, and it gave Catherine a home. However, they grew to love each other very much and it blossomed into a wonderful marriage. They had ten children, seven sons and three daughters.

At the time of his marriage, Henry worked as a miner. He also worked as a miner at Waikaka, as a labourer at Seacliff, and as a platelayer (at Seacliff) and surfaceman (at Houipapa in the Catlins) for the Railway.

Henry and Catherine leased some land to farm in the Waikoata Valley in the Catlins in the late 1890s – 1900s. The land was covered by native bush and had to be cleared, burnt off and sown in grass. Henry continued to work for the railway for a while to maintain an income, and his sons helped to clear the land. They built a four-roomed house for their family.

Their income was derived from supplying the Tarara Cheese Factory with milk and selling their felled trees to a local sawmill. Their mode of transport was a horse and dray. For the woman and children the most common way of getting around was simply by walking everywhere.

Their farm is still in Wilson hands, in 2008 being owned by a grandson. Their last address was Houipapa, Catlins.

Henry died in Dunedin Hospital on 12th July 1919 aged 68 years. He is buried with his unmarried son Charles, who died on 24th September 1900 aged 19 years.