ASHDOWN-UK-L Archives

From: Carol Dale <>
Subject: [Ashdown] George Ashdown - Kent 1804
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 07:41:58 +1100

My connection with the Ashdown family starts with George Ashdown (my 3rd
great grandfather), who was born it is believed in St Paul's Cray, West
Kent Parish, Kent in England in about 1804. Very little is known of his
parentage. It is believed that George was the son of George Ashdown. This
assumption is based on the death certificate of a James Ashdown, believed
to be a nephew, who was witness to two of the weddings that took place in
Beechworth of children of Ellen Ashdown, George's daughter.

An old family bible which is in possession of one of the NZ descendants has
a listing of three other children:

James born 1803, he is believed to have married Edith Farrant in Kent in
1827. They had a son, James, who emigrated to Australia to the Chiltern
area and ran a pub there in the goldfields.

Samuel, born 24 Jul 1803, died 18 Oct 1820, according to the bible

Ellen, born 14 Oct 1806, no further information.

The next information available on George is that he is listed as a ship's
apprentice on the ship "Harriett" that departed Sydney in 1819 when he was
15. He is also listed as part of the crew of the ship "Ann" in 1824 and
the ship "Elizabeth" in 1825.

George is also listed on the 1828 Census of the Colony as being resident in
Sydney, who came free in 1826.

From Sydney, George as part of the crew of the ship "Adventure" set out on
a trading voyage to New Zealand, where George settled and participated in
many adventures.

George had a relationship with a Maori lady, Te Runanga Marapeka, also
known Raukatauri.. It is unclear whether they formally married. References
to her name vary. In some land claims made after her death, she is referred
to as Maata Pekema or Mata Pekamu, and on the christening records of their
children, she is referred to as Hemaina Ashdown. Her death certificate,
she is listed as Ema Maata Pekamu.

She was a member of the Ngatihumea clan of the Ngamahanga sub-tribe of the
Ngatiawa,(Te Atiawa tribe), whose family land was at Oakura.

They had nine children. They were:

Ellen (also known as Helene), born 1836 on Howes Island (now Lord Howe
Island),
James David, born 1838 on Howes Island
Louise, born 1839 on Howes Island
Maria Athelia, born 1839 on Howes Island
George, born 1843 in Wellington, New Zealand
Sarah Jane, born 1846 in Wellington, New Zealand
Emma Jane, born 1848 in Wellington, New Zealand
William George, born 1850 in Wellington, New Zealand
John Rhodes, born 1852 in Wellington, New Zealand

In 1856, George formally married Mary Ames, a widow, in Wellington. Mary
was the original owner of a number of Wellington properties, that became
part of George's estate.

George died in 1858 in Wellington and is buried in Bolton Cemetery.

I have lots of material on George and some on James and his son, James, but
would love to find more about my Ashdown ancestry in Kent.

Thanks, Mary for starting this list and the website, which I will send
contributions to soon.

Can anybody help breakdown this major brickwall.

Carol Dale
Melbourne Australia

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• [Ashdown] George Ashdown - Kent 1804 by Carol Dale <>