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Waitangi Day Blog Challenge - Charles Thomas Seabrook

The Waitangi Day Blog Challenge from the Auckland Research Centre challenges us to write a post about your early New Zealand ancestors.

What stories can you tell about their lives?

I have a few members of my family who have moved from Hobart to New Zealand and will write about one of them today.

Charles Thomas Seabrook (1844 - 1912) caused problems for many years as he simply disappeared from his home town of Hobart Town. Eventually I discovered that he hadn't moved very far at all and had in fact left Tasmania in 1865 for the town of Hokitika on the west coast of the south island of New Zealnd

The West Coast Times of 26th September 1865 reported that a Mr Seabrook was one of ten cabin passengers on board the William Miskin.

Like his father Henry William Seabrook and 3 of his 5 brothers, Charles was a builder and soon entered the building trade on the west coast. He was in partnership for some time with his brother Henry William Seabrook, who later returned to Australia.

The 1898 publication Industries of New Zealand gives the following details:
  • Arnott and Seabrook, builders, contractor, monumental masons, Greymouth.
  • Prominent buildings include: Greymouth Hospital, the State School, the Roman Catholic Church, Dawson's Hotel at Reefton, the Post and Telegraph Offices at Westport, Lyell and Kumara.
  • Seabrook managed the ironmongery department and looks after the financial portion of the business.
  • The firm is one of the oldest one in the contracting and building line on the Coast, and do an excellent trade.
Industries of New Zealand, illustrated: an historical and commercial review, descriptive and biographical, facts, figures and illustrations. An epitome of progress: business men and commercial interests. Arthur Cleave Publishing Co: Auckland. 1898.

Charles married Sarah Elizabeth Johnston in 1868. They had two children, Florence Adeline in 1872 and Frederick Charles in 1878. Descendants of Frederick still live in New Zealand today.

Headstone of Charles Thomas Seabrook, Karoro Cemetery, Greymouth, New Zealand
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Comments

  1. GeniAusFebruary 6, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    So pleased to see you geneablogging. Hope you can keep it going as the school year hots up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SharonFebruary 6, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    I will need to be disciplined.

    ReplyDelete
  3. genebrarianFebruary 6, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    Thanks Sharon. Fantastic to be able to say that your ancestors had a physical hand in the building of a country! Thanks so much for your contribution.

    ReplyDelete

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