"Builder of the cottages, Henry Matson, was born in Kent in1814 and emigrated with his brother to Australia in 1835. Shipwrecked off Tasmania, he settled there working as a harbour master and investing in two stations and a quarry.Many early Melbourne buildings were built of stone from the quarry. Living between Tasmania and Melbourne foralmost 30 years, Matson decided to emigrate to Christchurchin 1862 following the death of his first wife. Here he founded H. Matson and Co, one of the largest stock and station firms at the time. Matson’s offices were in the ....Following Matson’s death in 1885 his second wife Edith and son Conway Matson inherited the estate."
http://archived.ccc.govt.nz/OurEnvironment/31/Winter2002.pdfIf he married for a second time at a later date, doesn't that marriage certificate give details of his parents as would his New Zealand death certificate and with it his exact age? (a New Zealand death certificate might also give his mother's maiden name) The marriage certificate should also give his father's occupation.
"Henry Matson remained in Christchurch. On 24 June 1867, at St. Michael’s, he married a much younger woman, Edith Dearden, settled on a 29 acre estate in Papanui, ‘
Delce Farm’ towards the Papanui end of Harewood Road and raised a second family."
This source states "Henry Matson was born at
Delce Farm, Wingham, eastern Kent, the son of Robert Matson".
http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/Cemeteries/Papanui/StPaulsPapanuiCemetery.pdfHenry Matson the son of Robert Matson baptised Wingham 1823 was living with his father Robert on the 1851 census and married and living with his wife Lucy and three daughters in Wingham in 1861. Still there in 1881 as was Robert who by then was 95.
This is the more likely Henry Matson
MATSON, Henry
Birth Date:17 Jul 1814
Christening Date:12 Aug 1814 St Margaret Rochester, Kent
Father Robert MATSON
Mother Elizabeth
MATSON, Robert
Christening Date:12 Jun 1809 St Margaret Rochester, Kent
Father Robert MATSON
Mother Elizabeth
MATSON, James Moon
Birth Date:26 Jul 1810
Christening Date:22 Aug 1810 St Margaret Rochester, Kent
Father Robert MATSON
Mother Elizabeth
MATSON, John
Birth Date:26 Jan 1812
Christening Date:3 Mar 1812 St Margaret Rochester, Kent
Father Robert MATSON
Mother Elizabeth
MATSON, George
Birth Date:5th December 1817
Christening Date: 3rd February 1818 St Margaret Rochester, Kent
Father Robert Matson
Mother Elizabeth
ROBERT MATSON
ELIZABETH MOON
Marriage: 11 AUG 1808 Saint Mary The Virgin, Dover, Kent
1851 census HO107 1610 folio 138?
Upper
Delce Maidstone Road Rochester Kent
Robert Matson 65 Head Married Farmer 160? acres employing 11 labourers Swingfield Kent
Elizabeth Matson 63 Wife Married Dover Kent
Robert Matson 41 Son Unmarried Rochester Kent
James M Matson 40 Unmarried Rochester Kent
plus 1 visitor and five servants
The family were still at
Upper Delce Farm St Margaret's Rochester in 1861 as they were in 1841. Henry was not present with his parents on the 1841 census.
You can find Henry's actual baptismal entry in St Margaret Rochester's registers here.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/02p6/Regards
Valda
