Historic Cambridge residents with ‘S’ Surnames
SCOTT, SHAW, STEWART & SWAYNE – all these residents are founders of our town, all with land marks and streets around Cambridge named after them. Find there stories here in the list below of our historic residents, who’s surnames start with the letter S.
SALMON James
James was born in Kilcumming Longford about 1827 and enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia 29 December 1863 in Dunedin. His Regiment Number was Private 1409 and occupation a farm labourer.
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 James paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence. The Waikato Times noted that he owed 12/6d in rates on 50 acres in June 1872.
He married Margaret Baxter nee Evans in Cambridge on 5 June 1875 and they had a daughter Alice Rowena born 1888 in Palmerston North.
SALT William Abraham
William was born on 13 January 1889. He joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 14 November 1911.
SAM Seth
Seth was born about 1833.
He took part in the Crimea, possibly having worked with Florence Nightingale, and had received a decoration from Queen Victoria. He then worked in 1864 at the Maori prison camp on Kawau Island. From there he enlisted as a substitute in the 3rd Waikato Militia as surgeon on 26 January 1865 in Cambridge. On 15 December 1865 he became the first Master of the first Alpha Lodge in Cambridge. He was W M again in 1867, but this Lodge only operated until about 1867-1868.
Seth was aged 34 years when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 15 July 1867. His wife was Elizabeth. During this time he was in charge of the Military Hospital.
In a booklet written for the centenary of the (second) Alpha Lodge in 1983, it says that Dr Sam moved to Thames at the end of the 1860s, where he was the second Master of the Lodge of Light No.454. He left New Zealand in 1872 for Bathurst in Australia and died there in 1882 aged 48 years.
SAMPSON Gerard
Gerard was born in Dorset England about 1837 and enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia 11 January 1864 in Invercargill. His Regiment Number was Private 1450 and occupation was in the Royal Navy.
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 he paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence.
SANDERS Frederick James
Fred came from London with his parents in 1855, aged three years. He came to Cambridge and worked as a storekeeper and ironmonger with Tom Wells and John Houghton & Son.
He joined the Cambridge and Waikato Reed Band in 1877 and the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers in November 1878. In 1879 he was a Trustee of the Cambridge Library. In 1883 he was Superintendent of the St Andrews Sunday School – a position he held for many years.
In June 1883 he married Emma Kate Kingdon and they had ten children over a period of 21 years. Their second son Owen Frederick was killed in World War One.
From 1903-05 Fred was a Cambridge Borough Councillor. Then they left Cambridge for Paeroa, returning a few years later. They took over a Fruit Shop but left again in 1914 for Waihi.
SAULBREY Thomas Lewis
Tom was born in London on 25 July 1865 where he was educated and apprenticed to the bakery trade. He arrived in New Zealand in 1887 on the ship ‘Kaikoura‘ to join his brother, Henry John. Tom came to Cambridge about 1892 where he built a shop and bakehouse in Duke Street. He married Margaret Dalton on 6 June 1894 and they had four daughters and five sons.
Tom joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 16 May 1899 and served as Noble Grand in 1901. He called on the Lodge’s sickness fund in 1904 suffering from rheumatism for 48 days.
He sold his business to A Manson in 1905 and moved to Mamaku. He died in Wellington in 1928.
SAVAGE Theobald
Theo was aged 37 when he enrolled as Private 700 in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 24 September 1863 in Hobarton Australia. He was born in Ballyshire, Longford, Ireland and was a labourer. He received his one acre section number 32 in Cambridge East and his 50 acre farm in the Cambridge Survey. He is listed in the Aquitance Roll of 1869 held at National Archives in Wellington.
He appeared in the Armed Constabulary Charge Book on 27 September 1881 – Drunk – and fined 48 hours labour. In mid January 1885 Theo waved a farewell at the wharf then jumped into the current of the Waikato River and drowned.
Ihiabald Savage (age 50, born in Ireland, a Roman Catholic labourer) also appeared in the Charge Book 11 April 1877 – Drunk and Incapable. He was fined 10 shillings and 3 shillings costs but was unable to pay so did 48 hours Hard Labour.
Pebald Savage (age 50, born in Ireland, a Roman Catholic labourer) 21 August 1876 was also charged with Drunk and Disorderly and was ‘Admonished’.
I feel these have to be Theo’s brothers and have to smile at their parents’ sense of humour.
SCHISCHKA Lorenz
Lorenz was born 1830 in Austria. He led the second group of Bohemians to Puhoi and arrived in New Zealand on the Liverpool in March 1866. He decided to visit Ohaupo’s Bohemian community, enlisted at Cambridge on 3 April 1866 as a substitute for Hichshiss in the 3rd Waikato Militia. He was a farmer, 5′ 6″ tall, a Private, Regiment number 1692. He was granted one acre of land section 556 in Cambridge West and a farm section 3 at Ohaupo.
He also purchased more land at Ohaupo but later changed his mind and decided to join the others at Puhoi. He forfeited his deposit on the land but the owner demanded the full amount. Lorenz was imprisoned for a short time in Auckland for debt.
SCHMIDT August
August Schmidt was born 1835 in Blankenberg, Hanover. He was a baker, 5′ 9″ tall, when he enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 12 October 1863 in Auckland. He was a Private, Regiment number 570 and was granted one acre of land section 85 in Cambridge West and a farm section 19 at Ohaupo.
SCHOFIELD Samuel Charles
Sam was born about 1844 in Tasmania, Australia. He enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia as Sergeant 402 on 6 October 1863 in Hobarton, his height was 5′ 8½” and his occupation an ironmonger.
He served a term in the Commissariat Transport Corps for both land and river service, then transferred back to the militia and did duty as a Drill Instructor.
Sam was granted one acre of land section 63 in Cambridge East and farm sections 75 and part of 69 at Ohaupo.
He joined the Alpha Waikato Lodge No 449 I.C., Cambridge in 1866 and on 15 July 1867 when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge he was 23 years old and an ironmonger.
He married Agnes Dalrymple nee Calderwood in September 1867 and left for the Thames goldfields in 1868.
SCHONE Gustave
Gus was born 1841 in Dresden Saxony. He was a locksmith and described as 5′ 7¾” tall when he enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 22 September 1863 in Brisbane. He was a Private, Regiment number 524 and was granted one acre of land section 143 in Cambridge West and a farm section 15 at Ohaupo.
SCOTT George Andrew
Was born on 31 August 1889 and he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 7 February 1911.
SCOTT H M
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 he paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totaling eight shillings and sixpence.
SCOTT John
John was born 1829 in Kerry, Ireland. He was a mariner, 5′ 2″ tall, when he enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 30 September 1863 in Christchurch. He was a Private, Regiment number 634, and was granted one acre of land section 252 in Cambridge East and a farm section 12 at Ohaupo.
SCUDMORE Henry Bristan
Henry was born 16 June 1867 and a farmer when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge, 3 September 1901.
SELBY William
Bill was born 1812 in Preston, Lancashire. He was a weaver and 5′ 9″ tall when he enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia, 28 September 1863, in Nelson. He was a Private, Regiment number 271, and was granted one acre of land section 101 in Cambridge West and a farm section 13 at Ohaupo.
SELBY William
William was born in London in 1829 and arrived in Auckland (for the second time) on the ‘Joseph Fletcher‘ in 1855. He married Sarah in 1855 and they arrived in Cambridge in 1870. William was employed as the manager of Mr L Bucholz’ store. Two years later they took up a farm at Hautapu which they called ‘The Poplars’ and they had twelve children.
William was an original member of the Cambridge & Waikato Reed Band in May 1877. He was also chairman of the Cambridge Road Board for several years and a strong supporter of the Anglican Church.
In 1880 he had 290 sheep and in 1888 he put in 45 acres of wheat. He sold the farm in 1908 and the family left the district.
SHAND James George
Jim was born 1833 in Keith, Banff. He was a miner, 6 feet tall, when he enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia as a substitute for McCracken on 22 May 1864 in Drury. He was a Private, Regiment number 1563, and was granted one acre of land section 253 in Cambridge East and a farm section 8 at Ohaupo.
SHARKEY Joseph
Joseph was born on 15 November 1891 and he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 14 November 1911.
SHARKEY Robert
Robert was born on 7 March 1893. He joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 14 November 1911.
SHARKEY William
Was born on 1 June 1886 and joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge in 1908.
SHARP Frederick Augustus
Fred was born 27 December 1888, the son of John Sharp and Eliza nee Vincent. He joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 8 October 1907 and was elected Noble Grand in 1910. In 1915 he married Olive McIndoe.
SHARP John
John arrived in Cambridge about 1873. He married Eliza Vincent in Hamilton in February 1875 and they had nine children. They established an orchard on the Hamilton Road just out of the borough and John became very well known as a nurseryman. He was a nursery gardener when he became an Honorary Member of the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 17 October 1874. John was the originator of the Sharp’s Early Plum and in 1884 showed 400 varieties of apples at an Auckland show. In 1885 he had a jam factory built on his property and in 1895 was chairman of the Waikato Fruit Growers’ Association. Many of Cambridge’s trees, hedge plants and shrubs have come from John Sharp’s nursery.
On 9 November 1876 he became a member of the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers. In 1879 he joined the Cambridge & Waikato Reed Band.
John died in 1915 and Eliza in 1937 and they are both buried at the Cambridge Cemetery at Hautapu.
SHARPLEY William
William Percival was born 10 March 1878 and married Amy Bertha Brass in 1903. He was a storeman when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 30 December 1907.
SHAW Andrew Clark
Andrew was born 20 January 1882 and when he married Alice Emily Stuart on 29 March 1905 he was working in Thos Wells Furniture Department. The St Andrew’s bell’s rang out a merry peel
as the couple left the church – Andrew having been a former bell ringer. Andrew was also a member of the Cambridge Band and they gave a handsome 14-day striking clock to the happy couple. Andrew and Alice honeymooned in Auckland.
When Andrew joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 2 July 1907 his occupation was a cabinet maker. They moved to Morrinsville in 1909.
SHAW Charles Angus
Charles Shaw was born on 28 August 1881. He joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 9 August 1910.
SHAW William Henry
Bill was born 7 April 1882 and married Mary Magdalen Donnelly in 1904. He opened a fruit shop in Cambridge in 1906 and joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 9 April 1907.
SHEA John
John was born about 1838 in Birr Co Kings, Ireland. He enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia as Private 1012 on 30 November 1863, in Dunedin, where his occupation was recorded as a miner.
He was aged 22 years and a labourer when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 2 September 1879.
SIDDALL Frederick Chapman
Frederick was born on 20 November 1883 and he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 31 May 1910.
SIMM Richard
Richard was born about 1858 and a grocer when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge, 22 April 1884. His wife was Alice nee Dolman and they had four children – Frank, Albert, Ada and Annie.
Richard was Noble Grand for June, July and August 1888 and periodically on the sickness register from 1886 until end of June 1892 with pleurisy.
The Waikato Times newspaper of 31 May 1892 has Richard’s obituary – “On Friday night Mr R Simm, grocer of Duke Street succumbed to phthysis, from which he has suffered for some years. Deceased was an old member of the local lodge of Oddfellows and he was followed to the grave by his brethren and a host of friends and sympathisers; indeed, the funeral procession was an enormous one. Deceased leaves a widow and four small children to mourn their loss.”
There is no headstone at the Cambridge cemetery.
His widow, Alice Simm continued as a grocer and general storekeeper, then married Arthur St George Forbes in 1894. Another daughter Kitty was born 7 October 1896.
SIMMS Thomas McKinley
Tom was born about 1862 and a draper when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 13 January 1885. In 1886 he called on his sickness benefit for an injury to his hand. By June 1887 he was at Bombay and had an injury to his kidneys resulting in £35 being paid over nearly six months. At the end of June 1892 he was in Gisborne and again called on his sickness benefit. End of September he was in Auckland with ‘Brights Disease’. He died 20 November 1892.
SIMPSON Robert
Was born on 23 January 1878 and he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 29 December 1908.
SIMPSON Thomas Wetherall
Thos was born on 23 December 1866 and joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 17 December 1895 aged 28 years, his occupation a storekeeper. The Waikato Advocate of 1895 records he played cricket, entertained at socials with songs and went to a rink carnival as a ‘clown’.
SIMPSON Walter
Walter was born on 14 September 1886 and joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 28 November 1911.
SIMPSON William
William was born about 1833 in England and became a mariner. He enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of the Waikato Militia – No 1056 – in Dunedin on 9 December 1863.
A William Simpson died on 24 June 1864 at Queens Redoubt and a William Simpson joined the Alpha Waikato Lodge No 449 I.C. in 1865.
SIMPSON William D
Was born on 29 August 1879 and joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 29 December 1908.
SKELLY/SCELLY Daniel
Dan was a labourer aged 21 years when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 6 July 1872. In November 1872 he did six days drill and then joined the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers of which he was a member until 1875.
On 14 May 1875 he married Sarah Helen ‘Ellen’ Lockley, who was the daughter of William and Elizabeth – 3rd Waikato Militia settlers.
Dan and Ellen settled in Waharoa.
SKELTON Thomas
Tom was born in Manchester, Lancashire about 1845 and enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia as a substitute soldier, 10 January 1865, in Cambridge. His Regiment Number was Private 1630 and occupation was a labourer.
He then enlisted in the Armed Constabulary on 1 December 1868, No 73, the Nominal Roll stating he had a fresh complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, age 23 years. He was discharged on 6 June 1871.
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 Tom paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence.
SMALE Francis Dyer Richard
Francis enrolled in the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers in 1872 and served until 1879.
He married Lilley May Wright in January 1878 when he was aged 26 and she was 17 years old. At that time he was manager of the Maungakawa station. An unsuccessful farming venture and contracting work made him bankrupt in 1888. He then became superintendent of the Trout Hatchery at Te Papa.
Lilley May died 16 March 1912 and is buried in the Cambridge Cemetery, Hautapu.
SMERDON George
George was born about 1849 and a carpenter when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 6 January 1880. He married Ada Mymott in November the same year.
SMITH Charles Henry
Charles was born about 1860 and a grocer when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 29 July 1884.
SMITH Ernest James Ralph
Ernest was the son of Arthur and Marie Smith, proprietors of the National Hotel in Cambridge. He enlisted in the 3rd Company of the Waikato Mounted Rifles in 1898 aged 25 years.
He was one of the first from Cambridge to enlist in the 1st Company of the 1st Contingent for the South African War as Private No.86.
Ernest died 20 April 1950 at Papatoetoe.
SMITH J J
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 he paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence.
SMITH / SMITTS William
Bill was born 1830 in Memel, Prussia. He was a sailor, 5′ 10″ tall, when he enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 3 October 1863 in Melbourne. He was a Private, Regiment number 125 and was granted one acre of land section 146 in Cambridge West and a farm section 43 at Ohaupo.
SPEDDING Joseph
Joseph was born about 1840 in York. He enlisted in the Waikato Militia as Private 1522 on 5 September 1863 in Melbourne, where his occupation was a clerk. He was promoted to Corporal and transferred from the 1st Waikato Regiment on 16 April 1864.
He was aged 26 years and a clerk when he was one of the first to join the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 28 May 1867.
(One record at the Cambridge Museum says that Joseph Spedding was the first teacher at the Cambridge Barracks, another says Thomas Spedding.)
SPEIGHT Harold Hamilton
Harold Speight was born on 22 August 1872 and he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 21 February 1911.
SPENCER John
John was born 1831 in Frikelton, Lancashire. He was a machinist, 5′ 3½” tall, when he enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 9 January 1864 in Waiuku. He was a Private, Regiment number 1353 and was granted one acre of land section 204 in Cambridge West and a farm section 23 at Ohaupo.
SPILLER Harvey
Harvey enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of the Waikato Militia on 19 October 1863 as a Captain.
He joined the Alpha Waikato Lodge No 449 I.C. in 1866.
STANLEY Thomas
Tom was born in Tipperary Ireland about 1843 and enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia as a substitute soldier, 4 January 1865, in Cambridge. His Regiment Number was Private 1627 and occupation was a labourer.
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 Thomas and William Stanley paid 2 pence an acre on 101 acres – totalling sixteen shillings and ten pence.
On 2 October 1872 he was proposed a second time for the Duke of Cambridge Lodge at age 30 and occupation – a farmer.
STANLEY William
William was born in Barrow Scain, Tipperary about 1840 and enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 29 October 1863, in Nelson. His Regiment Number was Private 804 and occupation was a labourer.
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 William and Thomas paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence.
STEELE Samuel
Sam was born 28 January 1838 in Frikelton, Lancashire and in the early 1850’s visited Australia spending some time on the Bendigo gold diggings. He visited New Zealand for 2 years and returned to Australia to the diggings for a further 7 years.
Sam substituted for Ensign Wilson on 19 February 1866 in the 3rd Waikato Militia. He was granted one acre of land in Cambridge West and a farm section at Ohaupo.
Sam married Ann McNICOL, the daughter of Duncan and Marion of Wairoa, on 14 February 1867. They had 8 sons and 2 daughters and they lived on their granted land and added to it. By 1900 they had 650 acres called ‘Runymeade’ at Tamahere.
STEMBRIDGE Frederick Walter
Fred was born 5 April 1880, the son of J P, and became a bell ringer for the Cambridge Anglican Church. He was a carter when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 4 February 1902. He took advantage of his sickness fund in December, for 41 days – £6 16s 8d, when he fractured his collar bone. And again in September 1904 when he had pneunomia for 9 days – £1 10s.
Fred was a farmer at Papakura when he married Louise Emma Hill, eldest daughter of A C Hill, at Cambridge West on 28 June 1905. Sisters of the bride Belle, Nellie and Essie were bridesmaids. Charles A Stembridge was best man and the groomsmen were A E and C A Hill.
STEVENSON Philip
Philip was born 21 April 1885 and signed his name ‘Stephenson’ when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 2 July 1907. A year later he was in ‘arrears’.
STEWART George Ross
George was born 1 May 1882 and a painter when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge in 1905. The following year he was in ‘arrears’.
STEWART Harry Kingdon Swan
Harry was born on 21 May 1875 and came to Cambridge in 1883. He joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 22 September 1894, his occupation a tailor.
STEWART William
William was born in Glasgow Larnakshire Scotland about 1839 and enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia as a substitute soldier 3 January 1865 in Cambridge. His Regiment Number was Private 1626 and occupation was a cooper.
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 he paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence.
STODDART J
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 he paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence.
Ensign Stratford enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia on 6 October 1863, his service including Auckland Rifle Volunteers, and he was in action at Orakau on 31 March to 2 April 1864. He resigned 26 April 1866.
STUART Charles Stephen
Charles was born in Cambridge 11 January 1876, the son of James and Mary Dinah nee Lodder, and was educated at the Cambridge Primary School. He was a member of the Drum and Fife Band and conductor of the Cambridge Band for nine years. Over the years Charlie made a great contribution as conductor and player to the Cambridge Band. Charlie married Eva Kincaid at the local Presbyterian Church on 11 April 1898 and they had seven children.
He joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 21 January 1902, being secretary and treasurer from 1904-1909. He was a storeman-ironmonger for W Souter & Co.
In 1909, the members of the St Paul’s Methodist Choir presented Charlie with a silver mounted baton in appreciation of their success at a recent Waikato competition. Charles was also presented with a set of carvers by the choir when the family left Cambridge for Christchurch in October 1910. The Band gave him a suitably inscribed gold medal.
The family returned to Cambridge in 1933 again becoming prominent in the band. They moved to Auckland in 1947 where Eva died about 1946 and Charles died 16 July 1951.
STUART James
James was born in Oxford England about 1851 and married Dinah Lodder in Cambridge, 14 January 1875. On the assessment list at National Archives Wellington for 1873, James is listed as having 2 – one acre sections in Cambridge.
He was a member, and first secretary of the Cambridge and Waikato Reed Band in May 1877 and a band member of the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers from 1878 to 1882.
He was employed as a storeman by Thomas Wells until 1880 when he bought J T Camp‘s bookshop.
STUART James Edward
James was born on 18 April 1875, the son of John Alexander and Mary Ann Stuart. He joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 27 June 1899 aged 24 years when his occupation was given as labourer. He joined the 3rd Company of the Waikato Mounted Rifles in Cambridge, 12 March 1900. When he enlisted with the 6th Contingent, 16th Company Auckland Section – Private 3285 – and left for the South Africa War, he listed his mother Mary Ann as next of kin.
He rejoined the Waikato Mounted Rifles in 1904.
In April 1910 he was a ganger with the NZ Railway when he married Kate Cowley of Kaipaki. They left to live in Dargaville.
STUART John Alexander
John was a constable in the Armed Constabulary in May 1870 when he married Mary Ann Jane Johnstone. On 24 January 1874 when he was aged 30 years and a carpenter, he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge. He was the Noble Grand in 1875 and 1876 then expelled for misappropriation of funds.
John remained on the electoral roll until 1888 and Mary Ann Jane had property in Cambridge until 1912. She died in 1916 and is buried at the Cambridge Cemetery at Hautapu.
STUART William Augustus
Bill was born 23 December 1882 the son of John Alexander and Mary Ann nee Johnston. He lived most of his life in the district and took a keen interest in all sports. When he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge 23 December 1902 he was a Porter with NZ Railway and in September 1903 he took advantage of his sickness benefit for six days with a poisoned hand.
He married Gladys Louisa Alderton in 1914 and they had three children – Ailsa, Noel and Billy. The family were posted to different towns with the railway.
Back in Cambridge Bill had a carrying business in the 1920s and later worked for the Borough Council as gardener and custodian of the local pool. He died suddenly 3 April 1936 at their home ‘Goldspink’ Victoria Road.
Bill had been a bellringer at the Cambridge Anglican church for 25 years and in September 1938 the vicar Rev C W Chandler unveiled a brass tablet in his memory.
SWAYNE Robert
Robert was born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1851 and came to New Zealand ten years later. He started his career at the Post Office in Ngaruawahia and at the age of 13 came to Cambridge. As a young man he was an athlete of note, walking and long distance running being his special interest.
Robert took up land at Fencourt in 1872. He married Miss Catherine Kenny 23 August 1877 – born in County Clare, Ireland in 1856 the fifth daughter of Michael and Mary Kenny. They married in Hamilton and Catherine came to Cambridge as a young bride.
Robert served the district as chairman of the Cambridge Road Board, a member of the Waikato County Council, Cambridge Domain Board, Waikato Hospital Board, Hautapu and Fencourt Drainage Boards. He was also a Director of the Cambridge Dairy Company for 15 years. He died in 1934 age 83.
As the wife of a man prominent in public affairs in the early days, Mrs Swayne also contributed in no small measure to the pioneering work of what was then a remote inland settlement.
Of their family Bob, Alf and Frank were well known farmers of Fencourt. They all had outstanding records in the war of 1914-18, Alf also commanding ‘A’ Company of the Homeguard in World War Two. Another son was Leonard. Ethel Swayne, a daughter, was the Matron of Whangarei Hospital and also served overseas as a nurse. Blanche lived at home and Amy married N Goodall.
SWAYNE Thomas
On the Cambridge rates assessment list for 1869-70 Tom paid 2 pence an acre on 51 acres – totalling eight shillings and sixpence.
SWAYNE William
William was born in Dysart Fyfeshire about 1831 and enlisted in the 3rd Waikato Militia 17 November 1863 in Dunedin. His Regiment Number was Private 932 and occupation was a farmer. He was allotted section 239 in Cambridge East and farm section 58 at Pukekura.
SWINDELLS William
William was born about 1827 in Stockport Cheshire and became a brickmaker. He enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of the Waikato Militia in Hobarton Tasmania on 23 October 1863 as a Private No 703.
He joined the Alpha Waikato Lodge No 449 I.C. in 1866.
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