Over a century has passed since Joseph Hopwood first sailed from England in 1879. He returned to England later to bring his family to New Zealand, and it was here in Canterbury that they settled in 1883.

From the beginning of their lives together, their descendants now live the length and breadth of New Zealand. Joseph and Sarah have now passed on, leaving behind a proud and noble heritage of which we are justly proud.

This book will he of interest chiefly to the descendants of this couple, and at least it will serve to introduce widely scattered cousins to each other, though they may never meet. Many have contributed to the making of this book, and to all that have so generously assisted sincere thanks are expressed.

Special thanks to Don Hopwood and Dick MacDonald for their computing efforts in completing these records.

Joe Hopwood
Ashburton
New Zealand
1999

During research some interesting items regarding our ancestors were discovered.

The town of Wem, Shropshire, England appears to be the original family location from about 1610 onwards. Other villages in Shropshire that the Hopwoods lived in, or near, at various times include :-

Prees 1655
Hodnet 1770
Myddle 1790
Kinnerley 1800
Edgericy 1800
Barrow 1827
Wassel 1830
Broseley 1840
Bridge North 1850
Linley 1850
Astley Abbots 1855
Enville and Kinver, Staffordshire 1880

John Hopwood 1634 - 1709
Son of Henry Hopwood, was married to Jane Green in the "market place" at Prees before Mr Bagot, Justice of the Peace on December 27th 1655.

There was a wave of epidemic illness in 1728-29 and in all probability John (1657-1728), Joseph (1665-1729) and his wife Elizabeth were some of the victims. Both Joseph and Elizabeth died in September 1729.

John(1634-1709), Thomas (1645-1689) and Joseph (1665-1729) appear in the records as "Piggin makers". The dictionary tells me a "Piggin" is a small pail; especially a wooden one with one stave longer than the rest serving as a handle; a milking pail; a vessel to drink out of.

Though this book is mainly concerned with Joseph and Sarah and their descendants, I, with a great deal of help from Mr J Phillip Dodd of England have searched further back in history and 1 have included our family tree beginning in the year 1610 until 1794.

Joseph Hopwood was born April 5th 1794 at Kinnerley, Shropshire, England, and he married Mary Anne Beatlestone in the Linley Parish, Barrow, Shropshire in 1827. She died when her youngest child was two. They had five children, and this is the start of 100 years in New Zealand by the Hopwoods and their descendants.

Their children were:-
Thomas 1828 - 1877
Joseph 1832 - 1893
Mary 1838 - 1912
Rebeecah
Anne

Rebeccah and Anne
Very little known of these girls. As far as 1 know they never came to New Zealand and my searcher in England was unable to find any further reference to them.

Mary
Born in Barrow, Shropshire 1838 and died in Ashburton, New Zealand in 1912. She came to New Zealand with her brother Thomas in 1864 and married Thomas Williams of Ashburton. They had five children.

Thomas Beatlestone Hopwood
Was born in Wassel, Shropshire in 1828 and died at MeGregors Gully, Collingwood, New Zealand in October 1877. He never married. He arrived in New Zealand aboard the sailing ship "Sir George Seymour" at Lyttleton on December 17th, 1850 at noon. The ship left England on September 8th, 1850 and was one of the "First Four Ships" to settle the Canterbury province.

Thomas returned to England in 1864 and arrived back later in the same year bringing his sister Mary with him.

Thomas worked a gold claim at McGregors Gully, Collingwood and it was here that he was killed by a fall of earth and timber in October 1877.

During my research I met a Miss Rose Reynolds of Christchurch, a member of the Richards family who sponsored Thomas when he emigrated to New Zealand.

The following account was written for me by Miss Reynolds.

Thomas Hopwood
Thomas Hopwood of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England, emigrated to New Zealand in the "Sir George Seymour", one of the Canterbury Association's First Four Ships which arrived at Lyttleton on 17th , December 1850. A young man of 20 years, he was sponsored by Henry Slater Richards, a prominent man of the district and who was one of the original land purchasers under the Association's colonising scheme for the Canterbury Settlement.

H S Richards, himself, did not emigrate but paid for and made all the arrangements necessary for the venture for some of his family and two of his servants. A proportion of the purchase money was allocated towards the colonists fares and for those they nominated as suitable emigrants. Among the Richards and the Canterbury correspondence which covers the last three months prior to the leaving of the First Four Ships for Canterbury, there are letters from James Edward Fitzgerald urging H S Richards to use his remaining nomination money for desirable applicants but H.S.R. did not know anyone personally he felt he could recommend.

However, shortly before the departure of the ships he discovered "an unquestionable candidate" (namely young Thomas Hopwood) and he applied for consent for the latter's passage but only on condition he could travel on the same ship as the Richards family, otherwise he would let the application lapse. The embarkation order was hastily sent from the Association's office, filled in and duly returned.

Arriving in Canterbury some three months later the Richards family and Thomas Hopwood kept in touch for some years but with the gold fever running hot in Thomas' veins, he and the younger Richards son, Joseph, went over to Bendigo Australia, for a short period to try their luck -possibly about 1855-6. Good luck eluded them and they returned to Canterbury. From then on the Richards seemed to have lost contact with Thomas Hopwood but it was thought that he went to Nelson.

Joseph Hopwood 1832- 1893
Born in Broseley, Shropshire in September 1832 and baptised on September 29th 1832. Died of natural causes on June 13th 1893 while working at "Longbeach" for Mr John Grigg, and is buried at Ashburton.

Joseph was married on July 15 1861 at the Parish Church of Astley Abbots, Shropshire to Sarah Ann Meredith. Sarah was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire on April 28 1839 and died on August 7 1888 at Ashburton.

She was the only child of Thomas Meredith, Shoemaker of Enville, Staffordshire. Her mothers maiden name was Mercier and she died at Sarah’s birth.

Sarah was brought up by her Grandmother, Sophia Meredith, who died on July 29 1870.

In England Joseph was noted in some records as being a carrier, but others note him as a labourer. In the 1851 census Joseph and his father were described as being farm labourers. There was no industry in the area where they lived so most males were employed in farming.

Joseph left England aboard the "Lizzie Bell" for New Zealand on July 10 1879.

The "Lizzie Bell" was of 1035 tons and her Master was Captain Moginard. The ship carried 40 passengers on this sailing and arrived in Dunedin, New Zealand on October 16 1879.

He boarded a steamer and arrived in Wellington on 18th October. His first job in New Zealand was breaking stones to put on a new street in Wellington, afterwards he spent a month on the railways at six shillings per day. Within two months he was on his way to Collingwood by steamer at a cost of two pound eight shillings. Here he worked for a sawmill also at six shillings per day.

Joseph spent almost a year around the Nelson area before coming to Ashburton, and again was employed in various jobs until he left Lyttelton on April 18 1882 for England. While in England to collect his family Joseph had printed a booklet entitled "A Voyage to New Zealand". In this he described the journey on the sailing ship and the various jobs he did during his two and a half years in New Zealand. The cost of the booklet was sixpence (6 cents) or seven pence posted. 1 have a copy of this booklet which is included later in this record.

Joseph and Sarah had twelve children, but five died in infancy. Only one child was born in New Zealand, that being Arthur who was born about three weeks after their arrival in this country. On May 17th 1883 Joseph, Sarah and their children arrived in New Zealand aboard the "Waipa".

Joseph only lived for 10 years in New Zealand. He died on June 13 1893 while working at Longbeach for Mr John Grigg. His son Harry was working with him at the time of his death while digging drains. Harry took his father home, a distance of twelve miles.

Helen Hopwood 1865 - 1926
Helen, known as Nellie was born May 19,1865, at Enville, Stafford and died August 1st, 1926, at Greytown.

She married William Alfred Gray on May 7th, 1891, at St Stephen's Church, Ashburton.

William Gray, born Sloothby, Lincolnshire, 1831, married Ann Sophia (surname unknown) at Christchurch on 13th June, 1861. He was employed by John Grigg of Longbeach, Ashburton, laying field tiles. The eldest son, William Alfred Gray, also worked on Longbeach as a teamster.

In the mid 1890's, William and Helen and family moved to the North Island and gained employment with the Tatham family of Homewood on the East coast of the Wairarapa. While at Homewood, which is a sheep, cattle and cropping station, William had the occasion to transport the casket of a Maori Chief to a burial a mile or two along the coast. The casket which contained the Chief plus many of his precious possessions took up the full width of the dray, which did duty as a hearse.

As there was no school at Homewood the family moved to Tupurupuru, Gladstone, some 8 miles from Masterton. This was in 1900 and here William worked for Sir Walter Buchanan M.P. Here the two eldest children, Alfred Meredith and Maurice attended Gladstone School.

While at Tupurupuru William broke his leg working his horse team some miles over the hills from home, and Sir Walter transported him by train to Wellington for treatment. At about this time William left his family in Canterbury and lived in a cottage at Gladstone to drive the mail coach to Masterton.

Later the family moved to South Featherston, milking 120 cows by hand. This was for the Donald Family.

There were six milkers starting at 2.30 a.m., and after two or three hours off in the middle of the day for a short sleep it was milking time again around 3.00 p.m.

The Donald Family processed the milk in their own Dairy Factory in Featherston about 4 miles away.

The eldest son Alfred Meredith usually drove the break and pair, loaded with milk up the road to the factory. Next move was to Featherston, working with William's brother Edward, in the foothills of the Tarauas (mostly Boar' Bush Gully) splitting posts. From these post splitting contracts the family moved to a small property near Carterton and raised fowls for a year or so. From Carterton, their next shift was to Waihakeke working on farms for the Court and Ordish families.

When the Carter Estate was divided up for small farm settlements, (approx. 1920) William Alfred drew a block at Parkvale, next to Harry and Alice Brasell, (Helen's sister).

However this was not to last as sons Alfred and Maurice, having returned from World War One, became interested in an Agricultural Contracting business with Steam Engines and Harvesting machines. In 1921 the sons purchased the business and all the family settled on a 10 acre block of land just north of Greytown. About 3 acres of this block was planted in apples, which the family attended to, while the two sons were busy with their contracts.

In August 1926, Helen suffered a heart attack and died. William Alfred Gray lived on the 10 acre farmlet until July 1941, when he died also from a heart attack.

Special thanks to Buster Gray for his help.

Elizabeth Hopwood "Lizzie" 1868-1947
Born in Kinver, Staffordshire, December 31st, 1868. Lizzie died on August 4th, 1947 at Carterton, the result of an accident.

She married Angus Cameron Ross, a son of Donald Ross, one of Otago's early settlers. Lizzie and Angus did not have any family.

They lived their earlier years in Dunedin and when Lizzie was recovering from a serious operation her younger sister Alice lived with them for a year. Some years later when looking for work they moved North to Masterton, and lived not far from Lizzie's sisters, Alice and Helen. At one time during unemployment they lived on the "Parkvale" farm in a tent in the "bush". Angus found casual work in the district, while Lizzie sewed, and cooked the most fabulous cakes on her kerosene stove. She even had her own flower garden outside the tent.

Angus obtained work as a cleaner with the YMCA (With house supplied) and also kept the Methodist Home in spotless condition. When Angus died in 1920 Lizzie continued cleaning for several more years. She had problems with cataracts on her eyes but after a series of operations her sight was restored.

(Thanks to Brian Brasell for his contribution)

Joseph Hopwood 1872-1933
Born in Kinver, Staffordshire, on April 7th, 1872 at 11.45 pm. (Twin brother Harry was born at 2.15 am on the 8th, April). Joseph started Tinwald School on November 19th. 1883. Joseph married Kate Smithers on August 6th, 1902 and as a married couple worked at Seadown, Timaru. Joseph and Kate had three children, Gladys Mary, 1907 - 1988, Stanley Robert, 1909 - 1916 and Henry Roland. 1912 - 1951. Henry married Jean Agnus Quaintance. His early working life was spent on the "Longbeach Estate" working with his father and brothers. 1911 saw Joseph employed in the freezing chamber at the Fairfield Freezing Works.

Later they moved to Mona Square, Ashburton and Joseph worked for G T Russell, Plumber. It was while down a well that he had a bad accident in about 1918.

After a partial recovery he founded a Taxi business and continued until late 1932. He died in Ashburton Feb 12th, 1933

Harry Hopwood 1872- 1955
Born in Kinver, Staffordshire on April 8th, 1872 at 2.15 am Twin brother Joseph was born April 7th, at 11.45 pm). Died at Ashburton August 25th, 1955 and buried in Rakaia.

Harry started school in New Zealand at Tinwald, Ashburton on November 19th, 1883. His first job was driving horses for Mr Grahain of Tinwald.The horses walked in a circle and provided the power to drive a chaff cutter.

1888 found Harry working on "Longbeach" Station with his father. A year later he was driving a spring cart at Longbeach.The brothers Williain and Charlie Jane drove this for some years before. In 1893 he left Longbeach and spent the next three years in the North Island, working on sheep stations.

Harry arrived in Dunedin in 1898, working mainly in the building trade for the next eight years. He married Mary Ann Margaret ("Ada") Cole in 1900 and they had five children. About 1906 Harry, his wife Ada and three children headed north and settled at Eiffelton, Ashburton. Eiffeiton was a part of Longbeach earlier, and this time Harry worked for Mr E Grigg.

Next move was to Ashburton about 1907 where Harry worked for J Smith & Son, Builders and Timber Merchants. He stayed until late 1914 when he shifted to Rakaia as Manager for W H Collins & Co, also Timber Merchants.

December 1914 his wife "Ada" died in Dunedin, whilst on holiday. Harry re married to Caroline Miller at St Marks, Rakaia, December 27th, 1915.

During research I discovered a note book, belonging to Harry, in which he wrote in note from his recollections of his younger days working on "Longbeach" Station.

Jack Fletcher was a butcher on Longbeach who used to kill about 40 sheep per week, also 2 or 3 bullocks, a porker or two and lambs in season. Included in my job was parcels for Mr John Grigg's house off the Longbeach coach, arriving daily at 7.00 pm from Ashburton. I steered the traction engine at Pies Corner when it first pulled the ploughs. A man followed each plough and each plough was pulled by independent chains from the engine. My horse I used in the spring cart was stabled in with Alex Davidson's six horses, adjoining the flour mill. I recall five 6 horse teams feeding in yard under terrace, behind kitchen, and 30 hacks used by the shepherds.

The station had 5 blacksmiths, 5 wheel wrights, a saddler and Tarp mender, (Jim Gluyas) Mr Jones, was coachman, Mr Brown was Ashburton coach driver, after Charlie Wise who went farming.

Every Sunday my job was to arrange candles for Church lighting hung from the roof on cross battens. Brass ones on table and organ and take up the collection and also act as treasurer. Mr John Grigg conducted services in the absence of clergy. I was also church warden and rang the bell. Also warden for Waterton church which is 4 miles from Longbeach, during afternoon services.

Walking both ways 1 just had time to have tea, then light up Longbeach Church.

William Hopwood 1874 - 1933
Born in Kinver, Staffordshire on April 28, 1874.William was 8 years old when he came to New Zealand with his parents. He attended the Ashburton Borough School, and later the Tinwald School. When he left school he was engaged with his father in drain-laying work by contract on the Longbeach Estate, where large tracts of land were being drained by John Grigg.

On April 7th, 1897 Williain married Mary Williams of Waterton. Mary died May 20, 1950.
In 1898 he was engaged by Mr Grigg to take charge of a large grain store at Winslow (Railway siding) for the storing, pending shipment, of the huge quantities of wheat and oats that were harvested on "Longbeach".

In 1907 he purchased a general store from a Mr C Hawkins in Tinwald. Later he took charge of the Tinwald branch of W H Collins & Co, afterwards being employed by Buchanans Ltd, flourmillers.

It was after that he was appointed as foreman for the Ashburton County Council, and he was held in the highest esteem by that body. He set a high example as a workman and his cheerful and kindly disposition endeared him to the Council's staff with whom he worked.

For many years he had been well known to the men who tramped up and down the province looking for work, and his charitable deeds were recounted in practically every part of the South Island by men whom he had assisted. In this way he did more than any other man in the county, and he did it in a way few knew of. His home, on the south side of the Ashburton traffic bridge, was sought out by travellers at all hours of the day and night, and he never refused a meal to any of these men.

He took a prominent part in the movement which resulted in the building of the hut for itinerant men by the Ashburton Hospital Board. This hut, built near his home, was placed in his charge and so well did he attend to the men who made use of it, that it was early dubbed 'Paradise'. a compliment to William Hopwood.

It was for his unfailing kindness to those who wore in need and who were distressed that William was best known. He had great kindness of heart and no one who was in need of assistance applied to him in vain. He went out of his way to help the families of relief workers and to cheer on those unfortunate men who, in search of work, were tramping through Ashburton. He went about his work quietly, and many a kindly service he rendered was not known generally till long afterwards.

After his death in 1933, the grateful relief workers whom he had helped, purchased a seat which remains to this day at the corner of Carters Terrace and State Highway 1, Tinwald, as a memorial.

At the time of the Boer War William was a member of Colonel Buckleys Ashburton Mounted Rifles, and held the rank of Quartermaster-Sergeant. He rode a horse which he trained to do tricks.

William also restarted Scouting in Tinwald in 1914 after several years in recession. In the 42 years in which he was a member of the Ashburton Salvation Army Corps he made countless friends through his social service work. He took a keen interest in every phase of Army work, and it was through his efforts that the Waterton Outpost was established. For 15 years he was closely connected with the Army's Sunday School. He was appointed Superintendent of the Sunday School branch at Fairton, where he did excellent work.

Alice Hopwood 1879 - 1933
Born May 7th 1879, baptised June 1st, 1879, In the Parish of Kinver, in the County of Stafford, by John Hodgson, Vicar. She died at Parkyale on August 17, 1933.

Was admitted to Tinwald School (Ashburton) on August 1st, 1884. Married Harry Philip Brasell at the Methodist Church, South Featherston on June 17, 1908 by I. Newman Buttle, Minister. Witnesses were Williarn Alfred Gray (Brother-in-law of the bride) and Elizabeth Ross, (sister of the bride).

Harry Philip Brasell was baptised in St Mary's Church, Timaru on May 15th, 1881 by Henry W Harper.

At 4 years of age Alice contracted measles, and had Rheumatic fever at 15. These illnesses affected her health, and she spent her adolescent years living amongst her sisters. Alice lived for twelve months with her sister Elizabeth Ross in Dunedin, helping "Lizzie" as she recovered from two serious operations. Lizzie and Angus paid her seven shillings a week during her stay and gave her an organ when she left.

Music was enjoyed by Alice, and she played Hymns, and sang with a lovely contralto voice. She also played the accordion very well. Music was her one consolation through years of isolation. Alice worked as a housemaid to the Maunsell Family at "Eridge" Lansdowne, and during this time Harry Brasell courted her.

Harry built a house which cost four hundred and fifty pounds in Makora Road, Masterton. He worked for two years or so to establish a cartage business with a horse and cart Hard times forced him to take a job as teamster for Bob Buick, four miles from town.

In 1910 the house was sold and the family moved to Homewood, working for Mr Ralph Tathwn as a teamster. They lived in a two room shack near the stables.

Harry was groom to Doctor Archer Hoskings for two years, till the Doctor purchased the first car in Masterton.

Alice and Harry had a year with William Perry at Waingawa, two years ploughman at Mr Frank Courts sheep and cropping farm at Waihakeke till 1916, when they moved the family to Carter Estate Parkvale where Harry developed a dairy farm on 100 acres. Ill health forced early retirement for Harry, so when son Bert married he purchased the farm. Harry built a home on Durie Hill, Wanganui, which he shared with his sister, Rhoda Brasell for 20 years.

At Parkvale the unpapered walls were draughty, so Alice hung framed photos of the Hopwood and Brasell families and friends. At one time over 40 pictures decorated the walls. Alice brought her family up the Christian way, by example, loving and forgiving. She was gentle, kind, patient and cheerful.

No house she ever lived in had good plumbing or drainage. No hot or cold water by inside tap. No flush toilet. Lino on some floors but never carpet. No telephone nor electricity. Writing was enjoyed very much by Alice and receiving and writing to her South Island relations gave much pleasure.

Special thanks to Elsa Biggs for her memories.

At least six Hopwoods and relations worked on "Longbeach" for John Grigg during the early years of development. For this reason I include the following brief history which I hope will help the reader understand something of "Longbeach", Ashburton.

John Grigg of Lougbeach 1825 - 1901
John Grigg arrived in New Zealand in 1854 and until 1865 farmed at Otahuhu, Auckland.
Took up Longbeach in 1865 when he purchased about 810 ha. (2,000 acres) of land. In the years until 1871 he freeholded land until he owned 13,000 ha.(32,000 acres). Longbeach ran from the Ashburton River to the Hinds River - a distance of 15 km., and inland from the coast for some 12 km.

A very ambitious drainage scheme was undertaken and the drying swamp (as most of the country was) was grassed down and extensive cropping carried out.

The large open drains worked well, but were not totally perfect, so Mr. Grigg decided underground drains would help. He commissioned a large brick kiln which was completed at Eiffelton in 1887 and produced clay pipes (field tiles).

The project of making field tiles and laying them under paddocks was a huge success, as the tiles began to be laid at a rate of 50 kilometres (30 miles) a year.

By 1900 it was calculated that there was a network of 240 kilometres(l50 miles) of tile drains in the district. In charge of laying the pipes was Joseph Hopwood (1832 - 1893).

John Grigg also had excellent studs of cattle, sheep, pigs, heavy horses and thoroughbreds. The best market for his fat cattle was the West Coast gold fields and drovers took 60 head of cattle a time across the plains, into the Rakaia Gorge, over Arthurs Pass and down the Teremakau River to the Coast. The trip took three weeks.

1879 - 1880 saw 10,000 merino and half bred ewes and 1200 ha.(3,000 acres) of wheat, oats and barley, plus 120 ha.(300 acres) of peas, 560 ha.(1400 acres) of winter feed and 200 ha.(500 acres) of grass for hay.

Also on Longbeach was 400 horses and between 2,000 and 3,000 pigs. 150 permanent hands and an army of casuals worked Longbeach. The baker used 1112 tons of home grown, home ground flour weekly.

1882 was the first shipment of frozen mutton sent to England from New Zealand and Longbeach carcasses made up part of the cargo.

John Grigg was a religious man and conducted prayers and bible readings daily with his family. In 1872 he purchased the Church at Prebbleton and had it moved by bullock wagon to Longbeach.

1873 Bishop Harper dedicated the Church. It was not consecrated for, said John Grigg "I can provide my own church, but 1 have men of other denominations who can't. This Church is for all".

During the early years John Grigg retained as a sleeping partner his brother-in-law Thomas Russell. The partnership agreement was to expire in 1882, so 1882 saw the sale of Longbeach which lasted a week and the total sales during the week was over $70,000. Some of the items offered included.

10,000 sheep 13 binders
2,000 cattle 24 ploughs
400 horses 10 drills
700 pigs 17 harrows
13 drays

Some years before the sale about 4450 ha.(11000 acres) had been sold, mainly to men who worked for John Grigg.

After the sale at which John Grigg purchased a large amount of the offerings he retained some 6500 ha.(16,000 acres).

1889 Longbeach started production of their own brick kiln at Eiffelton making bricks and field drain tiles. By 1900 almost 240 kms of drains had been laid involving one million tiles and 3650 ha.(9000 acres) of land.

By 1894 over 37,000 sheep grazed on Longbeach. The same year 2250 ha.(5,500 acres) of wheat were harvested.

It is also recorded that in one season John Grigg bought 80,000 sheep and lambs for fattening and shipment to London. He died in 1901 and is buried close to the Chapel. Longbeach today consists of 1214 ha(3000 acres) and is still owned by descendants of John Grigg.