ID Number107967
NameWAKEFIELD William Hayward
Family NameWAKEFIELD
Plot3317
CemeteryChurch of England
StatusExisting Grave
Location on the Modern Grid MapL15 03
Inscription on TombstoneIn memory of William WAKEFIELD, who died 27 [sic] September 1848, aged 47. Inscription on original memorial (now in the cemetery museum): SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM WAKEFIELD First Principal Agent of the NEW ZEALAND COMPANY Colonel of the 1st Regiment of Lancers in the British Auxiliary Force of Spain. Knight of the Tower and Sword of Portugal Knight of San Fernando of Spain. COLONEL WAKEFIELD was the fourth son of Edward Wakefield Esquire of Burnham in the County of Essex in England. In the year 1823 he acted as Secretary to the English Minister at Turin; In 1828 he travelled through Austria, Russia and Lapland; From 1832 to 1838 he served with distinction In the English Regiments of Lancers Engaged in the Constitutional Cause Throughout the civil wars in Portugal and Spain And in 1839 led the first Body of English Colonists To the shores of New Zealand. From this period to his death COLONEL WAKEFIELD Conducted the affairs of the New Zealand Company Through all their difficult and varying relations with the Government, the Settlers and the Natives with eminent temper, moderation and prudence. With great sagacity, judgement and ability. In private life he was esteemed For urbanity of manners and kindliness of disposition He was hospitable, liberal, and unassuming. His hand was ever open to assist the poorer Colonists In the evil days of the infancy of the Settlement Generously but judiciously Without ostentation as without indifference. He died at Wellington on the 19th of September 1848 in the 48th year of his age. And was followed to the grave By a large body of the Settlers and of Natives from all the surrounding District.
Description of GraveThe original Wakefield memorials are in the Bolton Street Cemetery Museum on Bolton Street. The family grave was updated many years ago. The large plot has four headstones laid flat, and surrounded by high iron railings painted grey.
Date of Death or Burial*22 Sep, 1848
Public Cemetery Register Number
Type of Record Burial
Age47
SexMale
BiographyColonel William WAKEFIELD, born in 1803, worked closely with his older brother Edward Gibbon, including assisting him in the abduction of heiress Ellen Turner, an affair which sent them both to prison for three years. After serving as a mercenary in Spain and Portugal, William eventually arrived in Wellington on the "Tory" in Sep 1839. He became heavily involved in making land purchases from Maori to secure the beginnings of the Wellington settlement. Having misunderstood the nature of many of these transactions, he became embroiled in land settlement claims which continued right up to the stroke which led to his death. As many as two thousand mourners, Pakeha and Maori, attended his funeral service, conducted by Rev Robert Cole, on 22 Sep 1848.