EPPLETT

The EPPLETT family tree was researched by Pat NEWDICK (nee EPPLETT) for a family reunion in 1991.

The name EPPLETT had it origins in Durham, England. It was originally Heppel and evolved through Eplet, Eplett, Eppelet, Eplat, Eplate, Iplet, Epplitt, Eplott and Eplitt. The spelling on the oldest document available is EPPLETT, however it is also spelt EPLETT. Both spellings would seem to be correct.

The line starts with Thomas EPPLETT and Elizabeth DUGGOL who married in about 1794 in Cornwall, probably Little Petherick. They had eight children:

John b1794

Jael b1796

Jenny b1798

Mary b1801

Stephen b1803 (died as a baby)

Thomas b1806

Stephen b1809

Jane b1812

John, who was a millwright, married Sarah about 1816. They had six children:

Jenepher b1816

Mary b1827

Richard b1829

Sarah b1830

Jan b1833

Killy b1834

Richard was born in St Clements, married Emma POPE. Richard and Emma appear in the 1871 Cornwall Census. Richards occupation is listed as a shepherd. They had seven children:

Thomas b1855

Mary Jane b1856

Elizabeth b1858

John 1859

Samual b1861

Sarah b1863

Chas b1871

Thomas (who incidentally does not appear in the census) married Evangaline EDWARDS on the 28^th April 1874. On May 2^nd they headed for NZ from Gravesend, arriving at Port Ahuriri, Napier. The following are excerpts from the Hawkes Bay Times:

28 July 1874

ARRIVALS

Port Ahuriri, 26^th,Winchester, Ship, 1200 tons,

Arnold from London.

WINCHESTER, Arnold Master, came into sight early on Sunday and anchored off the town in the afternoon, having made the passage from Graveshead in 85 days or 75 from land to land. The weather was favorable during the voyage and there had been no sickness on board, She brings 437 immigrants of a very respectable class. There were two deaths of children and no births on the voyage.

Of the fifteen vessels in port, the WINCHESTER is considered to be the finest ship to have arrived in Napier. HALCIONE is the only other ship from London, the rest being coastal and cargo boats. The passengers from the WINCHESTER held a service on the beach and presented captain Arnold with a bible to express their gratitude for a safe voyage.

30 July 1874

It is a deplorable situation to find the passengers of the WINCHESTER who were unable to be accommodated at the barracks, are having to tent out. Any other time of the year would be bad enough, but the month of July can be very cold in Napier. After such an arduous journey under trying conditions, it is most unfair to expect these people to stay in tents. It just shows what a sad state our housing scheme is in, and need immediate attention.

1 August 1874

All the single women who arrived on the WINCHESTER were engaged by Tuesday last, and many of the other immigrants have found situations.

Thomas and Evangaline settled in the Havelock North area, where they reared 16 children.

Archibald John b1875

Lily Ann Rose b1876

Maude Alice May b1878

Henrietta Roberta b1879

Betrice b1880

Bertram b1881

William Alexander b1882

Ernest Gerald b1884 (Harold)

Anne b1885

Caroline b1887

Richard Thomas b1888

Dairsee b1890

D’arcy b1891

Evangaline b1893 (Eva)

Ruth b1894

Emma b1899

Thomas died at age 44 on 4^th July 1899. His appendix burst on the side of the Tuki Tuki River while it was in flood and he was unable to get across. Evangaline, who was a mid wife lived another 30 years and died on the 20^th of February 1928.

Annie was number 9, born in 25^th October 1885. Annie married Baird KIRK on 26^th October 1910. Baird and Annie had 5 children:

William Richard b 1911(Willie/Bill)

Darcy b1914

Dorothy b1914

Carrie b1915

Hazel b1921

Darcy died aged 3 and Carrie aged 7.

Bill married Florence Elizabeth BURTON. Annie died in 1932 aged 46. Baird died in 1958 and was cared for during his later years by Bill and Florie.

The following is about Annie and Baird KIRK, from the EPPLETT family reunion booklet written by Florence KIRK:

I met her at her home, and she was sitting in an easy chair by the fire. She had had two strokes and I saw her again in the Napier Hospital. She had a third stroke, then she died on my nineteenth birthday. According to the family she had been a sick woman, and Baird her husband had looked after her and was very good in the house, doing all the chores. When I went with Bill to look after him, he was very, very kind and good to me, and helped me in every way, especially when I had my children.

Annies sister Henrietta (Hettie) married Frances Graham on 8^th August 1909.

Frances (Frank) was killed trying to save his mates in the Mangaore Power Scheme Tunnel Disaster, near Shannon on 3^rd July 1922.

Hawkes Bay Tribune

Monday July 3^rd 1922

DISASTER AT MANGAHAO

Seven Die in Tunnel

Fatal Engine Fumes

Victims Include Rescuers

A message from the Postmasters at Shannon to the Secretary of the GPO states that an accident, attended by the loss of seven lives, occurred at Mangahao hydro works about midnight last night. Two men were working in the tunnel and were overcome by fumes from the oil engine. Five others went in to rescue them and all seven were suffocated. The names of the victims are as follows:

F. BIRSS, W BIRSS (late of Arthurs Pass), B. BUTLER, F. GRAHAM, P GRAHAM, W.R. MILNER (ENGINEER) and A.E. MAXWELL.

Information received from the Public Works Dept. regarding the Mangahao accident, state that one of the foremen and one of the tunnel party went into the tunnel at an off time to repair the compressor plant. There was one man outside who was working on the compressor plant and these were the only three who were at work at the time. The foreman and the tunneller were so long in the tunnel that the man working the plant got anxious and started to go in, but he smelt the fumes and went back and gave the alarm. Then the assistant engineer, Mr Miller, and four others went in and they were overcome by the gas fumes.

THE HAWKES BAY TRIBUNE

Tuesday July 4 1922

THE TUNNEL TRAGEDY

Help for the Graham’s Family

To The Editor

Sir – we must all feel shock at such a terrible disaster as the one that happened in the tunnel at Mangahao, especially as five of the victims met their deaths in trying to rescue two comrades. I am sorry to record that one of the victims is a local man who has left a widow and 4 children. Poor Frank, he did not enjoy the best of luck, and as a one-time fellow worker with him, I would like to draw the public’s attention to the fact that he died like a man in trying to rescue his comrades. I know things have not been too bright with him and that accounts for him leaving his home and little ones to work in the tunnel. This is a deserving call for help for the widow and little ones. I enclose one pound towards the fund. Trusting, Sir, you will take charge of same and receive many donations, I am etc,

W.J. Perrett.