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Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Volume 2, Issue 3, 1989

Jane Hope

page 34

Jane Hope

Jane Hamilton Hope, born 5 July 1811 at Killybegs, County Donegal, Ireland, was the youngest of six children. After Jane's father died and her mother remarried, the family lived mainly in England. Jane married Edward Hope in 1836, possibly in Liverpool. Three sons were born; Edward in 1837, Richard Johnson in 1839 and Orry in 1843. The fate of Edward senior is uncertain, but Jane and her three children, aged 15, 13 and 9 years, sailed for New Zealand on the Minerva, arriving in Lyttelton 5 February 1853.

They settled in Nelson and Orry attended the Bishop's School there. It is believed that Jane had purchased land in Nelson while still in England but, on arriving in Nelson, found that no such land existed.

Later Edward, Johnson and Orry worked on sheep stations around the region. They were all gentlemen riders, pugilists and sportsmen. Edward, especially, had a fondness for horses and was a friend of Mr Stafford and Mr Redwood of Nelson. He rode at many race meetings in Nelson and Marlborough and is reputed to have gone to Australia with the famous Carbine.

Edward and Johnson never returned to Britain but, in 1857, Jane and Orry sailed back to England on the Oliver Lang on business. The trip was rough and most of the passengers, including Jane, suffered from seasickness. Jane, writing to Edward in Nelson, claimed she would never travel second class again. While in England, Jane longed to return to New Zealand and vowed that she would never leave again. Her business, which involved recovering money due to her from Mr Lee, her step-father, was never resolved. In 1859 they returned to Nelson, travelling steerage on the Midlothian.

On her return, Jane occupied a wooden cottage in the area now known as Snow's Hill. She badly wanted to go and help her sons on the sheep station where they were working, but they told her it was no place for a lady. Jane suffered an illness in 1861. After visiting her in Nelson, Johnson was presumed to have drowned while crossing a flooded stream at Upcot He was returning, with two companions, to the Messrs Monro's station at "Longridge" where he was working, in the Awatere. He was only 23 years old.

Shortly after this tragic accident, Jane went to live at the home of Mr Bernard Gapper and family. They owned a farm near Swamp Road, Richmond, and took in several other boarders, paid for by the government.

In 1867 Jane began work as manageress of the Trafalgar Hotel in Nelson. She had very little money, as nearly all her silver brought from Ireland had been pawned, some to Mr Gapper. Most of her jewellery had gone, some having been given as presents to friends, during more prosperous times.

In 1868 Orry joined the Mounted Constabulary of the Napier district. He urged Edward to join too, but Jane refused on his behalf. She had already lost one son. The pay was six shillings a day, with ten shillings a month allowed for children. The men had to find their own horses and uniforms.

In 1874 Edward Hope married Fanny Saxton, the young widow of Charles Saxton, who had died in 1871. Edward drove the first mob of cattle from Nelson to Christchurch with Conrad Saxton, brother of Charles, Fanny's first husband. Edward and Fanny Hope had a family of eleven children, four of whom died prematurely. For a time they lived at Mahakipawa, while working for Mr Cullen. A disastrous fire burned their house down, killing two children and injuring Fanny. Seventeen days later Fanny had another child, Mary. The family then went to live with Orry, who was managing a station at Port Ligar, in Pelorus Sound. Later still Edward acquired land at Deep Bay, Admiralty Bay.

In 1873 Orry had married Elizabeth Cooper of Wairau, Canterbury, and they had a family of six sons and five daughters. Orry acquired land at Cozy Dell, Admiralty Bay, across the water from Edward.

page 35

Jane left her job at the Trafalgar Hotel in 1886, at the age of 75. She went to live at Admiralty Bay, alternating between Edward, at Deep Bay and Orry, at Cozy Dell. Jane had scarcely enough money for sufficient clothes and bedding, but she was happy there.

She died 31 January 1901, in her ninetieth year, and is buried at Cozy Dell, in a sheep paddock, beside an infant granddaughter.