Thames (NZ): Electoral Rolls & Early Pakeha Settlers - Part One

 Introduction

Electoral Rolls are an invaluable resource for family genealogists and historians in general. While the pre 1893 are restricted to only some members of the male population, they are better than nothing. They can provide an indication to location, occupation and financial status. The qualifications varied from year to year. An excellent summary of qualifications can be found in a New Zealand Society of Genealogists help sheet.
     Just as the boundaries change today, the people of Thames have often found themselves in a variety of electorates. An excellent resource is New Zealand Electoral Atlas by Alan McRobie. (GP Books, Wellington, 1989.)
     A previous blog post in 2014 discussed the electoral history of the Thames.

Electoral Rolls for Early Settlers at the Thames 

The following section has names from early electoral rolls 1853 to 1868. While we know there were a limited number of Pakeha settlers before the goldfield opened in August 1867, there were certainly more than are named on the rolls. The reason could be that they appear on a different roll, or simply they did not meet the qualification of the day. Also note that spelling of place-names varied and that 'Thames' could stretch the length of the old Thames Valley Region.

1853 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 179-191

Name – Place of Abode – Calling or Business - Qualification
BAINES, William Mortimer, Hikutaea, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
HAY, George William, Hekutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder

1855 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 70-90

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hikutaia, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hekutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hikutaia, Farmer, Freeholder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, Settler, Householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1856 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 73-99

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hikutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, Settler, Householder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1857 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 79-107

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, timber merchant, leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hekutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, settler, householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, freeholder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1858 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 87-117

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, timber merchant, leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, mill owner, leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hekutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, settler, householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1865-6 To 1867-8 Franklin Electorate page 1-25

MCCASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Hekutaia, Thames, Freehold, Cook’s County; 2176 acres
THORP, John Wullanora, River Thames, 1. Freehold, River Thames, Cook’s County, farm and premises on which he resides. 2. Household River Thames; Dwelling

During the above years, Coromandel residents feature in the electoral rolls as settlers headed there to undertake mining and seek other opportunities.

Thames 'hits' the Electoral Rolls in 1869

A considerable change is found in the Franklin Electoral Roll of 1869, as the number of voters eligible and enrolled has dramatically increased. A transcription of names for the greater Coromandel region is available.

Sample - Thames entries in the Franklin Electoral Roll 1869

Full transcription available HERE

Closing Comments

Don't despair if you can not find your relatives in the early electoral Rolls. At Ancestry.au (free access at the Library) a simple search does not always work, as not all are indexed. You may have to resort to the old method of scrolling through the pages. If you still have no luck, try the directories, old rating lists and school records to find out more about your Thamesites.

    Part Two (coming soon) will look at the early pakeha settlers named in the early rolls.

Further Resources:

• Thames Electoral Roll 1876 and objections
• Thames Electoral Roll 1879 Surnames A to C
• Coromandel Electorate 1885
• Thames Burgess Roll 1887
• Ancestry.au has New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853 to 1981 - many of the years are searchable
• The Thames Branch, NZSG has Electoral Roll CD's that can be borrowed and used at monthly meetings CONTACT