John Crocker

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9408, 4 June 1892:

DEATH OF MR JOHN CROCKER.

One of the earliest of the Taranaki settlers passed away to his rest on Friday morning (June 3rd), at the very ripe age of 90 years. When a youth he served his apprenticeship to shipbuilding in Her Majesty's Dockyard at Plymouth, and after the completion of his indentures spent some years at sea. On the formation of the Plymouth Company he came to New Zealand in the ship William Bryant, and landed at Moturoa before any provision had been made to receive the new arrivals, the only structure at that time being that brought out and erected by the Survey staff. After remaining in New Plymouth for a number of years, he, in company with the late Mr Mr J. T. Shaw, went to Kaipara to engage in their calling of shipbuilders, and at the conclusion of their labours returned again to their homes. He lost his wife in 1865, and has remained a widower, spending the whole of his declining years with his unmarried daughters, richly enjoying the rest his long life of industry had fully earned. Of a family of four daughters there are two survivors, Mrs Reid, widow of tho late Rev. A. Reid, Auckland, and Miss Crocker, whose home has always been in New Plymouth. Mr Crocker was always of a retiring disposition, and though he took great interest in passing events, never engaged actively in public matters, but preferred to live his own life in his own quiet way, esteemed and loved by everyone.