'Following History written by Christopher Leonard Patterson, where possible sources have been noted for any further information contact the writer.'

The family tradition about MATTHEW as having come from Kent is quite strongly held. The name UNDERDOWN also refers to the fact that he was most probably born UNDER THE DOWNS, that is to say the lower part of EAST KENT. Underdown is also a surname in Kent.

MATTHEW UNDERDOWN FARLEY is recorded as being Christened and born in Kent in FEB/MARCH 1804.

MATHEW FARLEY seems to have been an an illusive character, according to family tradition he has been described as a Master Mariner, a Boatbuilder(HARE HONGI) and a Wheelwright(MAIOHA). However time and the telling may have embellished his memory either way.

A SHIPS CARPENTER with the name MATTHEW FARLEY was a crew member on board the Brig "DART" in HOBART TASMANIA bound for PORT JACKSON SYDNEY, ON 5th October 1828.(Tasmanian State Archives).\

MATTHEW was also on the GENSEEK MARINERS INDEX list of seamen on ships cleared to depart Hobart Town in the year 1828. ..source: original Port Master's Ledgers (Archives Office Hobart).

MATHEW bought part of MAIKI HILL Russell off the chief Te Wharerahi and others. He later sold this Land to BISHOP POMPALLIER in 1839.(Catholic doicesan archives Auckland)

One other only record we appear to have of MATHEW FARLEY is an old land claim in the national archives- OLC 395 of JOHN REID of KORORAREKA 40 acres TE KARAKA at MANGONUI, dated 23 SEPTEMBER 1839. This was gazetted on the 16 October 1843. Witnesses were ALEX MCGIVER, DON MCKAY, STEPHEN RATHALL and MATHEW FARLEY. MAORI People mentioned are WIREMU MAHARA (WI HAU), TEDIRRA, KAWEA (PUSS)?

MATHEW FARLEY married the daughter of a MAORI family of highly connected Northern Maori tribes. The NGAPUHI, NGAI TAWAKE and the more northern TE RARAWA.

In the early days of the colony of NEW ZEALAND it was quite often the policy for the chief of a tribe to give his daughter in marriage to a well connected well meaning european, in order to facilitate trade with the europeans. It was also a custom to enrich the bloodlines of the Chiefs & ARIKI of the tribe by intermarrying with new people, this custom was quite widely practised throughout polynesia.

MATHEW and MAUMAU had four daughters who were given both English and Maori names, born between 1835 and 1845;. Jane(Heni) 5/8/1835, Elisabeth(Reripeti) 13/6/1838, Susan(Huhana) 15/5/1839, Margaret(Makereti) 25/7/1844.

According to family tradition he named his four daughters after his four sisters back in KENT, ENGLAND. Again according to family tradition the family came from MAIDSTONE or FOLKSTONE. MATHEW was said to have come out to NEW ZEALAND with another apprentice in the ship building trade. Again according to family tradition his father was quite wealthy and supposedly owned a FARLEY BANK (FARLEIGH?), and a FARLEY (FARLEIGH?) Street was named after them. Also from family tradition MATHEW,s four sisters never married.

In the 1881 census for RAMSGATE there does exist a FARLEY PLACE, 1 Farley Place was uninhabited, 2 Farley Place was inhabited and there are a number of dwellings with the address of Farley Place. As well as some unnamed, unnumbered dwellings, these are Lewis Cottage, Ada Cottage and Rose Cottage in FARLEY PLACE(in 1881). Rose Hill, Ramsgate, is said to be named after roses planted by a member of the Farley family who brought them from Australia after a voyage with convicts to New South Wales. Presented to the Ramsgate Public Library by the family of the late Mrs E.M. Powles, (nee Farley). April 1963.

Opposite Coleman's Yard once stood Farley's Boat Yard, a name retained unbtil about 1866 when it was superseded by Leopold Street. Farley Place was then the name given to a small area parallel with Leopold Street and only disappeared when the whole area was demolished inn 1938. Rose Cottage and a small Baptist Chapel bearing the date 1724 were pulled down under this clearance scheme."

Further family tradition also states; MATHEW FARLEY and RIPERATA MAUMAU TE TUPUA were married in 1840 by Rev JEAN BAPTISTE PETITJEAN a FRENCH CATHOLIC missionary, at RUSSELL, BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, this has not been proven as the original records have not been found and must be lost.(Though records were said to be transfered to the Catholic Church at MITIMITI, which needs to be followed up.)

MATHEW FARLEY's father was said to have been of FRENCH HUGUENOT descent.

Most our lineage back through him is related to us by HENRY MATTHEW STOWELL, in his many writings and genealogies. Henry Mathew Stowell who also went by the Native Maori name of HARE HONGI as he was a Quarter maori being the son of MATHEW FARLEYS daughter SUSAN MARELLA FARLEY (HUHANA) and JOHN SHEPPARD STOWELL an AMERICAN. Amongst our family tradition some stories have been embellished and some Romantic fantasy added.

HENRY MATHEW STOWELL also writes that MATHEW was buried at TE RAWHITI, just after HONE HEKE attacked RUSSELL in the BAY OF ISLANDS. A family letter of H.M. STOWELL (HARE HONGI)tells us that he was buried at OMAKIWI ; an obscure place, which is a little cove and bay/beach on the road from RUSSELL to TE RAWHITI, at this place is also a private hidden burial ground and an old burial ground with some ROMAN CATHOLIC traditions.

The catholic priests and others were sent to Rawhiti to Moka's marae at OMAKIWI for safety during the wars of 1845. One of Moka daughters Hoki from Rawhiti was the first maori nun in the country. Our gg fathers Moka, Rewa and Wharerahi were closely associated with Pompallier and the catholic church. We are doing a lot of research on the catholic associations with our tupuna and hapu.

There was still a strong Catholic settlement at OMAKIWI in 1889 as the Very Rev DR MACDONALD visted there in 1889.(July 1889 Colonial Notes NZ TABLET. Hiramai Piripo gave evidence at the Investigation of title to the Rawhiti lands in the Bay of Islands. He talked about his father being from Wanganui or Taranaki and about Ri maumau his mother and her rights to Rawhiti and Waimate north. Also about Mathew Farley who was buried at the urupa at Omakiwi, Moka' marae. This urupa is now under water. Those that could be were interred in the new urupa up the hill during the eartly 1900's. Te Rautawa looks toward Kororareka and Waimate North.

I have been to this Urupa with a local Kaumatua and visted the actual graves.

Some of the descendents of MARGARET FARLEY also say that MATHEW returned to ENGLAND, (about 1845?) these same descendents say that he was a wheelwright by occupation, and that he sent trunks of clothes back for his GIRL'S and family back in NEW ZEALAND.

It is possible that MATHEW deserted left his family and his MAORI WIFE behind NEW ZEALAND and did go back to ENGLAND or AUSTRALIA that a story of his death was created by the local MAORI for reasons of MANA and honour and dignity or also to satisfy the curious and the authorities. War had just broken out between MATHEW'S MAORI wife's tribe and the europeans. (HONE HEKE's attack on RUSSELL).(1845)

During the Maori Wars MATHEW was unable to honourably fight against his own countrymen or his wife he was allowed to sit out the hostilities on an Island, possibly Motukaraka Island.(Not sure where this story originated)

Some of the descendents of SUSAN FARLEY have included the second name BROMLEY as a second given name, which could have some significance if MATHEW,s mother was a BROMLEY, or if MATHEW's parents once came from BROMLEY, part of the greater London Area and Kent.