William and his wife Sarah Rigby arrived in New Zealand from Birmingham on the ship called “Alma” in May 1857 and first lived in the Waiwhetu area of Lower Hutt Valley. William started his life in England as a “Edge Tool Maker”, while in Wainsbury Staffordshire he assisted in making the wheels for the Queens first railway carriage. One of his first jobs in New Zealand was to assist in building the first flour mill engine for a Mr Wm. Willcox. William resided in the Hutt Valley, he became blind later in life and after his wife died in 1885 he went and lived with his daughter Mrs Martha Bolton

OBITUARY - WILLIAM EADES

Published in the New Zealand Mail newspaper dated Friday, 11 October 1895.

Another of the old identities, Mr Wm Eades passed away quietly at the Hospital on Monday morning at the age of 76. The deceased, who was an edge tool maker, was in the employ of Wainsbury, of Staffordshire. He assisted in making the wheels for the Queen's first railway carriages. He arrived here 38 years ago in the ship Alma, and he assisted in putting up the first flour mill engine for the late Mr Wm. Willcox.

He resided at the Hutt for many years and then became blind. He married Miss Sarah Rigby, by whom he had 13 children, and strange to say, she died exactly 10 years ago from yesterday. Six children are living - four daughters and two sons.

They are - Mrs Baxter, of Palmerston North; Mrs Godber, Petone; Mrs Raecroft, Tasmania; and Mrs Bolton, of Wellington; Messrs J Eades of Mungaroa; and W H Eades of Fernside, Featherston. After the death of his wife the late Mr Eades lived with his daughter , Mrs Bolton. The deceased leaves 51 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. His death will be regretted by a large number of friends both at the Hutt and in Wellington.