Frederick Bills

Frederick and his wife, Mary Ann (born Hayes), and their 6 month old son James Richard sailed from London on 2 October 1841 and arrived in Wellington on 17 February 1842. (6 other children born in New Zealand).

From the Wellington Spectator - July 1st 1865 Newspapers Past

Drowning of an Old Settler - It is our painful duty to reveal the death by downing last night of Mr Frederick Bills, labourer, whose body was found this morning in the creek on the Tinakori Road, nearly opposite the residence of the Hon. F A Weld. It appears that the deceased left Dixon's public house about ten o'clock last night to return home, and the night being veru wet and dark, he must have fallen into the stream and was drowned. Bills was an old settler and leaves a wife and family.

From the Wellington Independent - July 4th 1865

Fatal Accident - We regret to announce that a fatal accident occured on the night of Friday laast. The deceased is an old settler named Frederick Bills, a labourer, who had long been suffering from consumption. He was seen alive about 10 o'clock on Friday night, at Dixon's public house in Karori Road, and his body was discovered on Saturday morning in a creek on the Tinakori Road, almost immediately opposite the residence of the Hon FA Weld. It may be remembered that Friday night was very stormy, and the supposition is, that the unfortunate desceased missed the road in the dark, fell into the stream and was drowned.