Hart Udy

Hart Udy aged 31 and Jane Udy (nee Clemence) aged 27 arrived with 4 children including Hart Jnr aged 5. They came to NZ aboard the barque "Duke of Roxburgh" which left London on 17 Sept 1839 and Plymouth on 5 Oct 1839, and arrived at Port Nicholson on 8 Feb 1840.

They lived on the beach in roughly constructed accomodation and their son Thomas Clemency Udy was born under a lifeboat (turned upside down) on Britannia Beach.

"The 'Duke' made the third vessel of the fleet to reach Port Nicholson, and by that time the foreshore at Petone had becme a busy locality. Tents were supplemented by shanties of various descriptions, but some of the whares put up with the help of the Maoris were of a more ambitious character, and so well built that they lasted several years. Round about this somewhat incongruous camp-settlement the belongings of the settlers were scattered, and as there were by this time about 500 white people ashore the scene was decidedly animated." White Wings Volume One - Sir Henry Brett

He worked for Sir Francis Molesworth on the building of the first cutter and the first house of NZ timber. Worked in Wellington for three years, then went to live in Waiwhetu. On 1 Mar 1845, their home was pillaged by the Maoris. In 1853 Hart and family moved to Stokes Valley and set up a sawmill, residing there until 1857, later moving to 400 acres bushclad land at Matarawa and carrying on sawmilling till 1865, when he retired.

The first Methodist Church (Greytown NZ) was built by Hart Udy in 1865 from timber sawn at his Matarawa mill just north of the Waiohine River.

Udy Street, Petone is named after Hart Udy, he was one time a member of the Petone Town Board. He was twice elected as Mayor of Greytown, also serving as a councillor. Was active in the Wesleyan Church, Greytown.

Mr. Hart Udy, senr., twice occupied the mayoral chair of the Borough of Greytown. This well known pioneer, who passed away on the 27th of November, 1890, aged eighty-two years, was born in Cornwall in 1808. He served an apprenticeship as a builder and implement maker, and married in 1832. Seven years later he left England for New Zealand with his wife and family, arriving in Petone in February, 1840, by the ship “Duke of Roxburgh.” For some time he worked for Sir Francis Molesworth. building the first cutter and the first house of New Zealand woods After working in Wellington for three years, he went to live at PAGE 875 Waiwetu, where he worked at his trade for many years. Removing to Stokes Valley, he erected the first sawmill in 1857. Having secured some valuable bush land at Matarawa, he transferred his family and carried on a sawmilling business till 1865, when he retired, leaving it to his sons. Mr. Udy was at one time a member of the Petone Town Board, and sat on the first Carterton-Taratahi Highway Board. Twice he was elected mayor of Greytown, of which borough he served also as a councillor. In the Greytown Rifles Mr. Udy and his sons served during the native troubles. In Greytown, where he lived during the latter years of his life, he was much beloved. He took an active part in church work, for many years acting as a local preacher in the Wesleyan church. Mr. Udy and his family of four sons and three daughters appear in the accompanying engraving. His widow died in January, 1896, aged eighty-three years.

Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1897