James Preece

James Preece was a member of the Church Missionary Society, who arrived in New Zealand at Paihia on the 6 th of February 1831 on the "Olive Branch" A SHIP OWNED BY THE Church Missionary Serce (Scoure Church Missionary Service Dairy) , He established the first Anglican Missionary to the Coromandel, New Zealand1833  and established a Missionar Station in the Urewera mountains at Ahi-Kereru, New Zealand.  James married a British immigrant from New South Wales, Australia, Mary Ann Williams on 25 January 1833 at Kerikeri, Northland, New Zealand, who was the first matron of the European girls school at Kerikeri, New Zealand bet. Throughout his Mission Service, James applied several times for Ordaination as a Preist , but was declined by Bishop Marsden who considered him "TOO  COMMON". Even a donation of Land at Preeces Point on the Coromandel Peninsular could not sway the decision.James Preece owned a substantial portion if not all of Preeces Point (which forms the Southern arm of the Coromandel Harbour). The family homestead was in McQuoid Road which is across the Main Road from Preeces Point Road a few metres closer to Coromandel township.The homestead was down McQuoid Road on the Right hand side in the vicinity of the first bend, up on a rise.(Source:Hilary Bull Preece Family Historian and Authour  of Tortoise Press writings of which are held at the Alexander Turnbull Library } .I personally have walked on the Homestead Site during a Preece Family Reunion visit..

He left the Missionary Service in 1857 due to poor Health. Added by Bryan Simmonds / 10 Jnuary 2021.

'The fact that James Preece, was never Ordained in the Anglican Church of New Zealand, has been confirmed by a conversation i had with Former Arch Bishop Sir David Moxon, who is also a descendant through the line of James' firsr son.. Any profiles that have him as a Reverend are totally incorrect ihave tried to contact Where possible the Managers of profiles showing the wrong information and requested that it be corrected. Added by Bryan Simmonds 26/01/2021.' .

James Preec'e birthdate depending on what Family Tree Site you look at alternates between 7 September, and 19 July - i have done research and Find your Past UK CONFIRMS IT AS 19 July 1801 - 7 September was his christenning.