John Holroyd Baker

MERE MARO (Ngati Rauawa) of lower Waima: Mere Maro was the daughter of Hei Tiki and Te Kauporu and was named after the ‘Moremonui’ battle between Ngapuhi and Ngati Whatua in 1807. She was born at Whawharu, Te Taheke in 1807 and married James Holroyd Baker (known as John or to Maori, Haki Paka). James (John) Baker had arrived in New Zealand from Ireland in 1828. He was born in 1794 and died in 1869. This was James’ (John’s) second marriage. A daughter (Elizabeth) by his first wife (name not known) supposedly before he came to New Zealand, was born in 1818. Elisabeth married Thomas Hollingsworth and died in 1854. John and Mere Maro had eight children. One son (Michael) married Patuone and Tamati Waka Nene’s niece Maria, daughter of their sister Tari. John snr and Mere’s eldest son was also named John and was considered to be the second half-caste to be born in the Hokianga, George Clarke being the first. One of their daughters (Catherine, 1844 – 1919) first married John Walters (1840-1870.) Her second marriage was to John Rees Jones in 1875. John Baker (Snr.) came to New Zealand as a surveyor and was also an expert timber dealer. He claimed to have acquired 3,200 acres of land near Rawene sometime in the 1840’s. This is mentioned in ‘Old Land Claims – Hokianga’: in 1838 he built New Zealand’s first Catholic church. Source: https://kaihuvalleyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/a-journal-th...

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The signature of John Baker was appended to the Petition to the King's Most Excellent Majesty from the residents of New Zealand, March 1837. Source: National Library of New Zealand https://natlib.govt.nz/records/30851217
John Baker claimed land bought with James Kelly, James Phillip Lloyd and Thomas Hollingsworth at Hokianga pre-1840. Their old Land Claim (No.272) is held at National Archives, Wellington. Source: National Library of New Zealand https://natlib.govt.nz/records/30851215

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He was a Sawyer and helped build the first Catholic church at Purakau at Hokianga (this was moved to Te Ti)

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John Baker (Holroyd) was actually the son the Earl of Sheffield. He had a disagreement with his father and immigrated to New Zealand with his first wife. He changed his name to his grandmother's name Baker dropping the Holroyd name. Indeed in 1909 a commission came to New Zealand looking for descendants and the family received payments from the UK Chancery well into the 1930's. Well there is a big question mark over this family history. The think is that when John Baker bought land in NZ of which he did quite a bit in his trading - he signed his mark. So he couldn't read or write. A bit odd for a son of an Earl not to be able to read and write. Some decedent's believe he as a prisoner in Sydney who got his ticket of leave and became a Sawyer in NZ. But all needs to be verified whatever the story is .... like ship records? But there are lots of land records relating to Hokianga and script in Auckland. The church was in Parakau and was moved to Motiti not far from Pangaru. Worth a visit. (Sandra Jenkins)

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GEDCOM Note

Bio notes: Mere Maro appears to have been John's second marriage. A child by his first marriage, 'Beti' (probably Elizabeth) was born in 1818 and married Thomas Hollingsworth. Beti died 1854?