John Benge, JP

David and Sarah (Philadelphia) took passage on the Catherine Stewart Forbes, which sailed from London on 1st February 1841 and arrived at Wellington in June. David and Philadelphia had with them three children, Elizabeth, Emma and James, when they arrived at Wellington. James died shortly after their arrival, possibly from the rigours of the long sea voyage, and In October of 1841, Philadelphia gave birth to her second son, John. This narrative has been compiled by Gwendolyn Benge from a variety of sources.

Benge, John,  J.P., eldest son of the late Mr. David Benge, was born in Mardingbeach, Kent, England. He was married in the Upper Hutt to Miss Rose Annie Wilkins in 1867. He served in the militia, and has taken an active part in the public life of the district for many years as a member of the Mungaroa School Committee. For over twenty-five years Mr. Benge has been a member of the Oddfellows' Order. His family consists of five sons and three daughters.

First white child born in NZ, he was born on the Petone foreshore in the a tent and was stolen by the Maori (they usually did this for good luck)and lived with them for about 8 yrs before being returned; he was a fluent Maori speaker and worked tirelessly to make things fair, he was responsible for the building of the main trunk line in the lower half of the NI which took major negotiations. He died of apoplexy a few years after his beloved Edith Rose died- she was badly burnt from scalded milk in their home and is buried under the pear tree by the front door at "Stonestead't Mungaroa (Brown OWL) north of Upper Hutt- he haunts the house to this day crying for his daughter (Benge history). It is said he still haunts the house today crying out for his daughter Rose- Rose is consequently considered a bad luck name for the Mabey's esp as Job Charles also had a daughter Rose die young. Future generations have been advised not to name their children Rose. Form Upper Hutt- The History, John Benge was active in public life.

Benge, David, who is said to have been one of the earliest settler in Upper Hutt, was born in Mardingbeach, Kent, England. Arriving in Wellington on 11/06/1841 on the ship Catherine Stewart Forbes, Mr Benge at once set to work to clear land at Taita, continuing till the great flood in the Hutt Valley washed away all his belongings. He then removed to Mungaroa, where, with his sons, he acquired an interest in, and ultimately bought, the Mungaroa sawmill, which they worked for a great many years. In 1875 Mr Benge died, and his widow succumbed two years later, leaving six sons - Messrs. John, David and Samuel - now farmers at Mungaroa, Edward - a retired farmer at Upper Hutt, Reuben - a sawmiller at Carterton, and Benjamin - a farmer at Ashurst. The sawmill was worked by the sons till 1888, when it was sold. Mr Benge senr, like most of the early settlers, saw active service in the militia, during the first few years in the Hutt Valley.

The image of the house is Stonestead, Te Marua. The original 1860s house is to the left and many years ago (probably 1930s) verandah posts were replaced by wrought iron pipe columns; a fashion at the time.
Originally owned by John Benge.

The March 22, 2017 'Leader' reported that owner Kevin Bold was about to sell the property. He had first bought it in 1981, and lived there until 1990, with his wife and four children. Eight years later, when it came on the market, he bought it again, and a year later, he and his partner Yvonne opened Stonestead Devonshire Teas in the former garage. A modern cottage houses another Bold business; Sawmillers Quiltery shop.

By 2017 the homestead was running an annual mid-February quilt festival; a target was set (in 2017 a cushion cover 40,5 cm square, with a 'summer dreams' theme); entries and other fabric works would be on show, for a gold coin donation towards Te Omanga Hospice, and there was a people's choice category.
Date Taken
April 1982 Charles Fearnley, photographer

http://www.lynly.gen.nz/UHBLDHerStonestead.pdf