Matilda Elizabeth Puckey

FIRST WHITE WEDDING. CENTENARY CELEBRATION - WORK OF WILLIAM PUCKEY On Saturday afternoon a large gathering assembled at Castor Bay to mark the centenary of what is believed to have been the first European wedding in New Zealand. On October 11th 1831, Mr. William Gilbert Puckey, one of the early missionaries and teachers among the Maoris, was married at Paihia in the Bay of Islands, to Miss Matilda Davis, daughter of the Rev. Richard Davis of Waimate North. Several descendants and relatives were present on Saturday, including Mr. R. H. Puckey, a son of Mr. William Puckey; Mr. A. M. Puckey, a grandson and A. M. J. Puckey, a great-grandson. The vicar of Birkenhead, who is a descendant of the Rev. Richard DaVis, was also present. During the afternoon a great-grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Puckey was baptised by the Rev. W. G. Monckton, vicar of Takapuna. Source: Auckland Star (12 October 1931, p. 5).

My second daughter, Matilda, was united for life to Mr. William Puckey on the 11th day of October. I felt considerably on account of her age. But as the marriage met the most cordial approbation of my missionary brethren, and was urged by all the leading characters in the mission, I gave my consent, and I trust God will bless them, and make them a blessing, and faithful servants in the cause of Christ, It is probable that they will be sent to a mission in the south of the island, in connection with two other of the brethren. Matilda is blessed with no mean talent. She has, I trust, the grace of God in her heart. Consequently I am easy on her account, because I know the blood of Christ has purchased and secured every blessing for His children in time and in eternity. From Thee, God, I received her, and into Thy guiding care I return her again. Prepare her to glorify Thee by a consistent walk as a missionary's wife. Two of my natives, who have lived with us from children, have also been married today. This day twelve months I first came to Waimate to join our brethren in their cars. God, how unbounded are Thy mercies! Source: A Memoir of the Rev. Richard Davis for Thirty-Nine Years a Missionary in New Zealand.

GEDCOM Note

"A Memoir of the Rev. Richard Davis for Thirty-Nine Years a Missionary in New Zealand"

My second daughter, Matilda, was united for life to Mr. William Puckey on the 11th day of October. I felt considerably on account of her age. But as the marriage met the most cordial approbation of my missionary brethren, and was urged by all the leading characters in the mission, I gave my consent, and I trust God will bless them, and make them a blessing, and faithful servants in the cause of Christ, It is probable that they will be sent to a mission in the south of the island, in connection with two other of the brethren. Matilda is blessed with no mean talent. She has, I trust, the grace of God in her heart. Consequently I am easy on her account, because I know the blood of Christ has purchased and secured every blessing for His children in time and in eternity. From Thee, God, I received her, and into Thy guiding care I return her again. Prepare her to glorify Thee by a consistent walk as a missionary's wife. Two of my natives, who have lived with us from children, have also been married today. This day twelve months I first came to Waimate to join our brethren in their cars. God, how unbounded are Thy mercies !

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 241, 12 October 1931, Page 5 FIRST WHITE WEDDING. CENTENARY CELEBRATION - WORK OF WILLIAM PUCKEY On Saturday afternoon a large gathering assembled at Castor Bay to mark the centenary of what is believed to have been the first European wedding in New Zealand. On October 11th I83I, Mr. William Gilbert Puckey, one of the early missionaries and teachers among the Maoris, was married at Paihia in the Bay of Islands, to Miss Matilda Davis, daughter of the Rev. Richard Davis of Waimate North. Several descendants and relatives were present on Saturday, including Mr. R. H. Puckey, a son of Mr. William Puckey; Mr. A. M. Puckey, a grandson and A. M. J. Puckey, a great-grandson. The vicar of Birkenhead, who is a descendant of the Rev. Richard Davis, was also present. During the afternoon a great-grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Puckey was baptised by the Rev. W. G. Monckton, vicar of Takapuna.

The late Mr. W. G. Puckey was born in Cornwall in 1805. His parents came out to Parramatta when he was still a lad, and in I8I9 they came to New Zealand to help in the work of evangelizing and civilizing the Maoris. William Gilbert helped his father, who was a builder, and he soon showed that skill in all trades, which later earned for him the name of "the handy man of the mission." He turned his hand to black-smithing, carpentry, farming, dentistry, and even surgery. On one occasion he successfully amputated a leg. When an organ, which had been sent out for the mission, fell down the hold of the ship while it was being landed and was badly damaged, he managed to repair it. When a cedar log was washed up on the beach he made a saw pit and cut it into thin strips from which he made a pulpit and prayer desk for the church. He had a remarkable influence over the Maoris. There was a Maori named Roland who was supposed to be mad, and who frightened the natives by rushing at them with an axe. Mr. Puckey met him and told him to throw down the axe. He turned his hack on Mr. Puckey and exclaiming Look out!" threw the axe over his shoulder at Mr. Puckey's feet. He then allowed Mr. Puckey to fasten a chain round his leg. This chain was fixed by a staple to a log, and the Maori was made captive. Food and firing were sent him and the next morning he appeared on Mr. Puckey's verandah dragging his chain. He had burnt out the staple with the fire sent to warm him. Mr. Puckey thought he could not be as mad as people supposed, so he took him into his service and he became one of his most devoted followers. Perhaps Mr. Puckey's greatest work was the translation he helped to make of the Scriptures into Maori. He was said to be the greatest oral Maori scholar in New Zealand. Six missionaries took part in the work, and Mr. Puckey wrote out their renderings in parallel columns in a large folio volume. He wrote a beautiful hand, like copperplate, and he embellished the title page with an exquisite specimen of ornate penmanship. This volume is among the most treasured of the library at Bishopscourt. One of the buyers for the Mitchell bequest valued it at four figures, and considered it one of the most valuable and interesting books he had seen. Few men have possessed such varied gifts as William Gilbert Puckey and the large gathering on Saturday testified to the esteem in which his name is still held.

GEDCOM Note