Riperata Maumau Farley

The following was compiled by CHRISTOPHER LEONARD PATTERSON and placed here in a public domain for interested persons to read. First RIPERATA MAUMAU TE TUPUA and then MATHEW UNDERDOWN FARLEY.

RIPERATA MAUMAU TE TUPUA RI MAUMAU was of illustrious lineage descended from the leading chiefs of both the leading NORTHLAND TAI TOKERAU TRIBES; NGAPUHI and RARAWA. The NGAI TAWAKE sub-tribe were associated with the WAIMATE NORTH, KAIKOHE or TE WAIMATE area, whereas the TE RARAWA were associated more with the HOKIANGA area. She had the title of ARIKI TAPAIRU and was of high birth, she was given the name MAUMAU because it was considered a waste of time, blood, and title to have a female the first born.

Oral tradition states that RI MAUMAU married MATTHEW UNDERDOWN FARLEY an Englishman from KENT, and that they were married at KORAREKA (RUSSELL), BAY OF ISLANDS in 1840, and that they were married by the FRENCH CATHOLIC missionary JOHN BAPTISTE PETITJEAN.( HARE HONGI STOWELL). (Some believe It was actually Bishop Pompallier) The two eldest Children HENI, first born. and PETI, (Erihapeti) were baptized by JEAN BAPTISTE PETIT-JEAN in KORAREKA. RUSSELL was the Catholic Mission headquarters for the French Catholic Marist missions and the early missionaries arrived there about 1829 with Bishop JEAN BAPTISTE POMPALLIER.

Matthew and Ri Maumau had four daughters of which JANE (HENI) was the eldest.

RI MAUMAU attended THE CONFEDERATION OF CHIEFS OF AOTEAROA in 1828. (SEE THE OBITUARY BY HARE HONGI NZ HERALD 5 May 1888). Also maybe Weekly News 19 April 1888.[ACC.Library]

RI MAUMAU passed away 21/4/1888 and is buried in the private family TRIBAL burial ground at WAIMATE NORTH Bay of Islands. Because of her lineage she was allowed to speak on MARAES and was frequently consulted on tribal matters.[SCHOLEFIELD DICTIONARY OF NEW ZEALAND BIOGRAPHY page 75].

RI MAUMAU followed HONE HEKE on many of his journeys, and was sent by him to WAIMATE NORTH in 1845 to be out of harm, prior to his intentions to mimic the BOSTON TEA PARTY INCIDENT(a protest action he heard about from the American Consul). He cut down the flag pole at RUSSELL three times in protest at the removal of the shipping tax that the BRITISH had been levying. The tribe benefited from this shipping tax,

MAUMAU later married again to a TOHIA NIWANIWA PIRIPO, their son was HIRAMAI PIRIPO.

The FOUR DAUGHTERS OF MAUMAU and MATTHEW FARLEY were later christened in the ANGLICAN CHURCH in 1851 at WAIMATE NORTH, their birth dates were also recorded there. RI MAUMAU lived at WAIMATE NORTH until her death in 1888. (HENRY MATTHEW STOWELL-HARE HONGI, NZ HERALD 5 May 1888)

MAUMAU (RI) has an entry in the DICTIONARY OF NZ BIOGRAPHY -SCHOLEFIELD.

MAUMAU was related to TITORE TAKIRI as he married her sister MATIRE TAKU. TITORE TAKIRI received a COAT OF ARMOUR from the BRITISH KING GEORGE and the breast plate of this armour is in the WELLINGTON MUSEUM now known as TE PAPA TONGAREWA.

RI MAUMAU is a whanaunga of ours. Her husband MATHEW FARLEY our tupuna is buried at OMAKIWI, TE RAWHITI, east of KORAREKA in the Bay of Islands. RI MAUMAU she used to live here as well as at WAIMATE NORTH. Our tribe was Ngai Tawake from WAIMATE NORTH but after the conquest of the eastern Bay of Islands by our great great grandfathers, Moka Kainga Mataa, Rewa (Maanu) Kerei Mangonui father, and Wharerahi all brothers and the sons of Te Auparo who was killed at WAIMATE NORTH by the Ngare Raumati tribe of Rawhiti established a new hapu called Patukeha to commemorate the killing of their mother in the keha -her turnip garden at Okuretope.

We still refer to ourselves as Ngai Tawake ki te moana or Ngai Tawake taku taimoana as opposed to Ngai Tawake ki Waoku or Ngai Tawake ki uta, meaning Ngai Tawake by the sea, Ngai Tawake by the bush, Ngai Tawake inland. Our hapu has the mana whenua mana moana from Taupirinui (next to Ngati wai boundary) to Motukokako ( hole in the rock) to Tiketike (Kerikeri) to Tapeka (Kororareka) to Rakaumangamanga (one of the mountains of Ngapuhi).

DEATH OF A GREAT MAORI PRIESTESS The old times & the new by Hare Hongi. On Saturday April 21, in the quiet and picturesque village of Waimate, Bay of Islands, Ri Maumau. Chieftainess of the Ngapuhi tribes and people breathed her last, and she may indeed be truly said to have passed away full of years. Her death seems to claim special attention, and that not only because of her rank, but because she was the last of the old order of Ngapuhi, and lived and died, as her ancestors did before her, a true Maori, strictly adhering to the last of the customary forms, principles, and traditions of her race. Her demise extinguished the title of Ariki. The office was a hereditary one, descending from the principal chief to his son, but in the event of there being no male issue, the eldest daughter is instructed by him into all the mysteries of the order. At his decease, the office of Ariki at once devolves upon her, and in this instance she becomes the religious instructor of her people, the guardian of all charms, amulets, and everything of a tapu or sacred nature. By the death of Ri Maumau is, therefore dissolved the only link which bound the present generations to the ancient form of karakia. Her family which numbered eleven, of whom eight are still alive, embraced Christianity in the early days, and have grown old under its teachings. As to her exact age, we can only arrive at something approximating to it, from the fact that in 1828, when the Ngapuhi chiefs drew up their first declaration of independence and formed the Confederation, she was present and had obtained maturity. In rank, she was the recognized head of the Ngapuhi tribes, as also those of Te Rarawa. From her grandparents sprang the band of Ngapuhi chiefs whose names are so familiar to Europeans, among whom we find the celebrated warrior, Hare Hongi Hika, and also Te Tareha, who went with him to England to pay their respects to King William IV; the brothers Tamati Waka Nene & Era Patuone, who were a shield to the early Europeans in times of trouble; Titore & Hakuene, the father of Ihaka Te Tae, ex -M.H.R. (lately deceased); Tawhai & Wi Tana Papahia, the noted chiefs of Hokianga; Te Haara, Te Tirarau Kukupa, & Pareore Te Awha, lately deceased; Pene Taui, as also the notable chief, Wi Tako Ngatata, M.L.C. who died quite recently at his home in Wellington. Many others might be enumerated, but we will close the list of names with that of Hone Heke, who, acting under instructions which he had received from Hongi, destroyed the flagstaff erected at Kororareka by the English. Numerous accounts have been given to show the cause of his attack, but the following one, which we think has not yet appeared in print, is most undoubtedly correct: In his parting interview with several English noblemen and gentlemen, before his return to New Zealand, Hongi received the following caution; “When you have safely arrived to New Zealand, endeavour to bear in your mind all the injunctions given to you here, viz, in England, for your future guidance and welfare, for we wish you and your people well. Above all things, remember this: if a certain thing, to wit, a cloth marked with different colours, is hoisted upon a high pole, cut it down. If you fail to do so, your people will be slaughtered. At that time it was feared in England that France would take possession of New Zealand, and in all probability the warning given to Hongi was in order that he might defeat any attempt by the French to assume the sovereignty of the islands. Flags of different nations were submitted to Hongi and their meanings explained, and Hongi returned very much impressed with what he had seen & heard; and no doubt, fully understanding the purport of what had been said, he related all to Hone Heke. A few years afterwards Hongi died from the effects of a gunshot wound received in a tribal conflict. In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi, which granted the sovereignty of these islands to her Majesty the Queen of England, was signed by a large number of chiefs. If we remember rightly, Heke did not sign. However, shortly afterwards the English flag was hoisted at Kororareka. As soon as Heke heard of it, it occurred to him that this must be the coloured cloth which Hongi had been warned of, and which meant destruction to his people. He immediately went to ascertain for himself, and there it was plainly enough, hoisted on a long pole. He at once carried into effect the command given to Hongi by cutting it down, and this originated what is known as Heke’s war. Re Maumau then advanced in years, attended Heke through subsequent dangers, when bullets were flying fast and thick in Kororareka, the first English town in New Zealand. But, as this mode of warfare was so different from the customary encounters when armed with the taiaha, pata paraoa, mere pounamu, and hoeroa, Heke (despite her remonstrances to the contrary) deemed it prudent to remove the chieftainess for safety to the Waimate, where she has since resided, and immediately after her arrival Kororareka was sacked. On account of her isolated mode of living, her name was but little known to Europeans, but she was held in high esteem and with feeling almost approaching to veneration by her people. Fifty years ago her demise would have been the signal for the assembling of the tribes from far and near; but it is not so in these days, saturated, as the Maoris are, with legislation and counter legislation, when civilisation which is so clearly associated with the worship of the power of money, rears its triumphant head over the land of our fathers, dwarfing the generous feelings of genuine sorrow, which on an occasion of this kind were given free vent to in the sacred institution of the tangi. In these days the mind contributes but a passing thought to events of this nature. The almost involuntary exclamation, “aue, kua mate hoki,e!” is uttered, and immediately thereafter the mind returns to the consideration of the pressing dangers which have destroyed their peace of mind, and which threaten to altogether deprive them of the acres which they justly inherited from their forefathers. May she rest in peace! She was ushered into this world at a time when Ngapuhi were in the full tide of their strength, a noble and unconquered nation; and she has left her people- what? Verily, as it is written, “Behold, the old order changeth”.(Memoirs of Hare Hongi Ngapuhi, Ngai Tawake.)

MATTHEW FARLEY

The family tradition about MATTHEW as having come from Kent is quite strongly held. The name UNDERDOWN also refers to the fact that he was most probably born UNDER THE DOWNS, that is to say the lower part of EAST KENT. Underdown is also a surname in Kent.

MATTHEW UNDERDOWN FARLEY is recorded as being Christened and born in Kent in FEB/MARCH 1904.

MATTHEW FARLEY seems to have been an an illusive character, according to family tradition he has been described as a Master Mariner, a Boatbuilder(HARE HONGI) and a Wheelwright(MAIOHA). However time and the telling may have embellished his memory either way.

A SHIP'S CARPENTER with the name MATTHEW FARLEY was a crew member on board the Brig "DART" in HOBART TASMANIA bound for PORT JACKSON SYDNEY, ON 5th October 1828.(Tasmanian State Archives).\

MATTHEW was also on the GENSEEK MARINERS INDEX list of seamen on ships cleared to depart Hobart Town in the year 1828. ..source: original Port Master's Ledgers (Archives Office Hobart).

One other only record we appear to have of MATTHEW FARLEY is an old land claim in the national archives- OLC 395 of JOHN REID of KORORAREKA 40 acres TE KARAKA at MANGONUI, dated 23 SEPTEMBER 1839. This was gazetted on the 16 October 1843. Witnesses were ALEX MCGIVER, DON MCKAY, STEPHEN RATHALL and MATTHEW FARLEY. MAORI People mentioned are WIREMU MAHARA (WI HAU), TEDIRRA, KAWEA (PUSS)?

MATTHEW FARLEY married the daughter of a MAORI family of highly connected Northern Maori tribes. The NGAPUHI, NGAI TAWAKE and the more northern TE RARAWA.

In the early days of the colony of NEW ZEALAND it was quite often the policy for the chief of a tribe to give his daughter in marriage to a well connected well meaning European, in order to facilitate trade with the Europeans. It was also a custom to enrich the bloodlines of the Chiefs & ARIKI of the tribe by intermarrying with new people, this custom was quite widely practised throughout Polynesia.

MATTHEW and MAUMAU had four daughters who were given both English and Maori names, born between 1835 and 1845;. Jane(Heni) 5/8/1835, Elisabeth(Reripeti) 13/6/1838, Susan(Huhana) 15/5/1839, Margaret(Makereti) 25/7/1844.

According to family tradition he named his four daughters after his four sisters back in KENT, ENGLAND. Again according to family tradition the family came from MAIDSTONE or FOLKSTONE. MATHEW was said to have come out to NEW ZEALAND with another apprentice in the ship building trade. Again according to family tradition his father was quite wealthy and supposedly owned a FARLEY BANK (FARLEIGH?), and a FARLEY (FARLEIGH?) Street was named after them. Also from family tradition MATTHEW's four sisters never married.

In the 1881 census for RAMSGATE there does exist a FARLEY PLACE, 1 Farley Place was uninhabited, 2 Farley Place was inhabited and there are a number of dwellings with the address of Farley Place. As well as some unnamed, unnumbered dwellings, these are Lewis Cottage, Ada Cottage and Rose Cottage in FARLEY PLACE(in 1881). Rose Hill, Ramsgate, is said to be named after roses planted by a member of the Farley family who brought them from Australia after a voyage with convicts to New South Wales. Presented to the Ramsgate Public Library by the family of the late Mrs E.M. Powles, (nee Farley). April 1963.

Opposite Coleman's Yard once stood Farley's Boat Yard, a name retained until about 1866 when it was superseded by Leopold Street. Farley Place was then the name given to a small area parallel with Leopold Street and only disappeared when the whole area was demolished inn 1938. Rose Cottage and a small Baptist Chapel bearing the date 1724 were pulled down under this clearance scheme."

Further family tradition also states; MATTHEW FARLEY and RIPERATA MAUMAU TE TUPUA were married in 1840 by Rev JEAN BAPTISTE PETITJEAN a FRENCH CATHOLIC missionary, at RUSSELL, BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, this has not been proven as the original records have not been found and must be lost.(Though records were said to be transferred to the Catholic Church at MITIMITI, which needs to be followed up.)

MATTHEW FARLEY's father was said to have been of FRENCH HUGUENOT descent.

Most our lineage back through him is related to us by HENRY MATTHEW STOWELL, in his many writings and genealogies. Henry Mathew Stowell who also went by the Native Maori name of HARE HONGI as he was a Quarter Maori being the son of MATTHEW FARLEYS daughter SUSAN MARELLA FARLEY (HUHANA) and JOHN SHEPPARD STOWELL an AMERICAN. Amongst our family tradition some stories have been embellished and some Romantic fantasy added.

HENRY MATTHEW STOWELL also writes that MATTHEW was buried at TE RAWHITI, just after HONE HEKE attacked RUSSELL in the BAY OF ISLANDS. A family letter of H.M. STOWELL (HARE HONGI) tells us that he was buried at OMAKIWI ; an obscure place, which is a little cove and bay/beach on the road from RUSSELL to TE RAWHITI, at this place is also a private hidden burial ground and an old burial ground with some ROMAN CATHOLIC traditions.

From PETI AHITAPU The catholic priests and others were sent to Rawhiti to Moka's marae at OMAKIWI for safety during the wars of 1845. One of Moka daughters Hoki from Rawhiti was the first maori nun in the country. Our gg fathers Moka, Rewa and Wharerahi were closely associated with Pompallier and the catholic church. We are doing a lot of research on the catholic associations with our tupuna and hapu. My daughter is a fluent speaker and reader of French so she is helping out translating French archival documents from Paris. There was still a strong Catholic settlement at OMAKIWI in 1889 as the Very Rev DR MACDONALD visited there in 1889.(July 1889 Colonial Notes NZ TABLET).

HIRAMAI PIRIPO Piripo gave evidence at the Investigation of title to the RAWHITI lands in the Bay of Islands. He talked about his father being from Wanganui or Taranaki and about Ri Maumau his mother and her rights to Rawhiti and Waimate North. Also about Matthew Farley who was buried at the urupa at OMAKIWI, MOKA'S marae. This urupa is now under water. Those that could be were interred in the new urupa up the hill during the early 1900's Te Rautawa looks toward Kororareka and Waimate North.

I have been to this Urupa with a local Kaumatua and visted the actual graves.

Some of the descendants of MAKERE FARLEY also say that MATTHEW returned to ENGLAND, (about 1845?) these same descendants say that he was a wheelwright by occupation, and that he sent trunks of clothes back for his GIRLS and family back in NEW ZEALAND. It is possible that MATTHEW deserted left his family and his MAORI WIFE behind in NEW ZEALAND and did go back to ENGLAND or AUSTRALIA that a story of his death was created by the local MAORI for reasons of MANA and honour and dignity or also to satisfy the curious and the authorities. War had just broken out between MATTHEW'S MAORI wife's tribe and the Europeans. (HONE HEKE's attack on RUSSELL)(1845) There are no records in England of him returning there.

During the Maori Wars MATTHEW was unable to honourably fight against his own countrymen or his wife RI MAUMAU's family so he was allowed to sit out the hostilities on an Island, possibly Motukaraka Island.(Not sure where this story originated)

Some of the descendants of SUSAN FARLEY have included the second name BROMLEY as a second given name, which could have some significance if MATTHEW's mother was a BROMLEY, or if MATTHEW's parents once came from BROMLEY, part of the greater London Area and Kent.