Sgt. Henry Brierly

BRIERLY Henry. Berhampore. Henry born 1804 at Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland, enlisted in 49th Reg. and served 21 yrs, including time at Spain, the Cape, then 12yrs in India and Afganistan, and finally 2 yrs in China. His height 5'10", black hair, grey eyes, fair complexion, a labourer of good character. Discharged at the end of service with a mdal and gratuity, a Sergeant. he married Catherine CONNELL aged 14yrs on 8 June 1829 in India. She was born Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. Her father was also a Sergeant with 49th Reg her mother Eleanor HEALY. Both her parents had died during the plague. Two children Catherine and William were born in India. They returned to Ireland where Thomas a b. 1846, Henry b. 1848 at London. They settled at Onehunga as well as Panmure and in 1853 held a Depasturing Licence at Onehunga. Henry was a committee member of the Provincial Council, he was also a Warden of the Hundred of Onehunga for several terms. The family was of the Church of Ireland and attended the Anglican Church Onehunga. He died at Onehunga on 30 March 1890 aged 86yrs according to the Pay Register and still owned his Allotment at Onehunga plus 60 acres at Maraetai. Catherine died 3yrs later (p. 123). Source: Biography from The Royal New Zealand Fencibles: 1874-1875.

Henry Brierly, was a Royal New Zealand Fencible who arrived in New Zealand with his wife and family in 1849. On 29 July 1851 Henry received his land grant (5A 158) which bordered Trafalgar Street, Auckland Road, Green Hill Street and Selwyn Street. Henry was elected Warden in 1858. The book 'The Onehunga Heritage' states that 'Henry Lavery, Henry Brierly and John Colledge were the last wardens to serve before the Highway board of the District of Onehunga took over' (p. 30). Source: http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/1332-samuel...

Henry was a shoemaker at Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland with a shoe and bootmakers shop firstly in Jail Street and then in Castle Street. In 1821 he signed up with the 49th Regiment and served overseas. He married in India and returned to the UK to be pensioned off in c.1842. On 16 June 1849 he and his family arrived in New Zealand as part of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles (djm).

BERHAMPORE, sailed from London on 7 Mar 1849, arriving in Auckland on 16 Jun 1849. The Berhampore was the seventh Fencible ship. Under the command of Capt John Jermyn Symonds (brother of Capt. Cornwallis Symonds from the Ann 1840) most of the 7th Detachment hailed from London, the Midlands, and a few from Scotland and Ireland. These Fencibles settled mainly Onehunga, Auckland. Reference: http://www.reocities.com/wlorac/berham49.txt