Andrew CORFIELD ¹

  General Notes:

Andrew Corfield was apprenticed as a wheelwright in 1863.
In 1874 he was living at Field Street Dwelling House, Wolverhampton. In 1875 he and his family emigrated to New Zealand, leaving London on 27th June on the clipper 'Waikato', the trip costing £36/5/-.
They arrived in Lyttleton on 3rd October 1875 . By 1880 they were living at Delwyn Street, Christchurch in the South Island and in 1882 Andrew owned land in Addington.
In April 1886 an MP suggested that land around Hokianga would be suitable for fruit culture and the raising of livestock. As a result of this, James Morrell and some friends decided to settle in the Waimamaku valley in the North Island. Morrell drew up a map from which would be settlers selected their plots of land. On the 23rd April 1887 a ballot was held and Andrew picked section 9 - 'All bush, back part hilly, but good land with a beautiful stream running through it'.
In 1887 the Corfield family left for Auckland, landing on the 26th October. They were all ill on the voyage and Albert was too ill to carry on with the trip so stayed in Onehunga near Auckland with his mother. Andrew and the two eldest sons left for Waimamaku arriving there on 7th November. Andrew exchanged his section with another ' nearly all flat bush land, a good section'.
The rest of the family, minus Albert who had now died, joined them on 21st November.
Andrew built up his farm raising poultry and growing potatoes, kumera and vegetables. He then introduced a small flock of sheep, the first in the region.
In March 1900 a dairy company to manufacture cheese was set up, Andrew pledged 15 of the 171 cows. He was elected a director and eventually the company was very successful, although it involved a lot of work.

  Notes:

• Census, 1851, Sunery Street, Bayton, Worcestershire.

• Census, 1861, High Street, Bayton, Worcestershire.

Andrew married Sarah Louise JEWSBURY, daughter of Joseph JEWSBURY and Eliza DUNN, on 7 Jul 1872 in Edgbaston.¹ (Sarah Louise JEWSBURY was born on 17 Dec 1850 in Wolverly, Wolverhampton. and died in 1927.)

  Marriage Notes:

Marriage registered in the quarter ending September 1872.
District: Kings N.
Volume: 6c
Page: 603