Dent family connections
Baptised 30 April 1815
St Mary's, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Died 19 October 1887, Hamilton, New Zealand
Buried in Hamilton, New Zealand
Mark, b. 1815, was illegitimate son of Thomas Dent, glover (John Dent and Son, Worcester) and Mary Coucher who was 15 when Mark was born. Thomas and Mary were not married at the time and it was arranged for Thomas' cousin Mark Dent and his wife Mary Jewell to raise Mark as their own child.
Both of Mark's adoptive parents died before his 4th birthday and his future education at Hanley Grammar was paid for by his birth mother, Mary Coucher. Thomas Dent and Mary Coucher had three other children, including John Coucher Dent, born 20 December 1819.
If this story is correct Mark's grandfather was John Dent, glove manufacturer (b. 1750 Worcester, Worcestershire, England) who founded John Dent and Son, Glove Makers, Worcester. Several members of the family, including Thomas, worked for the firm.
In 1830 two of John's sons, John and William, purchased the bulk of the Sudeley estate in Gloucestershire from George Pitt (Lord Rivers of Sudeley). They added the castle and 60 acres of land with a purchase from the Duke of Buckingham in 1837. On the death of John and William Sudeley passed to Mark's younger brother, John Coucher Dent.
The Register of Baptisms, parish of Hanley Castle in the County of Worcester; 30 April 1815 - Mark, son of Mark and Mary Dent - Abode, near the Hill - Trade, Labourer
Mark and Mary (nee Mary Jewell) both died in November 1818. Mark snr. is recorded as a blacksmith in Alfrick, Worcestershire, England 1806/1807 and later as a labourer, Hanley Castle. He appears to have been born 1774 in Cradley, Herefordshire, the son of David Dent and Elizabeth Edwards.
On 2 March 1819, four months after the death of Mark and Mary, young Mark's presumed parents, Thomas Dent and Mary Coucher, were married.
No official record has been found to confirm the adoption story and the trail ends without any confirmed connection between Mark Dent, blacksmith of Alfrick and Thomas Dent of Worcester.
In 1845 Mark was a member of the Auckland militia from which he volunteered for an artillery company to be attached to the 99th Regiment under the command of Colonel Despard. The 99th regiment arrived in the Bay of Islands on the "HMS Hazard", 10 June 1845 starting their march inland on 16 June. In late June 1845 Mark (a non-commissioned officer) took part in the battle for Ohaeawai Pa. The storming party was made up of 30 volunteers, British regular troops and Naval volunteers. The British suffered heavy losses in this battle - 40 were killed and 72 wounded. Mark was shot in the left thigh but was in action again, 10 January 1846, when Ruapekapeka Pa was besieged and shelled. He was granted the New Zealand War Medal for his service in these northern wars but it has not been established that Mark actually collected his medal.
It appears that Mark was still in New Zealand in January 1854 but by 1857 he was in Melbourne, Australia where he married (?) Sarah Caulkett the following year. Mark and Sarah's first two children Mark and Mary Martha were both born in Melbourne.
On 18 January 1864 Mark enlisted in Melbourne for the 4th regiment of the Waikato Militia and was promoted to Sergeant a fortnight later, 26 January 1864. He was 5 feet 4½ inches had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.
Regimental No. - 112
Date of enrollment - 18 January 1864, Melbourne Australia
Born, Parish - Hanley Castle
Born, County - Worcester
Trade or Calling - Veterinary Surgeon
Age at enlistment - 39
Mark, Sarah and their two children arrived in Auckland, New Zealand 22 February 1864 on the "Swiftsure". On 24 August 1864 an advance party of the militia set up their headquarters near the maori village of Kirikiriroa and this settlement, along with the surrounding area, was renamed Hamilton shortly after settlement.
Mark and Sarah's second son Duncan was, arguably, the first white child born in Hamilton - 23 January 1865, five months after the arrival of the militia. Mark and Sarah were, certainly, the first in the 4th regiment to have a child in Hamilton and be granted land there. They had eight children.
Mark was struck off pay, 1 April 1865, and placed in possession of his land, 80 acres country allotment and a one acre town section in Collingwood Street, Hamilton West.
Wednesday 19 October 1887, Mark died after 18 months senile decay. A brief news item appeared in the Waikato Times "After a long illness MARK DENT one of Hamilton's oldest identities passed peacefully away to rest yesterday at the ripe old age of 72." He was buried in the Hamilton West cemetery in an unmarked double depth plot which was also used to inter his youngest son, William, in 1932.
Mark Dent's illegitimate birth, his relationship to Dent Gloves and John Coucher Dent, is based on information from other family researchers - official records confirming his connection have not been found. A link to this page from another source does not indicate agreement with any statement made in that source.
