Dent family connections
| Rank: Private |
Religion: Protestant |
Eyes, Hair, Complexion: Grey, Light Brown, Fair |
Birth Place, Trade, Height, Marital Status, Ship to NZ |
Mr John "Jackie" Davies was born in Birmingham of Welsh parents (he was shown in original documents as Davis but appears to have generally used the spelling, Davies). He enlisted in the militia after spending time in Victoria, Australia and the Otago goldfields. His town grant was on the corner of Firth and Cook Streets, Hamilton East but he sold this to buy equipment to develop his 50 acre allotment in River Road "Flag-staff Farm" on the northern extremity of the Hamilton suburb now named Flagstaff.
In May 1871 Jackie married Miss Jane Henry (the daughter of Robert Henry, a militiaman). Six years later, now with children of his own and on behalf of other residents, he asked that a school be sited in the district. Progress on provision of a school was slow so he decided to move, selling his allotment and acquiring 120 acres on the corner of Clarkin and Hukanui Roads. He successfully developed his new property "Lucerne" and from here his children attended the Hamilton East school, not too far distant.
In 1879 Jackie's brother-in-law David Henry married Deborah O'Neill, the second daughter of Edward O'Neill.
In 1889 a J Davis was one of the fifty settlers who planted a tree in Sydney Square, Hamilton East, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the militia's landing at Hamilton. This would appear to be John who did remain in Hamilton after his land grants but could possibly have been James Davies, another militiaman, who also received land. It is not known if James stayed in or around Hamilton after taking possession of his land. Jackie's brother-in-law (Peter Henry) and his mother-in-law (Maria O'Neill) also planted trees.