Dent family connections
In 1863 the Mangatawhiri Stream, a tributary of the Waikato River was the frontier between the European settlers and the Kingite Maori. The Kingites' wished to retain their tribal lands and were resisting European overtures to sell them land. The colonial government saw this refusal to sell land as a threat to their authority and General Cameron's troops crossed the Mangatawhiri stream in July 1863, signalling the start of the war in the Waikato.
Although, to the untrained eye, the Waikato was heavily forested hills and bracken/peat/swampy lowlands it was obviously seen as valuable farmland by the colonial government. The initial intention may just have been to force the Maori occupiers to accept the government's desire to allow Europeans to purchase blocks of their land but the conflict eventually resulted in large portions of Maori land being confiscated. The militia settlers were being given some of the confiscated land under the terms of their service while some was also sold to other interested settlers and speculators.
The militia settlers were being offered land (August 1863 gazetted notice) less than a month after the initial invasion and before the government had either purchased land or legally confiscated it. Legislation allowing land confiscation was not passed until December 1863. The act stated " that some adequate provisions should be made for the permanent protection and security of the well-disposed inhabitants of both races, for the prevention of future insurrection or rebellion, and for the establishment and maintenance of Her Majesty's authority, and of law and order throughout the colony."
A year after the crossing of the Mangatawhiri an advance party of about a quarter of the enlisted men of the 4th regiment of Waikato militia travelled by barge up the Waikato River from the Mangatawhiri Stream. They arrived at what was to become Hamilton, about noon on Wednesday 24 August 1864, and set up camp. Ensign John Crawford was the first man ashore, Private Grove Vowless the 2nd and Private Josiah/Joshua Foster the next. The advance party consisted of men from the 4th Company. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Companies of the 4th Regiment did not arrive in Hamilton until later that year.
Each man, according to his rank, was entitled to pay, rations and allowances until authorized by the government to take possession of his land, when he would be released from service.
Each of the settlements was to comprise not less than 100 town allotments and 100 farm sections. The size of the farm allocation was based on each man's rank in the militia. A Field Officer was to receive 400 acres, a Captain 300 acres, reducing through the ranks down to a Sergeant receiving 80 acres and a private 50 acres.
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- Australian enrolments for all regiments - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
- name, regiment and regimental number
date and place of enrolment
occupation
- The Nominal and Descriptive Roll for the 4th regiment:
- Australian and New Zealand enrolments
name and regimental number
date and place of enrolment
parish and county of birth
occupation
age and height
marriage status
ship to New Zealand
For most of the men of the 4th regiment there are also details of eye and hair colour, religious denomination and land grants taken from other files. If you are interested in this information for any man of the 4th Waikato regiment please send an E-mail with their name and regimental number and I will send any additional details I have.
Many men of the Waikato Militia received the New Zealand War Medal. A list of the nominations for this medal and recipients from the Waikato Regiments is available on line. In addition to the Waikato Regiments this list also includes recipients from the Armed Constabulary, Wellington Militia & Rifles, Forest Rangers plus the 1860 - 1870 deaths from these units and the Waikato Regiments.
NOTE: This image is the property of Noble Numismatics Pty Ltd and is displayed with their permission. It is not to be copied, or used in any form, without their authority.