Tuesday 10 February 2015

Frederick Hannken comes to New Zealand

This post is for those who have been asking for information on how the HANNKEN or HANNCHEN family came to New Zealand, and their relationship to the Bartley name.

Our thanks go to all the Otto and Hannken researchers who have made such generous contributions to the Archive, particularly during the 1980’s and 1990’s. Mr J Hannken of Auckland was at the forefront of online access to family material. This account of the early years in New Zealand is based on his research.

Edward Bartley’s wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Frederick HANNKEN. She was born in Sydney in 1838.

Frederick Charles HANNKEN was born in Bremen, Germany in December 1809. His father Fabus was a farmer.[i]
As an adult Frederick immigrated to England. He left London on 9 April 1835 on board SS PERSIAN. He was heading for New South Wales. The ship made land fall in Port Jackson on 25 November 1835.
When he arrived Frederick met George OTTO and his family, who had come to Australia two years earlier. George had German ancestry too. The eldest daughter,Eliza Otto, attracted Frederick’s attention.

George Henry Blackfield OTTO was born in 1771 in London. He served in the Napoleonic Wars as part of the commissariat. His wife was a native of Jersey, Channel Islands. He came to Port Jackson 11 August 1833 on SS Bussorah Merchant.

SS Bussorah,Merchant

George Otto died on 6 July 1836. His wife Eliza NICOLLE then remarried, to James RAMPLING.[ii]
Eliza Otto

 Frederick and Eliza OTTO married 13 November 1837.  
Frederick and his mother in law travelled to New Zealand on SS Diana, arriving 14 August 1838. They landed at Korororeka in the Bay of Islands. The troubles there dissuaded them from the likelihood of good prospects in the North. They moved on to Auckland. 
That place was also in a state of flux. Hobson’s selection of Auckland as a capital was still more than a year in the future.
Meanwhile Frederick’s first child Elizabeth Hannken, the future wife of Edward Bartley, was born in Sydney in 1838. 
Mrs Rampling returned to Sydney. 
Frederick went on to Coromandel where he purchased land. This purchase was later ratified by Proclamation.[iii]
The ship Diana came to NZ twice in 1840. The second voyage, in June 1840, included amongst her passengers: Eliza Hannken  and baby Elizabeth, , her mother Mrs Rampling and the GIMBEL family. Her sister Susanna Otto had married George Gimbel in Sydney in 1834.
The Gimbels settled in Auckland with their two young children. 
Frederick’s family joined him in Coromandel. They remained there while Frederick manufactured and supplied roofing shingles to Auckland. They also ran a store. Their accommodation was a raupo hut.
Emma Hannken was born at Coromandel 19 March 1841. 
Demand for building materials in Auckland slackened during those early years of the 1840s. 

The Hannkens moved to Auckland in 1842, taking rented accommodation on Queen St.[iv] Auckland was an unsophisticated settlement and Queen St offered only basic accommodation.

Frederick’s original trade was tailoring, but there was little demand for that skill in Auckland at the time. He found work as a traveller selling household goods. Later that year, 1842, they moved back to Coromandel. He carried on his trading from there. Business was good for two years as his customer base was predominately Maori, but Auckland was growing meanwhile and they returned to live in West Queen St[v] in 1844.

Frederick began to work as a tailor and his young family was growing. Susan was born in 1843 and Rebecca in 1845. Matilda arrived two years later in 1847. That happy event was followed two months later by loss. First Emma died aged 6 and then in February 1848 the baby Matilda followed her. The Jury List for that year records the family resident in High St.

About 1850 the Hannken family settled on Queen St where they opened a general store. They remained there for the next 15 years.

Family connection to Coromandel continued. Clearing outwards from the port of Auckland in December 1857, Edward Bartley is amongst the party on this visit.


The reminiscences of Elizabeth Bartley, nee Hannken are included as pages on this blog. She describes there her early life in Coromandel and Auckland. 

Elizabeth Hannken, wife of Edward Bartley




[i] NZRBDM 1892/4
[ii] 21 November 1836
[iii] This Proclamation shall take effect from and after the date hereof -

Given under my hand and issued under the Public Seal of the Islands of New Zealand, at Auckland, in the Islands aforesaid this twenty seventh day of december in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three -

By His Excellency's command
Andrew Sinclair
Colonial Secretary

God Save the Queen!

Frederick Hannken
Land Deed Coromandel
Deed of Land
from the Native Chiefs
of New Zealand
to
Frederick Hanncken

Know all Men by these presents That we whose names and seals are hereunto subscribed and sit native Chiefs of New Zealand for and in consideration of the several articles mentioned or enclosed on the back hereof being of the value of Sixty Seven pounds sterling to us paid by Frederick Hanncken now residing at Coromandel Harbour on the coast of New Zealand aforesaid at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt hereby acknowledged Have and each and every of us Hath granted bargained sold assigned released and conveyed and by these presents Do and each and every of us Doth according to our respective shares and proportions grant bargain sell assign release and convey unto the said Frederick Hanncken His Heirs Executions Administrators and Afsigns All that piece or parcel of land lying situated being and having frontage to Coromandel Harbour and known by the names of Eohe Pukekara Matuaroa Waipas and being bounded on the     by a Creek known by the name of Pipitewai thence bearing on the     by Waipao and adjoining Mr J. Hanson and Fisher's allotment and bounded on the back by a Creek called Waipapa Together with all ways waters watercourses hedges ditches trees and appertenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining and all the estates right title and interest of us and each and every of us of in and to the same belonging To Have and To Hold the said piece or parcel of land with the appertenance unto the said Frederick Hanncken and his heirs To the use of the said Frederick Hanncken His Heirs and Assigns for ever And we do hereby for ourselves and our Heirs declare that we have not at any time heretofore sold or disposed of the said land or any part thereof to any person or persons whomsoever And we do here by covenant and declare that we have according to our respective shares and proportions good and lawful right to release and convey the same to the said Frederick Hanncken and His Heirs and that it shall be lawful for the said Frederick Hanncken and his Heirs and all persons claiming under him To Hold and enjoy the same without any molestation or disturbance from henceforth and for ever.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our Names and affixed our seals this Twelvth day of December in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty nine.


Signed Sealed and delivered
in the presence of the tenour of
the above having been faithfully
and clearly explained

Kotehui
Kohoropeta his Mark X

Witness
Wm Moores
Wm Grigg

Seventeen pairs of Blankets £17  "  0  "  0
Six pieces of Print 6  "  0  "  0
Two Great Coats 5  "  0  "  0
Two Kegs of Powder 7  " 10  "  0
Eight Cotton Shirts 1  "  8  "  0
Thirty Seven pounds of Tobacco 7  "  8  "  0
Six pairs of Trouser's 2  "  0  "  0
One Double Barrel Gun 10  "  0  "  0
Two Chests 2  "  0  "  0
Eight Cartouch Boxes 3  "  4  "  0
Two Handerchief 4  "  0
Two Cloth Caps 1  "  0  "  0
Two red Caps 10  "  0
Two pieces of Lead 14  "  0
Two Muskets 2  "  0  "  0
Three pieces print 3  "  0  "  0
  £69  "  2  "  0



[iv] Auckland Police Census 1842
[v] Now Swanson St