Family History (4) Smith Family in New Zealand

After William death, Hannah became the head of the family and lived at Birchlands for most of the next 24 years, surrounded by her children. She died in Ashburton in 1926.

Hannah’s obituary described her as a ‘fine old lady’ displaying the ‘best Victorian traits’ and said that although she was ‘not out of sympathy with modern times’ she ‘disliked frivolity and weakness’.

Photo: Tottie’s wedding, 1908. Tottie is standing far left. Hannah sitting 3rd from right. 'Willie' is standing behind Hannah, 3rd from right.

‘Willie’ became established as a land-owning farmer with financial help from his mother Hannah. He married Catherine (‘Kate’) Harvey in 1900 and they had 6 children, including Hannah Elizabeth (1910-1962) and my grandfather Duncan Graham (1914-1974),

Photo: 'Willie' (William Tayler Smith junior) and Catherine Harvey, 1900

In 1826 Willie bought the sheep station Hakataramea Downs. This is a high-country sheep farm towards the top of the Hakataramea valley. The stone farm-house was first built in 1858 and extended in 1880?.

Photo: Hannah Elizabeth’s wedding, 1939. Willie (seated left), Kate (seated right) and their children (from left to right) Duncan, Nellie, Jack, Allan, Hannah and Ted.

Willie died in 1945 and after that my grandfather Duncan Graham farmed at Hakataramea Downs with his brother and then his sons until his death in 1974.

Photo: Farmhouse at Hakataramea Downs, 2002.

My father, Mervyn Graham, was born in 1937 and grew up on the farm at Haka Downs before moving to Dunedin. My parents still own the stone farm buildings which they use as a holiday house.

Photo: Hakataramea Downs, 2002

My father did not have any siblings or first cousins called Hannah. In my generation, I have a cousin called Johanna and she has a daughter Hannah Rose who was born in 1999. Also my grandfather, my father and myself all have the middle name of 'Graham', after the family name of our ancestor Hannah Graham.

Photo: The ‘cook shop‘ at Hakataramea Downs. Looking south-east down the valley.

Hannahs family tree (Smith & Graham families)

8. James Graham 1740-1829. Married Anne Filmer 1739-1805 St Lukes Old Street, London
7. John Bond Graham 1766-1834. Married Margaret Tayler 1766-1851 St Lukes , Old St, London, 1791
6. William Graham 1809-1989 Married Hannah Austin 1808-1849, St Boltophs, Aldersgate London, 1830. Arrived Lyttleton, New Zealand 1851
5. Hannah Graham 1845-1926

8. William Smith married Margaret Frazer, 1751, Rothiemay Scotland
7. Charles Smith. Born1770 Rothiemay, died 1852, .Elgin, Scotland
6. John Smith 1807-1887, Rothiemay, Scotland. Farmer
5. William Taylor Smith 1844 1902. Arrived Lyttleton, New Zealand, 1863.
Married Hannah Graham, Lyttleton 1869. Sheep farmer.
4. William Taylor Smith (Willie) 1875-1945. Sheep farmer.
3. Duncan Graham Smith (1914-1974). Sheep farmer.
2. Mervyn Graham Smith 1937- . Not a sheep farmer
1. Me.
0. Hanna Smith S.  2007-