Alexander Shaw went to work at the Thames goldfields, seemingly as a miner.  Originally his intention was to manufacture linen from tthe flax he'd been led to believe grew wild in New Zealand.  Unfortunately the Irish linen was produced from an entirely different variety of flax, none of which grew in this new and different locality.  He, of necessity, turned his had to mining for his livelihood.

Whilst working in Thames a landslide claimed the lives of a women and her child.  The lady was Mary Gordon, a sister to Esther Logan on "Dauntless" Logan clan.  Through this passing knowledge Alexander volunteered to be the bearer of the sad tidings to the family.  The visit to the Logans began the acquaintanceship and eventual marriage to Esther Logan.  The ceremony took place at the residence of Mr Logan in Wyndham Street, Auckland, on the 12th of March, 1870.

According to the family bible they moved from Auckland to Howick in 1871 after the birth of their daughter Eleanor Essie.  He was employed at Grangers Brickyards on the Whitford creek.  His day commenced by walking to Shelly Park and from there rowing by boat to his work place.  He was also employed at the Eastern Beach lime kilns.  All his other five children were born in their Drake Street home in Howick.

It was in 1872 on the 25th of November Alexander purchased two allotments of land (number 214 and 215) from a Mr Burns for which he paid forty pounds.  It was on 214 the original Drake Street residence was built.  Additional allotments were obtained in subsequent years.  Numbers 213 on 4th of June1874, from George Wagstaff Snr (the site of the second Drake Street homestead).  Allotments 217 and 218 on the 6th of November 1878 for thirty-seven pounds ten shillings and allotment 216 on 16th of December 1904 for thirty pounds.

The children, Eleanor and Mary were educated at Pakuranga Primary School, Alexander, George, John and Herbert attended the Howick Primary School.

Eleanor Essie Shaw, the eldest girl of Alexander and Esther was born in 1870, at Karangahape Road and was raised in Howick assisting her parents about the farm doing milking and general farm duties that were to stand in her stead in the hardship her marriage was to undergo.

In her pre-marriage days she worked in Cambridge and on occasion was required to travel to Opotiki return by horseback, a feat of no mean undertaking in those days.  She married Thomas Stafford in 1897 whom she met in Howick when the Stafford Family settled there after their arrival from England.  They in turn moved to Gisborne where five of their seven children were born.  Then, as now, work was always scarce, and Thomas was obliged to travel to the meat works at Hicks Bay (now non existent), Motu bush and the local gas works or where-ever for employment.  Eleanor of necessity was to cope alone in his absences.  To visit her parents required a trip by sea to Auckland which she made when able.  In 1909 after about twelve years in Gisborne they returned to Auckland, settling in New Lynn where their two youngest children were born.  Of the children, Annie the eldest married three times with her issue from the first marriage to Walter Lewis.  Esther, the second child, who married Alex Forsyth, had a daughter Betty.  Harry Norman the senior sone was born in Gisborne but moved to Auckland as a child.  In adulthood established a building company at Mt. Albert.  He married Dorothy Mary Oag in 1921, an English person from Oldham who arrived in New Zealand in 1908.  Their two sons were John Harry and Donald Murray.  The family moved to Manawaru (near Te Aroha) where he owned and operated a General Store and Post Office for several years.  In 1934, after moving to Rotorua, Harry established a menswear store which he operated until his death in 1968.  John the elder son of Harry and Dorothy married Edith Brown and their issue were three sons, John, Murray and Andrew.

Donald Murray the younger of Harry's two sons, like his brother was born in Auckland.  He was educated at Rotorua and Kings College Auckland.  He worked with his father until his father's death in 1968.  His marriage to Nancy Steel took place in 1947 at Te Puke.  Donald established the City of Rotorua museum in 1969 and has been deeply involved in Maori affairs, language translation and land arbitration up to the present time (1988).  He became a journalist in 1972 which he has remained to date.  His wife Nancy was a Secretary/Journalist to a Rotorua Newspaper prior to their marriage, and since has been involved in various aspects of the tourist industry.  They had two children, Jennifer Mary and Macdonald Harry.  Jennifer, the only one to marry has three children.

Irene Eleanor the fourth child of Eleanor Essie was born in 1903 and is since deceased.  She married Willie Mead, a carpenter, and is survived by three children, Alison, Brian and Margaret.  Six grandchildren issued, two to Alison and four to Brian.
Olive May, Eleanot's fourth daughter and fifth child was born in 1907, married Robert Donaldson to whom she had two sons Robert Thomas and Gordon.  Five grandchildren issued from Robert.  Thomas Arnold Stafford, the penultimate descendant of Eleanor Essie was born in Auckland in 1910. As an apprentice carpenter was in the employ of Oag and Staffprd a firm embedded in the family and situated in Auckland he later entered into partnership in an auctioneering business in Rotorua.  Handfords Limited dealt in second hand items and real estate and operated in conjunction "Arnolds Tearooms".  Arnold married Ruth McCraken and were blessed with two daughters.  There were three grandchildren from Beverley Ruth and two great grandchildren from their two sons Robert and Stephen while Judith Esther provided two further grandchildren.  Alison Ida the youngest child of Eleanor Essie was born in 1913 and is the only remaining Stafford of that generation.  Her marriage to Jack Carr resulted in producing two progeny, Eleanor Margaret and John.  Four grandchildren arrived, two boys for Eleanor and a girl and boy to John.

Mary Wagstaff - nee Shaw was born in 1872 married George Wagstaff jnr (his father had sold property to Alexander Shaw) the marriage taking place in 1890.  George was the Howick village blacksmith who operated a forge in Howe Street previously owned by his father.  George jnr built a house near to the forge into which they moved after their marriage.  This, their home, was later extended to include two further rooms and a verandah after the only child Evelyn Beatrice was born in 1901.  It remained their home until it was sold in 1958.  George passed away in 1917 having suffered cancer accelerated by an accident suffered at Crawfords horse bus stables.  Mary continued to support herself by milking three cows and keeping poultry on the four acres of land adjoining the forge.  Evelyn, her daughter, married Albert (Bert) Brickell who in turn had two children, Earnest and Mary.  Earnest became an apprenticed engineer to "Kew Steel" in Ellerslie - a business he was ultimately to own in partnership for a number of years.  After the partnership was dissolved, Earnest moved the business to Onehunga which he continues today to operate on his own behalf.  He married Lynette Moody and they were graced with two sons Christopher and Richard.  Mary Brickell was born in Howick in 1934 and later married George McCarthy.  She presently resides at Matakana, a riding in the District of Rodney.  Of her two children Colleen and Warwick only Colleen is married.  She presented her mother with her only grandchild Alexander.

 

Alexander Shaw jnr was born in Howick in 1875 went to work after leaving primary school at the age of 14 and worked for a while alongside his father at the brickworks.  Eventually he and his brother Jack (John) purchased a team of horses and commenced contracting to local farmers.  As a result of a stable fire and a crop failure they could not fulfil their lease requirements, an Aunt, a member of the Logan family placed a lien on the property leased by Alexander and Jack and further property owned by their father.  The partnership was dissolved and lien removed after the settlement was made with Alexander Shaw senior.  In his youth Alexander junior was a parishioner and bellringer at All Saints Anglican Church Howick, where he met his wife to be, Irene Sayers Boler the daughter of the Vicar.  Alexander moved to the South Island for a period before returning to the North to marry Irene Boler at Christs Church Russell.  The officiating Vicar being none other than the brides father the Rev Boler.  The returned to Auckland where they successfully settled and raised a family of six children.  He commenced work as a foreman at the clay pits of Gardner and Parkers brickworks and remained in this capacity for the rest of his working life.  He was appointed to the New Lynn Roads board, (a councillor as we would know today) a position held in conjunction with Church wardenship.  For sixty years he maintained his membershipof the Loyal Howick Oddfellows Lodge.  A keen gardener he was long remembered for his self supporting immaculate property at the bottom of Rata Street.  Trees were grafted to produce apples and pears from the same stock.  A tennis court and club were on his property which he originated and managed.  He also provided a diving board off the Whau creek bank for use of the neighbouring families.  It was an area enjoyed by many and it always carried an air of excitement for young and old.  Irene, his wife an earnest and dedicated worked did much to achieve this.  The loss of this property to the borough of New Lynn was not only a tragedy but a seeming collusiveblot on the part played by the New Lynn Council.  With this misfortune behind them Irene and Alexander relocated on Lynwood Road, New Lynn where they re-established their garden, once again grafting fruit and nurturing native trees.  He passed away in 1952.  His six children comprised of three girls, followed by three boys.  Phyllis married twice with issue of three progeny from the first marriage to Arthur Riley.  Two girls (who produced six grandchildren) and a son without issue.  Marion, the second child married Allan Goldsmith and they also produced three children, two of whom produced four grandchildren.

 

Winifred (Winsome) married Owen Young and they in turn produced four children whose issue in turn provided them with fifteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  

Robert the eldest son was born in the year 1911. Attended New Lynn School and Seddon Memorial Technical College.  Was an apprenticed baker who later turned to farming in the Helensville district in 1939 on his father-in-laws property after his marriage to Nancye Williams.  They raised five children, three sons and two daughters who in turn provided them with thirteen grandchildren.  Robert, of jovial and enthusiastic manner was soon involved with civic and cultural activities such as church vestry, school committee and the Board of Governors of the Kaipara College in which he was an inaugural member. After selling the farm the family moved to Parkhurst in 1967 and he was employed at the Kaipara Dairy Company in its hardware department.  He was well known in the district with his gift for water divining.  They both celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary before Robert passed away in 1987.

Paul Shaw, the fifth child of the marriage, was born in 1913 at Remuera.  He attended the New Lynn Primary School and Mt Albert Grammar School.  His employment commenced as a motor mechanic with Winstones of Auckland where he rather sadly lost his lower right arm in a work related accident in 1941.  He married Anita Mills in 1938 and between them raised a family of five daughters. After his accident Paul became a watchman with the Mangere United States Army Camp and subsequently the Auckland Glass works.  Paul and Anita were to operate a grocery/dairy in Mangere at Massey Road for several years until Paul went into business with a garage workshop on the corner of Weymouth and Great South Roads, Manurewa.  At this time they resided in the village of Weymouth.  A staunch supporter of Papakura Rugby League was a committee member of that club and a delegate to the Auckland Parent body. As a sports enthusiast he was also a committee member and official of the Auckland cash cycling club, watched tennis and cricket with relish.  He in the meantime moved  to Papatoetoe and ultimately to Waihi on retirement.  He too had the latent Shaw instinct for the land enjoyed his garden until he too passed away.  His five daughters provided for him his thirteen grandchildren.

Norman Steventon Shaw.  Born 1914 was the last of Alexander and Irene's  children.  Was educated at New Lynn Primary School.  From there he was to marticulate from Mt Albert Grammar, an honour equivalent to the present University entrance.  From this he went to Turners and Growers Auckland as a booking clerk.  With his fine mental ability succeeded to hear auctioneer.  His love of flying and ambition to be a pilot directed him to join the Royal New Zealand Airforce.  He was married to Bernice Brookes in 1938 and their first and only offspring was Alison Jean born in 1941  His astuteness carried him to the top of his course while training with the R.N.Z.A.F obtaining for him his wings and the fulfillment of his ambition.  It was tragic the he was to lose his life "in action" in England toward the end of the second world war in 1945.  His daughter Alison married Terry Kelso in 196 and had he lived Norman would have enjoyed the four very talented grandchildren all of whom seem to have similar academic capability.

 

Jack (John) went to work, after leaving school at the age of 14, for Captain Hattaway of Botany Road Howick doing general farm duties.  His pay was sixteen shillings per week.  Through encouragement from Alexander senior and other local farmers, Jack (John) and now Herbert established a partnership continuing where the previous one had left off.  The farm contracting commitment soon expanded into general contracting, embracing roadmaking and freight services to Auckland as and when required.  Metal for roading was brought to Little Buckland Beach by barge, then contractually carted from there.  With horses to graze they purchased pieces of land (Union and Rodney St), (Nelson St to Elliot St), (Union Rd and Vincent St) as well as allotments in Drake St.  Further grazing requirements saw the purchase of 42 acres in 1922 in Gills Rd, Pakuranga which in 1925 was set as a town milk supply farm.  It was operated by a sharemilker who milked their thirty cows by hand.  The contracting business continued with a purchase of a solid tyred International truck later to be replaced with a dual wheel International truck and used for contract with local councils for seven shillings per hour.  The speed limit was 19 miles per hour.

Meantime Jack (John) married Jessie Andrew and had five children.  One lived for only a single day.  The other four attended Howick primary school, with only the girls continuing latterly at Pakuranga primary school.  In 1932 the two boys, Logan and Andrew left school at the same time, being 15 and 14 years of age respectively, to work alongside their father and uncle in the general farm duties of their contracting business.  Without the services of the sharemilker in 1935 Logan and Andrew assumed control and increased the herd a further 15 cows to 45. In 1935 a milking machine was installed and a further 109 acres of land purchased in 1938 from the Guy estate on Botany Road Howick. It was an unfenced property with 40 acres of gorse, an old homestead and no power supply.  It wasn't until 1942 that a cow shed was built and power connected.  At this time Logan commenced a three year period of service in the army and the property was alternately grazed by the same herd.  In 1947 and 1948, Herbert and then Jack (John) passed away.  Logan and Andrew, shortly afterward, maintained a herd on each property with a sharemilker tending the Botany Road herd.  There were more land purchases made to add to the Pakuranga end of the estate, but from 1961 the Howick blocks were gradually sold terminating the Howick/Drake Street association which had lasted in excess of 100 years.  Eventually the remaining land all sold.  In the meantime Logan had purchased a piece of land at Sim Road, Karaka and an additional small block in Paerata where he and his wife Audrey moved to. It is from here he administered the operation of his dairy farm at Sim Road. Logan resided there till his death.  Audrey passed away in 1984 leaving a daughter Karen, and son John and four grandchildren.  

In the intervening years Andrew married Margaret Swaffield.  They had three children, Murray, Graham and Heather all of whom married and presented the parents with eight grandchildren. Seven boys and a girl.  The two sons of Andrew, Murray and Graham continued the farming operation that their father established on moving from Howick.

The two daughters of John (Jack) and Jessie Shaw (Margaret and Jessie) on the death of their Mother in 1937 stayed home to look after the home and family until their marriages.

Margaret Shaw, the daughter of Jack married Gordon Rickit and had four children, John, Logan, Howard and Mary.  The family settled in the Waikato.  The children presented ten grandchildren to their parents who are now deceased.

Jessie Shaw married Frank Hancock and five children issued from the union.  All presently reside in the Howick district.  Philip, Barry, Noel, Judith and Bryan were to have a total of eleven children, for their grandfather was still living at Bucklands Beach after their grandmother passed away in 1982.

George William, one of the original Shaw generation never married and lived most of his life in the South Island.  Returning to Howick to live with is sister Mary until his death in 1953 at the age of 75 years.

Herbert Nathaneal never married, but lived and worked with his brother Jack all his life until he passed away in 1047 at the age of 63 years.

CONCLUSION: the preceeding narrative is a brief articulation of what may be a typical family that is not unique in New Zealands early history.  It is simply a story of the settlement of an emerging country in whose background lies the memory of staunch and stoic builders of character and determination that makes the land what it is today.

Compiled and presented by Robert Bissett Snr.