William Dorset II JP (1802 - 1877)

Born 19 Aug 1802 in London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Charlotte Matilda (Bennett) Dorset — married 4 May 1841 in Southampton, Hampshire, England

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 1877 at age 74 in his residence, Tinakori Road, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand

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William Dorset II JP migrated from England to New Zealand.

Biography

William Dorset, Sr, Provincial Auditor, Officer of the New Zealand Company and Justice of the Peace, was an early New Zealand Settler who became "noted for his readiness on any occasion of need to perform Magisterial duties." He was one of four siblings who came out to New Zealand in the 1840s; of Tinakori Road, Wellington.

Background

William Dorset was the eldest son of Mary and John Dorset. He was born on 19 August 1802 in London.^[1]
He was baptised on 13 September 1802 at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, London.

Marriage and family

On 4 May 1841 in Southampton, Hampshire, he married Charlotte Matilda Bennett, with issue 12 children.

New Zealand

With three infant children the family immigrated to New Zealand onboard the Hope in 1846.^[2]

Voyages

New Zealand Spectator and Cooks Strait Guardian, 26 December 1846
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
English Shipping.
The Hope sailed from Gravesend the 30th July. <omitted>
[From the Nelson Examiner.] In the Hope, from London. — 240 kegs manufactures, <omitted>
Passengers, Miss Hercy & servant, Miss Lowe & servant, Mr & Mrs Dorset and three children, Miss Dorset, Mr Godfrey, Mr and Mrs Lyne.^[3]

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 9th January 1847
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
SAILED. January 3, barque Hope, 400, Marshall, for Wellington. Passengers, Mr and Mrs Dorset and family, Miss Hurcey and servant, and Mr and Mrs Fox.^[4]

Death and burial

He died on Monday 2 April 1877 at his residence in Tinakori Road, Kelburn, Wellington, aged 75.^[5]

He was buried on Wednesday 4 April 1877 in the Dorset Family Burial Ground in Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington.

Notes

Memorial: Resident of Wellington. Husband of Charlotte Matilda Dorset (1822-1901). Arrived in Wellington on the "Hope" in January 1847. Brother of Dr John Dorset (1807-1856). Succeeded his brother as Member of the Provincial Council. Purchased one acre of land (Section no 1007) at Waripori Street, but may also have had a house in upper Tinakori Road, since S. C. Brees in his engraving 'Tinakori Road' shows a house belonging to Mr (not Dr) Dorset. Father of Charlotte Maria Hickson. Obituary notice NZ Times, 3 April 1877. Buried in family plot at Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington. ^[6]

Observation: William's brother John Dorset came to New Zealand as Surgeon to The New Zealand Company, with "his personal friend", Colonel Wakefield aboard the Tory in 1839. Thus influenced to sail to Port Nicholson aboard the Hope in 1846 (arrived 7-1 - 1847), William Dorset set up his family town residence close to his brother's place in Thorndon.^[7]

Comment: Here in Wellington the Dorsets were regarded as "English gentlemen" by descent, their Dorset crest being a boar' head ^[8]

Obituary: It is with much regret that we record the death of Mr. W. Dorset, sen., which took place at his residence this morning at 6 o'clock. The deceased was one of our oldest settlers, having arrived here along with the earliest band of settlers in 1840. He was one of three brothers who all came out to Wellington at the same time. One of these brothers is at present settled in Taranaki, and the other, a Dr. Dorset, who died in Wellington some years ago, was a member of the first Provincial Council. The late Mr. W. Dorset for many years occupied the position of Provincial Auditor. He was also on the roll of Justices of the Peace, and became noted for his readiness on any occasion of need to perform Magisterial duties, which he discharged with the utmost fairness and lenity, ever leaning to mercy's side in his decisions. Courteous and gentle In demeanour, unobtrusive in manner, and yet possessing a wonderfully winning way with his intimates, the late Mr. Dorset was universally esteemed and loved. He was ever ready to do a kindly action and spoke ill of no human being. The deceased leaves a widow and large family, members of which occupy respectable positions in several parts of this province. He had exceeded the allotted span of three score years and ten," being at the time of his death nearly 75 years of age.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ 1841 England Census, Class: HO107; Piece: 738; Book: 1; Civil Parish: St Margaret; County: Middlesex; Enumeration District: 3; Folio: 43; Page: 5; Line: 14; GSU roll: 438839
2. ↑ New Zealand Spectator and Cooks Strait Guardian, Vol III, Issue 147, 26 Dec 1846, Page 2 Advertisements Col 3.[1]
3. ↑ New Zealand Spectator and Cooks Strait Guardian, Vol III, Issue 147, 26 Dec 1846, Page 2 Advertisements Col 3.[2]
4. ↑ Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Vol V, Issue 253, 9 Jan 1847.[3]
5. ↑ New Zealand Government, Internal Affairs. Birth, Death and Marriage Online - Historical Records. Birth Search Record Number 1877/456.[4]
6. ↑ Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. Alington, Margaret Hilda, 1920-2012 : Bolton Street Cemetery transcripts, notes and papers / compiled by Margaret Alington and others Ref: MS-Papers-2260-022. Memorials - Surnames Doi-Dru. "Dorset, William, 1802-1877" Also see article on John Dorset in DNZB / Scholefield (Vol 1, p218)[5]
7. ↑ G.F.Rockel. We Rockels. Published by subscription. ISBN 0-473-08037-0. pg 460 note 73
8. ↑ G.F.Rockel. We Rockels. Published by subscription. ISBN 0-473-08037-0. pg 460 (Letter from S. Rockel to G.F. Rockel 13-12-1975 RP).
9. ↑ National Library of New Zealand. Evening Post, Vol XV, Issue 76, 2 Apr 1877, Page 2. Obituary.[6].

• William Dorset (1802–1877), Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/84162938/person/46501241583/facts.

• Geni World Family Tree: https://www.geni.com/people/William-Dorset/6000000040235622501.

• Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169674035/william-dorset.