James Wratten (1812 - 1866)

Born 27 Sep 1812 in Detling, Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Chapman) Holdern — married 17 Jul 1842 in Detling, Kent, England

Descendants

Died 17 Nov 1866 at age 54 in Waimea West, Nelson, New Zealand

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Birth

Date: 27 SEP 1812 Birth Place: Detling, Kent, England Immigration: Sailed 2 September, 1842 on board the vessel "Prince of Wales" departed Gravesend, England. Arrived in Nelson, New Zealand 31 December 1842. This was the commencement of the colony in Nelson.

James Wratten was born 1812 in Hythe, Kent, England, was christened 2 Jul 1812 in St. Martin's Church, Detling, Kent, England, and died 17 Nov 1866 in Nelson, New Zealand. He was buried Abt 19 Nov 1866 in St Michael's Churchyard, Waimea West, Nelson, New Zealand. He married Elizabeth Chapman 17 Jul 1842 in Detling, Kent, England, daughter of Thomas Chapman and Mary Ann Hicks. ^[1] (who also immigrated to New Zealand on the same voyage).

Occupation: Agricultural Labourer James is said to have been a successful apple grower in New Zealand ^[2].

For a time, Mr James Wratten lived in the area in the wood known as Harley's hop-garden, and then moved to Waimea West, where his children attended Appleby School. ^[3]

The details of an inquest published on 5 November 1861, puts James as a witness to a fight at a stable that subsequently led to an impassioned manslaughter of Esau Russ by Joseph Ellis at Waimea West. ^[4] "Am a labourer and live at Waimea West. Knew Esau Russ who is now dead. That is his dead body now lying in the cottage in the rear of Mr Redwood's stable. Last saw him alive about 1/4 to 6 on Saturday night last; he was in company with J Ellis and myself in the harness room in Mr Redwood's stables. Thye were having some dispute about a little foal belonging to Mr Redwood; the dispute grew to a quarrel. Deceased was sitting on the table in the harness room, and Joseph Ellis came up to deceased in a threatening manner, as if to strike him; neither of them had any weapon in his hand then, prisoner did not strike him then. They both came out of the harness room into the archway of the stables and had further words of dispute and Ellis went up to him and struck him on the body with his fist. They tusselled together and fell down on the brick floor, grappling and striking each other as they best could. After a minute or two they seperated, and both got up , deceased rising first. Joseph Ellis renewed the fight by attacking the deceased, grappling him with his arms, both fell again. Cannot say which was undermost at first they got over each other alternately striking each other. Dont know how long this continued as I went away. Did not interfere to stop the fight, as I did not think it was anything serious, but they would fight it out and be done..." (The owner of the stables, Henry Redwood (Redwood-80) was a famous New Zealand farmer, politician and racehorse breeder and these stables in Waimea West, 15 miles from Nelson, were prominent through the racing industry. ^[5]).

According to the Nelson Evening Mail in 1938, "For a time, Mr James Wratten lived in the area in the wood known as Harley's Hop Garden, and then moved to Waimea West where [his son] Edward attended the Appleby School, the teacher at that time bein the later Mr Walter Ladley." ^[6]

Death

Death:

Date: 17 NOV 1866

Place: Waimea West, Nelson, New Zealand

Note

Note: Baptism: 2 July 1812, St Martin's Church, Detling, Kent.

Marriage

Husband: James Wratten

Wife: Elizabeth Chapman

Child: Eliza Grooby

Child: Thomas Wratten

Child: Mary Ann Wratten

Child: James Wratten

Child: Louisa Langford

Child: Percy William Wratten

Child: David Wratten

Child: Henry Wratten

Child: Elizabeth (Bessie) Wratten

Child: Edward Wratten

Child: UNKNOWN Wratten

Marriage:

Date: 17 July 1842

Place: Detling, Kent, England

Sources

• WikiTree profile Wratten-27 created through the import of Family Tree March 2011.ged on Jan 11, 2012 by Lorraine MacKenzie. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Lorraine and others.

1. ↑ http://gillywoodfamily.blogspot.com/2013/03/descendant-register-of-nicholas-wratten.html
2. ↑ https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/genealogy/PrinceofWales.htm
3. ↑ NELSON EVENING MAIL, VOLUME LXXII, 27 OCTOBER 1938, PAGE 8 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19381027.2.100
4. ↑ 31 December 1842,
5. ↑ https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2r7/redwood-henry
6. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19381027.2.100?end_date=31-12-1989&items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=James+Wratten&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1842