Family oral history says that our ancestor, John (Dailey/Daly/Daley) Hayes was born in Ballymena, Ireland and came to New Zealand in 1822/23 with his younger brother Thomas, who was drowned soon after between Bay of Islands and Whangaroa. John Hayes' presence in the Whangaroa/Kaeo area in 1835 is documented and his marriage to Sarah Mary Simpson and the birth of their children are well known and recorded. However, there is no evidence of his birth or arrival in New Zealand, or the suggestion that he was transported to Australia for larceny. There are too many John Hayes records in Ireland and Australia!
