Hannah King (Hansen) Letheridge (1816 - 1907)

Born 11 Jan 1816 in Bay of Islands, Oihi, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of George Clapham — married about 1837 in Whangaroa, Northland, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 14 Apr 1907 at age 91 in Kawakawa, Far North District, Northland, New Zealand

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Biography

often referred to as "the first white girl born in New Zealand" she was in fact the second white child, Dinah Hall having been born before Hannah in the Bay of Islands. Click here [1] for a full biography for Hannah King (Hansen) Letheridge by Kath Hansen and Eric Hansen who write "Hannah King Hansen was born at Hohi on January 11th 1817. She was named after her aunt, Hannah King. Hannah was baptised by Rev Samuel Marsden in 1819. Amongst those baptised at the same time were her brother Thomas, cousins John and Jane King, and Dinah Hall."

Press 17th July 1897 page 7 [2] - A VERY OLD IDENTITY. - At different times claims have been made on behalf of several persons being the firstborn white man or woman in New Zealand. A correspondent residing at Russell, writes to the New Zealand Herald on behalf of Mrs. Letheridge as being the first-born white woman in New Zealand. He states that Mrs. Letheridge, who is now residing near Russell, is the eldest daughter of Mr. Thos. Hanson, son of Captain Thos. Hanson, of the brig Active. He first arrived in New Zealand on December 14th 1814, and one of his fellow passengers was the Rev. Samuel Marsden. After a sojourn of several months Mr. Thos. Hanson, jun., returned to Sydney, where he married Miss Elizabeth Toms (Tollis) of that city. The young couple immediately afterwards returned to New Zealand and settled at Oihi, where, eleven months later, their first child was born, the present Mrs. Letheridge, who maintains that she was born at Oihi on the 11th January, 1816. Mrs. Letheridge is still a hale and hearty woman, who thinks nothing of a four or five-mile walk and has for her age a wonderfully retentive memory. She is an excellent narrator, and has a perfect knowledge of the Maori language, usages, and customs ^[1].

Sources

1. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NORAG19490708.2.14?

DEATH - N.Z. Govt. B.d.M. index - 1907/1833 Letheridge Hannah King 91Y

• http://www.geni.com/people/Hannah-King-Letheridge-Hansen/6000000018791182178?through=6000000018791313111