William Sansom (1844 - 1922)

Born 5 Jun 1844 in Peckham, Surrey

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Margaret (Wright) Sansom — married 24 Nov 1864 in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 21 Sep 1922 at age 78 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Windsor [send private message]

Biography

William Sansom was born in 1844 in England. His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1844 at Camberwell, Surrey (London). He was the son of William Sansom and Ann Elliott.

In 1857, he migrated with his parents and siblings to Canterbury, New Zealand. They sailed on the ship Ashburton, leaving London on 7 August 1857 and arriving at Wellington on 26 November (remaining for 7 weeks), and Lyttelton on 15 January 1858. In one passenger list, they were listed as William and Ann Samson and 8 children; in an arrival notice in the Lyttelton Times, they were Mr and Mrs Sanson and 6 children.

On 24 November 1864, he married Sarah Margaret Wright.

After working for a butcher's firm, he established a coaching service in North Canterbury. He was later a director of the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, having helped bring the firm out of liquidation.

On 16 January 1902 at Christchurch, he married Mrs Lucy Willis.

He passed away on 21 September 1922, aged 78.

Sources

• General Register Office, UK search for birth reg., Volume 04, Page 73, birth registered in 1844, J (2nd) Quarter in Camberwell, William Samson, mother's maiden surname Elliott.
• Passenger list via Rootsweb, ship Ashburton sailed London 7 August 1857, arrived Wellington 26 November 1857, Lyttelton 15 January 1858; Steerage Passengers, Families and Children; Samson, William, Ann, and 8 children.
• Lyttelton Times, 16 January 1858, page 4, Shipping News via Papers Past, 15 January; ship Ashburton, 589 tons, King [captain], from London via Wellington. Passengers including Mr and Mrs Sanson and 6 children; [at bottom] the Ashburton left Wellington on Wednesday evening; lay 7 weeks in Wellington harbour, during which time a new mizen-mast was fitted.
• New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages search for marriage reg., 1864/7821, marriage of Sarah Margaret Wright and William Sanson, date 24 November 1864 [adjust search dates to verify.]
• New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages search for marriage reg., 1902/870, marriage of Lucy Willis and William Sanson, date 16 January 1902 [adjust search dates to verify.]
• Press, 23 January 1902, Page 1, Marriage via Papers Past, marriage on 16 January [1902] at the residence of the bride, by the Rev. C. H. Lawes, B.A., William Sansom, Riverdale, Southbrook, to Lucy Willis, Matipui, East belt, Christchurch.
• New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages search for death reg., 1922/7254, death of William Sansom, age 78Y, date of death 21 September 1922 [adjust search dates to verify.]
• Press, 22 September 1922, Page 9, Obituary via Papers Past, obituary of William Sansom, aged 78; one of the best known public men in North Canterbury; arrived with his parents by the ship Ashburton in 1857; worked for a butchering firm; in 1864, established a far-reaching and profitable coaching business, starting with mail between Kaiapoi and Rangiora, and extended to Oxford; in 1867, with Samuel Lee, bought out Cobb and Coy's line of coaches between Christchurch and Leithfield, subsequently extending the run to Hurunui; the firm had all the mail contracts in North Canterbury for some years; Mr Sansom was involved with dealing with a stud of about 60 horses and attending to the finances of the line and managing the staff; the coaching service has never been equalled in punctuality and attention to detail; he later retired from the road and was one of 12 subscribers who each contributed £1000 to purchase the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company which was in liquidation; he also purchased a 300 acre farm at Southbrook and was a very successful sheep breeder; disposed of the farm to the late William Smith and retired to Christchurch, remaining a director of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company; he was a member of the Masonic Craft, and was W. M. of the Ashley Lodge 1880-1; in 1864, he was married to the daughter of the late William Wright, and had a family of 7 children; after his wife's death he married Mrs Willis of Akaroa, who survives him.