This week I have been in contact with descendants of Te Ruhi Taonui who are having a reunion later this year. (www.anihanareunion.com)
We have been discussing if our Susan Anderson is the daughter of John Havelock Anderson and Te Ruhi Taonui. Currently the descendents of Te Ruhi Taonui had only known that she had 2 sons (born about the same time as our Susan).
If we can confirm that Susan is another child – I am sure there may be members on this branch of the Stanaway Family Tree who may want to attend the above mentioned reunion – we will keep you posted!
Background taken from my correspondence
- Susan Stanaway (nee Anderson) is the wife of William Stanaway.
- From Susan’s Death certificate – we see she is recorded as having been born in the Hokianga (Unfortunately under the heading – parents we only have the fathers surname as Anderson).
- From the Clark family records – it stated that William had a “half cast Maori wife” – missing the fact that he too was of the same mix – but from a picture recently uncovered (from the Clark photo album) it looks as though he had more European features or was of a lighter skin colour than his wife, and that may have been why he was seen as European.
- From both the marriage and death certificates we have her being born about 1846-1848.
- The Clendon Census of the Hokianga in 1846 has only one Anderson – that being John Anderson with NW (Native Wife) and 2 children – listed as a carpenter. She may or may not have been one of these children listed. The next record was the Electoral Roll was in 1854 where he is still the only Anderson in the Hokianga – this unfortunately does not list children and spouses.
- John Havelock Anderson marries Te Ruhi Taonui (Teruhi Taonui)
- Te Ruhi Taonui was reported (by John Anderson) to be the half sister of Aperahama Taonui (have the same father) – That father being (Makoare) Te Taonui – chief of Te Popoto (the mother I do not have a record of – I am sure Te Taonui had a number of wives)
- Susan and William Stanaway had 15 children, they named one of her sons Abraham and another Thomas Anderson Stanaway.
- Two of her sons are buried at the Oturei Native Cemetery, Aratapu, Kaipara which I understand this Cemetery is on land gifted to Abraham Taonui (highly respected in Maori circles – google him) when he moved from Hokianga to the Kaipara.
- I have a copy of a letter written by Abraham (Aperaham) Taonui in 1873 written to the Superintendent of Auckland stating JJ Stanaway is a fit and proper person to hold a licence for the Tokatoka Hotel. JJ Stanaway being Susan’s father in law and Abraham Taonui being her half Uncle.
With John Anderson being the only Anderson in the Hokianga and Susan being born there – we have joined the dots – which means surly she must be the daughter of John Anderson and Te Ruhi Taonui?
Apart from doing a DNA test – I think this may be as good as we can get in establishing her parents – I am sure Capt. JJ Stanaway and Capt. John Anderson knew each other from when JJ Stanaway lived in the Hokianga, and that Susan and William may have met (or been set up) through their fathers.
If anyone else has information please let us know – leave a reply below.
For those history buffs – here is some more information
- Te Taonui’s uncle* was the famed Muriwai who died in 1828 (* see Aubz comments below)
- Te Taonui succeeded Muiwai to be chief of the Te Popoto
- He had another brother Te Huru – who was killed fighting Hone Heke
- Te Taonui fought Heke at Te Ahuahu – he captured the Pa there.
- One son was Aperahama – his mother was Hinuata (of Ngatirehia)
- Te Taonui was known also as “Makoare” – Macquarie being the English spelling adopted after his trip to Sydney with Samuel Marsden.
- Te Taonui signed the Treaty of Waitangi in the Hokianga.
Captain John James Stanaway 1813 - 1874 
Your final web Stanaway pages are great & I will pass them on to my wife’s family- Buckworth.
Concerning Susan Anderson married to William Henry Stanaway, there is the possibility that her dad if it was as I believe was John Anderson who lived & died at Hokianga could have had more than one wife or lovers at the same time ! There was only one known Anderson being James & wife from Hobart who entered via Hokianga & they had moved south by 1850s. The only other Andersons at the right age died at the same time in NZ & were this was is not known. More importantly to me these other two Andersons came to NZ with as i presume white wives, It appears to me (being an ignorant Australian & 25% NZ) that a NZ 100% white parent or a 100% white girl in 1871 would probably not have married a 1/2 Maori unless she was 1/2 Maori herself. I was left with Susan Anderson born in Hokianga about 1848 on her marriage certificate with her family’s understanding in 1921 that her dad was named Anderson but believed she could have been born in 1846. The Australian Buckworth family just understood that Susan & William’ s daughter Emily Annie Stanaway was part Maori, which is not much help.
Also John Anderson & John James Stanaway would know each other in Hokianga in 1840 & both could sail & it makes sense that their children may have met later via travelling my boat.
I think it will be just left as an educated guess by me- not a blood relative but if others can help, well thanks.
Geoff Bell from NSW Australia
lisa_geoff@optusnet.com.au
LikeLike
Ko Te Ahuriri
Ko Makoare Te Taonui
Aperahama Te Taonui his sister Te Ruhi Te Taonui
Muriwai ka moe a Te Rawhi 4th wife
Muriwai Hepehi – (son)
Pereene Muriwai (Hepehi)
Te Wairua Pereene Muriwai (Hepehi) – Brown Muriwai
Kaikinikini John Muriwai my father
I have the whakapapa to Muriwai 4 lines
Ahuriri is the eldest brother of Rangaunu and Muriwai
Makoare Te Taonui is Muriwai nefew not his brother
Aperahama Te taonui manuscript a good place to start,
Maori landcourt minute books Hokianga 21,22
0224357952 if you feel the need to contact me
mihinui kia koutou e te whanau.
LikeLike
Thanks
Susan Anderson is waiting
Geoff Bell
Australia
LikeLike
Kiara my grand father is Walter aka (waraki) tahurangi karena buried in te ahuahu waimate north cemetery hokianga. I know we have connections to the anderson whanau from I think his mother does any one know information to help me ?my mother is an only child to him sadly passed away 2014 aged 62 her name is Dorothy mere waipouri (born Karen.
LikeLike
Tena koe ever since seeing your post i have searched high and low through all our whakapapa books and have not found any mention of Susan Anderson at all.
However my grandfather did share a story with me when i was younger. As i am named after Aperahama Te Taonui he spoke of a tupuna named anihana whom resided in the Wairoa area. Our great grandfather Nika (Titari) Anihana also after stealing his wife from the Hokianga took her to a placed calles Tanoa (Otamatea) to where he found shelter with an uncle and aunty of his. After his first 3 kids were born he took his new wife and children back to Utakura.
I would like to discuss some things further
LikeLike
Thank you for your interest in Susan’s mostly unknown past. The area of Tanoa is I believe just north of Helensville & could well be the Stanaway/Anderson’s home location. My wife Lisa, whose past relative is Susan has had a DNA test & the Maori sections are strong. The photo of what I believe is Susan with Lisa’s grandfather, George Marshall Buckworth in Auckland before he moved to Sydney appears to show him sitting on a darker skinned old lady. Her facial features are blurred. George’s sister went back home to NZ with her mum, Emily Annie Stanaway when she was 3 & I have located some of her family but they have not communicated with me
If John Anderson is as I believe was the father to Susan who was born in Hokianga (1847?), could you help me in describing her Maori heritage. Can I use the term Anihana or should I use the local Maori name (tribe) of Hokianga. Sorry can you give me the Maori term used for tribe & what is this tribes correct name.
As a descendant of two families from Christchurch (1860s) I have felt a lot a pain for this city over the past decade. I have been to NZ twice & Lisa once.
Again thanks for your interest.
Geoff Bell
The Entrance NSW (just north of Sydney)
LikeLike
I will look at the Wairoa area. The Buckworths did move around the Bay of Plenty, so George & Emily Stanaway might have lived there for some time
Geoff
LikeLike
Kia ora Aperahama – I have removed your number and email from the post before publishing it – just so you don’t get any weird emails and/or phone calls – I still have your details via an email word-press sends me. I will send you an email directly with my other contact details shortly. Susan’s origins has been one of those puzzling questions, and efforts to uncover it exactly have been very difficult.
We do know her maiden name was Anderson from both her birth and death certificates. We know she was part Maori if not full Maori.
I had my father do a DNA test last year and the – have you or any relative done a test? – Will talk soon Regards Greg
LikeLike
Greg
I thought that you were having a rest on checking out family
Geoff Bell
LikeLike
Tena koe Greg, i look forward to further discussion, i find it very presumptuous that you have gone out naming Te Ruhi as the mother to Susan. There is alot of history concerning Pita and Manotau who were the sons of Te Ruhi and John Havelock Anderson but would await your email to seek clarity.
Geoff until we can confirm Susan is a descendent of Te Ruhi an Iwi or Hapu can not be identified. We hope to clarify this soon.
LikeLike
I understand & we mean no disrespect to your family. We are just search as best we can.
LikeLike
Good morning Geoff,
There have not been any offence caused. I was informed by a cousin last evening that they had known about the enquires back in 2000 when we had the first Family reunion. However they failed to inform those of us whom have carried out our own genealogical research within the family some of which has been through a number of generations.
All this now complete i am still awaiting an email from Greg so we can have discussions. Susan was born in Hokianga so there is a connection to us its just about making sure how she is connected and which generational line she fits into. Then we will be able to finally connect all the dots.
LikeLike
Firstly, please excuse any delay I have in responding – I have a day job which requires my full attention during the week, 4 children, wife, house renovation, a 108 year old boat restoration as well as volunteer coastguard duties to keep me busy. I’m sure after nearly 180 years Susan Anderson would be Ok if we took a bit longer to find her parents.
I know both Geoff’s wife (Lisa) and I are very keen to get this resolved as we are both related to our Susan – Lisa through Susan’s daughter Emily and myself through Susan’s daughter Ida.
It maybe that other than a DNA test we may never know (My father who is a descendant of our Susan and I understand Geoff that your wife has also done a DNA test?)
Aperahama – I have started drafting the email to you and will try and have this completed this week – I will probably have some questions as well in the email
Geoff – can you email me – your old email does not go through – I am still on the same email address as our correspondence a few years back, I will copy you in on the above email also
I think if we can agree to each start on a blank page – and go through every piece of information we have on on Susan Anderson, and anything we have on John Havelock Anderson and Te Ruhi Taonui’s children. If we could only find a birth certificate!
LikeLike
Nga mihi, i look forward to working with you both.
Api
LikeLike
Have a korero with Kora Rountree in regard to Gampa Nika “stealing” Gamma Taati. Interesting indeed.
LikeLike
On speaking with my Tuakana/cousin Kora Rountree, our Gamma Taati was not stolen.
LikeLike