Pioneers of Tasmania & New Zealand

Stace

The Stace family were among the pioneers of Tasmania and New Zealand. Thomas Alfred Stace was born in England in 1780 and emigrated to Tasmania in 1824 with his wife Charlotte and children. The family emigrated again to New Zealand in 1853 with Thomas Alfred, Charlotte, their adult children (including Thomas Hollis Stace) and grandchildren (including Thomas Walter Stace). 

Herbert Walter Stace

b. 26 Feb 1879 in Manawatu, New Zealand (to Thomas Walter Stace and Harriette Matilda Bannister) m. 1907 to Edith Catherine Peed Lived in Fiona Rd, Beecroft for around 13 years with his son Norman Stace and family Corinne, Helen, John, Peter, Brenda and Nigel. d. 30 Aug 1964 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (age 85)

Thomas Walter Stace

b. 23 Dec 1850 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (to Thomas Hollis Stace and Amelia Sophia Lucas)

Emigrated to New Zealand 1853 (age 3) with his parents and grandfather

m. 31 Oct 1876 to Harriette Matilda Bannister in Wellington, New Zealand (age 26) 

d. 07 Oct 1921 in Wellington, New Zealand (age 72)

The Stace family bible was a wedding gift from Charlotte Elizabeth Stace to her brother Thomas Walter Stace and his wife Harriette Matilda Bannister in 1876. It includes the marriage certificate and details about the birth of their children.

Register of Births 

Amelia STACE was born at 8 o'clock on Thursday evening August 2nd 1877 

Herbert Walter STACE was born on Wednesday February 26th 1879 at 8 o'clock PM 

Mabel Jessie STACE was born on Saturday March 5th 1881 at 8 o'clock in the evening 

Olive Martha STACE was born on Sunday December 17th 1882 at 1/2 past 1 o'clock AM 

Myrtle Amelia STACE was born at half past 4 o'clock on Thursday night 20th November 1884 

Linda Charlotte STACE was born at 1/2 past 4 on Saturday morning the 9th July 1887 

Rita Marie STACE was born at 1/2 past 1 on Wednesday morning the 14th September 1892 

Aileen Mary STACE was born on Thursday morning the 14th March 1895 at 9.30

Thomas Hollis Stace

b. 9 Jun 1820 in Camden, London, England (to Thomas Alfred Stace and Charlotte Sidney Hollis) Emigrated to Tasmania in 1824 (age 4) with his parents  m. 20 Oct 1841 to Amelia Sophia Lucas, Pontville, Tasmania (age 21) Emigrated to New Zealand 1853 (age 33) aboard the schooner ‘Munford’ with three generations of his family including his father Thomas Alfred Stace (age 73), mother Charlotte (age 55); wife Amelia and their five children including son Thomas Walter Stace (age 3). Built house in Pauatahanui, Wellington, New Zealand. House is classified as a historic building. Also established a burial site at Pauatahanui. d. 29 Oct 1890 in Wellington, New Zealand (age 70)

Thomas Alfred Stace

b. 1780 in England (to Thomas C Stace) Employed as Stationer and became a Freeman of London in 1807 (age 27) Travelled to France in 1816 – see passport m. 1819 to Charlotte Sidney Hollis in England (groom age 39, bride age 21) Emigrated to Tasmania 1824 (age 44) with his children including Thomas Hollis Stace (age 4) Built "Stace House" in Pontville, Tasmania which still stands Emigrated to New Zealand 1853 (age 73) with his three generations of his family including his wife Charlotte (age 55), son Thomas Hollis Stace (age 33) and grandson Thomas Walter Stace (age 3) d. 9 Aug 1866 in Wellington, New Zealand (age 86)

Thomas Alfred Stace: Freeman of London, Stationer (1807); Passport to France (1816)

Copy of letter hand written in 1847 by Thomas Alfred Stace to his son Thomas Hollis Stace 

Mr T Hollis Stace, North West Bay, Brown’s River [Tasmania]

Ouse Bridge  14 Jany 1847

My Dear Son, 

I got home safe to New Norfolk on Monday 28 Decr  & on the following Wednesday the 30th found  2 carts unloadg at the Wharf ready to take our goods up, we started about noon and stoped at the Wool-pack, Macquarie plains that night, where our carters kept it up nearly all night & consequently lost time in the morng so that we did not start till 8 o’clock, the time they promised to be at Hamilton.   We did not reach our destination till after dark, when we had our bed carried over the bridge and slept in our quarters at the Chapel, the remainder of the goods were left in the carts and got wet by the rain next morng. 

Fortunately the weather was dry the whole journey but very sultry, your mother stood the fatigue tolerably well & is now recovered from the effects of the journey.   The worst part of the road is from the Wool-pack to Hamilton, it is almost impassable in places in wet weather, the latter part up & down a hill or two over a rocky plain like Brighton till you come to a mountain pass, where there is a descent round a deep bason by a (*?sliding)  road which looks quite dangerous, at the foot of this you cross the Clyde at Hamilton, where we dined & were again detained by one of our drivers, but on the whole we cannot quarrel with them as they have not asked us for a shilling  & send five of their children to school.  ---  Mr Martin being in difficulties could not keep his promise in carting up our goods, but as you perceive we did tolerably well.   The sale of his chattles was to take place last week under the Insolvency, I am very sorry for him and trust he will still be able to struggle on.

Last Saturday I saw the Courier & had the gratification to find myself gazetted as Postmaster, on Monday I despatched my first mails. --- We find ourselves among friendly neighbours, our clergyman Mr Wright is a pleasant unassuming man, on Monday he examined the Children and discovered your mother to be a countrywoman of his & knows some of her friends, this will be no dis-service to us, he performs Divine service every Sunday.   Our rooms are very small and it required some ingenuity to stow our things away. ---The Chapel is a neat gothic building standing on a stony rise facing the bridge, the Ouse rushes thru’ it over a bed of rocks.   The land is mostly grazing but most of the flocks are now up the new country.

I date this on my birth-day, being born in A.D. 1780, and have consequently pass’d 67 years in this world, in this Island vicisitude has marked my course, what God in his providence may yet have in store for me either in weal or woe is shrouded in futurity.   I desire  to be thankfull for the good which (* two short words indecipherable) health has been given me and if disappointment and adversity has been my lot, it has been inflicted in mercy.   Our steps are directed by the Almighty by paths we cannot see.

I hope this will find Amelia, yourself & the dear children in good health, this is an unhealthy time of the year for children, your mother would advise that they should have less coffee which is heating. Balm tea either hot or cold is very good for them.

Our love to all & kind respects to the Mr & Mrs Lucas’ families

Ever Yours Affectionately Thos  A Stace

Stace coat of arms

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