On Christmas Day 1851 the Blundell family landed in Nelson, sailing from England aboard the ship ‘Maori’.
Francis Horniblow Blundell was born in 1799 in Tuanton, Somerset, to William and Mary Ann Blundell.
He served in the East Indies in 1814 with the rank of Cornet before receiving a promotion to Lieutenant and finally to Captain of the 11th Light Dragoons.
While in India he married Quintilia Sophia Kennedy, the daughter of another officer serving in India.
Their first child, Francis, was born in India with another nine children born in Somerset and two in Nelson. Sadly, one daughter died in England while very young.
On arriving in Nelson, the family lived in a brick house in Bridge Street for a short time before settling in Waimea West, on a property which became known as ‘Staplegrove’.
Francis Snr quickly became involved in the local community where he sat on committees and acted as a lay preacher.
In April 1860 he held the position of chairman at a meeting in the schoolhouse for the purpose of enrolling volunteers for the newly-proposed Waimea West Rifle Company which saw around 40 committing themselves.
Francis was recognised as being a tireless and dedicated worker right up to his death in December 1865 at the age of 66 years. He was buried in the grounds of the church he loved so much – St Michael’s, Waimea West.
Quintilia remained at Staplegrove until 1884 when she moved into Nelson with her daughter.
During her many years resident at Waimea West, she, like her husband, took a great interest in all matters connected with the Church of England and established a Sunday School, in which she and her daughters taught the younger population.
Quintilia endeared herself to others with her generosity, sympathy, and caring nature. She died in June 1905 and was laid to rest beside Francis and four of her children who had predeceased her.
Of their children, all took their place in the community, as their parents did, in some way.
Eldest son Francis was in his late teens when the family arrived in Nelson. In Waimea West he was initiated into the art of driving bullocks and experienced some of the conditions of the early settlers.
After a time, he took up a sheep run in the Wairua and subsequently accepted the position of Clerk of Committee of the House of Representatives. In this position he became a proficient reporter and became editor of the Evening Mail. After becoming unwell he died in 1891.
Edward Forde Blundell, youngest son of Francis and Quintilia, was born in Nelson in 1854, grew up in Waimea West and entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand as a young man.
Edward became a first-class athlete, succeeding in polo, rugby, cricket, sprints and bowls. After working at various branches over the country he eventually became the manager of the New Plymouth Bank of New Zealand.
Daughter Laura married Bishop Mules in 1870 at Waimea West and spend her married life supporting her husband in his work, going above and beyond her calling.
In her earlier years she had worked alongside her mother teaching Sunday School and many in the community recalled her with kindness and encouragement.
Laura died in 1925 and was buried beside her parents.
