Three of Mount Heslington's early landowning families in the 1850s were the Higgins, Hildreth and Miles families. Through farming, community service and perseverance, they helped shape the district's early history.
Higgins
Sarah Sharp arrived in Nelson in 1842 at the age of 12 with her father Stephen, two brothers and a sister aboard the Bolton. Sarah later recorded how rough the voyage was and how her sister died during the journey to New Zealand, just two months after leaving England.
The Sharp family initially settled in Nelson.
As a young teenager, Sarah entered the domestic service of Mr and Mrs Otterson, who had a family of nine. She remained with them for about 14 months.
Sarah married Sydney Higgins in Spring Grove in 1849, and the couple established their home at Mount Heslington. They raised a large family of 11 children, six sons and five daughters.
Sydney was born in Somerset in 1826 to Peter and Mary Higgins. At the age of 15 he immigrated to New Zealand with his parents and three sisters. After a short period in Nelson, the family settled in Spring Grove.
Sydney earned his living in the timber industry, milling in the Waimeas where sawyers were essential for clearing land and building infrastructure. Through hard work and perseverance, he was able to provide a good life for his family.
Sarah was an industrious woman who contributed to the family's income through sewing and caring for boarders. She was also known for constructing outbuildings, including a stone dairy.
Raising 11 children, taking in work and supporting Sydney on the property kept Sarah busy, but she still found time to serve as a local midwife and contribute to community activities, including teaching Sunday school.
Following Sydney's death in 1903, Sarah managed the family property well into her later years with support from family members.
In her later years, she wrote a personal history recording many of the hardships the family faced during the district's early years. This achievement was remarkable given she had never learned to write as a child.
Hildreth
William Hildreth, his wife Mary and their children Eleanor, William and Mary, arrived in Nelson aboard the Phoebe in March 1843.
William was one of the original land purchasers under the New Zealand Company. He settled on his holding, which he named Mount Heslington after an estate in England, and built a home for his family.
However, in November of the same year, the family home and property buildings were destroyed by fire.
After many years farming at Mount Heslington, William offered the property of about 400 acres for lease in both 1872 and 1874. He later moved to Neudorf to live with his daughter and died there in 1880 at the age of 83.
William took a keen interest in education and was among the first trustees of the Nelson School Society.
After William's death, Mary spent several years in Hokitika before returning to live with her daughter in Brightwater. She later moved to Nelson, where she died aged 93.
Miles
John George Miles was born in Finsbury, London, in 1838 and arrived in Nelson about 1853. He later farmed a property at Mount Heslington.
In 1860, John married Alice Smith. Their first child, Bramston, was born in 1863, but tragedy struck when Alice died just three weeks later from complications following childbirth. She was 23.
From 1864 until early 1866, John represented the Waimea district and was appointed a Justice of the Peace.
He later sold his household furniture, cattle and farming equipment, and leased out the property to fulfil a promise he had made to Alice. He took Bramston to England to be raised by her parents and siblings.
John and his son departed New Zealand aboard the Asterope on 29 December 1865.
By 1868, Robert Eden was managing the farm. However, by 1872 there was a dispute over unpaid rates. Robert argued he was not responsible because he was leasing the property. As a result, he sold his stock at auction and left the farm.
John returned to Nelson in late 1867 before later moving to Victoria, Australia, where he married Maria Downer.
He died at Prahran, Victoria, in December 1884.
