My Family Tree

Birth record at GRO states born 1st Qtr 1852 GRO 2b 310
-----
England, Sussex, Parish Registers
Name William Charles Chatfield
Event Type Christening
Event Date 28 Mar 1852
Event Place Wiggonholt, Sussex, England
Gender Male
Father's Name Robert Chatfield
Mother's Name Emma Maria Chatfield
-----
Buried plot 39D.
Find A Grave Memorial# 142399115
=====
NOTE: FGR-FJ: "Yeoman Farmer 880 acres leased. 32 labourers, 7 house
servants. Quill farm-freehold 400 ys house. River Arun-Roman Bridge.
William came to NZ after father's death. Architect in Wellington & had
paintings by Emma & Arthur-bequeathed to Arth???ys then stolen."

Emigrated to NZ in 1866 aged 14 arriving 1867.

Architect

CHATFIELD, Willam Charles, Architect, 26 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Telephone, 598. Private residence, Island Bay. Mr. CHATFIELD, who is the descendant of an old Sussex family, was born at Greatham House, Parham Park, Sussex. He was educated at Brixton, Surrey, and came to the Colony in 1867. For the first five years of his life in New Zealand, Mr. Chatfield was engaged in architectural works in Wellington. In 1872 he joined the public service as chief draughtsman and assistant paymaster and engineer in the Engineers' Department, Wellington Province. From this time, till the abolition of the Provincial form of Government in 1876, Mr. Chatfield continued to hold these offices, and during the period he designed many of the principal bridges in the district, and was engaged on the Thorndon reclamation and other works. He commenced his present practice in 1876, since which time he has been well-known as a successful architect. Mr. Chatfield has designed and superintended the erection of many substantial and important buildings—the Wellington Opera House, among others—in and around the city and in various parts of New Zealand. Two of the latest may be named; the warehouse of Messrs. E. W. Mills and Co., Ltd., and the offices of the Evening Post.

Launceston Examiner (Tas. : Saturday 2 June 1888)
The directors of the Wellington (New Zealand) Opera House Company have decided to immediately restore the building, and the work has been entrusted to Mr. W. C. CHATFIELD, the architect of the original Opera House. The seating accommodation in both the dress and family circles is to be extended and increased. The estimated cost of the complete restora- tion is under £6500, and the building will, it is expected, be opened before Christmas.

He was a member of the Star Boating Club on Wellington Harbour and took a photograph which can be seen at http://find.natlib.govt.nz/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?dscnt=0&vid=TF&dstmp=1292622237069&docId=nlnz_tapuhi1294609&fromLogin=true

Photographs of Wellington and Rotorua, taken 1896-1908 by William Chatfield. Includes departure of troops from Wellington; guides at Whakarewarewa; "Hurston", home of William Charles CHATFIELD, Island Bay, Wellington; some South Island scenes; unidentified portraits; parades and processions; etc.

Picture of William Charles 1852 - 1930 owned by Peter Chatfeld of Rostrevor, Adelaide, S Autralia.
-----
Emigration to New Zealand
Having lost both parent by the time he was 10 year old, William Chatfield emigrated to New Zealand when he was 15 years old on the ‘Wild Duck’ sailing ship commanded by Captain Bishop. For this ship, the journey from England to New Zealand generally took over 100 days of sailing time with William arriving in New Zealand in 1867.
An indication of his high social standing and financial status comes from the ships passenger list dated 20 December 1867. In the 1840s and later, class distinction continued on the sailing ships just as it was in England. Lower class passengers travelling on cheaper fares or assisted passage were located in the Steerage area below deck were space, ventilation, natural lighting and privacy were limited. In contrast, Cabins were where Chatfield was located above deck, were relatively spacious and private, had better food with associated dining room, sitting area and ablutions with access to the Poop deck at the stern of the ship. According to Te Ara Encyclopedia in ‘1866 the cheapest saloon fare was more than three times that of steerage. Steerage passengers generally outnumbered those in the cabins by 10 to 1.’ On his journey to New Zealand, 16 passengers were allocated to Cabin 1, 10 to Cabin 2 and 42 allocated to Steerage. Chatfield name was included at the top of the list for Cabin 1.
The passage from England to New Zealand was known to be one of the longest routes possible for emigrants and was comparatively expensive, frustrating and often dangerous. The ‘Wild Duck’ was built in 1859, charted in the 1860s by Shaw Savill Co., and was a full rigged sailing ship of 737 tons, a ship that had undertaken many journeys from England previously.
Exactly why Chatfield came to New Zealand is not known. He probably felt that with his parents dead some years ago he no longer had any ties to England and with the usual great expectations followed the general pattern of emigration to New Zealand for many hoping to start a new life and improve their economic status.
Gerard Hoskins, NZ, 2017 Oct
-----
One daughter wrote for the 'Wellington Post'.

-----
QUERY
California, San Francisco Passenger Lists
Name Wm Chatfield
Departed Sydney, 11 Apr 1900
Event Type Immigration as tourist
Event Date 4 May 1900
Event Place San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Gender Male
Age 48
Birth Year (Estimated) 1852
Birthplace New Zealand
Ship Name Alameda

Records not imported into INDI (individual) Gramps ID I15528:

Tag recognized but not supported Line 505837: 2 _SCBK Y
Tag recognized but not supported Line 505839: 2 _TYPE PHOTO
Tag recognized but not supported Line 505840: 2 _SSHOW Y
Tag recognized but not supported Line 505846: 2 _SCBK Y
Tag recognized but not supported Line 505848: 2 _TYPE PHOTO
Tag recognized but not supported Line 505849: 2 _SSHOW Y