John Thomas Peacock
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Peacock MLC
JP
(1827 – 20 October 1905) was a New Zealand businessman, philanthropist and politician. He came to Canterbury in 1844, several years before organised settlement started.
, New South Wales, Australia. He is the eldest son of John Jenkins Peacock (d. 1866) and his wife Maria Peacock (1804/05-1884). He attended Sydney College
. The family arrived in Lyttelton
in 1844. Settlement organised by the Canterbury Association
started in December 1850, so the Peacocks were in the colony at an early stage.
His father was a hard worker. It is said about him that "he could be seen at Lyttelton ... at 6 am on a frosty morning, knee deep in the water loading a boat with sacks of potatoes for shipment by his brig which lay at anchor some distance away."
In August 1854, Peacock married Kate Hickman Peacock (née Mansfield, born ca 1835). They did not have any children, but adopted Janey, the ex-nuptial daughter of a family servant. On 14 June 1877, Janey married Alexander McRae. The Peacocks were generous to their adopted daughter and her children. Janey's husband was unfaithful and violent and their marriage was dissolved exactly ten years later.
and later owned several ships. He had Peacock’s Wharf built, the first substantial place for landing a boat in Lyttelton. He traded as J.T. Peacock and Co., had a large trade and was successful enough that he could retire from trading in 1863, aged 37. He sold his business to Charles Wesley Turner (1834–1906) and Beverley Buchanan.
In the same year, he built his residence 'Hawkesbury' in Merivale
(43.51240°N 172.62280°W). The residence was named after the district he was born in and was designed by Samuel Farr (1827–1918). Its driveway was located at what is now 184 Papanui Road, and ran for about 140 m before reaching the house. The property was surrounded by Papanui Road, Mansfield Avenue and St Albans Street and four gardeners were employed for the upkeep of the gardens. An archery ground, a bowling green, a tennis court and a swimming pool were on the grounds. The house was demolished in 1920 and the land subdivided.
Peacock was involved with many companies, often on the board of directors. By buying the plant for the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, he enabled the success of this industry for the region. He was chairman of the local board of directors of the London-based Alliance Assurance Company, and a director of the Union Insurance Company, which he co-founded. He held directorships of the Christchurch Meat Company, the Permanent Investment and Loan Association of Canterbury, and the New Zealand Shipping Company
. He was a director of The Press
. He was one of the largest owners of the Christchurch Tramway Company. He was president of the Canterbury Club, a gentlemen’s club, which still operates on the Cambridge Terrace / Worcester Boulevard corner in the Christchurch Central City
.
Peacock was on the Canterbury Provincial Council from 1861 to 1866 representing Lyttelton, and from 1868 to the abolition of provincial government in 1876 representing Papanui. He was Secretary of Public Works during the Rolleston
superintendency. He was a justice of the peace.
The borough of St Albans
was formed in December 1881. On 14 December 1881, Peacock was elected mayor unopposed. The inaugural meeting of the borough council was held on 3 January 1882. On 22 November 1882, his term expired and he was the only candidate for the position. Hence, he was declared elected for a second term as mayor. J. L. Wilson was the only candidate for mayor on 20 November 1883 and was declared elected.
Another local political role included membership of the Lyttelton Harbour Board for over 20 years, including chairmanship.
Peacock was elected unopposed to Parliament
at a 2 November 1868 by-election in the Lyttelton electorate
and took the oath and his seat on 11 June 1869. He was confirmed in the 1871 election for Lyttelton, again elected unopposed.
In early April 1873, Peacock was promoted to the New Zealand Legislative Council (the upper house). He resigned from Parliament on 5 April 1873. The resulting by-election
on 19 May 1873 was won by Henry Richard Webb
.
Peacock was a member of the Legislative Council until his death, although in 1877 he had been reappointed after Disqualification by inadvertence.
John Evans Brown
(1822–1907), known as "Yankee" Brown, married Peacock's sister Theresa Australia. Brown was from Pennsylvania
and owned land north of the Waimakariri River
inland from Kaiapoi
, which he gave the Cherokee
name of ‘Swannanoa
’. Brown represented the Ashley electorate from 1871 to 1879, and the St Albans
electorate from 1881
to 1884.
Henry Richard Webb (1829–1901), who succeeded Peacock in the Lyttelton electorate, was two years his junior and had also attended Sydney College. He married one of Peacock's sisters in 1857 in Sydney and emigrated to New Zealand in 1868. He represented the Lyttelton electorate from 1873 to 1875. One of his daughters, Malvina Mary, would later marry Robert Ewing McDougall (1860–1942), who was the benefactor of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery that opened in 1932. The McDougall residence Fitzroy was later gifted to Nurse Maud and is still in use as a hospital, located between Mansfield and McDougall Avenues.
Francis James Garrick
(1833–1890) was also from Sydney and attended Sydney College. He got married to Peacock's oldest sister, Elizabeth. He came to New Zealand in 1864, and succeeded Brown in the St Albans electorate from 1884
-87.
When Brown bought property in 1875 in what was to become Browns Road, he moved into the neighbourhood of Peacock and Garrick.
Peacock's wife died suddenly and unexpectedly on 19 August 1894 at their residence, aged 59. Two days earlier, the Peacocks had celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
On 30 December 1895, Peacock married again – his adopted daughter Janey. Whilst this was lawful, it was outside of the social norms.
The Peacocks were active in the Wesleyan Church
.
Peacock died on 20 October 1905 at his residence Hawkesbury. He was survived by his second wife and two stepsons. He was interred at Linwood Cemetery
on 21 October. Peacock's second wife Janey died in 1918, aged 65. The Peacock Mausoleum in the Linwood Cemetery still exists (Block 32 Plot 135–144) but has fallen into dereliction. There are plans to raise funds from the community to properly restore the vault. Go to www.linwoodcemetery.org.nz for progress
Peacock bequeathed a substantial sum of money to the Christchurch Beautifying Association "for the purpose of beautifying the reserves and gardens in the City of Christchurch and improving the Avon River." The colourful Peacock Fountain
was erected in the Botanic Gardens
. The fountain spent many decades in storage, but has been on display again since 1996.
Peacock's Wharf
Captain Joseph Thomas built the first jetty at Lyttelton, in time for the arrival of the First Four Ships in December 1850. Peacock built the second wharf, in 1857, which was named in his honour. His obituary in the Christchurch Press says that it was the first landing-place in Lyttelton of any importance. The wharf was sold, together with Peacock's other business, to Turner and Buchanan, who in turn sold it to the Lyttelton Harbour Board in 1877. Peacock's Wharf, albeit in much modified and enlarged form, still exists, but is these days simply called "No 7 Wharf".
Streets and Reserves
Peacock Street in the Christchurch Central City is named after John Thomas Peacock.
Mansfield Avenue is named after Peacock's first wife Kate (née Mansfield).
Hawkesbury Avenue was named after the New South Wales birth district of Peacock.
Peacocks Gallop is a reserve in Sumner on reclaimed land between the former tram line (now Main Road) and some high cliffs. Peacock's father John Jenkins, when he rode by horse from Lyttelton to Sumner via Evans Pass, is said to have always been afraid of falling rocks, so he galloped along the base of the cliff.
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(1827 – 20 October 1905) was a New Zealand businessman, philanthropist and politician. He came to Canterbury in 1844, several years before organised settlement started.
Early life
Peacock was born in 1827 in the Hawkesbury districtCity of Hawkesbury
The City of Hawkesbury is a Local Government Area of New South Wales, Australia, part of which is at the fringe of the Sydney metropolitan area, about 50 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district...
, New South Wales, Australia. He is the eldest son of John Jenkins Peacock (d. 1866) and his wife Maria Peacock (1804/05-1884). He attended Sydney College
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. The family arrived in Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
in 1844. Settlement organised by the Canterbury Association
Canterbury Association
The Canterbury Association was formed in order to establish a colony in what is now the Canterbury Region in the South Island of New Zealand.- Formation of the Association :...
started in December 1850, so the Peacocks were in the colony at an early stage.
His father was a hard worker. It is said about him that "he could be seen at Lyttelton ... at 6 am on a frosty morning, knee deep in the water loading a boat with sacks of potatoes for shipment by his brig which lay at anchor some distance away."
In August 1854, Peacock married Kate Hickman Peacock (née Mansfield, born ca 1835). They did not have any children, but adopted Janey, the ex-nuptial daughter of a family servant. On 14 June 1877, Janey married Alexander McRae. The Peacocks were generous to their adopted daughter and her children. Janey's husband was unfaithful and violent and their marriage was dissolved exactly ten years later.
Life in New Zealand
Peacock was a merchantMerchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
and later owned several ships. He had Peacock’s Wharf built, the first substantial place for landing a boat in Lyttelton. He traded as J.T. Peacock and Co., had a large trade and was successful enough that he could retire from trading in 1863, aged 37. He sold his business to Charles Wesley Turner (1834–1906) and Beverley Buchanan.
In the same year, he built his residence 'Hawkesbury' in Merivale
Merivale
Merivale is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, north of the city centre. Its boundaries are defined by Statistics New Zealand as being Heaton Street to the north, Papanui Road to the east, Harper and Bealey Avenues to the south and Rossall Sreet to the west, although Real Estate advertising...
(43.51240°N 172.62280°W). The residence was named after the district he was born in and was designed by Samuel Farr (1827–1918). Its driveway was located at what is now 184 Papanui Road, and ran for about 140 m before reaching the house. The property was surrounded by Papanui Road, Mansfield Avenue and St Albans Street and four gardeners were employed for the upkeep of the gardens. An archery ground, a bowling green, a tennis court and a swimming pool were on the grounds. The house was demolished in 1920 and the land subdivided.
Peacock was involved with many companies, often on the board of directors. By buying the plant for the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, he enabled the success of this industry for the region. He was chairman of the local board of directors of the London-based Alliance Assurance Company, and a director of the Union Insurance Company, which he co-founded. He held directorships of the Christchurch Meat Company, the Permanent Investment and Loan Association of Canterbury, and the New Zealand Shipping Company
New Zealand Shipping Company
The New Zealand Shipping Company was a shipping company whose ships ran passenger and cargo services between Great Britain and New Zealand between 1873 and 1973.-New Zealand Shipping Company:...
. He was a director of The Press
The Press
The Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is owned by Fairfax Media.- History :The Press was first published on 25 May 1861 from a small cottage in Montreal Street, making it the oldest surviving newspaper in the South Island of New Zealand. The first...
. He was one of the largest owners of the Christchurch Tramway Company. He was president of the Canterbury Club, a gentlemen’s club, which still operates on the Cambridge Terrace / Worcester Boulevard corner in the Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
.
Political career
Peacock was on the Canterbury Provincial Council from 1861 to 1866 representing Lyttelton, and from 1868 to the abolition of provincial government in 1876 representing Papanui. He was Secretary of Public Works during the Rolleston
William Rolleston
William Rolleston was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.-Early life:...
superintendency. He was a justice of the peace.
The borough of St Albans
St Albans, New Zealand
St Albans is one of Christchurch, New Zealand's largest suburbs. It is a short walk from the central city. To the east of St Albans is Shirley and to the west is Fendalton...
was formed in December 1881. On 14 December 1881, Peacock was elected mayor unopposed. The inaugural meeting of the borough council was held on 3 January 1882. On 22 November 1882, his term expired and he was the only candidate for the position. Hence, he was declared elected for a second term as mayor. J. L. Wilson was the only candidate for mayor on 20 November 1883 and was declared elected.
Another local political role included membership of the Lyttelton Harbour Board for over 20 years, including chairmanship.
Peacock was elected unopposed to Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
at a 2 November 1868 by-election in the Lyttelton electorate
Lyttelton (New Zealand electorate)
Lyttelton is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1853–90, and again from 1893–1996, when it was replaced by the Banks Peninsula electorate.-Population Centres:...
and took the oath and his seat on 11 June 1869. He was confirmed in the 1871 election for Lyttelton, again elected unopposed.
In early April 1873, Peacock was promoted to the New Zealand Legislative Council (the upper house). He resigned from Parliament on 5 April 1873. The resulting by-election
Lyttelton by-election, 1873
The by-election for Lyttelton in 1873 was a by-election held during the 5th Parliament of New Zealand, on 19 May 1873. It was held because John Thomas Peacock was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council. Peacock's brother-in-law, Henry Richard Webb, won the election.-Results:...
on 19 May 1873 was won by Henry Richard Webb
Henry Richard Webb
Henry Richard Webb FRMS JP was a New Zealand businessman and politician. He represented Lyttelton in Parliament for 2½ years and was a supporter of education in his later years. Born in Australia, he came to Canterbury in 1868....
.
Peacock was a member of the Legislative Council until his death, although in 1877 he had been reappointed after Disqualification by inadvertence.
Family life
Peacock had three brothers in law as fellow Members of Parliament.John Evans Brown
John Evans Brown
John Evans Brown was a 19th century Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Born in Pennsylvania, he came to New Zealand after spending time in Australia, where he was a farmer and US Consul. He farmed in Canterbury, where he was known as "Yankee" Brown. Three of his brothers in law, through his...
(1822–1907), known as "Yankee" Brown, married Peacock's sister Theresa Australia. Brown was from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and owned land north of the Waimakariri River
Waimakariri River
The Waimakariri River is the largest of the North Canterbury rivers, in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows for 151 kilometres in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean....
inland from Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
, which he gave the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
name of ‘Swannanoa
Swannanoa, New Zealand
Swannanoa is a small, originally farming village situated 35 kilometres northwest of Christchurch, New Zealand. The area has an estimated population of 1,000 with around 200 pupils enrolled in the primary school, established in 1873...
’. Brown represented the Ashley electorate from 1871 to 1879, and the St Albans
St Albans (New Zealand electorate)
St Albans was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand from 1881 to 1890, then from 1946 to 1996.-Population centres:The electorate was centred on the Christchurch suburb of St Albans.-History:...
electorate from 1881
New Zealand general election, 1881
The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...
to 1884.
Henry Richard Webb (1829–1901), who succeeded Peacock in the Lyttelton electorate, was two years his junior and had also attended Sydney College. He married one of Peacock's sisters in 1857 in Sydney and emigrated to New Zealand in 1868. He represented the Lyttelton electorate from 1873 to 1875. One of his daughters, Malvina Mary, would later marry Robert Ewing McDougall (1860–1942), who was the benefactor of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery that opened in 1932. The McDougall residence Fitzroy was later gifted to Nurse Maud and is still in use as a hospital, located between Mansfield and McDougall Avenues.
Francis James Garrick
Francis James Garrick
Francis James Garrick , was a barrister and politician from Christchurch, New Zealand.-Early years:Garrick was the oldest of ten children of James Francis Garrick and Catherine Eliza Garrick...
(1833–1890) was also from Sydney and attended Sydney College. He got married to Peacock's oldest sister, Elizabeth. He came to New Zealand in 1864, and succeeded Brown in the St Albans electorate from 1884
New Zealand general election, 1884
The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:...
-87.
When Brown bought property in 1875 in what was to become Browns Road, he moved into the neighbourhood of Peacock and Garrick.
Peacock's wife died suddenly and unexpectedly on 19 August 1894 at their residence, aged 59. Two days earlier, the Peacocks had celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
On 30 December 1895, Peacock married again – his adopted daughter Janey. Whilst this was lawful, it was outside of the social norms.
The Peacocks were active in the Wesleyan Church
Wesleyan Church
"Wesleyan" has been used in the title of a number of historic and current denominations, although the subject of this article is the only denomination to use that specific title...
.
Peacock died on 20 October 1905 at his residence Hawkesbury. He was survived by his second wife and two stepsons. He was interred at Linwood Cemetery
Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch
Linwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is the fifth oldest cemetery in the city that still exists and it is virtually full. Opened in 1884, it has seen some 20,000 burials. The first burial, of the Sexton's wife, was held even before the cemetery was...
on 21 October. Peacock's second wife Janey died in 1918, aged 65. The Peacock Mausoleum in the Linwood Cemetery still exists (Block 32 Plot 135–144) but has fallen into dereliction. There are plans to raise funds from the community to properly restore the vault. Go to www.linwoodcemetery.org.nz for progress
Commemoration
Peacock FountainPeacock bequeathed a substantial sum of money to the Christchurch Beautifying Association "for the purpose of beautifying the reserves and gardens in the City of Christchurch and improving the Avon River." The colourful Peacock Fountain
Peacock Fountain
The Peacock Fountain was bought by the Christchurch Beautifying Society from money bequeathed by John Thomas Peacock, a trader, politician and philanthropist. The fountain was unveiled in 1911, moved to a new location some years later, and put into storage in 1949. After a $270,000 renovation, it...
was erected in the Botanic Gardens
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand are botanical gardens founded in 1863, when an English oak was planted on 9 July 1863 to commemorate the solemnisation of marriage between Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra of Denmark.The Gardens sprawl...
. The fountain spent many decades in storage, but has been on display again since 1996.
Peacock's Wharf
Captain Joseph Thomas built the first jetty at Lyttelton, in time for the arrival of the First Four Ships in December 1850. Peacock built the second wharf, in 1857, which was named in his honour. His obituary in the Christchurch Press says that it was the first landing-place in Lyttelton of any importance. The wharf was sold, together with Peacock's other business, to Turner and Buchanan, who in turn sold it to the Lyttelton Harbour Board in 1877. Peacock's Wharf, albeit in much modified and enlarged form, still exists, but is these days simply called "No 7 Wharf".
Streets and Reserves
Peacock Street in the Christchurch Central City is named after John Thomas Peacock.
Mansfield Avenue is named after Peacock's first wife Kate (née Mansfield).
Hawkesbury Avenue was named after the New South Wales birth district of Peacock.
Peacocks Gallop is a reserve in Sumner on reclaimed land between the former tram line (now Main Road) and some high cliffs. Peacock's father John Jenkins, when he rode by horse from Lyttelton to Sumner via Evans Pass, is said to have always been afraid of falling rocks, so he galloped along the base of the cliff.