Mary & Elizabeth
While a ship called Elizabeth & Mary worked in New Zealand water in the 1830’s, there was also a ship called Mary & Elizabeth. Her captain was Nichols and he departed from New Zealand for Hobart Town on 03 August 1833 with passengers Taylor and Campbell.
The following year, 1834, Mary & Elizabeth was at Otago when the huge Ngai Tahu war party arrived back from Cloudy Bay. While half of the 500 New Zealanders carried on south, those who remained in Otago were upset when a chief’s daughter died. In their sorrow they threatened to attack the Europeans and Captain Lovett of Mary & Elizabeth only just escaped being captured. William Thomas was a boatsteerer on board Mary & Elizabeth but not even the threat of attack by Maori warriors could deter him from deciding to leave the ship to make his home somewhere in the south of New Zealand. Thomas later married the daughter of John Lidiard.
The following year, 1834, Mary & Elizabeth was at Otago when the huge Ngai Tahu war party arrived back from Cloudy Bay. While half of the 500 New Zealanders carried on south, those who remained in Otago were upset when a chief’s daughter died. In their sorrow they threatened to attack the Europeans and Captain Lovett of Mary & Elizabeth only just escaped being captured. William Thomas was a boatsteerer on board Mary & Elizabeth but not even the threat of attack by Maori warriors could deter him from deciding to leave the ship to make his home somewhere in the south of New Zealand. Thomas later married the daughter of John Lidiard.