Michael Etches

In 1879, John Hillary, a shopkeeper in the small north-eastern town of Tow Law, County Durham, who held strong religious beliefs, was persuaded by a clergyman acting on behalf of the New Zealand government that a much better life awaited him and his family in that country. He decided to emigrate and, accompanied by his wife and six young children, he departed England aboard a clipper ship called "Westland". Arriving in Christchurch after a long and eventful voyage, John and his family soon grew disillusioned with their new life, mainly because they struggled to find work and occasionally faced hostility from the locals. Six months later, they decided to return to England, this time travelling on a steamer which took them through the recently opened Suez Canal. This journey also offered the family some exciting and poignant moments. Throughout the entire period, John diligently kept a journal that vividly and compellingly depicts the lives and adventures of emigrants in late Victorian times, both on board ship and during the depression they faced in New Zealand at that time. A century later, his grandson, John Haddon Hillary, wrote a book entitled "Westland", which reproduces the journal exactly as it was written, but includes many insightful comments of his own. Having married into the Hillary family, I became aware of the book and found it fascinating as I read it. Now, with the passage of time and the advent of the Internet and genealogical websites, I have been able to add my comments and observations to the journal, which include details of what happened to the family throughout the rest of their lives.

In 1879, John Hillary, a shopkeeper in the small north-eastern town of Tow Law, County Durham, who held strong religious beliefs, was persuaded by a clergyman acting on behalf of the New Zealand government that a much better life awaited him and his family in that country. He decided to emigrate and, accompanied by his wife and six young children, he departed England aboard a clipper ship called "Westland". Arriving in Christchurch after a long and eventful voyage, John and his family soon grew disillusioned with their new life, mainly because they struggled to find work and occasionally faced hostility from the locals. Six months later, they decided to return to England, this time travelling on a steamer which took them through the recently opened Suez Canal. This journey also offered the family some exciting and poignant moments. Throughout the entire period, John diligently kept a journal that vividly and compellingly depicts the lives and adventures of emigrants in late Victorian times, both on board ship and during the depression they faced in New Zealand at that time. A century later, his grandson, John Haddon Hillary, wrote a book entitled "Westland", which reproduces the journal exactly as it was written, but includes many insightful comments of his own. Having married into the Hillary family, I became aware of the book and found it fascinating as I read it. Now, with the passage of time and the advent of the Internet and genealogical websites, I have been able to add my comments and observations to the journal, which include details of what happened to the family throughout the rest of their lives.

The book tells the story of Richard Cadman Etches, born in Warwickshire in 1753, who left home while still a youth to seek his fortune in London. He set up a successful liquor and wine importing business and soon acquired his own ship to deal directly with European suppliers. When, in 1784, news came from James Cook's fatal expedition that huge profits could be made from buying sea otter pelts from local tribes on the North Pacific coast of America and selling them in China, he seized his opportunity and set up a trading base in Nootka Sound. Unfortunately, one of his vessels was captured by Spanish forces who believed they controlled the coast, and this almost led to a war with Britain. Richard then became a full time British agent during the turbulent times of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars and, among his many exploits was the organisation of Sir Sidney Smith's escape from a Paris gaol. He died in penury in a debtors' prison in London in 1817.

The book tells the story of Richard Cadman Etches, born in Warwickshire in 1753, who left home while still a youth to seek his fortune in London. He set up a successful liquor and wine importing business and soon acquired his own ship to deal directly with European suppliers. When, in 1784, news came from James Cook's fatal expedition that huge profits could be made from buying sea otter pelts from local tribes on the North Pacific coast of America and selling them in China, he seized his opportunity and set up a trading base in Nootka Sound. Unfortunately, one of his vessels was captured by Spanish forces who believed they controlled the coast, and this almost led to a war with Britain. Richard then became a full time British agent during the turbulent times of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars and, among his many exploits was the organisation of Sir Sidney Smith's escape from a Paris gaol. He died in penury in a debtors' prison in London in 1817.