4th WAIKATO
At about the same time as his 1st wife Elizabeth Louise Ventris death in Castlemaine Victoria the New Zealand Government were recruiting soldiers to fight in the Maori Wars from Victoria and New South Wales. Daniel had been enlisted to go when his wife died, he left Melbourne on the " Thomas Fletcher " on the 04 February 1864 with 2 of his 3 children, their were 73 men, 87 women and 107 children on board and the Army captain in charge was Alfred W East
Thomas Fletcher arrived in Auckland The military settlers were landed on Monday 29 February It would seem from the way in which the men marched to the barracks that they have already been under training they were indeed a fine and clearly looking company The women and children were conveyed by drays and omnibuses to their temporary residence at Onehunga
I was confused for sometime as to which Ship he came to New Zealand on but have confirmed it with 2 sources
1. His enlistment in the register of the 4th Waikato has his ship as the T Fletcher
2. The NZSG has produced a set of fiche "passenger list Victoria Australia outwards to NZ .part 2 1861-1865" from the shipping records in Melbourne. This index shows Daniel (aged 30) James (aged 6) and John (aged 3) HYDE left Melbourne on the Thos Fletcher on 04 February 1864 (incorrect age and the use of the boys 2nd names on the shipping records im not sure of the reason for this. also entry in the log for Elizabeth Hyde aged 28, indexer added that this entry had been "Xd out", why was her name entered when she had been dead for some months and Daniel Dee Hyde had been recruited into the Militia in Jan 1864,long after her death? )
Why did Daniel Dee Hyde use the wrong ages ???? There may have been a age restriction to join the Militia .The New Zealand Gazette dated 3 August 1863 says in the conditions for joining the Militia that
“ No man above the age of 40 years will be accepted “ Daniel was way under that age
Did he get more money if he had a young family or he was younger
Cost of rations at Onehunga 19 Jul 1864.
Unmarried soldier 1/5.9
Married soldier 1/9.8
Soldiers wife 9½
(extra if husband absent) 4
Children over 14 9½
Children over 7 4¾
Children under 7 3.1
Money could have been the reason because he was unmarried he would get less money and if his children seemed older than they were he would receive more for a child over 7 years of age .I don’t know if his money changed because he was a widower
It looks like he was keen to get married as soon as possible, was this because of his children ie someone to look after his children or for the extra money a wife and married soldier would get Changing his age made no difference to his pay, he was way under the age limit and this children’s ages were not changed he just used there 2nd names
More questions than answers
On the 14 April 1864 at Onehunga Auckland Daniel Dee Hyde applied to marry Mary Elizabeth Denniss The intention to marry notice describes Daniel Dee as a widower, occupation tinsmith aged 27 and living in Onehunga for 3 months Mary Elizabeth is described as a spinster age 20 and also living Onehunga for 3 month. As she was a minor at 20 years old the consent to marry was provided by Daniel Dee Hyde bridegroom in the absence from the colony of any person with authority to consent. The marriage was to be held in the dwelling house of the Rev G Brown at Onehunga but this marriage did not take place
What Daniel did with the children while he was out fighting in the war is unknown
Otahuhu was apparently a place for wives and families to stay while the men were out fighting.
The following are records relating to Daniel Dee Hyde and the 4th Waikato Militia
Nominal and Descriptive roll of the 4th Waikato Militia
National Archives Wellington
Ref AD 76 No 4 page 14
Joined the 4th Waikato Militia in 1864
Enrolment number: 271 name: Hyde Daniel
Enrolled: 21 January 1864 at Melbourne
Born parish: Walton on Thames county: Surrey
Trade: Tinsmith age: 28
Size at enlistment : 5 foot 5 inches
Ship: Thomas Fletcher
single
Order Book No 2 Company 4th Waikato Militia at camp Onehunga dated 21 May 1864
Regimental Orders by Lieut Col Moule Officer of the day Capt Mellish
No 271 Pvt Dan Hyde and 338 H G Dalton will proceed on Monday next to Drury to join the Detachment of their Company there stationed They will relieve No 267 Serg,t Henry Gilmer and 253 Pvt Henry Arcoll who will return to Head Quarters Onehunga
Signed Alfred W East Capt and Adjutant
Order Book in Waikato Museum
On either the 24 or 25 August 1864 The Rangiriri towed the barges carrying the first of the military settlers of the 4th Waikato Regiment They landed at Hamilton formerly the Maori village of Kirikiriroa. The Rangiriri was a gunship there were about 120 men of the 4th company under command of captain W Steele. The 1st and 2nd companies included Daniel Dee Hyde and William Peveral arrived towards the end of the year and were stationed on the prominence now occupied by St Peters Church .A military redoubts was set up in Hamilton
The Hull of the Rangiriri now sits beside the Waikato river and is used as a Rest area Seats on the Hull were presented to the citizens of Hamilton to mark the centennial of the Boys Brigade movement Founders Day 1983
Daniel Dee Hyde was a private in the 4th Waikato Regt (#271) He was placed in possession of his land grant in Hamilton on discharge from the War and struck off pay on 8th July 1865 .The Land Grants have a different date it is 26 January 1867 ,I do not know which one is correct
His land was recorded as being lot 22 of Goodalls Survey between Hamilton and Ohaupo (50 ac rural for private) Crown Grants issued ( DDH rural lot located along western side of Raynes Road from Narrows Road intersection to the Lowe Road intersection in the Tamahere area
And Town lot 196 W Hamilton ( 1 acre) His town lot located on the south east corner of Willoughby street /Mill Street intersection (lot 196 ,just behind a supermarket in present day Hamilton west)
