William Morris

William left home at a young age to avoid the press gangs, became a whaler and settled in
New Zealand. He never returned to Ireland.
- from Overview: Jemima Morris

Came to New Zealand from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1837.

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22351921
Whaler in Poverty Bay. Born in County Cork, Ireland. In New Zealand from 1830s working for a time under Captain Harris. Also involved in coastal trade between Bay of Islands and Hawke's Bay during 1850s. Later ran sheep farms at Tangoio, north of Napier, and Waikokopu, near Mahia and owned stores at Wherowhero and Mahia. Lived in Napier in the 1870s until his death. Married Puihi of Te Aitanga a Mahaki in late 1830s; Maria Morris is one of their children. Married his second wife Elizabeth Paetoi (Peti) at Ahuriri in 1863.
Buried in Old Napier Cemetery. (Historic Poverty Bay by J A Mackay).

https://www.capecoastaht.org.nz/single-post/2017/06/28/william-morr...
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-MacHist-t1-body-d18-d5...
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/20466653?search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject_tex...

Inscription:
In memory of
William Morris
Who departed this life July 8th 1882 aged 67 years
One of the old residents well known in the Hawkes Bay
First settled here in 1840
Principal Occupation Master Whaler
Lord I leave it all to thee

Children -

1844 - Maraea
1845 - William Te Pere
1846 - Elizabeth
1849 - James
1852 - John Paku
1854 - Emma
1855 - Hannah
1855 - Pango
1857 - Mary

• PapersPast refers to this Wm Morris' status as 'snr' however his father was also called William.
• Birth date is 1815

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19111007.2.86.16.1 Poverty Bay Herald, 7 Oct 1911
Letter to the Editor, Mahia in the Whaling Days penned by Thos. Fernandez