Discovering 'bold' roots

A chapter of Mangawhai’s formative years has found its way into print, telling of one family’s major contribution to the foundations and infrastructure of the area.

First-time author David Morrison, great-great grandchild of Mangawhai early settlers Kate and George Boldero, presented his book The Boldero Family of Mangawhai, to more than 35 descendants, many who had never met before, at the Mangawhai Museum on May 13.

“I was delighted with the way the day went,” he says. “There were twice as many people as I had anticipated. Most of the descendants did not know anything of their Boldero ancestors or of their important contribution to early Mangawhai. For me, to be able to place this on record, to celebrate their lives and achievements, has been the most rewarding outcome.”

‘Boldero’ has Scandinavian roots and means ‘to be brave/bold’, a name the family appeared to live up to. After a three month sailing voyage from England to New Zealand in 1861, Kate and George hacked out a living as farmers, converting the 80 acres of granted land in Hakaru into productive farmland while raising their ten children.

“Clearly it was a hard life but over the next 50 years the Boldero’s were also heavily involved in the development of the Mangawhai community… active on the Road Board, Agricultural Association, St Michael’s Church, education and school committees,” David says.

In an uncanny twist, one Boldero descendant, Alan Rogers, inadvertently returned to his roots when his family moved to Hakaru a year and half ago. His home lies directly across the Hakaru River from the farm of his great, great grandfather George Boldero.

“I knew a little of the Boldero’s history but not just how embedded and involved they were in the development of Mangawhai,” he says. “I was also so surprised to discover through David’s research that we now live on the doorstep of my ancestors.”

David says the book, which took two years to write, developed after he began researching the family history with his father Ian Morrison, the oldest living Boldero. His wife Michelle, ‘was indispensable in her editing and encouragement to write as if you are telling a story, rather than just writing the facts.’

An amateur photographer and genealogy enthusiast, Michelle says her husband never expected that delving into his ancestry would see him write a book or create a family reunion.

“We’re hoping that this will also encourage people to explore their own personal histories,” Michelle says. “Genealogy is relevant to everyone and everyone has a story.”

Getting to know who and where you descend from often deepens the connection to an individual’s predecessors. David says it has definitely given him a better understanding of the difficulties of early pioneering life in New Zealand, ‘which are obvious on an intellectual level’.

“When I was practising my presentation, I always got a bit choked up when I spoke about Kate Boldero’s obituary, which said ‘she had her full share of the privations and hardships of a pioneer’s life’.” he says. ”Writing the stories certainly brings their lives from just an academic exercise to a more emotional one and I have certainly felt this.”

HOME: David with Boldero descendants, Hakaru resident Alan Rogers, daughter Elise and son Riley, who were surprised to discover just how close they are to their ancestors.