ROYAL NEW ZEALAND FENCIBLES

From 1847 through 1848 five settlements were formed near Auckland, in frontier
areas, comprised of British ex-Regulars and their families. These were to     
provide trained men in the event that they were needed to defend Auckland.    

The five "pensioner villages" overlooked the main water access ways into      
Auckland and formed a first line of defence. Around 700, mainly Irish,        
ex-Regular settlers joined the scheme and were granted a cottage and 1 acre of
land in exchange for light military service.                                  

The military settlers supplied Auckland and ships with fresh produce grown in 
their spare time, and provided much needed rural labour.                      

The ships that carried the Royal New Zealand Fencibles to New Zealand were:   

Ramillies          - Aug 1847
Minerva            - Oct 1847
Sir Robert Sale    - Oct 1847
Sir George Seymour - Nov 1847
Clifton            - Jan 1848
Clevedon           - Jan 1848
Oriental Queen     - Sep 1849

If you have further information on this immigration scheme feel free to send it  
to webmaster "at" yesteryears.co.nz, You will be acknowledged as the contributor.










Source: Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Government Printer, 1966

Compiled by Corey Woodw@rd


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