Women became involved in shore-whaling in New Zealand and the Chatham Islands during the nineteenth-century. The wives of shore-whalers included Elizabeth (Betty) Guard (1814-1870) who had married John (Jacky) Guard (c.1792/93-1857) in Sydney in October 1830. Jacky was a former English convict sent to Sydney who'd learnt the sealing and whaling trades on his release. The newly-wed couple arrived at his shore-whaling station at Te Awaiti on Arapawa (Arapaoa) Island near the Tory Channel in November 1830 which he'd established three years earlier. Betty, who was born in Sydney, is thought to be the first woman of European descent to settle in the South Island. (The first European women in NZ are thought to be former convicts English-born Charlotte Badger and Irish-born Catharine Hagerty who arrived in 1806 at Rangihoua, Bay of Islands.) Betty and Jacky's son John (born 1831) and daughter Louisa (born 1833) are considered to be the first Pākehā boy and girl born in the South Island. 

At the time of Betty's arrival at Te Awaiti, the NZ Musket Wars between iwi had resumed. Jacky had befriended Chief Te Rauparaha of Ngāti Toa who'd stop off at Te Awaiti when leading raids in the South Island from his base on Kāpiti Island. He'd purchased land at Kākāpō Bay from Te Rauparaha and Chief Te Rangiheata in 1828 to set up his second whaling station. In 1832, Betty and Jacky moved to Kākāpō Bay due to increasing threats from Ngāi Tahu and relinquished their shore-whaling station at Te Awaiti the following year. On 29 April 1834, their ship, Harriet, was wrecked on the Taranaki coast during stormy weather. Betty, her two children and members of the crew were held hostage for five months by Ngāti Ruanui. They were rescued by the first British troop to come into armed combat with the Māori - the 50th Regiment sent from Sydney with Jacky by the NSW Governor.

Betty and Jacky raised seven more children between 1835 - 1850 and continued to be involved with whaling until the number of whales began to decline by 1848. Then they became farmers and traded produce. Jacky died in 1857 aged sixty-five and Betty died in 1870 aged fifty-five. Members of Betty and Jacky's family continued to live at Kākāpō Bay.

A. Betty Parker married ex-convict & shore-whaler Jacky Guard in October 1830

B. Backstory

1.  Betty & her family's background

Betty Guard was born Elizabeth Parker at Seven Hills in Sydney on 3 December 1814 and baptised at Parramatta. Her parents were Stephen Parker and Harriet (née Pugh) who'd married in 1813. Stephen was a convict who had arrived in Sydney from England on the 'Coromandel' in May 1804. Harriet was born in Sydney in 1794 to ex-convict parents, Edward Pugh and Hannah (née Smith), who'd married after arriving with the First Fleet of British colonists and convicts to New South Wales in January 1788. Elizabeth was first known as Betsy and then Betty. Her brother David was born in 1817 and sister Sophia in 1819.

Find out more: Convict Records: Stephen Parker; Edward Pugh; Hannah Smith

(a)  Betty's father Stephen Parker was an ex-convict

(b)  Betty's mother Harriet was born in Sydney to parents who were NSW convicts

(c)  Betty & her mother were known as "currency lasses" - 1st generation born in NSW

Betty and her mother, Harriet, and their siblings were known as "currency lasses" and  "currency lads". The first generation of children born in the colony of NSW to British settlers and convicts were called "currency", whereas those born in Britain were known as "sterling". The pound sterling was legal tender in NSW whereas money in other currencies was not. As initially, most were children of convicts, the term "currency" inferred they were second-rate citizens. 

Source: Wikipedia: Currency lads and lasses; URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency_lads_and_lasses

(d)  Betty's father drowned in 1822 & her family became lodgers with John Deaves

2.  John (Jacky) Guard's background

John Guard (nickname Jacky) was born at St. Marylebone, West End, London to Aaron and Mary (née Barry) Guard on 9 December 1793 and was baptised at Saint Mary on 25 December 1793. He was the eldest of six children: Charles (1798-1860), Elizabeth (b.1800), Mary (b.1803), Kaziah (1805-1806), and Hannah (b.1807). (Source: Geni:  Capt Jacky Guard).

John became a stone-cutter and was convicted for seven years for theft in 1813 and served the last five years in Sydney. After his release during 1820, John learnt the sealing and whaling trades where he became known as "Jacky". He owned a house in the Rocks which was looked after by a servant, Charlotte Pugh, who was the sister of Betty's mother Harriet. After a whaling trip to the Cook Strait, Jacky set up a shore-whaling station at Te Awaiti and a branch station at Kākāpō Bay in the Marlborough Sounds during 1827-1828. The Musket Wars between iwi had resumed and Jacky befriended Te Rauparaha who'd stop off at Te Awaiti when leading raids in the South Island from his base on Kāpiti Island.

(a)  John arrived in NSW as a convict in 1815 

On 17 March 1813, John was convicted at Middlesex Gaol for 7 years for stealing a five-shilling quilt from a house. While awaiting transport to the penal colony in NSW, he was detained for 18 months in the Newgate hulk on the Thames River as the gaols were crowded. He was then sent on the convict ship "Indefatigable" which departed on 30 September 1814 and arrived at Sydney on 26 April 1815.

(b)  After being released in early 1820, John became a sealer known as 'Jacky'

After five years of hard labour breaking rocks and felling trees at Windsor, 50 kms north-west of Sydney, John was released in early 1820. He was entitled to receive 30 acres from the Government on his release, but declined (as did others) as the main export market was merino wool which required a larger estate. Instead, John learnt the sealing trade and became known as Jacky.

(c)  Jacky hunted mainly whales on trips from Sydney to NZ from mid-1820s

When the number of seals began to decline by 1825, Jacky began to mainly hunt whales from his ship from his base in Sydney. Captain Jacky and his crew would sail to the Cook Strait, harpoon whales, and process them aboard their ship before heading back to Sydney.

(d) Betty's aunt (Charlotte Pugh) was Jacky's housekeeper

Jacky continued to own his house in the Rocks at Sydney and his house servant was Betty's aunt, Charlotte Pugh (b.1799), who was her mother's sister. Charlotte had begun a relationship with Andrew Garside (born c.1798) around 1817 which led to the birth of two children - Ann (b. 1818) and William (born c.1820). Andrew then married another woman, Sarah Metcalfe, in 1823. Charlotte's children lived with her when she became Jacky's house servant, which was recorded in the first official New South Wales Census conducted in November 1828. (Source: Australian Royalty: Charlotte Pugh)

Hence, it is commonly thought that Betty had met Jacky through her Aunt Charlotte. 

(e)  Jacky set up shore-whaling station in Tory Channel, Marlborough Sounds, 1827

Jacky's whaling trips to the Cook Strait led to his discovery of the Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds. He then established a shore-whaling station at Te Awaiti in 1827.  

An unverified story is that Betty Parker had also accompanied Jacky and his crew. The following account appeared in the Taranaki Daily News in 1937:

"When Betty Parker made Guard's acquaintance he was already known as a trader on the New Zealand coast. By the Maoris he was called Tiaki (Jacky) Kari. In those days girls were married early, and it is apparent that on this voyage the captain already had his eye on the Sydney girl as a prospective wife. At that time, however, Betty I was in indifferent health, and it was thought by her parents that a trip in the Waterloo would restore her."  (Source: Taranaki Daily News (Dec 1937), "The Wreck Of The Harriet", p.13 (Supplement). 

However, the following viewpoint was expressed in Te Ara in 1990:

"According to one story, which is often repeated but not proved, Betty Parker made a voyage to the Marlborough Sounds with her future husband, Captain John (Jacky) Guard, in 1827, when she was only 12 years old. It is more likely that she first arrived in New Zealand three years later as a 15-year-old bride." (Source: Don Grady. 'Guard, Elizabeth', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1g23/guard-elizabeth) 

(f)  Jacky befriended Te Rauparaha & set up branch whaling station at Kākāpō Bay, 1828

During 1828, Jacky opened a branch station at Kākāpō Bay in Port Underwood. The land was purchased from Chiefs Te Rauparaha and Te Rangiheata of Ngāti Toa who were based at Kāpiti Island after being driven out from Kāwhia during the Musket War between iwi. Jacky had befriended Te Rauparaha who would stop off at Te Awaiti when conducting raids against Ngāi Tahu in the South Island.

(g)  Jacky continued to visit Sydney on trading trips & had a partner at Te Awaiti

Jacky lived at Te Awaiti and would visit Sydney up to three times a year to trade seal skins, whale oil, flax, and cargo. He'd stay over at his house at the Rocks which he had kept with Betty's Aunt Charlotte continuing to live there as his house servant with her two children.

According to the MyHeritage and Geni websites, Jacky had a partner in c.1829 - Arihia 'Kauhoe' Hamumu (c.1802-c.1893) of Ngāti Tama who was born at Ōpunake, Taranaki. They had a son, Ngahui Kauhoe Te Rei, who was born on 9 Dec 1830 and died on 30 March 1916. However, another MyHeritage record lists Ngahui Kauhoe Te Rei as being the son of Arihia (born c.1815) and Jack Kaanga (born c.1812). Arihia is also listed on MyHeritage as having married Wirape Maihi circa 1841. The Here-ā-Nuku website states that Arihia was the niece of Te Pūoho-o-te-rangi (Paramount Chief of Ngāti Tama) and his wife Kauhoe Te Waipunahau of Te Atiawa.

Sources:

• Geni: Arihia 'Kauhoe' Hamumu, URL: https://www.geni.com/people/Arihia-Kauhoe-Hamumu/6000000175592296825

• MyHeritage: Te Guard, URL: https://www.myheritage.com/names/te_guard

• My Heritage: Jack Kaanga, URL: https://www.myheritage.com/names/jack_kaanga

• Te Here-ā-Nuku:  Faces of Whānau, URL: https://tehereanuku.nz/our-people/faces-of-whanau/

2.  Betty & Jacky Guard marry & live at shore-whaling station at Te Awaiti from Nov 1830

Other whalers began arriving during 1830s & married or lived with Māori women

When whalers arrived at Te Awaiti, Betty began to have female companions - Māori women who had married the whalers or lived with them as their wives.

3.  Betty & Jacky's first child (John) born in Oct 1831

 Betty & Jacky take refuge with Te Rauparaha on Kāpiti Island for 5 weeks, 1831/32

During the Musket Wars between Te Rauparaha and Ngāi Tahu, there were regular threats to the whalers' houses by Ngāi Tahu. This led Jacky and Betty to seek refuge with Te Rauparaha on Kāpiti Island for five weeks in 1831/2. An account of the friendship that grew between Jacky and Te Rauparaha was given years later by Jacky's son John:

In a magazine interview in his later years, John remembered a telling confrontation between his father and Te Rauparaha. “Rauparaha stole a sheep, for which Captain Guard reproached him and called him a thief. At this, the old chief was furious, and brandishing a tomahawk, menaced his host with it. The Captain…drawing a line on the sand with the cutlass…informed Rauparaha that if he crossed that line he would shoot him dead. On this, Rauparaha, who was naked as the day he was born, retreated for a short distance and then ran towards the old skipper, bounding in the air, brandishing his tomahawk and foaming at the mouth like a boar. When he came to the line, however, he stopped dead. Several times he repeated this manoeuvre without going any farther.” Eventually, the heat dissipated and they became firm friends.

Source: Steve Sole (2008), "John Guard", New Zealand Geographic (Issue 91: May-June)

4.  Betty & Jacky move to Kākāpō Bay in 1832

5.  Jacky & Betty relinquish whaling station at Te Awaiti & retain Kākāpō Bay, 1833

6.  Betty & Jacky's second child - daughter Louisa - born Nov 1833

7.  Jacky's schooner 'Harriet' attacked, & Betty & children amongst captives, 1834

In 1834, Jacky purchased a new schooner "Harriet' during a trip to Sydney with Betty and their children John and Louisa. When they were returning home in April 1834 with Jacky's brother Charles and Betty's brother David also on board, their ship ran aground near Rāhotu on the Taranaki coast. On reaching the shore, they were attacked by Taranaki iwi. Several crew and David were killed, and the others were taken captive. Jacky and a small group of his crew were released with three Chiefs as supervisors, to obtain a ransom (cask of gunpowder) in exchange for the hostages. After reaching Cloudy Bay, the crew remained there whilst Jacky and the Chiefs continued onto Wellington. Jacky arranged for Captain Morris of the Sydney-bound 'Joseph Weller' to take them to collect the captives en route in exchange for the ransom. However, the weather prevented the ship reaching shore and they sailed on to Sydney where Jacky alerted the NSW Government's Executive Council who then informed the NSW Governor Richard Bourke of their plight.

The 50th Regiment was sent from Sydney by the NSW Governor with Jacky and the three Chiefs aboard, and became the first British troop to come into armed combat with the Māori. The remaining captives, including Betty and her children, were rescued after being held hostage for five months. They were taken to Sydney by the Regiment, along with Jacky, arriving on 11 November 1834. Their daughter Louisa died in January 1835 possibly from injuries when taken captive. Betty and Jacky's third child Thomas was born in Sydney in November 1835 where they had continued to stay until returning to NZ in early 1836.

(a)  New schooner 'Harriet' purchased in Sydney & they depart in April 1834

(b) The 'Harriet' runs aground near Cape Egmont & a makeshift camp set up, 29 April           1834

Various accounts of the 'Harriet' running aground and the events that followed have been published, including the number of Jacky's crew and local iwi involved which have varied. The following is based on the information submitted during a subsequent hearing held by the House of Commons Select Committee on Aborigines (SCOA) during 1834-1836 which was published in 1837 in Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Aboriginal tribes, (London, 1837). A summary of Jacky's testimony at the hearing is also given in Marshall, W. B. (1836), A personal narrative of two visits to New Zealand (London) : Appendix V (pp.344-349).

(c)  The 'Harriet' is plundered & the campsite attacked by Taranaki & Ngāti Ruanui iwi

(d)  Jacky agreed to arrange a ransom for his family & remaining crew to be released

(e)  Betty was detained at Moturoa under the protection of Chief Oaoiti

Varied accounts have appeared of Betty's ordeal, as summarised in the following excerpts:

Te Ara: 

Her ordeal was later described in a somewhat lurid report in the Sydney Herald of 17 November 1834...Other accounts, however, suggest that after the initial affray Betty Guard was treated well; that she was protected by a chief, Oaoiti, and lived with him as a wife.

Source: Don Grady. 'Guard, Elizabeth', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1g23/guard-elizabeth

The Sydney Herald (17 Nov 1834): New Zealand, p.2: URL https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12850864

"Mrs. Guard states, that when the New Zealanders first took her prisoner she was nearly exhausted with the loss of blood, which was flowing from the wounds she received in her head with their tomahawks. They voraciously licked the blood, and, when it ceased to flow, attempted to make an incision in her throat for that purpose, with part of an iron hoop. They then stripped her and her children naked, dragged her to their huts, and would have killed her, had not a chief's wife kindly interfered in her behalf, and when the bludgeon was raised with that intention, threw a rug over her person and saved her life. The savages took the two children from under her arms and threw them on the ground; and, while they were dividing the property they had stolen from the crew of the Harriet, kept running backwards and forwards over the children as they lay upon the ground — one of which, the youngest still retains the marks of this brutal operation. They afterwards delivered the youngest child to the mother, and took the other away into the bush, and Mrs. Guard did not see it for two months after. A short time had elapsed, when the Natives took Mrs. Guard to Wymattee, about forty miles from where the Harriet was wrecked, being in a perfect state of nudity, both her and her children, where they gave her an old shirt ; this was the only covering she, and the infant sucking at her breast, had for the whole of the winter. They gave her potatoes to eat ; and as she had made them great promises of what they would receive when Mr. Guard returned, if they spared her life, they did not afterwards ill-use her. In this state she remained for about five months; and during that time, saw the Natives cut up and eat those they killed belonging to the Harriet, (one of whom was Mrs. Guard's brother), occasionally bringing some pieces of human flesh to her, and asking her to partake of it with them...."

8.  Rescue from Sydney by Jacky & British soldiers of 50th Regiment, Aug 1834

After arriving in Sydney, Jacky had appealed for help from the New South Wales Government to rescue the nine captives and his wife and two children. On 22 August, he was examined by the Executive Council and stated:  "A blanket, a canister of powder, some fish-hooks, and other trifling articles, would be sufficient ransom for each man. but more would be required for the women and children." He also stated, "I believe if a ship-of-war were to go there, and a few soldiers landed, they could be got without ransom.” He added, "I will not rest here, if a force is not sent down to intimidate them."

The Executive Council advised the NSW Governor Richard Bourke to send an application to the Captain of the HMS Alligator to obtain "the restoration of the British subjects now in the hands of the New Zealanders". Governor Bourke concurred and sent a letter on 23 August 1834 to Captain Lambert which stated, "If the restoration of the prisoners should not be accomplished by amicable means, the Council recommend that force should be employed to effect it...” Consequently, Captain Lambert prepared the HMS Alligator and the colonial schooner Isabella to depart on 31 August 1834 with the 50th Regiment and Jacky and the three Chiefs. 

Source: William Marshall (1836), A personal narrative of two visits to New Zealand, (pp.342-344).

(a)  The 3 Chiefs were exchanged for 8 crew (9th had drowned earlier) on 21 Sept 1834

(b)  Betty & daughter Louisa were rescued on 1 October 1834

Lieutenant Henry Gunton, who was an Officer on board the HMS Alligator, described Betty's arrival in his "Diary of expedition to New Zealand," 30 August-13 Nov 1834.

When Mrs. Guard came up the gangway she was dressed rather oddly, having a very handsome mat and blanket, her hair long and black, flowing about her neck and completely drenched whilst getting through the surf. She was about twenty-two years of age, and rather good looking. She was a native of Sydney, alias a Currency lass (born in Australia).

(c)  Son John was last of the captives rescued on 8 October 1834

"It was later learned that the boy had been looked after by a Ngati Ruanui woman who was said to have cried for three days after he was taken to the ship."

        Source: Taranaki Herald (21 June 1969), "Rescue expedition left record of bloodshed" (p. 7),

(d)  After reboarding on 11 Oct, they visited the Bay of Islands en route to Sydney

After all were aboard, the ships HMS Alligator and Isabella left the Waimate coast on 11 October. They headed towards the Bay of Islands to meet with British Resident James Busby at Waitangi before continuing on to Sydney. En route, they stopped off at Kāpiti Island where Chief Te Rauparaha expressed his pleasure at the outcome against the rival iwi.

On 11 October 1834, Captain Robert Lambert of the HMS Alligator had written the following letter which he sent a copy to James Busby on 26 October suggesting a warning be distributed to Māori about the Harriet incident:

His Britannic Majesty's Ship Alligator,

Entree Island, 11 October, 1834. George Robert Lambert, Captain,

"Two ships of war, belonging to His Majesty King William the Fourth, having arrived on this coast in consequence of the horrid murder of part of the crew of the Harriet, the remaining part having been made slaves by the people of Mataroa, Nummo, Taranachee, and Wyamati, and to require the said people to be given up, which has been effected after a most severe punishment inflicted on the said tribes, by burning their pahs, their property, and killing and wounding many of them; and at the same time to point out to the other tribes that, however much the King of England wishes to cultivate friendship with the New Zealanders, the indignation he will feel at a repetition of such cruelty to his subjects, and how severely he will punish the offenders.

GEO. ROBT. LAMBERT,

Captain of H.M.S. Alligator."

Source: McNab, Robert (1913), The old whaling days: A history of southern New Zealand from 1830 to 1840: Chapter XXII - The Coming of the Crown, 1840 (Wellington: Whitcombe and Thombs Ltd), pp. 128-129)

(e)  The Regiment, Guard family & 'Harriet' crew left on 3 ships on 31 Oct 1834

The Regiment, the Guard family and the Harriet crew departed the Bay of Islands on 31 October 1834. The Guard family sailed on the HMS Alligator and the Harriet's carpenter went on the Isabella schooner to Sydney.

The remaining Harriet crew chose not to re-board the Isabella and went on the England-bound whaler Elizabeth, which was visiting the Bay of Islands. The reason why was explained by the Harriet's carpenter in a letter to the Editor of the Sydney Times:

Sir

Under the present circumstances, I have been advised by a few friends to mention to you some particulars concerning the fate of the barque Harriett and her crew. After being among the natives for about five months, we were happily relieved by the aid of Captain Lambert, to whom I return my most sincere thanks for his humanity towards me and my shipmates. Words cannot express the feelings of my heart towards him and his officers, who not only behaved to me but to all my shipmates as gentlemen in every respect; they gave us all in their power to make us comfortable; but unfortunately owing to the number of people on board the Alligator, we were placed under the protection of Captain Boyle, on board His Majesty's schooner Isabella; who, I regret to say, behaved very indifferently towards us. Three days after we were brought from the shore, we were sent on board the Isabella • the very first night the Captain called us aft, and appointed us to regular watches; we told him we were not able to keep watch not being strong enough; we had no clothes and the weather was cold. He insisted on it, and in consequence of our refusing to do so, stopped our victuals. We then acquainted the purser of the man of war of the fact, to whom I shall always my most sincere thanks for his goodness — he ordered us our rations, but Captain Boyle would not give them, though he promised he would do so — in fact he stinted us in everything that he could, and behaved to us more like a brute than a Christian.

I remain Sir Your Obedient Servant The Carpenter of the unfortunate Harriett.

Source: The Sydney Times (14 Nov 1834): To the Editor of the Sydney Times (p.3) 

(f)  HMS Alligator & Isabella arrived in Sydney on 11 Nov 1834

When the HMS Alligator and Isabella arrived back in Sydney on 11 November 1834, the Guards were greeted by a crowd waiting at the wharf. Betty was interviewed by a reporter from the Sydney Times who stated, "Mr and Mrs Guard have requested us to take this opportunity of acknowledging their sincere gratitude for the kindness of the officers on board His Majesty’s ship Alligator, both of them and family - not in only rescuing them from savage thraldom, but for their charitable treatment afterwards - the recollection of which will never be effaced.” A Public Appeal by the officers and men of the HMS Alligator for the Guards to provide them with funds was run by the Sydney Times and subscriptions could be left at the office of the Sydney Times or any of the Banks.

Source: Sydney Herald (Mon 17 Nov 1834), "New Zealand" (p.2)

 9. Guard family recuperate in Sydney until early 1836

(a)  Jacky took Rev William Colenso & printing press from Sydney to Paihia in Dec 1834

(b)  Daughter Louisa died in Jan 1835, possibly from injuries when taken captive

(c)  Betty & Jacky have third child in Sydney in Nov 1835

On 22 November 1835, Betty gave birth to Thomas, her second son by Jacky. There were rumours that earlier in Sydney, Betty gave birth to "rather dark" twins who were thought to be possibly fathered by Chief Oaoiti. Englishman Edward Markham who had visited NZ and Sydney wrote in his book, "New Zealand or recollections of it" (1834, p.78):'...before I left Sydney, I heard that she was brought to bed of Twins & they were rather dark.'  (Source: Don Grady. 'Guard, Elizabeth', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1g23/guard-elizabeth ) 

10. Post-analysis of the "Harriet Affair", 1836-1837

The incident became known as the "Harriet Affair", as well as the "Alligator Affair" & the "Betty Guard incident". Criticisms began to be voiced for and against the actions taken by the 50th Regiment and by the Māori / New Zealanders, including the following:

(a) Assistant-Surgeon William Marshall critical of Jacky & loss of Māori lives, 1836

In his account of the rescue operation published in 1836, HMS Alligator's Assistant-Surgeon, William Marshall, was critical of the actions taken resulting in Māori lives being lost and settlements destroyed. After the three Chiefs had been exchanged for the eight crew held hostage, Marshall had asked Jacky how he planned to civilise Māori in the absence of Christianity. Jacky had replied; “Shoot them to be sure! A musket ball for every New Zealander is the only way of civilizing their country!”.  Marshall commented “the reply [was] made in serious earnestness and a tone of energy and determination” and he was concerned, “that upon the uncorroborated testimony of such a man, an expedition was fitted out against New Zealand, likely to be fraught with disastrous consequences.”

Source: William Marshall (1836), A personal narrative of two visits to New Zealand: (p.162)

(b) Humanitarian groups' protested against force used against Māori, 1836-1837

The Church Missionary Society (CMS) and other groups protested against the force used, arguing that unrestrained colonisation must be avoided to protect Māori. A petition organised by the CMS and the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1837 asked the British Government to do more to protect Māori.

Source: The Harriet affair, URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-european-contact-pre-1840/the-harriet-affair, (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 14-Oct-2014

11. Guard family return to Kākāpō Bay in Feb 1836

On 20 February 1836, a pregnant Betty, Jacky and their children, John (aged 5 years) and baby Thomas, left Sydney on the schooner 'Industry' for Kākāpō Bay.

(a)  Six more children born between July 1836 - July 1850

(b)  Jacky assists the New Zealand Company as a guide & interpreter, 1838-1839

When the New Zealand Land Company arrived in NZ to survey land for settlement, Jacky assisted as a guide and interpreter. In 1838, Jacky piloted HMS Pelorus during the examination of the Marlborough Sounds and, later, in 1839 he accompanied Colonel Wakefield on the Tory on similar surveys. Agent Edward Jerningham Wakefield (son of Edward Gibbon Wakefield) accompanied his uncle Colonel William Wakefield on the Tory. He wrote about his visit to Te Awaiti on 1 September 1839, describing the whalers and their wives, including John (Jacky) Guard who was visiting from Kākāpō Bay. 

See: Edward Jerningham Wakefield (1845), Adventure in New Zealand, from 1839 to 1844, (London:, pp. 44-50) 

(c)  Jacky continued to purchase land for shore-based whaling

(d)  Treaty of Waitangi signatures gathered at Guard's Cove, 16-17 June 1840

(e)  Jacky also led whaling gang at Waipapa in 1846-47

(f)  Port Underwood considered as port site for Wairau Plains, 1847

With the Wairau Plains being considered as a settlement by the New Zealand Company, land purchasers formed a committee with nine members to choose a suitable site for a port. The committee split into two survey parties of which one visited Port Underwood and stayed with Betty and Jacky Guard for the night: Captain Frederick Moore, William Fox, Alfred Domett, Edward Stafford Fox, and the Hon. Mr Dillon. Captain Moore wrote that they enjoyed a “capital dinner” of roast kid, goose, tongue, ham and “a good plum pudding”, washed down with bottled porter and brandy, and they slept under sails and blankets on the Guard's earthen floor. However, in their 1848 report signed by Domett, they proposed Waitohi (Picton); stating that while Port Underwood was excellent for shipping, the expense required to build a road over the coastal rocks was not warranted.  (See: Sole, Steve (2008), "John Guard", New Zealand Geographic (Issue 91: May-June), URL: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/john-guard/ )

12.  When whaling declined late 1840s, Jacky & Betty farmed & ran small trading vessels

When the number of whales began to decline, Betty and Jacky began farming and continued to operate several small trading vessels that serviced new settlements in the Cook Strait area.

13.  Jacky died in 1857 aged c.65 years & Betty died in 1870 aged 55 years

Jacky died at Kākāpō Bay on 9 November 1857, aged c.65 years. See Find a Grave photo of headstone: John "Jacky" Guard (1793-1857).

Three of Jacky and Betty's children passed away between 1861-1867 and were buried in the Guard family private burial ground in Kākāpō Bay:

• Charles in 1861 aged 24-25 years (see Find a Grave headstone)

• Ellen (Hellen) on 11 May 1865 aged c.17-18 years (see Find a Grave headstone)

• Thomas on 31 October 1867 aged 31 years.

Betty died at the age of 55 on 16 July 1870 and was also buried at Kākāpō Bay (see Find a Grave headstone).

14.  Betty & Jacky's descendants have continued to live at Kākāpō Bay

Of Betty and Jacky's five remaining children, four (John, Amelia & Edward) were buried at Kākāpō Bay, whilst Susan was buried in Wellington:

• John (1831-1918) had married Maria Athelia Ashdown and had one daughter.

• Amelia (1840-1893) had married Thomas Thoms who was the son of whaling couple Joseph and Te Ua Thoms and they had seven children.

• Susan (1850-1921) [twin of Edward] had married Charles Archer Watson and had nine children. Susan was buried at the Karori Cemetery, Wellington. (see Find a Grave headstone)

• Edward (1850-1922) [twin of Susan] had married Emma Baldick and they had 16 children.

Find out more about Betty and Jacky's descendants continuing to live at Kākāpō Bay from their great grandson, John Guard: See: Port Underwood Association, "The Guard Family of Kakapo Bay",  Also see: Guard Family Descendants New Zealand Facebook page. 

A reunion of the Guard family was held by about 280 descendants of Betty and Jacky's youngest son Edward on the weekend of 31 January 2009. The celebrations included the 180th anniversary of Jacky's  arrival in Marlborough and the 150th anniversary of his death in 1857. See: Stuff.co.nz: "Guard family meet for a reunion", Marlborough Express (31 January 2009).

15.  Artefacts & Memorials

Plaque to whaling unveiled at Te Awaiti on 18 April 1971

The following event was reported by The Press:

A plaque was unveiled at Te Awaiti, near the Tory Channel, yesterday, to commemorate the early whaling activities which made it at one time the most important European settlement of the South Island.

Mr F. L. Smith, president of the Marlborough regional committee of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, spoke at the commemoration ceremony attended by about 60 people.

The plaque was unveiled by Miss Betty Guard, greatgranddaughter of Mr John Guard who established a whaling station at Te Awaiti in 1827, and Mrs N. Riwaka, great granddaughter of Rihari Tahuaroa, who was the paramount chief of the Maoris of that area in 1827.

Source:  The Press (9 April 1971), "Plaque to whaling", Vol CXI, Issue 32584, p.16)

Find out more:

• Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW: Elizabeth Parker, 1814–1870 (aged 55 years); URL: https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I81171/Elizabeth-Parker

• Biographical Database of Australia: 50th Regiment (The Queens Own) 1833-1841, URL: https://www.bda-online.org.au/files/MR19_Military.pdf

• Don Grady, 'Guard, Elizabeth', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1g23/guard-elizabeth

• Grady, D. (1978), Guards of the sea. (Christchurch: Whitcoulls)

• The Harriet affair, URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-european-contact-pre-1840/the-harriet-affair, (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 14-Oct-2014

• Marshall, William Barrett. B. (1836), A personal narrative of two visits to New Zealand in His Majesty's ship Alligator, A.D. 1834. (London: James Nisbet) 

• McNab, Robert (1913), The old whaling days: A history of southern New Zealand from 1830 to 1840: Chapter XXII - The Coming of the Crown, 1840 (Wellington: Whitcombe and Thombs Ltd, pp.378-380.), URL: http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-McNOldW-t1-body-d1-d23.html

• Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Aboriginal tribes, (London, 20 Feb 1837)

• Samson, Jane (1993), "The 1834 cruise of HMS Alligator: The Bible and the flag", The Northern Mariner Le Marin Du Nord, (3(4), 37–47), URL: https://www.cnrs-scrn.org/northern_mariner/vol03/tnm_3_4_37-47.pdf

• Sole, Steve (2008), "John Guard", New Zealand Geographic (Issue 91: May-June), URL: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/john-guard/

• The Sydney Herald (17 Nov 1834): New Zealand, p.2: URL https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12850864

• Wakefield, Edward Jerningham (1845), Adventure in New Zealand, from 1839 to 1844, (London: John Murray) 

• Youtube: "The Betty Guard story" from "Making Marlborough - the Migrant Story" (5:45 mins)

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This DigitalNZ story was compiled in February 2025