BOULCOTT OF STRATFORD HOUSE, STRATFORD (STRETFORD), WEST HAM, ESSEX, ENGLAND TO WELLINGTON AND THE HUTT VALLEY, NEW ZEALAND
(Updated 22 April 2006)

The BOULCOTT family is one I am very interested in even though it does not appear in either my own or my husband’s family lines. The surname is quite rare so to enable the various BOULCOTT researchers to coordinate, I am the Mail List manager for the BOULCOTT surname on Rootsweb. In Britain the surname is pronounced, and often spelt BOWLCOTT as in Bowl-cott. In New Zealand the surname is pronouned BOULCOTT as in Ball-cott.

John Ellerker BOULCOTT was a financier of the New Zealand Company and Boulcott Street in central Wellington is named for him. As far as it is known, he never came to New Zealand.

However two of his sons, Joseph aged 32 and Almon aged 27 arrived in Wellington in February 1842 on the MARY ANN. In the 1847 Port Nicholson Jurors Lists, Joseph is listed as a merchant, and Almon as a settler, both of Te Aro Flat. By the 1848 Jurors Lists, Almon is an agriculturist of River Hutt, while Joseph is still a merchant of Te Aro Flat. TE ARO FLAT is the area bounded by Willis Street and Cambridge Terrace in present day Wellington.

In 1846 a skirmish with local Maori occurred on the Boulcott's farm in the River Hutt valley. This became known as the BATTLE OF BOULCOTT’S FARM. This area is now known as Boulcott and is opposite the Lower Hutt Hospital. A large cairn on High Street marks the battle.

Almon married Eliza Lavinia HOPTON. Eliza was the daughter of Robert and Charlotte HOPTON nee FAGAN of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Eliza's sister, Sarah Augusta HOPTON married John CLEMENT and these are my husband’s g-g-grandparents. In usual New Zealand fashion we found that friends here in Te Puke are descended from Almon and Eliza BOULCOTT.

Joseph was a widower when he came to New Zealand and did not remarry.

John Ellerker BOULCOTT was born in 1785, the son of John BOULCOTT (died 1832 at Stratford House, Essex) and Mary CREW. He died on the 9 June 1855 at Ewell, Epsom, Surrey. He was married to Mary HILL who was born around 1786 and died on the 8 December 1858 at Brunswick House, Southampton.

John Ellerker and Mary had the following children, all born at Stratford House, Stratford, West Ham, Essex.

John Ellerker BOULCOTT was a very wealthy man when he died. He had land in New Zealand valued at £25, 991 in 1881, twenty seven years after his death.

By searching The Times online index I found the following;

Dated 15 May 1851 Page 1
NEW ZEALAND COMPANY — NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that the ANNUAL GENERAL COURT of Proprietors of the New Zealand Company will be holden at this house on FRIDAY the 30th day of May inst, at 1 o’clock precisely. At which Court will be laid before the Proprietors particulars of an arrangement proposed to be made with her Majesty’s government for a re-adjustment of the claims of the Company upon the crown, under the provisions of the act of the 10 & 11 Vict., chap 112, with a view to obtaining from the Proprietors their authority to conclude such arrangement and to take the necessary steps for carrying the same into effect. And at the same Court the Proprietors will be invited to elect Directors in the room of the following gentlemen, who will then go out of office, namely;

The Right Hon, the Earl Talbot
Robert Baynes Armstrong, Esq M.P.
John Ellerker Boulcott, Esq.
George Lyall, Esq
Henry Aglionby Aglionby, Esq. M.P.
William Monsell, Esq. M.P.
John Abel Smith, Esq. M.P.
Sir Ralph Howard, Bart, M.P. and
William Hutt, Esq. M.P.

All of whom, being re-eligible, hereby offer themselves to be reelected accordingly — By order of the Court of Directors,
THOMAS CUDBERT-HARRINGTON, Secretary
New Zealand House
9 Broad street-buildings,
London
May 13, 1851

and from The Times of 3rd January 1856;

The meaning of the surname Boulcott is - 'Cott' means the place where you lay your head to sleep hence Cottage. The word 'Boul' comes from a very old French word meaning a Birch Tree. Hence John Boulcott means John from Birch Tree Cottage.

For further genealogical information on these families please go to

	Jeremy and Sarah's many relations

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