John Pepperell
Mr John Pepperell was tragically killed in a freak accident, when the horse-drawn trap he was in flipped while turning a sharp corner by the Bell Block Pound. The cart’s wheel ran over his chest, breaking several ribs and causing internal injuries, Dr Leatham was sent for, but little could be done except to comfort John, and he died some days later. John was born in Marlborough, Devonshire,England and came out with his father and stepmother Agnes on the pioneer ship William Bryan, which arrived in New Plymouth on March 31st, 1841. His father took up land at Waiwhakaiho, but due to the tension from local Maori neighbors, and for safety reasons, the family left for Melbourne in 1848. They remained there until around 1953, when they returned to New Plymouth. John took up farmland at Bell Block. He had earlier met and married Elizabeth Scandlyn, and the couple had 14 children. During the Land Wars, John was in the Taranaki Militia and was involved in many skirmishes with local Maori. During the 1860’s he is recorded as being a carpenter. John died in 1890, aged 67. Amazingly after 14 children his wife Elizabeth died in 1916, aged 92. Both are buried in the small Bell Block cemetery on the corner of Devon and Mangati Roads here in Bell Block.
Waitara based Historian Graeme Duckett tours cemeteries, looking at the people who settled our region. Article first printed in the Taranaki Daily News, Tuesday, October 29th 2013.
