Advertisement

Captain James Duff Hewett

Advertisement

Captain James Duff Hewett Veteran

Birth
England
Death
9 Feb 1865 (aged 34–35)
Kai Iwi, Whanganui District, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand
Burial
Whanganui, Whanganui District, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand GPS-Latitude: -39.939434, Longitude: 175.0484924
Plot
In a plot between rows 43 and 44 in the old ground.
Memorial ID
View Source
MURDER OF J.D. HEWETT, ESQ., M.P.C.
An unusual gloom has been thrown over the town this morning by the intelligence that Mr J.D. Hewett, of Pakerere, was murdered at his own place last night [Feb. 9]. A man came in this morning to Stewart's redoubt, who said that he had gone out this morning from town to Mr Hewett's, and on entering the house found that it had been plundered and that no one was there. He immediately made for the redoubt, where he arrived between four and five. A party of rifles which had got ready to proceed with the lancers to Woodall's, was immediately sent by Capt. Porter to Mr Hewett's, under command of Lieut. Wicksteed. On approaching the house, they found a body lying on the road with the feet in the direction of the town. It was headless; the head and neck having been cut off close to the collar bone. Mr Gotty of Kaikokopu, who was with the party, informed us that he saw no mark of a gun shot on the body; but that there were three gashes on the left arm which was lying close beside the body while the other arm was stretched out. The party found that the house had been ransacked by Maoris. After the rifles left the redoubt, a servant of Mr Hewett's arrived there breathless in his shirt and trousers, who said that last night Mr Hewett and he were alone in the House. The dogs began to bark, and Mr Hewett remarked that they must be barking at cattle; the servant said, "No, it must be Maoris." On this Mr Hewett went out on the verandah in front of the house with a revolver, and seeing a Maori, fired two shots. The Maori fired, at him, and the servant says he was shot in the abdomen, and he heard him say " I am done for," and saw him fall. The servant, who was still in the house, on this made for the bush, where he hid himself till this morning. This is all that is as yet known of the matter. Mr Hewett was much respected in this district for his many excellent qualities, and his loss will be widely and deeply regretted. He has left a widow and four children. (Wellington Independent, Feb. 14, 1865, via Wanganui Chronicle, Feb. 10)
**
MR. HEWETT'S MURDER.
We learn that three natives belonging to Kai Iwi, named Reihana, Peina, and Maka Reihuna, have come forward and given information regarding the perpetrators of this foul deed. They have given their testimony before Mr. Buller, District Magistrate, and it is to this effect. They were are at Areiahi, a village on the Waitotara, when the head was brought in by Hori, a Waitotara native, who picked it up at Mr. Hewitt's when dropped by the native who cut it off, named Koki, of Waikato. They say that the party at Mr. Hewett's house numbered 64, among whom, besides the actors, they name Rio and Rimatario, the latter one of M. White's assessors, and said now to be a prisoner at Wellington. The first shot was fired by Te Kruki, a Waikato; the second shot was fired by Peter, a Patea native, who with Rio had been shearing sheep at Mr. Hewett's and guided the party to the place; and Kuki, another Waikato native, struck Mr. Hewett on the head with the butt end of a gun. Koatrea, a prophet, induced the natives to leave the house after they had pillaged it. This is the substance of the information given, and it added that the head is buried on the banks of the Patea.— Wanganui Chronicle. (Evening Post, Sept. 16, 1865)
MURDER OF J.D. HEWETT, ESQ., M.P.C.
An unusual gloom has been thrown over the town this morning by the intelligence that Mr J.D. Hewett, of Pakerere, was murdered at his own place last night [Feb. 9]. A man came in this morning to Stewart's redoubt, who said that he had gone out this morning from town to Mr Hewett's, and on entering the house found that it had been plundered and that no one was there. He immediately made for the redoubt, where he arrived between four and five. A party of rifles which had got ready to proceed with the lancers to Woodall's, was immediately sent by Capt. Porter to Mr Hewett's, under command of Lieut. Wicksteed. On approaching the house, they found a body lying on the road with the feet in the direction of the town. It was headless; the head and neck having been cut off close to the collar bone. Mr Gotty of Kaikokopu, who was with the party, informed us that he saw no mark of a gun shot on the body; but that there were three gashes on the left arm which was lying close beside the body while the other arm was stretched out. The party found that the house had been ransacked by Maoris. After the rifles left the redoubt, a servant of Mr Hewett's arrived there breathless in his shirt and trousers, who said that last night Mr Hewett and he were alone in the House. The dogs began to bark, and Mr Hewett remarked that they must be barking at cattle; the servant said, "No, it must be Maoris." On this Mr Hewett went out on the verandah in front of the house with a revolver, and seeing a Maori, fired two shots. The Maori fired, at him, and the servant says he was shot in the abdomen, and he heard him say " I am done for," and saw him fall. The servant, who was still in the house, on this made for the bush, where he hid himself till this morning. This is all that is as yet known of the matter. Mr Hewett was much respected in this district for his many excellent qualities, and his loss will be widely and deeply regretted. He has left a widow and four children. (Wellington Independent, Feb. 14, 1865, via Wanganui Chronicle, Feb. 10)
**
MR. HEWETT'S MURDER.
We learn that three natives belonging to Kai Iwi, named Reihana, Peina, and Maka Reihuna, have come forward and given information regarding the perpetrators of this foul deed. They have given their testimony before Mr. Buller, District Magistrate, and it is to this effect. They were are at Areiahi, a village on the Waitotara, when the head was brought in by Hori, a Waitotara native, who picked it up at Mr. Hewitt's when dropped by the native who cut it off, named Koki, of Waikato. They say that the party at Mr. Hewett's house numbered 64, among whom, besides the actors, they name Rio and Rimatario, the latter one of M. White's assessors, and said now to be a prisoner at Wellington. The first shot was fired by Te Kruki, a Waikato; the second shot was fired by Peter, a Patea native, who with Rio had been shearing sheep at Mr. Hewett's and guided the party to the place; and Kuki, another Waikato native, struck Mr. Hewett on the head with the butt end of a gun. Koatrea, a prophet, induced the natives to leave the house after they had pillaged it. This is the substance of the information given, and it added that the head is buried on the banks of the Patea.— Wanganui Chronicle. (Evening Post, Sept. 16, 1865)

Gravesite Details

original sandstone headstone barely legible due to erosion from wind and weather - Sept 2023



Advertisement

  • Created by: Cosmo
  • Added: Nov 28, 2018
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195035486/james_duff-hewett: accessed ), memorial page for Captain James Duff Hewett (1830–9 Feb 1865), Find a Grave Memorial ID 195035486, citing Heads Road Cemetery, Whanganui, Whanganui District, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand; Maintained by Cosmo (contributor 49300889).