Remembering Thomas Ferens

Remembering Thomas Ferens

Thomas Ferens was one of North Otago’s earliest European settlers. He was a run holder and church man, heavily involved in the establishment of the Methodist church in North Otago. Ferens lived in North Otago from 1854 until his death in 1888; he is buried in the Oamaru cemetery.

Thomas Ferens was born in Durham, England in 1824. It is believed that he underwent theological training, and while he did not pursue a career in the church, remained dedicated to the Methodist faith throughout his life.

At the age of 23, Ferens made the decision to travel to New Zealand. He sailed on the John Wickliffe, arriving in Port Chalmers on 23 March 1848. Not long after Ferens was approached by Wesleyan missionary, the Reverend Charles Creed, to take charge of the school he had set up in Waikouaiti in 1844. He agreed and began his work for Creed in July 1848.

Ferens worked at the school for approximately four years until economic hardship within the mission forced him to seek employment elsewhere. He found work with Charles Suisted, who initially employed Ferens as his secretary, and later as the manager of his land in Otepopo. In October of 1854, while managing Suisted’s land, Ferens married Margaret Westland, a young woman who also arrived in Otago with her family aboard the John Wickliffe. Sources suggest this marriage was the first between European settlers in the North Otago district.

A number of years after Ferens and Westland were married, Ferens arranged for the purchase of a run in the North Otago area. He received the license for run number134, which he named Stotfold. Eventually a large homestead was built at Stotfold Station and Ferens and his family moved in circa 1857.

Stotfold Station was a large area of land in the Tapui area; the land was estimated to be approximately 41,600 acres. When it became possible to purchase the freehold of the run, Ferens purchased a portion of the land. By 1869 he had about 17,000 sheep.

Ferens was also a well known breeder of horses; he imported both Clydesdale and Timor breeds. He was a prize-winner at Agricultural Shows for his horses. At the first Northern Agricultural Show in 1863 Ferens was awarded first prize for one of his racing horses, he won £5.

As a man who was devoted to his church, Ferens was known to be largely responsible for the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist church in North Otago. The first Methodist service was held at Stotfold on 10 March 1863; Rev. Isaac Harding made a special visit to the area for the occasion, and also held the first service in Oamaru on the same night. A number of months later the first Methodist congregation came together in Oamaru and Ferens contributed significantly to the purchase of land for the placement of a small church in Hull Street. Ferens, who acted as lay preacher, held services in the church in its early days.

During the depression of 1870 Ferens fell into financial trouble and lost both the lease of the Stotfold run and his freehold property. He subsequently moved to Oamaru where he set up a butchers shop and stock agency in the centre of town. In 1874 Ferens gave up the butchery and opened a book store, he also acted as the Oamaru Borough Council auditor for a number of years.

In his later years Thomas Ferens lived in Trent Street. He passed away at the age of 64 on 9 June 1888. He left his wife and adult children to mourn his loss.

All information in this article comes from Waitaki Museum and Archive.

Sources for this article:

McDonald, K C (1962) ‘They Once Lived Here, People of the Past [Thomas Ferens]’, North Otago Museum Archive, n. 41628.
McKenzie, D (1989). Otepopo and Herbert Township. North Otago Museum Archives, reference, p. 14.
Oamaru Mail (9 June 1888). ‘Obituary for Thomas Ferens’ North Otago Museum Archive, n. 41636.

Written by Shannan Carr, Curator of Archives, November 2009