Appo Hocton in November 1876

Appo Hocton (c. 1819 – 26 September 1920), with a birth name of Wong Ahpoo Hock Ting or Wong Ah Poo Hock Ting, his Chinese name was 黃鶴庭, was a Chinese-born New Zealand servant, landlord, carter and farmer. Born in about 1819, or as late as 1823, [1] he was the first recorded Chinese emigrant to New Zealand, arriving in Nelson on the Thomas Harrison on 25 October 1842.[2]

Hocton purchased land in Nelson's Washington Valley, where he built eight cottages, four of which still exist today; they are located at 40 Washington Road, and nearby at 16, 38, and 40 Hastings Street.[2]

In 1876 Appo Hocton moved to Dovedale, Tasman onto a 485-acre block of land near Brandy Creek, after clearing the land Appo farmed cattle and sheep.[3] On the 12 June 1879, he lost his son, Albert Ah Lina Hocton, to an accidental homicide by his other son, Appo Lewis Hocton.[4] His wife, Ellen, died at 89 years old near the 21 December 1916.[5] His eldest son, William Rowling, died on the 31 January 1919.[6] Appo himself died on the 26 September 1920 at the purported age of 97, although obituaries from the time claim that he had recently celebrated his 100th birthday.[7] He was buried at Dovedale Cemetery although some believe he was buried behind his home at Dovedale.

References

  1. Malone, C. B. "Appo Hocton". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Appo Hocton, Nelson 055". Wikimedia Commons. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  3. Stade, Karen (2010). Appo Hocton : Wong Ah Poo Hoc Ting : New Zealand's first Chinese immigrant, Nelson, 1842-1920. Nelson Provincial Museum. Nelson, N.Z.: The Nelson Provincial Museum. ISBN 9780473161989. OCLC 574619486.
  4. "CORONER'S INQUEST". No. Volume XIV, Issue 142 Page 2. Nelson Evening Mail. 16 June 1879. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. "DEATHS". No. Page 4. Nelson Evening Mail. 21 December 1916. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. "DEATH". No. Volume LIII, Issue 27, Page 4. Nelson Evening Mail. 1 February 1919. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  7. "A CENTENARIAN". No. Volume XXXVII, Issue 8388, Page 3. Waipawa Mail. 27 September 1920. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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