Edward Marsh Williams
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Edward Marsh Williams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native Land Court | |
| In office 29 April 1881 – 1891 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 November 1818 |
| Died | 11 October 1909 (aged 90) |
| Spouse | Jane Davis |
| Parent(s) | Henry Williams, Marianne Williams |
Edward Marsh Williams (2 November 1818 – 11 October 1909) was a missionary, interpreter, and judge who played a significant role in the British colonisation of New Zealand.[1] He was born in Hampstead, Middlesex, the eldest son of Archdeacon Henry Williams and Marianne Williams.
At the age of 21 in 1840, when Captain William Hobson arrived in New Zealand, Edward — who had grown up among the Māori at Paihia, and as a result was fluent in Te Reo and understood Māori culture — helped his father translate the Treaty of Waitangi into Te Reo.[2] Edward was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Hobson as government interpreter, Clerk to the Court, and the first postmaster at Auckland. Edward was appointed to judicial positions: as Resident Magistrate for the Bay of Islands and in 1881 Edward was appointed a judge of the Native Land Court (which became the Māori Land Court) of New Zealand.
Williams translated into Māori over 210 hymns and also The Pilgrim's Progress.[1] In 1860, he translated God Save the Queen into Maori.[3] He drew HMS Herald in Sylvan Cove, Stewart Island / Rakiura in 1840.[4][5]
Williams arrived with his parents at the Paihia, Bay of Islands, in July 1823 aboard the ship Brampton.[2] He was educated in the CMS mission school by his mother and his aunt, Jane Williams, and by other members of the CMS mission.[6]
In 1835, Williams returned to England on HMS Buffalo. He was apprenticed to a London doctor, but after twelve months he ended his studies as the consequence of brain fever (an uncertain diagnosis) and he returned to New Zealand.[7]
Translation of the Treaty of Waitangi
In 1840, when Captain William Hobson arrived in New Zealand he appointed Williams' father to take charge of the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi. As Williams was an experienced Māori linguist as well as being well-acquainted with Māori customs, he assisted his father to translate the treaty into the Māori language.[2][8]
Williams was appointed as the Māori interpreter to Major Thomas Bunbury of the 80th Regiment, who had been appointed by Lieutenant Governor Hobson as Commissioner. On 29 April 1840 they travelled on HMS Herald under Captain Joseph Nias to take a copy of the Treaty of Waitangi (known as the "Herald-Bunbury" copy) to the South Island. On 16 June 1840 they arrived in Port Underwood in Cloudy Bay and obtained nine signatures. They then visited various Māori chiefs along the east coast of the South Island, stopping at Akaroa (two signatures), Otago Harbour (two signatures) and to Ruapuke Island in Foveaux Strait where they obtained a further three signatures.[7][9]
The actual proclamation of sovereignty was made by Lieutenant Governor Hobson on 21 May 1840 (the North Island by treaty and the South by discovery),[10] notwithstanding that his agents were collecting signatures for the Treaty in the South Island at this stage.
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