Samuel Chalton 1828-1910 and his wife Ellen Chalton, nee Bennett 1829-1890 arrived in Auckland 16 March 1860 aboard the “Blue Jacket” along with their five children, (Henry Nangreave b.1850, Ellen b.1852, Bennett b.1854, George b.1856 and Thomas Bennett b.1858), and Samuel’s unmarried brother John Chalton, 1833-1900.
Samuel and Ellen had two more children after arriving in New Zealand, Frank b.1862 and Susannah b.1864
In 1860 Samuel and his family moved to Kaiwaka and established Aston Grange Farm. Samuel and his family lived at Kaiwaka for ten years. Samuel and his family were one of the first settlers in this area, preceding the Albertlanders who arrived in 1862, and the settlers of Mangawhai which was established in 1864. There is a comment in a book on the history of the Albertlanders that Samuel settled the area “several years” before the Albertlanders arrived. The quality of Samuel’s dairy stock is also noted.
In Thames Samuel built the first Queens Hotel which burned down. The exact dates are unclear but it is known that Samuel farmed in Kaiwaka for 10 years, so he must have arrived in Thames around 1870, presumably attracted by the gold rush which started in 1867. By 1875 his farm at Netherton was well established, so he must have arrived on to the land which was subsequently named Netherton around 1872/1873. He was therefore very likely in Thames 1870-1872/3. Samuel appears on the 1870-1871 Thames electoral roll.
Samuel named Netherton (approx. 5km north of Paeroa). Netherton Hall in England was the family home of the Nangreaves since the 1500s, so it seems certain that Samuel named Netherton after his mother’s family home.
Around 1880 Samuel provided land for the first Netherton School which was on the banks of the Thames River [Waihou]. The present Netherton School was established in 1890. This school celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2015. During the early 1900s Samuel’s grandsons Andrew Eric Chalton and Francis Gordon Chalton attended this school.
There are three main branches arising from Samuel and Ellen’s children, the descendants of Henry Nangreave (Thames), the descendants of George (Wellington) and Frank (Te Aroha).
Of his other four children; Bennett died in childhood and Thomas Bennett never married. Ellen had four children, but the branch died out and Susannah had one child and this branch also died out.
[See also: "Netherton's Name" in Journal 40 for further discussion on the naming of Netherton]
 Chalton grave 1918, Shortland Cemetery, Thames |
 Chalton grave Feb 2016, Shortland Cemetery, Thames |
 New Chalton Headstone after restoration in May 2016 |