Edgerley, John (1814 - 1849)

John Edgerley was born about 1814, probably in Upper Arley, then Staffordshire and worked as a gardener at Arley Hall.

He migrated to New Zealand in 1834 on the sailing ship Emma Eugenia ex the Downs, arrived en route at Sydney 10, May, 1835 and reached the Hokianga 30, July.  He spent the years to 1841 at Horeke in the Hokianga as gardener / botanist for Lieutentant Thomas McDonnell who had been appointed an additional British Resident in New Zealand, they had travelled out together.

Edgerley returned to England and was at Arley Hall again in April 1842, he married Sarah Newnham at Upper Arley on 27, December, 1842 and they travelled on the Tyne arriving at Hobart August 1843.

In 1843 he bought 6 acres in Newmarket,  marked now by Edgerley Avenue, Epsom and established a nursery which he worked till he died in  1849  at 35 years, leaving Sarah, two sons and a daughter.

Various notes and materials on Edgerley's life have been assembled in a paper by R.C. Cooper, "John Edgerley, Botanist in New Zealand", Records of Auckland Institute &  Museum, 7, 123-136, March 31st., 1970, which is the source of the above information.

There are references in the paper to plant specimens and live plants sent to Kew Gardens, Mr. A. B. Lambert and the Earl of  Mountnorris by Edgerley in the period up to 1843.  Two uncommon New Zealand shrubs bear Edgerley's name.
Pomaderris prunifolia Fenzl var edgerleyi and Psuedopanax edgerleyi

John and Sarah had two boys, John born 26, July, 1846 and William born 4, April, 1848.  A daughter Sarah was born in 1850.

John's wife Sarah died in June 1895 aged 83.

The writer of this page is Warwick Hughes a great great grandson of John Edgerley, who is  interested to hear from anyone with information on relatives and ancestors of John Edgerley and Sarah Newnham.
Please contact wsh@webace.com.au