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James Prebble and family
Description
TitleJames Prebble and familyDescriptionJames (pictured) and Ann Prebble came to New Zealand from Kent, England, on the ship 'Aurora'. With them came their children Richard, Ann Marie, William, Edward, and Mary Elizabeth. John Aurora was born just before they arrived and another son, Thomas was born two years later. The eldest son, George remained with relations in England. They arrived in 1840. James was a builder so his expertise was welcome among the early settlers. They lived and worked at several places before Richard and William were asked by the Deans to come and work on their farm at Riccarton. The Dean family were also on the 'Aurora'.
While working for the Deans, the brothers were able to accumulated livestock and by 1847 William (and maybe Richard as well) Prebble was 'squatting' on land which "was an attractive piece of country near by, where a tributary joined the Halswell" (Marshes Rd) with their assortment of livestock. The Canterbury Association began to divide off "runs" for rent and on 1st January 1852 William and Richard Prebble had their application for Run 10 granted. There is debate over whose name was actually on the licence. Unfortunately the paperwork relating to Run 10 cannot be found.
Run 10 was 5000 acres but they paid only for a Class II run - that means runs over 250 acres but without pre-emptive rights. The cost was 20s per 100 acres. The first actual sale of any of the land that we can find was RS 342 of 50 acres which was bought by William and Richard Prebble 1 September 1852. The Prebbles have this documented as being bought by William, (in 1853) but records at LINZ which has both their names although William bought it from Richard shortly afterwards. Richard and William were joined by their brother Edward Prebble, who also bought several hundred acres of land.
Within a few years the whole of Run 10 had been purchased by various parties, and the area was known as Prebbles' Town, later Prebbletown, and by 1857 there are references to Prebbleton. In 1857 a school was set up in the home of Mr Slater. Mr Slater was a lawyer and his wife was a school-teacher. She started the school in their front room with her children and the two eldest of Richard Prebble's being the first pupils.
People who purchased land as it became available from the Crown were William Prebble, Edward Prebble, Richard Prebble, William Browning Tosswill, John Norris Tosswill, Thomas Thompson, Andrew Dawson, A.R. Creyke, Richard Clarke, Francis Grellier Stedman, James Gammack, Dr Burrell Parkerson (the Younger), David Todd, John Parish, John Rennie, Levi Lowe, Frederick Augustus Bishop, Job Osbourne, James Thwaites, David Scott, William Jackson, John Goodwill, Antony Hodgson. In some cases the landowner only held the land for a short time before selling it again.
James is buried at the All Saints Church in Prebbleton with his wife Ann and also his son Richard and Richard's wife Mary.
This image is sourced from Township Trails Selwyn. Date of Birth1799Date of Death1877
While working for the Deans, the brothers were able to accumulated livestock and by 1847 William (and maybe Richard as well) Prebble was 'squatting' on land which "was an attractive piece of country near by, where a tributary joined the Halswell" (Marshes Rd) with their assortment of livestock. The Canterbury Association began to divide off "runs" for rent and on 1st January 1852 William and Richard Prebble had their application for Run 10 granted. There is debate over whose name was actually on the licence. Unfortunately the paperwork relating to Run 10 cannot be found.
Run 10 was 5000 acres but they paid only for a Class II run - that means runs over 250 acres but without pre-emptive rights. The cost was 20s per 100 acres. The first actual sale of any of the land that we can find was RS 342 of 50 acres which was bought by William and Richard Prebble 1 September 1852. The Prebbles have this documented as being bought by William, (in 1853) but records at LINZ which has both their names although William bought it from Richard shortly afterwards. Richard and William were joined by their brother Edward Prebble, who also bought several hundred acres of land.
Within a few years the whole of Run 10 had been purchased by various parties, and the area was known as Prebbles' Town, later Prebbletown, and by 1857 there are references to Prebbleton. In 1857 a school was set up in the home of Mr Slater. Mr Slater was a lawyer and his wife was a school-teacher. She started the school in their front room with her children and the two eldest of Richard Prebble's being the first pupils.
People who purchased land as it became available from the Crown were William Prebble, Edward Prebble, Richard Prebble, William Browning Tosswill, John Norris Tosswill, Thomas Thompson, Andrew Dawson, A.R. Creyke, Richard Clarke, Francis Grellier Stedman, James Gammack, Dr Burrell Parkerson (the Younger), David Todd, John Parish, John Rennie, Levi Lowe, Frederick Augustus Bishop, Job Osbourne, James Thwaites, David Scott, William Jackson, John Goodwill, Antony Hodgson. In some cases the landowner only held the land for a short time before selling it again.
James is buried at the All Saints Church in Prebbleton with his wife Ann and also his son Richard and Richard's wife Mary.
This image is sourced from Township Trails Selwyn. Date of Birth1799Date of Death1877
Connections
PersonJohn Norris TosswillPlacePrebbletonImageGrave of James PrebbleNarrativeEarly sheep runs in Selwyn
Attribution
Researched ByPrebbleton Historical SocietyWritten ByDaphne McAven and Margaret R. Prebble
James Prebble and family. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/3519