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life
Hawkesbury History
with Michelle Nichols & Jonathan Auld
The travels of Felton & Sarah Mathew
Felton Mathew was born in England in 1801.
forget. The manner of the chiefs is exceedingly
He arrived in NSW on-board the “Morley” on
noble and dignified; their mode of speaking
the 2 December 1829, to take up a position as
bold, emphatic and accompanied with much
Assistant Surveyor of Roads and Bridges. He
vehement, but always expressive and generally
wrote: “I admire Sydney as a town but I should
graceful action …”
be very sorry to live in it. In the country I believe
Sarah did not make the journey with
the people are really kind and hospitable.”
her husband but travelled instead several
Shortly after his arrival he was joined by his
months later, on the “Westminster” arriving in
cousin, Sarah Louisa Mathew born in 1805 and
Kororareka in March. It was Felton’s job to select
they were married in St James Church, Sydney
the site of the proposed capital and despite
on 21 January 1832. She was the daughter of
a predilection for an area near Waitemata,
Richard and Ann Mathew of London, one of
Hobson overruled and chose Auckland. He
twelve children and at one time, a governess.
conducted much of the exploratory survey
The couple resided in Windsor however
work, examining and recording important
Felton spent most of his time in the field north
details. The couple returned to England in 1845
and northwest of Sydney mapping the land
to make clear his official position but on their
and its owners. He travelled by horseback and
return to New Zealand in 1847 they experienced
sometimes by foot. On one trip he recorded
complications with the Governor and made the
that he carried several days provision, slept in
decision to return to England.
his cloak and had his small desk strapped on
Mathew died in Lima, Peru on 26 November
his back like a knapsack. Sarah accompanied
1847 while in transit home to England.
him on most of his field trips and expeditions
Newspaper reports state it was a result of a
often camping out enduring rough and often
“protracted illness produced by exertion in the
primitive conditions. Louisa also owned a tame
discharge of his duty in New Zealand.” He was
emu which she called Jack. The pair worked as
aged 46 years. After her husband’s untimely
a team, writing reports and recording survey
death, Sarah made her way back to England but
details, which was most unheard of in that time.
she returned to Auckland between 1858 and 1861
Both he and Sarah wrote a series of diaries of
to see to her land holdings. She compiled her
their travels although it is thought Sarah was
autobiography in the 1870s and died when she
responsible for most of
was 85 on 14 December 1890
the entries. His entries
in Tunbridge Wells Kent.
were practical while
The following is an excerpt
hers were dissimilar. The
from a journal titled “Stray
couple were impressed
Leaves from the Journal
with the Hawkesbury
of a Wanderer in Australia”
landscape and wrote
compiled by Sarah and
the “scenery is wild,
written in the first person of
romantic and beautiful
her husband.
beyond description.”
18th January 18 3