Charles Thomas Preece (1847 - 1849) was the youngest of the Preece children.
The year 1847 brought in great changes for the Preeces. James had begun to set up a new mission station at Ahikereru, adjacent to the township of Te Whaiti on the Rotorua side of the Urewera ranges.
Ahikereru was remote from all settlement. The family's possessions and stores were carried overland for sixty miles from the landing place.
Mrs Preece and the younger children stayed for some months at Te Ngae on Lake Rotorua, while arrangements were made for their reception. (Within twelve months James Preece had built a house and chapel of pit-sawn timber.) The older children were at school in Auckland.
In October Charles Preece was born, possibly at Tauranga. Within a few months it was noticed that the child had a left-sided "palsy". He died in August 1849, possibly from choking on a crust of bread.
Charles was buried on the bank of the Whirinaki river, his little grave protected by a rail fence. Roses were planted which continued to bloom for many years.
In a touching letter to her children at school in Auckland, Mary Ann described the desolation she felt at his death. The following poem accompanied the letter.
We laid him gently on his infant bier,
And shed fond tears, and wove a funeral wreath
Of the pale daisies of the wintry year
Less lovely than the flower that fades beneath.
Yet do not weep in anguish, let no breath
Disturb the stillness of his blissful sleep;
So beautiful, we could not call it Death,
But round his couch our silent vigils keep.
Image of peace, and innocence, and love,
We would not murmur at thy deep repose,
Or call thee ours, the ills of life to prove,
And taste the bitterness of mortal woes.
Oh blest, to feel thy guiltless race is run -
Thy fadeless crown without the strife is won.
From The New Zealander October 27 1848:
Charles Thomas Preece: "Suddenly, at the Mission Station, Ahikereru, 27th August 1849, Charles Thomas, sixth son of Mr J Preece, aged 1 yr 10 mths."
During the 1870's George Preece picked a rose from his brother's grave. The site has recently been destroyed.
AHIKERERU MISSION WAS SITUATED ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE VALLEY. CHARLES'S GRAVE WAS ON SOUTH BANK OF THE WHIRINAKI RIVER, INDICATED HERE BY THE LINE OF WINTER-BARE WILLOW TREES
Look at other parts of the Preece story by following the links to the Index page.
