Born	1815
Died	1890
Son of Henry Woollcombe and Jane Louis

Belfield Woollcombe

From the notes of Sir Charles Louis Woollcombe. 'He entered the Royal Navy 26 November 1829, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant 8 June, 1841 for his services in the war with China, 1839-42, for which he also received the war medal. He returned to England in 1843 and on the 2 August he was appointed to the 'Talbot', 26, Captain Sir Thomas Raikes Trigge Thompson, on the Pacific station. On the 7 May 1847 he was appointed to the 'Caledoma', 120, Plymouth, and later to the 'Agincourt', 72, as Flag Lieutenant to his uncle, Sir John Louis, the admiral Superindent at Plymouth. He retired in 1850, and became a commander on the retired list 1 July, 1864. He went to New Zealand in 1852 and became a partner with Mssrs. Lee, Mallock and Lance in the New Zealand Wool Growing Company at Mount Parnassus in the Nelson Province, close to the Canterbury boundary. In 1857 he came to Timaru and bought a section (87 acres) on which he lived and built himself a house, which he called Ashbury, after the home of his ancestors, and which still stands and is the house of his family. (the house no longer remains and the grounds in which the house stood is now called Ashbury Park - NW) At the time of his arrival there were only one or two dwellings on the site of Timaru. The country, however, was rapidly being taken up as sheep runs and Belfield Woollcombe was appointed Government Agent, a multifarious office, which he held for some years and which required him to be Resident Magistrate, Immigration Agent, Portmaster, Customs Officer, Harbour Master, Pilot, Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, and Health Officer. His Naval experience was brought into play in the survey of Timaru harbour, which is still often appealed to as a standard survey. When the town and district increased in population, these duties were divided among other officers, but Belfield Woollcombe retained the Resident Magistrateship, which he held till September 1878 and since resigning it he has frequently sat on the bench as a Justice of the Peace. In every respect he was the "father" of Timaru and was highly respected as a just and upright magistrate, a kind hearted and respected citizen and a good friend to all. He was the architect of the first church of St. Mary and did a good deal of work upon it with his own hands, and he was church warden for many years. He married Francis Anne, daughter of Rev. Henry Fendall (deceased) of Fendalltown, near Christchurch, New Zealand. Belfield Woollcombe died suddenly at his residence on 22 July 1891. Note: In tourist book on New Zealand - map of Timaru has a Woollcombe street. NW August 1995. Death: WOOLLCOMBE - On July 22nd, at his residence, Ashbury, near Timaru, Captain Woollcombe, R.N.; aged 75 years. Obituary page 3 Another old identity, Captain Belfield Woollcombe, passed away very suddenly on Tuesday night, being nearly seventy-six. He had been seized with a fatal stroke of apoplexy, or heart failure. Dr Hogg was sent for. Captain Woollcombe was one of the oldest settlers in South Canterbury, he had been engaged in many public capacities. He was born in 1816, in Pellerton, on the borders of Devon and Cornwall, of which his father, the Rev. Henry Woollcombe, was Rector. The family presently moved to High Hampton and Ashbury, after which latter place the deceased named his residence near Timaru. Losing his father when he was but two or three years old, the future naval officer and colonist was brought up by his grandmother Lady Louis, until he was thirteen, at which age he entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman on board the H.M.S. Thunderer, and his memory carried him back to the demonstrations on board, in 1830, while the vessel was in the West Indies, in respect for the death of George the Fourth, and the immediately succeeding demonstrations in honour of the accession of William the Fourth. Later he took part in the "Opium War" with China, of 1839-42, for his services he received a medal. The later portion of his naval career, which closed in 1850, was spent as Staff Lieutenant at Plymouth, under his uncle Admiral Sir John Louis. After completing 21 years service Lieutenant Woollcombe retired from the Navy, with the service pension. Subsequently he was ranked as commander, and still later as Post-Captain. He came to New Zealand in 1852, and became a partner with Messrs Lee, Mallock and Lance (all well known names) on the "New Zealand Wool Growing Company" at Mount Parnassus, in the Nelson Province, just over the Canterbury boundary. In October, 1857, Lieut. Woollcombe came to Timaru, and buying a small section whereon he has since lived, he built himself a small whare, which still stands to attest the honesty and thoroughness of his handiwork. At the time of his arrival there were only one or two dwellings on the site of Timaru, occupied by the late Sam Williams and Captain Cain (if indeed the later had then come here.) The country was however being rapidly taken up as sheep runs, and there was a good deal of travelling to and fro, and already some wool to be shipped by whale boats of from the beach. Lieut. Woollcombe was appointed Government Agent at Timaru, a multifarious office, which he held for some years and which required him to be by turns Resident Magistrate, Immigration Agent, Post-Master, Customs Officer, Harbourmaster, Beachmaster, Pilot, Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, and Health Officer. His naval experience was brought into play in the survey of the Timaru harbour, which is often appealed to as a standard survey. When the town and district increased in population these duties were divided among other officers. Lieut. Woollcombe retaining the post of Resident magistrate, adding to it that of returning Officer. He held the Resident Magistrateship till September 1878, when he relinquished it and was succeeded by Mr Richmond Beetham. Since then he has frequently sat on the Bench as a Justice of the Peace. Captain Woollcombe has always taken a keen interest in the harbour question, and lately had been a useful member of the harbour board. In every aspect he was the father of Timaru. Beside his official duties his work as a member of the Anglican congregation deserves special attention. He has not only been a pillar of the church; he was the architect of the first church of St Mary, and did a good deal of work upon it with his own hands, and the energy and Christian zeal thus displayed at the outset has been maintained to the last, he having been the Incumbent's Churchwarden for many years. In December 1878 on leaving the Bench, he entered into partnership with Mr George Clulee, and up to the very day of his death took an active share on the work of the well-known firm. The deceased married a daughter of the Rev Mr Fendall, of Fendalltown, near Christchurch, and leaves to mourn for him, besides the widow (who is unfortunately an invalid) one son and five daughters. The son is in the Eastern Extension Telegraph Co. in Sydney the eldest daughter is married to Mr Bradshaw, of the Hook, and the other three daughters are at home. The funeral will take place on Saturday afternoon, at an hour to be advertised tomorrow. Timaru Herald Friday July 24th 1891 Funeral Notice The friends of the late Capt. Woollcombe, R.N., are respectfully informed that his Funeral will leave his late Residence, Ashbury, Waimataitai, near Timaru, on Saturday, the 25th instant, at 2 p.m. arriving at St. Mary's Church at about 2.30 p.m. J.E. Beckingham, Undertaker Timaru Herald Monday July 27 1891 The funeral of the late Captain Woollcombe took place on Saturday afternoon, and was largely attended. The coffin was first taken to St. Mary's Church where the funeral service was performed by the Ven. Archdeacon Harper, and then, about 3 p.m. the cortege started for the cemetery. The hearse was followed by two close carriages, and an open one containing the members of the Vestry of St. Mary's, then came about 50 persons on foot, most of them very old residents of Timaru and districts, and following them about a score of vehicles, containing the townsmen and persons from the country districts. Several business people in Stafford street put up their shutters, expecting the cortege would go along the main thoroughfare, but it was taken by Sophia and Barnard streets to Shepherd's corner. Timaru Herald July 27th 1891 Correction. The partners in the 'New Zealand Wool Growing Company' at Hawkswood (an adjoining property to Mount Parnassus) were Messrs Woollcombe, Stewart Wortley and Thomas Hanmer. They sold out to Mr J.S. Caverhill, and the present owner of the property is Mr John Mcfarlane. The original owners of Mount Parnaasus were Messrs Edward Lee and Edward Jollie. P.B. Boulton, Christchurch, 24th July, 1891. The website below had further details: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzlscant/woollcombe.htm (4th May 2015)