The Life and Times of Patuone

Patuone (c.1764-1872) is my great-great grandfather. Following his baptism as a Christian by Henry Williams at Paihia in late January 1840 and just prior to the first signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi on 6 February 1840, Patuone took additional names in the European fashion, becoming Eruera Maihi Patuone. Eruera Maihi (Edward Marsh Williams) was the oldest son of Henry Williams and became far more proficient in Māori language and customs than his father, this serving him some purpose in life. The book is rather quaint in a moralising, ponderous and pretentious Victorian way, however, contains some useful information and observations from the viewpoint of someone who knew Patuone in person and who was ostensibly a friend. C.O.B. Davis was later to edit a Christian newspaper and his moralising propensities can perhaps be explained in that context.