Thomas Cassidy was born in Co. Meath, Ireland about 1803, so his Convict records tell us. We have found the birth at Navan, Co Meath of a Thomas Cassidy son of Patrick Cassidy and Jane nee Staunton, December 1802. In 1821 at the age of 18, Thomas was sentenced at the Summer Assizes in County Meath to 7 years transportation to New South Wales, his crime is said to have been that of pig stealing. Tried at the same time as Thomas, were Michael O'Brien, Patrick Reilly and Andrew Monaghan, records bracket all three together, although we do know that one of them was accused of picking pockets.
 
At Navan, a market was held each week at which an abundance of hogs were sold. We wonder if it was from here that Thomas stole the pig which lead him on his journey to the Antipodes. Young Thomas was 5ft 6.1/2 inches in height with flaxen/brown hair, grey/blue eyes, a fresh or ruddy and slightly freckled complexion (a little pock pitted) and a scar between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. All noted in his records.

In 1822 Thomas set sail for NSW on board "Countess of Harcourt" arriving at Sydney 21 December 1822. Thomas was sent to Parramata for distribution, he was transferred from Emu Plains in 1823 and assigned to John McHenry. In the quarter to December 1823, Thomas appeared in Penrith Court records as being charged with insubordination and was given 75 lashes. He was it seems, young and impetuous and once more in 1826 he appeared before the Penrith Bench and was sentenced to 3 years banishment, to port Macquarie for "improper intercourse with his master's servant maid". Thomas was sent away on the brig "Amity" on 7 February 1826.

A certificate of Freedom was granted to Thomas on 26 August 1828 and a certificate to depart for New Zealand aboard "Pride of Denmark" on 14 November 1829 as he was then "Free of Servitude". We have tried to find documentation on the ship "Pride of Denmark", so far to no avail. Thomas worked in a dockyard at Horeke in the Hokianga and his name appears on the Early Settler's Roll. He is listed as a passenger on board "Sir George Murray" which sailed to New Zealand arriving at Hokianga 31 March 1831. Did Thomas arrive originally on board "Pride of Denmark" in 1829 and then travel to Sydney and back on "Sir George Murray" in 1831? The "Sir George Murray" was built at Hokianga, quite possibly at the shipyard where Thomas was employed.

Thomas was married to Maraea Kuri in Sydney on 30 October 1835, the service was conducted, by Rev. John Bede Podling. In 1835/36, Thomas owned land along the Waima and Mangamuka rivers and supplied timber to Webster in the 1840's. This land was exchanged for script totaling 2053 pounds. In 1844 he owned land in Auckland, lots 9-13 a little over 110 acres, the land on which Glenmore Lodge later stood and he transferred the land to Auckland jailer George McElwain on 17 October 1846 for a mere 33 pounds.

It is possible that at some point Thomas and Maraea returned to Waima and the Hokianga because it is said to be there that Thomas was murdered by Maraea for his continual drinking and womanising, some say his wife and daughters buried him behind the fireplace. We have found no documentation to support the murder claim, however in the 1970s, we were told by the Maori Land Court Judge Nicholson, that our ancestor had murdered her husband. The Judge had that information from somewhere, possibly verbally during the collection of evidence for Maori land claims.

From an early age Thomas lead a life plagued with trouble, he appeared in court at least 3 times and finally his life came to a violent end. He had connection to Thomas Poynton, whose crime was political so we are told. Thomas Poynton was from Co Meath and was on board the Countess of Harcourt just as Cassidy was. Poynton and Cassidy certainly knew each other, they arrived in New Zealand and both resided in the Hokianga. Poynton went to Australia to witness the marriage of Cassidy and Maraea Kuri. Both men were Catholic, Poynton actually held the first catholic gathering in New Zealand, in his living room and we wonder if our Thomas and Maraea were present at that gathering.

Maraea was said to be the first Maori woman on the Catholic register and was baptised just prior to her marriage to Thomas Cassidy. She was 19 years old at the time and baptised with her was a 9 year old child named Maria, who they say was Thomas' daughter. As Thomas arrived in New Zealand 1829-31, the child was too old to have been born here and Maraea was too young to have given birth to her. For this reason, we suspect this child was not Thomas or Maraea Cassidy's.

We are told Maraea had a beautiful singing voice, her Maori name was Nga Kuri o te Wao (dogs of the forest) and she was the daughter of Moka and Hinewai. Moka was a Mahurehure Chief of Waima along with his cousin Arama Karaka Pi and Mohi Tawhai. Writings of the pre 1840 period mention both Pi and Tawhai, but little is written of Moka. His parents were Paehangi and Tu and his brothers and sisters were Mihinga, Whao, Matapo and Manene. Moka commanded the lower reaches of the Waima-Taheke rivers as far as the settlement of Rawene (Herd's Point) and across to Moehau. Mohi Tawhai was the father of Hone Mohi Tawhai who married Moka's grand daughter Makere Cassidy.

Thomas and Maraea Cassidy had 7 children we are reasonably sure of: Paraki (Frank/Murphy), Hone (John Bede Polding), Mere (Mary Jane), Ngahuia (Bridget?), Makere (Margaret), Kete (Katie) and Taupaki (Buck). We are unsure of the order of birth of these children, however in 1902 Mere gave evidence to the Magistrate of Pensions and stated that she was born in the Hokianga 29 June 1836. The Rev John Bede Polding asked that Thomas and Maraea name their first child John if a boy and Mary if a girl. If Mere's birth date is correct, she was the first child born after the marriage and her brother John Bede Polding Cassidy was possibly the second. It does not make sense that the Rev. Polding would ask for a child to be named John if a John bearing the Reverend's full name already existed. From these people descend a great many New Zealanders.
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Prepared by Anne Dawling with information gathered over many years, from both family and official records.