Susannah Jeffcoat (nee Evans).

Susannah married Alf Jeffcoat in Colville in 1896, when they were 24 years old. The romance appeared meant to be. They were the first generation of born and bred New Zealanders living in the small village of Colville from families who had travelled around the world from Wales and England. So why did their parents end up in Colville you ask? The lure of the riches of harvesting the prolific massive kauri trees in the area along with the prospect of there being gold “in them there hills” was a major drawcard.

Susannah’s parents, John and Hester Evans, who along with daughters, Margaret and Anne, left Penbryn in Wales in June 1864 on their journey to NZ aboard the clipper “Eagle Speed”. Unfortunately, what was expected to be speedy trip, didnt arrive in Auckland until 16 October 1864, approximately one month longer than similar trips around the world. 101 passengers were on board with 1500 tons of merchandise. The trip was however hailed a success, zero deaths throughout with just the one birth.

John and Hester moved to Colville in 1864 on land still in the Evans family ownership today located on the right hand side of the valley that preceeds the Colville township. In comparison to its size now, at the time it was a mere 50 acres. Now named White Star Station after one of the many goldmines located on the property, it is a commercial hereford stud of 1260 hectares with several farmstay homes dotted around the farm.

Initially John Evans was attracted here to join the goldmining wave however he settled in as the driver of the steam engine for the Jeffcoat sawmill. Hester was the local district nurse responsible for delivering many babies in the Cabbage Bay area (renamed to Colville Bay in 1929 after a tense local referendum). As the couple settled in NZ, a few years passed before Susannah was born eight years later, in 1872.

Alf’s Dad, Elon Jeffcoat had emigrated here on The Gertrude from Nuneaton in the 1850s with his brother in law, Robert Cashmore. He married Jane Gee in Auckland in 1859 and was believed to have met her on The Gertrude. Alf Jeffcoat was the last child of Elon and Jane, born in Colville in 1872. Some would perhaps say an “afterthought” having six older sisters. Had Alf not been born, oh my, how different the web of subsequent Jeffcoat events would have been or not!

The Jeffcoat family were living in Colville by 1870 having previously purchased a local milling operation and milling rights in 1862. This is the current location of the 20 acre Jeffcoat family property on Wharf Road, still owned five generations later by great grandson Gavin and his wife Leanne. Unfortunately, six years after Elon was born his mother, Jane sadly passed away. A family myth/story/legend was created. Jane was originally interred in Auckland and apparently exhumed and re-buried under the huge macrocarpa above Bridle’s point, further along Wharf Road. Five years ago, wayward fireworks destroyed the massive tree that had been planted in recognition of her final resting place. The question remains, is she or is she not buried in an unmarked grave, not far from her former family home.

Alf was lured towards the farming game as opposed to goldmining or timber milling but did hold an entrepreneurial streak. Not only did he run a pure Holstein freisian bull to improve local milk production but Alf was also the proud owner of the first milking machine to be located in the district.

He also owned a thoroughbred stallion, Alarm, to service local mares for progeny to race on the local beaches. He did rather enjoy his gambling and rumours still abound that it cost him his lease block located further up the coast at Te Hope. This was also home to a granite quarry which you will pass as you venture further up the coast. Ultimately the quarry would export 1million tons of granite around NZ and the world.

Up until 1913, Susannah and Alf had lived at Te Hope but returned to Wharf Road, Colville . This is around the time the Tokatea Hotel was being dismantled from its location on the top of the Coromandel range above the town. Alf was always one to spy a deal and leapt on the opportunity to have it relocated via oxen and barge to its current location.

Unlike his father Elon, who lived long and died in 1906 aged 72, Alf would die one year after relocating to Colville, at the age of 42. He set off one morning on his horse Rambo for Coromandel Hospital to have what seemed a rather routine procedure to remove a carbuncle from his neck. As Susannah waved her goodbyes she would have expected him home later that day or perhaps the next. Unfortunately his cause of death was believed to be resultant blood poisoning and alas, he never returned.

Susannah was left in a dismal situation. In the 18 years of their marriage she had borne seven children, Evelyn, John, Elon, Edna, Hermina, Nolan and Norman. She was all alone to bring them up, no doubt surviving on the fruits of Colville Bay and the family’s abilities as farmers to live off the land. The main driver of the family’s emigration to NZ was for the perceived notion of gaining a “better life”. Now a single Mum, faced with regular supply shortages, a flu epidemic, world wars and a depression, I think it can explain why Susannah always looked drawn and unhappy in her photos. But she was a survivor, resourceful and resilient.

Susannah never re-married and lived to the ripe old age of 85 finally passing on 19 August 1957. She spent many of her last years in the farm cottage across the road from the main Jeffcoat dwelling now appropriately named “Susannah’s”. A subsequent grandchild, Lois recollects as a youngster gazing across from the main house to check that the lantern was lit in the cottage window meaning, Nanny was OK.

I often ponder as we sit on the seat further along Wharf Road and admire the setting sun over Colville Bay with the backdrop of Mt Moehau in the distance. We can but imagine how life once would have been. Would she have ever sat and savoured the moments as we do, feeling satisfaction for her life achievements or would it be tinged with memories of hardship and the continual strain of struggling just to survive.

Susannah’s Legacy

Places to Stay on the Northern Coromandel