Leach History: Te-Aute Store
The Following Information has been supplied by Pat Smith of England
Samuel Baines Firth (born 1825). Samuel married Elizabeth Taylor in Halifax in 1853 and the next reference to him is in NZ where aprox 1858/9 he built the Te Aute Store, who's claim to fame is being the longest running store in a wooden building in NZ. It later became a museum and I now its a private house.
Samuel Baines Firth (born 1825) had a brother David Firth (born 1819).
Samuel Firths wife Elizabeth Taylor was the sister of Abraham Taylor. Abraham Taylor married Paulina Crowther in Halifax 12/2/1847 and had 6 known children.
Eliza Ann Crowther baptised 2/7/1844 at Halifax Parish daughter of Paulina Crowther of Southowram, Spinster
(all Taylors) Elizabeth, Lenna, Susannah, Lucy and Paulina.
Both young Paulina and Lucy Taylor lived at the store with their aunt & uncle Samuel & Elizabeth Firth.
David Firth, the brother of Samuel, had a sister Sara.
Sara, had an iIlegitamate Daughter Elizabeth who, at age 23 years old, immigrated to New Zealand and arrived on the 20th November, 1874 on the Ship “Bebington”
Elizabeth then lived with her Uncle and Auntie at the Te-Aute store.
On the 12th March 1875 Elizabeth Firth, (Niece of Samuel) wrote to her Parents in England. Two months later she Died of La Grippe.
Click the Photos to enlarge
Te-Aute Store and Hotel
Te-Aute Store
Te-Aute Store 2006
Te-Aute Store and Hotel
Card
Te-Aute Store car runs into store
On July 16 1877 in Hawkes Bay Herald:
S B Firth thanks the people of Te Aute and Kaikora for liberal patronage for the past 13 years that the Te Aute Store has been sold to Charles Leach, (who was Married to
Paulina Taylor) and was (Father of Richard Charles Leach (Jock) who married Emily Kitchener.
