SUISTED, CHARLES (1810-60), who was born in Karlstad, Sweden, travelled widely, and having become a naturalised British subject, settled in New Zealand in 1841. He took over what had been Barrett's hotel in Wellington and turned it into a first-class establishment. Successful in this venture, in 1855 he purchased the Goodwood station in Otago from Nairn and Pharazyn, and imported good stock. In 1858 he sold out, intending to return to business in Wellington, but he died on 19 Sep 1860. His wife, a daughter of Captain Patrick Richmond, died in the same year.

A son, James (born in 1844), was mayor of Westport for many years from 1888, and chairman of the harbour board. He married (1864) Laura Jane Eyre, who contributed to many magazines and papers, both in New Zealand and in England, and in 1884 was one of the first women to sit in the parliamentary press gallery. In 1894 she published From New Zealand to Norway. Mrs Suisted died in Westport in Sep 1903.

Beattie, ii; Pyke; Roberts, Southland; Ward; Otago Daily Times, 20 Sep 1860, 8 Sep 1903.

Reference: Volume 2, page 177

🌳 Further sources