FEARON, EDWARD (1814-69) was born at Bath, England. As a youth he ran from school to sea and eventually rose to command ships trading to North and South America, Cape Colony and Australia. He married (1840) Elizabeth Ward (Devonshire) and proceeded at once to take command of the City of Edinburgh, sailing from Gravesend to Australia. She was wrecked in Bass Strait (10 Jul) and, after living on Flinders Island for a while, they got to Sydney and returned to England in the John Renwick.

Touching at Bay of Islands they decided to settle in New Zealand, for which they sailed later in the Thomas Sparks. Once more they suffered shipwreck (near Cape Town) and lost all their belongings, but continuing their voyage they reached Nelson before the end of the year. Fearon took up land at Motueka, and represented Motueka and Massacre Bay in the Provincial Council (1855-57). The first carriage in Motueka was his wagonette, built for the 1851 Exhibition and still in good repair. Fearon was a strong supporter of the Church of England, a member of the diocesan synod and of the general synod (1859). He died on 21 Nov 1869.

(See J. C. CHAYTOR and RICHMOND HURSTHOUSE.)

Family information Miss B. E. Chaytor; Nelson P.C. Proc.; Nelson Examiner, 24, 27 Nov 1869. Portrait: General Assembly Library.

Reference: Volume 1, page 138

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