MOLESWORTH, FRANCIS ALEXANDER (1818-46), was the second son of Sir Arscott Molesworth, 7th baronet, and brother of Sir William Molesworth. Having taken an interest in the New Zealand Company, he came to Port Nicholson in the Oriental (1840) and took up land at the Hutt, where he erected a fine homestead and a flourmill, for which he had brought the machinery. Pictures of his farm appear in Brees's portfolio.

Molesworth was a member of the provisional committee in 1840. A director of the cattle company formed in 1840, he established a cattle farm at Miramar. He imported blood horses from Australia and rode them successfully at early race meetings. As a horticulturist he won many prizes. Molesworth was in business with E. B. Hopper and H. W. Petre until the death of Hopper in Sep 1840 led to the dissolution of the partnership. He erected houses on his town sections and afterwards lived there. In 1842 he presided at the meetings of land claimants, and later in the year he was elected an alderman of the borough. Having suffered injury in felling a tree, he returned to England, where he died on 4 Aug 1846. He gave evidence before the committee of Parliament in 1844. Pencarrow was named after Sir William Molesworth's seat in Cornwall.

G.B.M.S., 1845-56; Cycl. N.Z., i; N.Z.C. reports; Burke, Peerage; E. J. Wakefield, Adventure; Ward.

Reference: Volume 2, page 47

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