WILLIAMS, HENRY (1782-1867) was born at Nottingham, the son of Thomas Williams (1754-1804) of Plumptre Hall. In 1806 he entered the Navy as midshipman. He served in the Barfleur, Christian VII, Maida, Galatea, Racehorse, Saturn, Endymion and Thames. At Copenhagen (1807) he served at the land batteries, and was told off for a forlorn hope on the eve of the capitulation. In 1810 he took part in the attack by boats on nine French gunboats in the Basque Roads. While in the Galatea he was present at the engagement off Tamatave (20 May 1811), between three English frigates under Sir Charles Schomberg and three French vessels of superior force, and received a wound from which he never completely recovered. He was in the action between the Endymion and the United States frigate President (which took place actually after the conclusion of peace). Placed on board the President with a prize crew, he nearly perished in a gale while carrying her to Bermuda. This peril changed the course of his life when he retired on half pay (with the rank of lieutenant) on 30 Aug 1815. In 1818 Williams married Marianne, daughter of Wright Coldham. He decided to become a missionary and was especially attracted to New Zealand. Ordained in 1822, he sailed in the Lord Sidmouth with his wife and children, reaching Hobart on 10 Feb 1823. With Samuel Marsden (q.v.) Williams reached the Bay of Islands on 3 Aug. Finding that his intended station (Whangaroa) was occupied by the Wesleyans, he established the Church Mission station at Paihia, where he laboured for over 40 years. The work of the Society in New Zealand, which commenced in 1814, had failed through the faithlessness of some of the missionaries, who were all laymen and were primarily concerned with the teaching of civilised arts. After the advent of Williams religious teaching was regarded as preliminary to other instruction. During the first part of his sojourn Williams was protected by Hongi. After Hongi's death (Mar 1828) the missionaries underwent a period of great anxiety, expecting every day that the stations would be sacked. An intrepid act of Williams improved their position. Hearing of the death of Whareumu at Hokianga, he hastened to the scene of hostilities, and on 24 Mar succeeded in making peace. This greatly enhanced his mana and thereafter the mission made good progress. Quick conversions were not sought, but troublesome Maori customs were gradually abolished and the barbarity of tribal wars was much softened. The mission was reinforced by fresh missionaries, and extended to Tauranga, Waikato, Rotorua and Poverty Bay. Williams made many voyages in mission vessels, which were sometimes unseaworthy and in the Herald, a schooner built by himself at Paihia, and long foot journeys to make peace between tribes. In 1839 he visited Port Nicholson, and a few weeks later established Hadfield (q.v.) at Otaki. In 1835 Darwin visited the station during his voyage in the Beagle and expressed in his Journal high admiration for the missionaries and their work. In 1841 Selwyn (q.v.) was appointed first Bishop of New Zealand, a step strongly urged by the brothers Williams, and in 1844 he appointed Henry Williams Archdeacon of Waimate.

The Treaty of Waitangi, concluded on 6 Feb 1840, was only signed by the Maori chiefs at the earnest instance of Williams, who viewed with apprehension the establishment of a protectorate, but yet realised clearly the possible danger of annexation by France. Williams was mainly responsible for translating the Treaty and for explaining it to the Maori chiefs, and he afterwards, at the request of Captain Hobson, helped to obtain the signatures of distant chiefs. He negotiated the matter in the region of Cook Strait and, against the opposition of the New Zealand Company, obtained the signatures of the chiefs there. After the inauguration of British rule the missionaries were confronted with a new class of difficulties arising from the rapid influx of colonists, and from the unscrupulous dealings of some of the immigrants with the natives. On the outbreak of Heke's war (1845) Williams found his position very difficult. Refusing to abandon his native converts, he incurred much ill-will and obloquy. His loyalty was unquestioned, and the Governor (FitzRoy) spoke of him as 'the tried, the proved, the loyal, and the indefatigable.' His influence was constantly used to restore tranquillity and to restrain chiefs who at one time had the white settlements almost at their mercy. It was largely due to his persuasion that other northern tribes were prevented from engaging in the war. When the natives stormed Kororareka (Mar 1845) Williams brought off the wounded, including the captain of H.M.S. Hazard, at considerable risk. These services received no immediate recognition. FitzRoy was superseded as Governor by Grey, who soon showed himself hostile to the missionaries. In Jun 1846, in a secret despatch to Gladstone, then Colonial Secretary, he accused them, and especially Williams, of being the real cause of the conflict. This was the prelude to a more serious controversy in connection with the acquisition of land. New Zealand being a country with a climate suited for Europeans, many of the missionaries' descendants became farmers, and acquired land before the annexation of the colony. In 1843 their claims were determined and sanctioned by a court of land claims. Grey in his secret despatch unwarrantably stated that these acquisitions had been unjustly made, and would require to be enforced by troops. In reality a relatively high price had been paid, the native method of transfer had been carefully followed, and the settlers were in peaceable possession. Williams indignantly demanded an inquiry into Grey's charges, which was refused, and Selwyn, who was opposed to the acquisition of property, directed that the title deeds should be surrendered unconditionally. Fearing that compliance would be regarded as an acknowledgment of previous misconduct, Williams refused to obey unless Grey's charges were examined. The Church Missionary Society in consequence reluctantly severed their connection with him (20 Nov 1849). His brother William visited England in 1851, and convinced the committee that they had been misled, and they passed a resolution entirely exonerating the missionaries from Grey's charges. Considering, however, that Williams had done wrong in refusing obedience, they declined to rescind their resolution in regard to him. They were beset from all sides with appeals on his behalf, and on 18 Jul 1854 he was reinstated at the personal request of Selwyn and of Sir George Grey, who by that time had largely modified his previous opinions. On 27 Sep 1939, in view of the centennial of the Dominion, the committee of the Church Missionary Society passed a resolution recording its appreciation of the mission fulfilled by Williams 'both as a founder of the Maori Church and of the colony of New Zealand.' It admitted that the Society was mistaken in its judgment owing to misrepresentation of the facts, and that 'the charges made against Williams were without foundation. They affirm their complete confidence in his integrity and sterling character .... and wish to place on record their conviction that New Zealand owes more to him than to any other individual missionary, and that his life and service call for the gratitude of the whole Church as well as of the Church Missionary Society, in whose annals his name will always have an honoured place.' The closing years of Williams's life were somewhat saddened by the declension of the Maori church from its first fervour, and by bitter warfare between the settlers and the natives. During the war of 1860 he lived quietly at Pakaraka with some of his descendants, using his influence to preserve the loyalty of the neighbouring tribes. As the infirmities of age grew upon him he performed his journeys by sea in a small vessel named the Rainbow. He died at Pakaraka on 16 Jul 1867, leaving a high reputation for Christian zeal. His influence with the Maoris was very great, and was due to his upright character and to his perfect comprehension of native ceremonies and customs. In 1876 the Maori community erected a stone cross to his memory in the churchyard at Paihia, the scene of his longest labours. (See E. M., Henry, J. W., and T. C. WILLIAMS, and BISHOP W. WILLIAMS)

G.B.O.P., 1838-63, pass.; D.N.B.; Stock; Marsden, L. and J.; Buller; S. P. Smith, Wars; Cowan, Wars; Buick, First N.Z. War (p); Carleton (p); A. S. Thomson; Morton; E. J. Wakefield; E. Wilson.

Reference: Volume 2, page 259

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