BENT, KIMBLE (1837-1916), the son of a master ship-builder and a half-caste Red Indian mother, was born in Eastport, Maine, United States of America. With his brother he was sent to Portland to learn the confectionery trade, but tiring of that he joined the U.S. training ship Martin and soon rose to be deckman and instructor of recruits. In 1856 he married Sarah Crosby. When she ran off with another man he went to England, where he lived wildly until his money was finished. In 1859 he enlisted with the 57th Regiment at Liverpool, but soon regretted his action and attempted to desert. He was brought back and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. He served two years with the regiment in India and came with it to Taranaki. Bent made several attempts to obtain a discharge. Eventually he deserted to the Hauhau, who accepted him as a slave. He became the personal possession of various chiefs and was constantly in danger both from the fire of the soldiers and from the distrust of his Hauhau companions. He served behind the Maori lines during Titokowaru's war (1868-69) making cartridges and cultivating the land; and was an eyewitness of many gruesome scenes, including the revival of cannibalism. In 1881 Bent came out of his bush exile, but he never returned to live amongst the whites. He gained some reputation amongst the natives as a tohunga and a medicine man. He died on 22 May 1916.

James Cowan, The Adventures of Kimble Bent, 1911 (p); Taranaki News, 28 Jun 1873; N.Z. Herald, 9 Aug 1880.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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