ROBERTS, WILLIAM HENRY SHERWOOD (1834-1917) was born at Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, the son of Captain Thomas Turner Roberts, H.E.I.C.S., and a member of an old Worcestershire family. He was educated at Swansea and at Palace school, Enfield, London, and, after studying bookkeeping and surveying, came to New Zealand in the John Phillips in 1855. His cattle run, near Invercargill, which he bought in 1856, he lost in 1859 by the land and lease ordinance, and in 1871 he lost his sheep run at Tapanui. Settling in Oamaru, Roberts entered into business as an auctioneer and agent, and became a member of the Oamaru borough council (1879), the hospital committee (1882), and the Otago Anglican synod. He published several historical works, including Southland in 1856-57, With a Journey from Nelson to Southland in 1856 (1895), History of Oamaru and Early North Otago (1890) and Maori Nomenclature. In 1867 he married Emma, only daughter of Captain Peter Williams, of Dunedin. He died on 22 Jan 1917.

Cycl. NZ, iv (P); Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Otago Daily Times, 24 Jan 1917.

Reference: Volume 2, page 126

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