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Kōrero: Genealogy and family history

Hindalena Dewson's story

Hindalena Dewson's story

While researching her family history, Emma Dewson discovered in the Evening Post of 6 June 1894, mention of Hindalena, her great-great-aunt. Hindalena who was charged with stealing a watch and chain from a Christchurch businessman. Her story, that the man had been drunk and given her the watch and chain, was not believed by the jury, and she was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. As Emma's account on the PDF shows, this was not the last time Hindalena fell foul of the law. Emma is unfazed by these revelations about her relative, but this is not always the case. Doing family history can uncover skeletons in the closet which relatives would rather not be publicly known.

Download attachment (PDF file, 28.83 KB)

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past

Reference: Evening Post, 6 June 1984, p. 2

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

David Swain, Genealogy and family history – Issues in genealogy, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/27095/hindalena-dewsons-story (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā David Swain, i tāngia i te 7 April 2011.

Comments

Natalie Dewson
10 September 2020
Hi Matthew, I have it on good authority that the name 'Dewson' was anglicised from French (-: The Dewsons, as they became, were woodturning cabinet makers from Birmingham.
Matthew Dewson
26 July 2020
I am a member of the Dewson clan... I have always wondered where the name came from - anyone know? My Dad told me when I was a kid that the name, Dewson, was a 'made up' one.. LOL... I live in Scotland, if anyone has connection here, we may be related?
Annie Christie
01 October 2017
hi Pamela, I would love to be able to have a chat with you about the Dewsons. Thomas Dewson is my great grandfather. My grandfather was Harold Ardern and my grandmother was Myrtle Beatrice Ardern (nee Dewson). My phone number is 027 4804803. Please do contact me. Annie Christie
Pamela Patterson (ne Dewson)
06 July 2016
I am the grand-daughter of Thomas Arthur Dewson. Who carved the side panels on the Waka. The side panels were carved at 96 Somme Parade Whanganui. I am doing the Dewson Family history and would welcome all information and will share my information. Pamela Patterson (ne Dewson.)
Natalie Dewson
23 September 2015
Hindolena is my great-great aunt: her brother Thomas Dewson who carved the side strakes on the waka at Whanganui Museum is my great-great grandfather who was one in a long line of talented woodcarvers and cabinet makers.
Annie Christie
07 February 2015
I am a member of the Dewson family, Thomas Dewson who carved the waka is my great grandfather. I would love to connect with more information on the family.I am in Otaki, New Zealand.Annie Christie
stevie-jeandewson
11 January 2012
i come from a long line of the Dewson family oridgeonating from 400 ad. i am 14 years of age id love to find out more of my family history and the whereabouts of other dewson familys in other countries. i live in newzealand with my father peter grant dewson and my brother blake thomas dewson, we have other family here in newzealnd but have little contact due to family (money issuses). most of the dewsons i have had the aquantence of meeting them have been very wealthy but my dad, brother and i have a hard time trying to survive on the little money we have but we are strong hearted people who can surfive anything that comes our way for better or worse. but i love to find more about my past ansestors and where my family oridionaly came from. yours sincerily, stevie-jean Dewson.