The first Hoopers to arrive in New Zealand were Charles and Amelia Hooper, who migrated in September 1859 on the ship Matoaka. Charles was born in 1817 at Templecombe in Somerset, England. He helped with the family bakery business in his early years but then trained to be a teacher. He taught at Winchester Cathedral School, where he was the music and choir master. In 1846 he married Amelia Foote in Somerset, England. They had 5 children - Mary, Charles (born 6 October 1848), Alfred (born 1850), Anna and Julia. In New Zealand, they settled in Auckland and Charles was appointed to teach the children of the militia stationed at Fort Britomart. Later he taught at Cowans Bay on the Mahurangi River. He then took up a Crown grant of 40 acres in Thompson Road south of Warkworth. He died in 21 October 1871 and is buried in the Anglican cemetery in Warkworth. Amelia moved to Auckland and lived next to her daughter Mary at Judges Bay, Parnell.
HIS SONS, CHARLES AND ALFRED - Second generation
Alfred's headstone.
Charles and Amelia's two sons, Charles and Alfred, produced charcoal under contract to the Auckland Gas Company. Charles became an expert with the broadaxe - a heavy axe with an offset blade. He was reputed to be able to split a threepenny piece into fairly equal portions, just for fun. Charles married Clara Lavis Clinkard on 20 August 1874. Charles and Clara farmed at Makarau for the rest of their lives. After some years Alfred moved to there as well. Charles was born in 1848, died 25 March 1934 in Makarau. Clara was the Makarau postmistress until just before her death on 29th May 1939. Alfred was born on 13 September 1850 and died on 26 May 1940. All are buried at Kaukapakapa cemetery.
Clara and Charles Hooper at their Makarau farm
Their house, with Charles on the verandah
CHARLES AND CLARA'S CHILDREN - Third Generation Charles and Clara had the following 14 children: Henry Alfred (Harry), Thomas William (Tom), Amelia Ellen (Millie), Charles Francis (Frank), Julia Annie (Annie), James Samuel (Jim), Alfred Edwin (Fred), Mary Margaret (May), Margaret Louisa, Clara Ellen (Nellie), Albert George (Pat), Edith Rachel, Ethel Lucy Jane, Florence Mabel (Florrie). The family was musical with Thomas and Henry playing the violin, Charles the clarinet, Frank the cello and Nellie the piano. Both Henry (1914 - 1923) and Charles (1929-1950) were local body representatives. Henry was an excellent man at working bullocks and had his own team at 14 years old.
This website will concentrate on the descendants of Albert George (Pat) HOOPER
Three of the children of Clara and Charles - Edith, May and Florrie