Son of artist and scientist William Swainson (1789-1855) and his first wife Mary Parkes (1794-1835). An artist, family historian and sheep farmer. Born England, came to New Zealand with his father in 1841. Farmed in the Rangitikei district at Tututotara.
Swainson, William John, 1824-1887
Swainson, William John, 1824-1887 : Extracts from transcripts of Swainson family letter...
Date: 1811-1879 [1868-1879]
Reference: Micro-MS-0064
Description: Comprise extracts from transcripts made by William John Swainson of family letters. Include notes on the Swainson and Strickland families, an autobiography, notes on the voyage of the `Jane' to New Zealand, correspondence from his father in law, John Parkes, and with his brothers, notes and other papers on the Hutt Valley and Horokiwi wars; letters, testimonials and other papers relating relating to his father William Swainson, diary and journal extractsong with W J Swainson's own linking and explanatory notes. Quantity: 2 microfilm reel(s) positive. Finding Aids: Inventory available.
Bidwill, William Edward, 1858-1933 : Correspondence
Date: 1885
By: Bidwill, William Edward, 1858-1933
Reference: qMS-0233
Description: Comprises copy of letter from Sir F A Weld describing journey taking sheep along the south coast from Wellington to Wairarapa and extract from letter from William Swainson describing an early survey party to the Wairarapa and extract from letter from W J Swainson reminiscing about Bidwill's father and describing the same journey along the south coast, both written 1885 Both letters are printed in W E Bidwill and A Woodhouse's `Bidwill of Pihautea' Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 1 volume(s) (16 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript (carbon) (28 cm, ¼ grey cloth, light boards)
[Crawford, James Coutts] 1817-1889 :Tututotara, Rangitikei, Swainson's. [1862] Rangitik...
Date: 1862
By: Crawford, James Coutts, 1817-1889; Webster, Kenneth Athol, 1906-1967
Reference: A-229-057
Description: Shows a fenced compound containing two farmhouses with dense bush behind. A horse grazes in the foreground. Within the fence are two men talking, one leaning on a shovel, another horse, a wheelbarrow, two tree trunks and a stacked pile of planks. The two houses are single-storied with verandahs supported by colums. Part of a third building, probably a farm shed, can be seen on the left. The property is that of Willie Swainson. A-229-058 on verso of A-229-057 Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil and ink 130 x 177 mm
Marshall, John Williams, 1814-1891 : Papers
Date: 1858-1873
By: Marshall, John Williams, 1814-1891
Reference: MS-Papers-1085
Description: Letters to William Swainson; grant of land to Marshall; letters re disposal of William Swainson's estate (1870-1873) Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 2 folder(s) (11 pieces). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holographs, mss, typescript and printed matter (photocopies)
Swainson, William John 1824-1887 : Swainson family letters
Date: [ca 1810-1884]
By: Swainson, William John, 1824-1887
Reference: 87-162
Description: Handwritten transcripts of letters, diaries and other papers relating to the Swainson and Parkes families. Most were copied between 1874 and 1884, but some of the volumes are contemporary copy letter books. Source of title - Supplied by Library. Many are indexed and illustrated with maps, plans, drawings, printed matter and photographs. Relationship complexity - See qMS-1962, MS-1759, MS-2106 and MSY-6859-6862, Micro-MS-0102 and Micro-MS-0064 for copies of extracts of the volumes William John Swainson 1824-1887, the eldest son of William John Swainson 1794-1855, the naturalist, undertook to transcribe the entirety of the Swainson and Parkes family papers. He included notes, contemporary newspaper cuttings, maps and other material. The location of the originals is unknown Quantity: 18 volume(s). 0.66 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, printed matter, photographs Finding Aids: Volumes with an index included are noted as such.
Swainson, William John 1824-1887 : Letters to Edwin and Henry Swainson
Date: 1868-1887
By: Swainson, William John, 1824-1887
Reference: qMS-1962
Description: Letters written from the Rangitikei dealing mostly with family matters. Includes reference to private farm cadet schemes and Halcombe's involvement in them and references to Sir George Grey Includes one letter from John Williams Marshall, son-in-law of Swainson Quantity: 1 volume(s) (various pagings). Physical Description: Typescript (28 cm; red linen)
Swainson family : Papers
Date: 1810-1855, 1879
By: Swainson family
Reference: MSY-6859-6862
Description: Includes journals of William Swainson kept while on travels to Brazil (1816-1818), Italy, Sicily & Greece (1810-1815) and France (1828) Also material relating to the Parkes, Strickland families. Includes notes from a journal kept by Mary Swainson, 1840-41 while on a voyage to New Zealand on the Jane. Most of the above material transcribed by William John Swainson, mostly dated 1869-1870 Quantity: 4 volume(s). Physical Description: Mss (photocopies) (39 cm; black buckram) Finding Aids: Inventory available.
Bidwill family : Papers
Date: 1825-1968
By: Bidwill family
Reference: MS-Papers-1323
Description: Comprises business papers relating to Pihautea, the family station, Wairarapa and includes accounts, receipts, gold-mining share certificates, property leases, information on the division of Pihautea (1895), and a report of a case dealing with the outlet from Lake Wairarapa (1892); also family correspondence, birth certificates, newspaper clippings; information concerning John Carne Bidwill; and an account by William Swainson of journeys to the area in the 1840s Includes Catherine Orbell's letters to her mother Catherine Allen and sister Elizabeth written from Bath and Oxford on honeymoon in 1825; and birthday greetings to her daughter Catherine in 1832 and 1845. Baptism certificates for their daughters Charlotte, Eliza, Elizabeth and Jessy are included. Publication - Some material published in Bidwill, W E and A E Woodhouse. Bidwill of Pihautea [Christchurch, 1927] Language - Some papers in Maori Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 4 folder(s). 0.04 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescript and printed matter (some photocopies) Transfers: Collection as a whole received into Manuscripts and Archives, material transferred to the Cartographic Collections - To Cartographic Collection - Plan of Maramau block in the district of Wairarapa between Lake Wairarapa and Ruamahanga River; Index map to the plans of the Pihautea estate (MapColl-Collection-Bidwell-02). Processing information: Material in folder 4 previously Misc MS 1383
[Crawford, James Coutts] 1817-1889 :Rangitikei River above Swainson's [1862]
Date: 1862
By: Crawford, James Coutts, 1817-1889; Webster, Kenneth Athol, 1906-1967
Reference: A-229-058
Description: A curve in the Rangitikei River, showing tertiary era rock, with levels of blue clay, sandstone and drift gravel in the steep bank opposite. The bank is topped with tall trees. The view is near Willie Swainson's farm at Tututotara A-229-058 on verso of A-229-057 Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil and ink 130 x 177 mm
Parkes, Joseph, 1796-1865 : Letters to Mr and Mrs Parkes written by their grandchildren...
Date: 1839-1848
By: Parkes, Joseph, 1796-1865
Reference: MS-1759
Description: The letters are concerned with William Swainson (1789-1855) the naturalist, and are written by members of his family. The letters were written shortly after the family settled in Wellington and describe the voyage out and the life in the new colony. An incomplete letter written by Anne describes her new baby. The early letters are by C L Swainson (brother of William) reporting on William's attitude and efforts to have him change his mind about emigrating. Later letters are mainly by William and Henry G Swainson (son) written from the Hutt and Wairarapa, and give accounts of day-to-day life as well as including comments on the Hutt Valley and Bay of Islands disturbances Relationship complexity - See also MS-Papers-1263, qMS-1337-1339, qMS-1966-1969, 87-2106, Micro-MS-0102 & Micro-MS-0064 Mr & Mrs Parkes were the grandparents of William Swainson's children by his first wife, Mary Swainson, nee Parkes Quantity: 1 volume(s) (50 items). Physical Description: Mss and typescripts (photocopies) (25 cm; blue linen tie case)
Swainson family : Papers
Date: 1790-1870
Reference: Micro-MS-0102
Description: Chiefly family correspondence concerning William Swainson's decision to emigrate. Letters home from sons 1840-1848, describing life in the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa, 1846 earthquake and current disturbances; also journal of Mary Marshall on voyage to New Zealand on the barque `Jane' 1840-1841 Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s). Physical Description: Holographs (Positive microfilm) Finding Aids: Inventory available.
[Crawford, James Coutts] 1817-1889 :Starting on a journey. Swainson's old house, Rangit...
Date: 1862
By: Crawford, James Coutts, 1817-1889; Webster, Kenneth Athol, 1906-1967
Reference: A-229-056
Description: Two drawings on one sheet. The upper drawing, Starting on a journey, shows a Maori couple, the man in a short garment with a bundle on his back, the woman seated, about to pick up her bundle and wearing a hat. The lower drawing, Swainson's old house, Rangitikei, shows the farmhouse of Willie Swainson, who took up land in the area in the 1840s or 50s. The house is a simple plank structure, with a verandah on the two visible sides and a high-pitched roof, with roof-beam protruding at either end On same sheet as A-229-055 'Daniell's Rangitikei - Te ara taumai' showing Captain Edward Daniell's farmhouse, near modern Bulls Quantity: 2 drawing(s). Physical Description: Ink and pencil on sheet, 130 x 177 mm
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn 1606-1669 :[Mats and backing removed from etchings by an...
Date: 1800 - 1880
By: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669
Reference: B-132-003
Description: Etchings at A-308-001/028 were mounted 3 or 4 to a sheet. The mats therefore contain rectangles cut to fit the etchings. Etchings at A-308-029/033 were mounted individually, each in a mat and backing sheet, and contain handwritten titles by the owner at the time, and references to the work of cataloguer Hind. Quantity: 33 b&w art print(s) , backings and mats thereof.. Provenance: Provenance uncertain; may have been previously owned by William Swainson and by Mantell.
Swainson, William John, 1824-1887 : Letters from W J Swainson to his grandfather Joseph...
Date: 1844-1845
By: Swainson, William John, 1824-1887
Reference: MS-2106
Description: Two letters from Swainson to Parkes relating his experiences as a settler in New Zealand; transcribed in 1964 Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 1 volume(s) (5 leaves). Physical Description: Typescript (27 cm, blue pam case) Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by G M Swainson, Palmerston North
Miscellaneous correspondence
Date: [ca 1870s-1890s]
From: Halcombe family : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-11397-34
Description: Contains miscellaneous correspondence relating to the Halcombe family. Letters include Lucilla Beetham to Elizabeth Harris, William Swainson to Elizabeth Harris, John Clark to his son Duncan, and further letters from Katie Goodbehere and a Halcombe cousin in Colorado. Also contains a letter regarding the will of Elizabeth Harris from Shaw & Co lawyers. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript
Biographical notes on artists
Date: [ca 1800-1940]
From: Clendon, Jane, fl 2005 : Manuscript of book Paintings and Drawings of Wellington and the Wairarapa 1840-1880
Reference: MS-Papers-8362-02
Description: Includes, draft notes with biographical information on New Zealand artists. Some of the notes have photographs of the artists attached. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Liverpool and London Fire and Life Insurance Company, Wellington agents - Life insuranc...
Date: 1856-1866
From: Levin & Company Ltd : Records
Reference: MS-Papers-1347-6/1/21
Description: Life insurance papers relating to: Mrs Anne Swainson, 1856; William John Swainson, 1866; Joseph Moliere Tabiteau, 1857; Edward H Tate, 1864 Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Swainson, William, 1789-1855 :Willie's cottage, Upper Hutt, Nov. 1854
Date: 1854
By: Swainson, William, 1789-1855; Healey, Trevor Woodford, 1929-2018
Reference: A-188-021
Description: Two wooden dwellings, side by side, the nearer with a slab chimney. A man is seated on the ground outside, reading, watched by two seated Maori from a distance. "Willie" is William John Swainson, the son of the artist On verso of A-188-021/001: [Tree fern], by Edith Stanway (Swainson) Halcombe. Inscriptions: Recto - bottom left - Willies Cottage Upper Hutt; Dated: "Nov. 1854" Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil on paper, 100 x 165 mm
Inward letters - Surnames, Swa - Swi
Date: 1853-1872, nd
From: McLean, Donald (Sir), 1820-1877 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-0032-0596
Description: Correspondents: George F Swainson, Wellington & Rangitikei, 1862-1872 (4 letters); W J Swainson, Rangitikei, 1853-1871 (4 letters); A Swan (to her husband), Aotea, 1861 & undated (2 letters); John T Swann, HMS Harrier, 1863-1864 & undated (5 letters); Frederick Swindley, Opotiki, Wellington & Whakatane, 1870 (4 letters, 3 addressed to `Dear Colonel') Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Parkes, John, fl 1830-1846 : Letter from W J Swainson
Date: 20 Sep 1846
By: Parkes, John, 1766-1851
Reference: MS-Papers-9583
Description: Letter from Swainson, dated Hawkshead [Hutt Valley] 20 Sep 1846 and addressed to his grandfather, John Parkes, Birmingham, England. It contains a description of the recent disturbances in the Wellington area, including an account of the capture of Te Rauparaha at Porirua by British forces which he took part in. Accompanied by a typed transcript of the letter by Robin Gwynn. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Ms and typed transcript Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Purchase 2010