Henry Sawtell

Henry Sawtell (1832 – 19 June 1913) was Mayor of Christchurch 1871–1872.[1]

Henry Sawtell
Portrait of Henry Sawtell
5th Mayor of Christchurch
In office
20 December 1871 – 18 December 1872
Preceded byJames Jameson
Succeeded byEdward Bishop
Personal details
Born1832
Langport, Somerset, England
Died19 June 1913
Christchurch, New Zealand

Early life

Sawtell was born near Langport in Somerset, England in 1832.[2] His parents were Mary and Thomas Sawtell. He came to Nelson, New Zealand on the John Masterman in February 1857.[3] In August 1858, Sawtell came to Lyttelton.[4][5] In 1861, he lived on town section 200 in Lyttelton.[6]

On 14 June 1862 at the Trinity Church in Lyttelton, he married Mary Ann, the daughter of Thomas Abrahams of Lyttelton.[7] Their first son, Leonard Sefton Sawtell, was born on 11 March 1863 when they were living in Lyttelton's Oxford Street.[8] By 1864, they were living in Christchurch's Hereford Street.[9] His wife died in 1879,[10] and on 20 January 1880 at St John's Church, Christchurch, he married Maria Parnham.[11]

Professional life

Initially, Sawtell was a grocer in Christchurch, working for Dalgety.[12] For some time he was in partnership with Alexander Cracroft Wilson, son of John Cracroft Wilson, and the firm carried on business as general merchants in High Street under the name of Wilson, Sawtell and Co.[13][14]

Political career
Grave stone for Sawtell, his first wife, and two of their children

Christchurch City Council

Before 1916, elections for Christchurch City Council were held annually. Sawtell was elected onto the town and later city council three times: in 1868, 1871 and 1872.[15] In those days, the councillors elected one of their group as mayor, i.e. the position was not elected at large (by the voting public) as is the case today. On 20 December 1871, Sawtell was elected to be the next mayor of Christchurch, succeeding James Jameson.[16]

Towards the end of his term as mayor, Sawtell fell ill and could not fulfil his functions. Councillor Edward Bishop filled his place during that time.[17] The election of the next mayor was held on 18 December 1872, but The Press, the local Christchurch newspaper, already reported on 14 December of Councillor Bishop as mayor-elect.[18] The election took place on the agreed date, and Bishop was elected unanimously.[19] Sawtell resigned as a city councillor during February 1873 due to ill health.[20]

Whilst Christchurch City Libraries lists the 7th mayor, Michael Hart, as the one who gave the first link to the Christchurch mayoral chain,[21] this tradition was in fact started by Sawtell, who gave the first link on the day his successor was chosen.[22] Edward Bishop gave the second link in April 1874, some months after he was succeeded by Hart,[23] who was thus the third person to add a link to the mayoral chain.[21]

Canterbury Provincial Council

Sawtell was a member of the 6th Canterbury Provincial Council for the City of Christchurch electorate from 6 May 1870 until the end of the term on 28 February 1874,[24] when he did not stand for re-election.[25][26]

Family

His son Claude Sawtell married the artist Rosa Budden.[27][28] Henry Sawtell was buried at Barbadoes Street Cemetery.[21]

References
  1. "Chairmen and mayors". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  2. "Obituary". The Star (10804). 25 June 1913. p. 8. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. "Shipping Intelligence". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. XV (91). 11 February 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  4. "Entered Outwards". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. XVII (69). 28 August 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  5. "Shipping News". Lyttelton Times. X (607). 1 September 1858. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  6. "List of Persons". Lyttelton Times. XV (879). 13 April 1861. p. 6. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  7. "Marriages". Lyttelton Times. XVII (1002). 18 June 1862. p. 5. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  8. "Birth". Lyttelton Times. XIX (1080). 18 March 1863. p. 5. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  9. "City of Christchurch – Claims to Vote, 1864–65". Lyttelton Times. XXI (1223). 16 April 1864. p. 3. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  10. "City Council". The Press. XXXI (4320). 4 June 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  11. "Marriage". The Press. XXXIII (4519). 24 January 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  12. "Wanted". The Press. IV (385). 23 January 1864. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  13. "Obituary". The Press. XLIX (14700). 24 June 1913. p. 8. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  14. "Mr. Henry Sawtell". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District). Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  15. "Councillors of the City of Christchurch". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  16. "Latest Telegrams". Grey River Argus. XII (1062). 21 December 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  17. "News of the Day". The Press. XX (2996). 10 December 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  18. "News of the Day". The Press. XX (2300). 14 December 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  19. "Election of Mayors". The Press. XX (2304). 19 December 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  20. "News of the Day". The Press. XXI (2352). 17 February 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  21. Greenaway, Richard L. N. (June 2007). "Barbadoes Street Cemetery Tour" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. pp. 4f. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  22. "Mayoral Elections". The Press. XXI (2611). 18 December 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  23. "News of the Day". The Press. XXII (2704). 8 April 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  24. Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. pp. 189, 196.
  25. "Local and General". The Star (1886). 19 March 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  26. "Page 4 Advertisements Column 3". The Press. XXII. 20 March 1874. p. 4. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  27. "Marriages". The Star (4846). 12 January 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  28. "Obituary". The Star (12181). 3 December 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
James Jameson		 Mayor of Christchurch
1871–1872		 Succeeded by
Edward Bishop
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