Alexander Henderson : Short Biography

15 May 1837:  Enlisted in Her Majesty's 58th Regiment of Foot at Derry, Northern Ireland, aged 20, labourer, 5ft 10-1/2", born Inver.  Bounty paid to recruit  2.10s.0d.  Regimental Number 906.

28 Jun 1840:  Baptism entry for son, John, lists address as Forehouse Barracks, Portsmouth, Southampton, England. 

21 May 1841: 58th Regiment present at the execution of the Crosshill Murderers, at Crosshill, 3 miles from Glasgow, Scotland.

06 Jun 1841: Muster Roll says “Permitted to find own lodging or billeting on the Scots” Glasgow/Edinburgh

07 Jun 1841 census for Edinburgh Castle, Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland, aged 20, soldier, born Ireland [with the 58th Regiment]

17 Jun 1844 - 23 Nov 1844:  AGINCOURT to Norfolk Island/Sydney/Van Dieman’s Land, Tasmania, Australia (130 days sea pay) with 224 male convicts aboard with 58th Regiment as escort

30 Sep 1844: Surgeon’s Report aboard the AGINCOURT: “Jn.Henderson’s child, 5, 58th, colica [since Alexander was the only Henderson aboard the ship this is proof that his wife and baby John accompanied him to Australia]. 

11 Oct 1845 The NewZealander reports 214 of the Rank & File of the 58th Regiment arrived at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, from Sydney. 

5 Dec 1846 The NewZealander reports the 58th Regiment finally departed from the Colony.

19 Dec 1846:  JAVA NZ to Sydney (19 days sea pay last quarter 1846 per Muster Rolls).

14 Jun 1847: 1 Jul 1847:  THOMAS LOWRY Sydney to NZ (19 days sea pay)

30 Sep 1848: Took discharge in Auckland [see Discharge Papers]

04 Oct 1848: joined Armed Police Force [see request from Commissioner of Police to Governor of NZ]

23 Jun 1849:  Alexander Henderson, private in the Police, was a witness in a murder trial [see The New Zealander, p.3]

04 Sep 1849: Alexander Henderson, constable, who arrested the prisoner [see The New Zealander, p.3].

Also worked as shoemaker from about 1852 [listed as “shoemaker” on son, Joseph’s baptism, St. Paul’s, Auckland NZ]

Armed Police Forces became the Provincial Police Forces in 1853.   

Jury Lists 1853-54, Shortland Street, Shoemaker, [Auckland]

1856 and 1857, respectively, his abode was listed as “Howick” when his sons, Hugh and Henry, were born. [Auckland]

28 Apr 1857: Sworn information of Alexander Henderson that Henry Brindle was drunk in Howick [Magistrates Court]

17 Nov 1857:  Purchased, by auction, Crown Lands, being Allotments 9 and 10 in Howick [Auckland] for 12 pounds & 15 shillings; and Allotments 16, 18 & 19 for 10 pounds 13 shillings and 6 pence.

01 Mar 1858: Supreme Court, Chief Justice Arney, Alexander Henderson, constable in the armed police force, deposed as to the arrest of the prisoner. [see Daily Southern Cross, 2 March 1858, p.3].

1858 Electoral Roll: Pensioner Settlements: shoemaker, householder [Auckland]

25 May 1858:  Sold Allotments 9 & 10 in Howick for 17 pounds [Auckland]

08 Jun 1858: Sold Allotments 18 & 19 for 10 pounds [described as “constable”].

16 Mar 1859: Sold Allotment 16 for 10 pounds [described as “policeman”].

1861 Pensioner Settlements, Howick, freehold, Lot 79 Nelson Street.  Claim for right to vote at elections.

30 Mar 1863 p.2 Daily Southern Cross Vol.XIX Issue 1768:  “By Order of the Mortgagee, cottage and 1 acre, being Allotment No.79 Howick, formerly in the occupation of Alex. Henderson, at Auction, on Tues. 31st at 12 o’clock by Geo. Sibbin, Auctioneer - Terms - Cash”

01 May 1863 NZ Electoral Rolls - not entitled to have name retained on the List of Voters for the Electoral District of the Pensioner Settlements since he has sold his property.

Seems to have moved to Mangonui, Northland, New Zealand at some point after conveying Crown Grant lands.

According to Electoral Rolls he lived in Crispin Cottage, Manganui, Northland, from 1865 until at least 1876 and maybe longer.

17 Jan 1872:  Daily Southern Cross:  “The Impounding Act, 1867, is declared to be in force in the District of Mangonui, and the boundaries of the district are gazetted.  Allotment No. 43 in the township of Mangonui, is to be used as a public pound and Mr. Alexander Henderson is appointed pound-keeper.”

31 Jan 1872: Application for New Zealand War Medal.  Listed in NZ War Medals Index as Alexander Hemerson.

1876-77: Mangonui Township Highway Board Ledger:  Alex.Henderson, small lot & house [est.value to sell 40 pounds] tax rate of 3 shillings and 4 pence.

1877-78: Mangonui Township Highway Board Ledger: Alex.Henderson, House & Lot [est.value to let 2 pounds 8 shillings] tax rate of 2 shillings and 5 pence

1878-79: Mangonui Township Assessment, allotment [est.value to let 2 pounds 8 shillings] tax rate 2 shillings and 5 pence.

20 Jul 1878:  Mangonui Police Charge Book - Alexander Henderson, age 63, shoemaker, born Scotland [this is incorrect].  Drunk, disorderly and obscene language.  It was his third offense and the next time he will be put in the Auckland Jail.

1881 Electoral Roll, Mangonui, Bay of Islands, shoemaker.

1881 Electoral Roll, Turner Street, Auckland, settler [I am conjecturing when I say he owned this property and his wife lived there.  I do not believe they were living together at this point).

1883-1884: Wise’s Directory of New Zealand:  Bootmaker, Mangonui.

26 Aug 1885:  Joseph Henderson asked the Magistrates Court at Mangonui to prohibit his father, Alexander, from drinking under the Licensing Act of 1881.  Alexander was found guilty and an Order was made in accordance with the application.

Wise’s NZ Post Office Directory, from 1878-9, 1881, 1883 and 1886 listed as bootmaker, Mangonui

29 Mar 1886:  New Zealand Herald obituary: Alexander Henderson At the residence of his son, Mangonui, on March 12.  Aged 75.

Death Certificate lists his age as 71.

He was probably buried in the St.Andrew’s Anglican Churchyard but no burial records exist and there are no known headstone inscriptions remaining.