Information from Richard Leigh Andrews born 18 July 1947.

Charles Andrews was born on 23 January 1853 at 4am. At the time of the 1871 census he was 18 years of age and listed as a millers apprentice. At his second attempt to migrate, Charles at age of 22 with his older brother Matthew, left Gravesend on April 13th 1875 in the sailing ship "Collingwood". At times the two brothers must have wondered if they would ever reach their destination with so much sickness on board the ship. They were 16 weeks from Gravesend to New Plymouth.

Charles’ first attempt to emmigrate to New Zealand was on 11 September 1874 on the “Cospatrick”. For some reason he was [luckily] turned back when about to board the ship. However, fire broke out on the teakwood frigate on 17 November andonly three suvivors out of its total complement of 473. (More details in Captain John Nobles, “Hazards of the Sea - the Cospatrick”).

As there were several flour mills already in Taranaki it is most likely Charles was a miller soon after his arrival. Some four years later he married Matilda Oliver on December 12th, 1879, daughter of Elizabeth and Samuel Oliver who were flour millers at Lepperton.

Their first home was south of Oakura near the main road where the first three or four children were born. That home is still there, having been used as a horticulture tool shed etc., but has now been modernised and is a comfortable home.

At that time Charles was managing a flour mill at Tataraimaka near the beach for a Mr Vavasour. In 1885 the family moved by horse and dray to a farm of 127 acres on Hampton Road Okato. It was Maori land and the rent was 3/6d [35cents] an acre. The section when first taken up would keep only 18 cows, with hay for winter.

The farm was cultivated and broken in to bring the dairy herd numbers up, then two further blocks of 50 acres each was brought in to enlarge the area. By this time the family had increased to such an extent that there were ten milkers available for hand milking the 130 cows. A walnut tree and camelia are still standing from the old orchard.

About 1895 Charles built his own dairy factory which was powered by two overshot water-wheels, making butter and packing it in 46lb boxes [21kg] which was shipped to London. Black and white cattle were the first to appear on the farm for the district, coming from Mr Newton King's imported stock. Previously roan Shorthorns were used.

Around 1904 the milking machine was installed on the farm which helped take the drudgery out of dairy farming.

Charles' activities and interest in the district were varied:
Okato School committee 1898 to 1905, then Chairman 1906 to 1909.
Director Okato Dairy Coy 1905 to 1918
Represented the district on the Road Board then the County Council 1906 to 1920.
Taranaki Hospital Board 1910 to 1921.
Prime mover and Chairman of the Hampton Hall.
Efficiency Board and then the Patriotic Committee.

Charles' wife Matilda had brought up a large family and must have found the hard times very trying at times. Her youngest child was four years old when she died suddenly in 1904 at the age of 47 years.

Charles farmed for another ten years then in 1918 he retired to live with his widowed sister Mehetabel Leary. Charles died in 1924 at the age of 71 years and is buried at the Okato cemetery with Matilda. Plot No. 229.

Preferred name of “Chas” from Neville Richards, grandson of Ivy Grace Oliver.

Occupation from Marriage Certificate for daughter ‘Frances Maud ANDREWS’ received from New Zealand BDM in June 2020.