Grace Buchanan

Biography contributed by Kathy Viney (great-grandneice)

Grace was born in 1870. She was the daughter of a Scotsman, Neil Buchanan, and an Englishwoman, Ann/Hannah Burk, early pioneers of the Rongotea district. Neil and Ann had married in Liverpool before emigrating, initially to Australia.

Grace met Warren Hunt through her parents who farmed near the Hunts in Rongotea. As a 20-year-old, Warren purchased land further north at Sandon Block and worked hard alone for several years breaking in the land. It was a full day on horseback to ride home to 'Ringwood' on Hammonds Line, and to visit Grace nearby, so it didn't happen very often.

Grace and Warren were married in 1893 in Rongotea. It was a double wedding: on the same day Grace's younger sister, Jessie, married Warren's younger brother, Martin.

Straight after the wedding, Warren and Grace set off for Sandon Block. Having been on his own there for some time, Warren was happy to be taking Grace back and to begin life there together. But Grace's journey to her new home was not without drama: they had packed as many wedding presents as they could into a tin trunk which was being carried by a pack horse. The horse toppled over at Vinegar Hill, south of Hunterville, and a lot of their treasures were lost. What could be retrieved was stored temporarily at Cousin Leonard Pearce's property near Livingstone.

Breaking in the land at Sandon Block was hard, but they welcomed their first child, Percy, there in August 1894.

Meanwhile, back at 'Ringwood', Warren's father William was now over 60. Martin and Jessie Hunt had moved from 'Ringwood' to Hammonds Line, next door to Neil and Ann Buchanan, which meant Warren's father needed help on his property. He asked Warren and Grace to come home, so in 1896, the Sandon Block property was sold to Warren's brother Herbert, who was working the neighbouring land.

A new house was built at 'Ringwood' for Warren, Grace, and young Percy, but in 1900 Warren purchased another property across the road and up about half a mile. In 1904, Warren and Grace moved across to 'Baxendale', by now with four children.

After Warren's mother died his father requested that Warren and Grace move home again. They did so, now with seven children in tow. Their last child, Mary, was born at 'Ringwood' in 1912. Following Mary's birth Grace was sick for some time: the older children's help in the home and on the farm was invaluable.

Grace and Warren Hunt were committed Christians, following their forebears' footsteps in the Methodist Church at Rongotea. They hosted church garden parties at 'Ringwood' with stalls, competitions, tennis, and many cups of tea being served to guests. (In 1964 a sand-blasted window depicting The Shepherd of the World' was presented to the Rongotea Methodist Church by Warren and Grace's children on its 80th anniversary.)

The children had happy memories of family Christmases under the spreading cherry plum tree, waiting for the appearance of Father Christmas. Everyone enjoyed tennis on the grass court at 'Ringwood' and the family hosted the fledgling Rongotea Tennis Club until it could build its own facilities. Some of the children were excellent players. Evenings were often spent around the piano, singing hymns together.

The purchase of a 1924 Buick opened up the world. They visited Warren's brother Herbert at his farm, and enjoyed picnics and outings to Tangimoana Beach. Like his brother Martin, Warren left the driving to his daughters, Annie and Mary.

Grace was a kind woman, though somewhat reserved. Visitors were always made welcome, and Grace was a good cook. Cooking was done on a wood-burning stove with none of the modern conveniences. Her apple pies with homemade pastry were legendary. If she produced a different pudding the cry went up, “Where’s the apple pie?” She was renowned for her excellent bread, and used the produce from Warren's orchard, vegetable garden and hives. Swaggers were not turned away without at least bread and a billy of tea.

When Grace suffered ill-health in her later years she was cared for by her unmarried daughters, Annie and Sadie. She passed away at 'Ringwood' a few days before Christmas in 1940. Annie and Sadie stayed on at home with their father until his death ten years later. Both were buried in the Rongotea Cemetery.

Sources

Hunt, Vera, "The Hunt Family: 150 Years in New Zealand, 1840-1990."

O’Keefe-Hunt, Alice, “Russell Vaughan Hunt, 1922-1965,” https://manuia.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/russell-hunt.pdf, viewed online 22 September 2009.

NZBDM Birth: 1870/17313 Buchanan, Grace, Ann, Neil

NZBDM Marriage: 1893/3986 Grace Buchanan, Warren Innis [sic] Hunt

NZBDM Death: 1940/17969 Hunt, Grace, 70Y