John Cracroft Wilson 1808 - 1881
John Cracroft Wilson , (1808-81). Indian Civil Servant and New Zealand politician. John Cracroft Wilson was born on 21 May 1808 at Onamore, in the Madras Presidency, India, the son of Alexander Wilson, F.R.S., a Judge in the Madras Civil Service, and botanist of distinction. His mother was Clementina, nâee Cracroft. He was educated at Haileybury School and Brasenose College, Oxford, and entered the Bengal Civil Service as a cadet. He became an Assistant Commissioner under Sir William Sleeman with whom he distinguished himself in suppressing Thuggism. As a reward for these services he was appointed Magistrate at Cawnpore, but, in 1841, transferred to Moradabad, where he acted as Magistrate and Collector until 1853. During the Scinde War Cracroft Wilson was attached to Sir Charles Napier's staff in a civil capacity; but, notwithstanding his status, he took part in the Battle of Meeanee on 17 February 1843. In 1853 his health broke down and he was ordered to convalesce in a cooler climate. Accordingly, he sailed to Australia and, after purchasing sheep and cattle in Sydney, brought them to Lyttelton in the Akbar. He arrived on 8 April 1853 and at once took up land in the Cashmere Hills. By the time his leave had expired, his station was well established. In May 1855 he returned to Moradabad, where he resumed his position in the magistracy. During the Mutiny, when Europeans living in Moradabad were endangered by the 29th Sepoy Regiment, Cracroft Wilson secured special powers from the Lieutenant-Governor and acted to prevent the spread of disaffection. His intervention was so effective that, after the Mutiny, he was appointed Special Commissioner for the Trial of Rebels and Mutineers. In 1859 he resigned from service and came to New Zealand, bringing with him a number of Indian retainers. He came to Canterbury, New Zealand in 1854 on the Akhbar with 17 Indians and Eurasians. Four Indians returned with him in December 1854 and he sent his son out. He and his wife returned to New Zealand on the Armenian on 7 April 1959. With him was a further collection of servants (and two Calcutta Free Schoolboys)
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| Born: Onamore, , , India 21st May 1808 | Baptised:
| | Died: Cashmere, , , New Zealand 2nd Mar 1881 | Buried: ST Mary's, Halswell, , , New Zealand 1881
| | Family: Wilson |
Spouses
1. 4th Nov 1828
2. Bareilly nr Moradabad, , Bengal, India 12th Oct 1844
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Timeline
| 21st May 1808 | Born (birth) Onamore, India | | 4th Nov 1828 | Married (marriage) | | 12th Oct 1844 | Married (marriage) Bareilly nr Moradabad, Bengal, India | | 2nd Mar 1881 | Died (death) Cashmere, New Zealand | | 1881 | Buried (burial) Halswell, New Zealand |
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