Biography of Tom French.

1.  Origin, 1880's Kawhia.

Imagine, if you can, not knowing the day you were born, the month you were born, let alone even the year you were born. This was the reality of late 19th century isolated settlements in New Zealand. Kawhia was no exception. Beneath a Pohutukawa tree, in the impoverished surrounds of Ngāti Hikairo's Waipapa marae beside the lapping waters of Kawhia harbour, Tom French was born into this world. Though Tom had not the slightest inclination of his actual birth date he was still able to identify that same tree, more than 70 years later, as he drove past the marae one morning with wife Daphne, on their way into Kawhia township. Tom was the middle child, born between elder brother Samuel James 1887 and sister Bessie Elizabeth 1892. (Both of the sibling’s birth dates may also be subject to conjecture as the dates have been sourced from military records and marriage certificates, not actual birth certificates).

Toms' birth was never formally registered at Kawhia as the nearest settlement of any significance was Otorohanga, an arduous two day trek by horse. Although Tom never knew his actual date of birth, the date on his war service record states 16th September 1889. His son Tony noted that Toms' marriage certificate recorded 1890 as his year of birth. His family joined him in celebrating his birthday every February 22. This "summery" date had been randomly selected by his daughter Patricia. Tom did not have a middle name, yet many photographs and reports refer to him as Tom A. French. Even Tom himself was unsure of the origin or meaning of the mysterious "A".

For this biography the date of 16 September 1889, as per his military service record, will become Tom French's official date of birth. 

Toms’ ancestry. The European Connection.

Toms' European grandfather was a man by the name of John Gallagher (senior). According to Bill Campbell, Toms' cousin, in his 1970 family history biography John was a bright star in the firmament of the family fabric. Bill notes John Gallagher was born in Northern Ireland as was his wife Jane (nee Knight), who came from Cork. John was Church of England and a Mason to boot. It appears John was also a schoolteacher, a profession that was soon to intersect with the trajectory of nurse Florence Nightingale. Whilst Florence was in the Crimea, developing modern hospital conventions, she became appalled by the illiteracy of the British soldiers. They simply, could neither read nor write. Because of the sterling work she was doing with the sick and the wounded Florence had reached a position where she could communicate directly with Queen Victoria and so made representations to the Queen to initiate action in regard to educating the rank-and-file soldiers. This resulted in Queen Victoria directing that schoolmasters were to be appointed to raise levels of literacy amongst the soldiers. John Gallagher was amongst the first to be appointed. He first served in the Crimea with the rank of Warrant Officer 1st class. The highest rank that could be accorded to a non-combatant soldier. (Crimean war 1853 to 1857). He was later transferred to India and was there during the Indian mutiny 1857 to 1858. Distant relatives who also have been researching Johns' life dispute Bill Campbells assertion that John was in Crimea but confirm he was in India with the British Army. I will have to leave it to future researchers to ascertain the truth. 

It was here in India, possibly Delhi, that John Paul Gallagher, Tom's father, was born to John and Jane Gallagher about 1859. Also, whilst in India that John Gallagher's (senior) health began to deteriorate and he was invalided back to England where he died two or three months before his daughter Jane (junior) was born on the 5th of November 1861. Bill Campbell says his grandmother Jane told his mother Jane (junior) that the Masons erected a tombstone, or monument, over his grave. It is not clear as to which, but monuments were bestowed on those of great rank or stature. John is buried in Canterbury England. Jane also said John Gallagher senior was a fine, generous, and even-tempered man. John Paul Gallagher (junior) was later to take the surname from his mother Jane's fourth husband a Mr. French and emigrate to New Zealand. Now with the name John Paul French he married a Māori woman and was to become a father, in Kawhia, to three children, Sam, Tom and Bessie.

Family Tree. Northern Ireland / India / New Zealand.

John Gallagher (senior) and Jane Knight (Toms' European grandparents).

Son and daughter: John Paul Gallagher (junior) and Jane (junior). John Paul Gallagher was to eventually take the name John Paul French.

John Paul French marries Te Anu Pohepohe, Ngāti Hikairo, in Kawhia, who had previously been married to a Mr. Mcgruther

Three children: Samuel, Tom and Bessie, probably raised alongside Te Anu's first marriage offspring Hone and Mutu.

Toms' European grandmother Jane had an interesting life. Born Jane Knight in Cork Ireland it seems that she was married four times. All to members of the 70th regiment of Foot from Clonfeacle, Tyrone of Northern Ireland. From the first marriage to a Mr. Chappel, three children were born, two seemed to have died, at least one of those in India. Only Thomas Chappel survived. Of four children from her marriage to John Gallagher, two died in India, John Paul Gallagher (French) and sister Jane jnr. survived. Jane's life in India was one of privilege with servants to take care of everything. About 1864, now married to a Mr. Everitt, Jane and her three surviving children moved to New Zealand with the 70th Reinforcements. By about 1870 Jane was next married to a Mr. French and living in Thames. A child Samuel was born of that union in that year, not to be confused with Toms brother Sam born 1887.  

Jane seniors last years were tragic. A search of papers past show she was resident in Thames, Mr. French had gone to Australia to seek his fortune on the gold fields leaving Samuel and the two Gallagher children John Paul and Jane junior who were students at Waiotahi school, 1874, 1875. Mr. French sent home money but was to die while in Australia. There are a staggering number of reports in the Thames newspapers, N.Z. Herald and the Auckland Star about the effects of alcohol on Jane's demeanour between 1875 and her death in the recently opened Mt Eden prison on February 25, 1889. A brief summary of those reports includes being the victim of several assaults, perpetrator of foul language, larceny, prostitution, and count after count of being charged with drunkenness. As I say the sheer volume of reports is almost defies belief. During one incarceration she broke her leg and after her final charge of drunkenness at an appearance in Auckland Magistrates Court February 23, 1889, she was fined 20s and incarcerated for 48 hours. She died there in Mt Eden Prison aged in her early fifty's. She was described as being "old". The coroner passed a verdict of death by apoplexy.

As Jane senior died in 1889 the possible year of Tom's birth, he was never to meet his grandmother. Tom also knew only a little of his grandfather John Gallagher but was aware of his historic surname of Gallagher. Tom's father John Paul French (nee Gallagher) probably came to the Kawhia region in search of work. John Paul French was foreman tasked with forging a road linking Otorohanga with Kawhia. An incredibly arduous undertaking through bush and dramatic hilly terrain in those days. More to follow on the life of John Paul French in the next chapter.