Frederick Ward Merriman
Encyclopedia
Frederick Ward Merriman (18 October 1818 – 21 July 1865), generally called Frederick Merriman, was a 19th century New Zealand
politician.
, on 18 October 1818. His father was the lawyer Thomas Merriman (1771–1841), and his mother was Mary Clarke (1780 – after 1837). He was their eleventh child out of a total of 14 (nine boys, five girls). He was educated at Winchester
. He was admitted to the bar and emigrated to Auckland
in New Zealand in 1844.
His brother Nathanial
later became Bishop of Grahamstown
.
On 4 May 1850, he married Susannah Augusta Atkyns (née Greene) in St. Paul's Church, Auckland
. She was the widow of Captain Ringrose Atkyns.
Merriman was a Freemason
. He was initiated in the Ara Lodge in 1849 and became their treasurer.
From 1856 to 1861, Merriman was Provincial Land Officer for the Provincial Council. After that, he was Crown Solicitor until his death.
He was elected vice-president of Auckland's first Law Society in 1860.
(1841–1853) on 9 August 1847. That council was abolished in 1853 by the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
, but Merriman's retirement date is not listed.
Merriman was elected to the 1st New Zealand Parliament
in 1853, representing the Suburbs of Auckland
electorate, and was re-elected for the 2nd New Zealand Parliament
. He resigned from Parliament on 13 March 1860. He was elected by the house as its first Chairman of Committees
on 21 June 1854 and he held this role for all three sessions of the 1st Parliament.
He served on the second and third Auckland Provincial Council
, representing the Suburbs of Auckland electorate. He was first elected on 26 October 1855 and served until 18 August 1857, the date of dissolution of the second council. He was re-elected on 7 October 1857 and served until 12 September 1861, the date of dissolution of the third council. He was twice on its executive council, first from December 1856 (no end date given) and then from February to July 1857.
on 21 July 1865. He was buried at the Symonds Street Cemetery
the following day. His wife died in 1868.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician.
Early life
Merriman was born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on 18 October 1818. His father was the lawyer Thomas Merriman (1771–1841), and his mother was Mary Clarke (1780 – after 1837). He was their eleventh child out of a total of 14 (nine boys, five girls). He was educated at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. He was admitted to the bar and emigrated to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in New Zealand in 1844.
His brother Nathanial
Nathaniel James Merriman
The Rt Rev Nathaniel James Merriman, DD was the third Bishop of Grahamstown from 1871 until his death.He was educated at Winchester and Brasenose College, Oxford; and ordained in 1833. He was Curate then Vicar of Street, Somerset until he emigrated to South Africa...
later became Bishop of Grahamstown
Bishop of Grahamstown
The Bishop of Grahamstown is the bishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa in the Diocese of Grahamstown, which encompasses the area around Grahamstown, South Africa and is located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The seat of the Bishop is St. Michael and St. George...
.
On 4 May 1850, he married Susannah Augusta Atkyns (née Greene) in St. Paul's Church, Auckland
St. Paul's Church, Auckland
Saint Paul's Church on Symonds Street in Auckland, New Zealand, is an historic Anglican church near Auckland University.-History:The church was established in 1841 by Governor William Hobson, and the original wooden building was the first church built in the city of Auckland...
. She was the widow of Captain Ringrose Atkyns.
Merriman was a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. He was initiated in the Ara Lodge in 1849 and became their treasurer.
Professional career
He commenced practice as a solicitor in the year of his arrival in Auckland. In 1856, he was joined by Samuel Jackson, and the firm became known as Merriman and Jackson. Upon Merriman's death, the firm was joined by James Russell and was renamed Jackson Russell. It is still known by this name today.From 1856 to 1861, Merriman was Provincial Land Officer for the Provincial Council. After that, he was Crown Solicitor until his death.
He was elected vice-president of Auckland's first Law Society in 1860.
Political career
Merriman was appointed to the earlier Legislative CouncilNew Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
(1841–1853) on 9 August 1847. That council was abolished in 1853 by the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted self-government to the colony of New Zealand...
, but Merriman's retirement date is not listed.
Merriman was elected to the 1st New Zealand Parliament
1st New Zealand Parliament
The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election . It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election...
in 1853, representing the Suburbs of Auckland
Suburbs of Auckland (New Zealand electorate)
Suburbs of Auckland was a parliamentary electorate in Auckland, New Zealand from 1853 to 1860.-1853 to 1860:The electorate existed for the 1st and 2nd Parliament as a two-member electorate....
electorate, and was re-elected for the 2nd New Zealand Parliament
2nd New Zealand Parliament
The 2nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 15 April 1856, following New Zealand's 1855 election. It was dissolved on 5 November 1860 in preparation for 1860–61 election...
. He resigned from Parliament on 13 March 1860. He was elected by the house as its first Chairman of Committees
Chairman of Committees (New Zealand)
The Chairman of Committees was an elected position of the New Zealand House of Representatives. The role existed between 1854 and 1992. The roles of the Chairman of Committees were to deputise for the Speaker, and to chair the House when it was in committee...
on 21 June 1854 and he held this role for all three sessions of the 1st Parliament.
He served on the second and third Auckland Provincial Council
Auckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
, representing the Suburbs of Auckland electorate. He was first elected on 26 October 1855 and served until 18 August 1857, the date of dissolution of the second council. He was re-elected on 7 October 1857 and served until 12 September 1861, the date of dissolution of the third council. He was twice on its executive council, first from December 1856 (no end date given) and then from February to July 1857.
Death
Merriman had been ill for four months when he died at his residence in ParnellParnell, New Zealand
Parnell is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is often billed as Auckland's "oldest suburb" since it dates from the earliest days of the European settlement of Auckland in 1841...
on 21 July 1865. He was buried at the Symonds Street Cemetery
Symonds Street Cemetery
Symonds Street Cemetery is a historic cemetery and park in central Auckland, New Zealand. It is in 5.8 hectares of deciduous forest on the western slope of Grafton Gully, by the corner of Symonds Street and Karangahape Road, and is crossed by the Grafton Bridge...
the following day. His wife died in 1868.