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PPA Southland Times, Issue 19795, 20 March 1923, Page 7
WALTER DOUGLAS JOSS
AN APPRECIATION There died at the Neck, Stewart Island, at the close of the year, one whose demise requires more than a passing notice. Walter Douglas Joss was born at the Neck on November 22, 1842, his father being Capt. James Alexander Joss, and mother Kuika Puioaitaha, a Maori lady of some rank. Captain Joss came to New Zealand from Banff, N. 8., first as mate in a vessel commanded by Capt. Anglem (after whom we have Mount Anglem), and a second time as master of a vessel, and evidently belonged to a family of some standing, a half brother of his being for many years Principal of the Presbyterian College, Bangalore, India. Capt. Joss resided at the Neck for several years, purchasing a large piece of ground and building a coasting vessel while there and had two sons by his wife Kuika, Walter Douglas and William, the latter being drowned off Halfmoon Bay several years ago. Walter Douglas Joss received a fair education at the mission school at Ruapuke Island; could read and write both Maori and English and was remarkably well versed in Maori lore and tradition. In his younger days Mr Joss led a somewhat stirring life, going whale hunting, for several years, under Captains Mellin, of the ?Splendid,? and Sherburd, of the ?Pacific?; sealing in various crafts and coasting as master of the ketch ?Lizzie,? and also serving for several years in the pilot service at Otago Heads, and whether as whaler, sealer, or seaman he was invariably noted for his skill, seamanship and quiet, trustworthy character. Mr Joss was a man of deep religious convictions, a loyal member of the Anglican Church, but in no narrow sectarian spirit, for he heartily supported the Presb ?tcrian services when started at the Neck i. (875, i and always spoke of the late Rev. J. !Œ?. H. Wohlers with loving reverence as his spiritual father. Mr Joss married Elizabeth Moss and had a family of four, three being sons, the eldest George, was drowned near the Neck and the second son, Walter, after gaining the Te Makarini scholarship and proceeding to Te Aute College, attained the position of Chief Officer, under Capt. Bollons, of the G.S.S. ?Hinemoa,? but contracted a fatal malady and passed away in his early manhood. It was the writer?s privilege to have had the friendship of Mr Joss for many years and most interesting were his descriptions of the old times and scenes and characters who frequented Foveaux Straits in the early days, and who have long since passed away. During all that long friendship of nearly 50 years duration, Mr Joss always proved himself to be one of nature?s gentlemen, and when, after a Exhort illness, during which he had the loving care of his daughter?Mrs Neilson?and surviving son, he passed peacefully away, it was truly felt that the grand old man of the settlement had gone and one who had fully ?played the game? in his time and generation.
settled at Paterson's River, Stewart Island.
several references to James living with two wives. RR
present on Ruapuke Island at marriage of John KELLY and Hine etc by Bishop SELWYN RKE
1832 was a passenger on the Bee which travelled from Bunn's whaling station in the Foveaux Straits to Sydney. RMCN
"I am a descendant of James Joss and Iririana (Juliann or Julia) Kurukuru > Elizabeth (Betzey) bn 1840
Fortunately I had worked in the Southland District Council Library before retiring and took the opportunity to hunt for all the material I could.
I have attached the extract from the book Foveaux Yarns which you refer to.
After many years of procrastination I am finally trying to assemble what information I have - what a can of worms. I am realising that because a 'fact' is published in a book it is not necessarily correct.
My whakapapa accepted by Ngai Tahu has James Joss living at the neck with Julia above who also had another daughter Mary Ann bn 1845 and Kuikai (Caroline) Puwaitaha. She had Walter Douglas (1842 - 1922) and William Timaru (1844 - 1895).
I'll attach a copy of a baptism certificate which shows James Bruce Joss whose mother was Mary Robinson of Sydney. James appears to have left a son David in Banff. He was probably only eight or nine when James came to Australia.
My major mystery at the moment is the supposed existence of a John Wallace Joss mentioned in James' will (and who was with James on the voyage to Tahiti in 1845)
Hope some of this is helpful and happy to provide anything else I may have.
I'll also include a basic timeline which I compiled in trying get a sense of thia man's life." FSW
"There will be no date of death for James Joss as he and his two sons James Bruce (bn Sydney) and John Wallace (bn unknown) sailed from Auckland July 1845 and weren't heard of again.
The ship was reported missing in 1852 and his will executed in 1872. My guess is they died late 1845 into 1846." FSW
email 13 oct 2021
I discovered your Joss research on the nzearlyhistory.com site and became really interested as I too am a descendent of Betzy Joss who married John Wilson, a Swedish whaler when she was only 15. Later she married Thomas Devonshire in Orepuki and on her marriage certificate listed her maiden name as Hunter. My guess is that after James Joss disappeared she was bought up by the Hunter family.
I suspect that James Joss found his way to the Californian Goldfields which is where the crew on John Howell's Amazon caught up with him. In the Californian Census of 1850 I found a Captain Joss, aged 50, supposedly born in Hawaii, living in Placerville. Maybe Him?
He did leave a son David whose mother's name was Ann Allardyce in Scotland. He is mentioned in the will James made before he sailed off into the Pacific. The will is legit but has loopholes and its outcome is suspect as the lawyer involved was anxious to share in the proceeds as it involved land at Tiwai Point.
Incidentally, I don't think that James did marry any of the mothers of his children. There must be hundreds of descendants! There's a story there and I do wonder what became of James Bruce Joss. JUCL
REGBAPRuapuke has "20 may 1850 at The Neck, family of Jas JOSS deceased, Elizabeth 9 years, Margaret 5 years, Walter 7 years, William 5 Years. all christened by WHOLER as also the mothers of them, The SQUEAKER, named Caroline: the other Jane. James (Captain) Alexander Joss was a Mate for Anglem, Preservation Inlet between 1829 and 032.
5 He was a captain of Bee in 1832.
5 He was a captain of Sydney Packet between 1832 and 034.
5 He was a manager of a whaling station at New River owned by John JONES. in 1839.
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