Joseph Seymour - an old shipmaster

An old storekeeper of Dargaville, Joseph Seymour was born and raised in Dorset, England on March 26 1845 to Robert Seymour and Mary Ann Seymour. He travelled to New Zealand on the ship "Phoenix" in 1860 and carried on working on ships for 20 years. Over this time he was master of the cutters "Alarui" and "Three Brothers" in Mangawhai. At some point he bought a small steamer also built at Mangawhai and over the years used the vessel to trade on the Wairoa River in Dargaville. He partnered up with Mr J.M. Dargaville then with Mr E. Mitchelson, later on adding Mr Weymouth with a store at Scarrott's. 

After taking charge of the vessel "Osprey" for a year he then in 1894 began his his business in the main street of Dargaville. He was also on the board of the Te Kopuru School Committee and a junior deacon of the St George Lodge (masons I assume). He was married to his wife Kate and father to his only child, a son named George.

He passed away on February 26 1926. Information taken from Victoria University.

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