In 1834 they were transferred from the Bay of Islands to Puriri, near Thames, a station opened only the previous year. It was built on a swampy area and the mosquitoes swarmed and feasted on a diet of new blood.
On 30 July Francis Hawker Wilson, her third son, was born. Once again Anne was kept occupied with family and teaching in the mission school.
In the unhealthy climate the children of the missionaries were often sick and Anne Wilson was most unhappy. She had difficulty mastering the Maori language and found it difficult to express anything spiritual. Her health began to deteriorate and she was very lonely with the often long absences of her husband.
Her journal details many of the struggles and frustrations she had to deal with.
28 October Anne writes:
“My beloved husband has gone to the Bay of Islands in an open boat. May the lord support and comfort us both under the separation.”
“Heard of Mr Gordon Brown’s boat being overturned in the river. Spent a restless night thinking of my absent husband.”
In 1836 the Wilsons were sent to Tauranga to join Rev Brown and Mr. Stack. However there was tribal unrest and there were many anxious nights for Anne and the other missionaries at Tauranga. She was constantly separated from John who saw it as his duty to attempt to make peace between the warring factions.
She wrote:
“Eight hundred arrived – passed through the settlements at night on their way to Maketu.”
“Mr Wilson gone to preach to the army. Waharoa promised at his request to save the women and children.”
“Mr Wilson and Mr Wade came home with horrid accounts of warfare and cannibalism and as the fights were on their return, we ladies were dispatched with a few valuables on board the Columbine (CMS supply ship) then laying off (just offshore in Tauranga harbour).”
“It is decided Mr and Mrs Wade return to the Bay and that I and my children are to go to Puriri, I feel it is a severe affliction to be separated from John, neither do I see the necessity of such a shift.”
Anne was very disappointed to be sent back to Puriri with the children. She remained in Puriri until 1837 and this was a most unhappy time for her.
Here are some extracts from her journal and letters to her husband.
She worried, and with cause, that John might be in danger……..
“I feel every day a week, and every week a month, during this long separation. Oh I do hope and pray that these native wars may shortly come to a peaceful end.”
“In the evening preparing for my husbands departure tomorrow, feel very poorly but wish to be submissive as it is his duty to go, not to distress him by any expression of sorrow.”
“Do not fail, my dear, to let me return as soon as possible. This exile is extremely painful to me. I know you sent us away, from the affection you have towards us, yet the love I have for you makes me unhappy away from you – particularly when I think you are in danger. These moonlit nights make me afraid they may attack the Papa.*”
To be Continued.
Footnote
*The 'Papa' (Te Papa) was the name of the mission station at Tauranga. Now it has been renamed The Elms
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