Talk:Freemans Bay

Freemans_Bay#European_name

Currently the pages states: "Freemans Bay is probably named after Captain William Hobson’s secretary, James Stuart Freeman who apparently lived in the area."

Maybe if we knew when the streets and bay was name, then we could find the real roots of them name. The streets appear to be named after peers and activists, mostly from the 18th century. It could be "Freemans" is a surname, but it could also be from Freeman's Journal, a journal own by Henry Grattan who was a very notable Irish statesman.

But if you take a look at the names of the streets, in particular Grattan Place:

• Grattan place - Henry Grattan (3 July 1746 – 6 June 1820) was a member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.
• Freemans bay - The Freeman's Journal - was the oldest nationalist newspaper in Ireland. It was founded in 1763 by Charles Lucas and was identified with radical 18th century Protestant patriot politicians Henry Grattan (proprietor) and Henry Flood.

Also consider:

• Ponsonby Road - Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough (24 January 1758 – 3 February 1844) was a British peer.
• Pratt Street - George Pratt, 2nd Marquess Camden, KG (2 May 1799 – 6 August 1866) was a British peer and Tory politician, styled Viscount Bayham from 1794 to 1812 and Earl of Brecknock from 1812 to 1840.
• England St - location
• Ireland St - location
• Scotland St - location
• Wellington St - Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (1 May 1769[1] – 14 September 1852), was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century.
• Napier St - Lord Napier
• Elizabeth St - a monarch

Others look more local:

• Gunson Street - Sir James Henry Gunson (1877 - 1963) was a New Zealand businessman and Mayor of Auckland City from 1915 to 1925. He was knighted in 1924. Born and educated in Auckland, he took over the seed-grain business of his father, William Gunson. He stood several times for Parliament
• Heke Street - Hone Wiremu Heke Pokai (1807? – 6 August 1850) was a Māori rangatira (chief) and war leader in Northern New Zealand and a nephew of Hongi Hika, an earlier war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi. Hone Heke is considered the principal instigator of the Flagstaff War.
• Pember Reeves Street - Maud Pember Reeves feminist and socialist Round About a Pound a Week or her husband William Pember Reeves MP
• Gudgeon St - Walter Edward Gudgeon CMG (4 September 1841 – 5 January 1920) was born in London, England. He was a farmer, soldier, historian, land court judge and colonial administrator.

Less likely are:

• Gwilliam place - Sir Henry Gwilliam .1840 - a British lawyer & Peer?
• etc ...

I look suspiciously like that there maybe a ex-council book in the Auckland Public Library on statesmen/activists that was used to name these streets. And James Stuart Freeman would certainly not appear on such a list.

NevilleDNZ (talk) 04:29, 3 November 2011 (UTC)