Frederick Truby King's childhood home, New Plymouth. White, Anthony (Mrs) :Photographs of, and relating to, Frederic Truby King. Ref: PAColl-6097-006. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
Frederick Truby King's childhood home, New Plymouth. White, Anthony (Mrs) :Photographs of, and relating to, Frederic Truby King. Ref: PAColl-6097-006. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
After their home outside New Plymouth was destroyed during the first Taranaki war in 1860, Thomas King moved his family to this residence on the corner of Dawson and Vivian Street. The large garden and orchard extended as far as Powderham Street - town sections 684 and 685 - also owned by King.
Thomas King arrived in New Plymouth in 1841 aboard the William Bryan. Mary Chilman arrived on the Blenheim the following year and the couple married in 1846. They had seven children, among whom were the New Plymouth businessman Newton and Frederic Truby (known as Truby) who studied medicine and together with Lady Plunket established the Plunket Society in 1907. He was later knighted for his contribution to maternal and infant welfare.
The home above was located on town section 701 and in 1921 the section was subdivided and a new house was built for Percy Douglass on the northern half of the section. It's likely the house was demolished prior to this date.
See Taranaki Land Deed Index (Town section 701) I13 page 224.
Taranaki Land Deed Index (Town sections 684 and 685) I1 page 235 and I1 page 236.
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