Sealy Road (Ōmatā)

Sealy Road is named after Dr William Byers Sealy, an early settler who owned a farm in the district.

Dr Sealy was born in India in 1823, the son of Lieutenant-General William Dowden Sealy. At the age of 18 he was sent back to England to study medicine at St Andrew's University in Scotland.

After graduating in 1845 he practised in London for several years. Possibly seeking a quieter lifestyle, Dr Sealy decided to emigrate to New Zealand. He arrived in New Plymouth aboard the Cashmere on 6 August 1854, accompanied by his wife, Matilda, son Alfred and daughter Alice, who was born on the journey.

Shortly after his arrival Dr Sealy purchased a block of land in Ōmatā. However, after only a few years in Taranaki the family became increasingly unsettled by the accumulating tension over land sales.

Their decision to move to Nelson in 1859 was announced in the local newspaper, along with advertisements for the sale of their furniture and stock. Dr Sealy had imported a champion bull, "Samson", and prize cow "Rose" from England. He took the novel approach of selling both by lottery.

Although the family escaped the troubles of Taranaki, tragedy was to strike them early in their life in Nelson. In January 1863 Dr Sealy's wife died after a long illness, and in June Alfred drowned while crossing the Waimea River.

His recovery from these unfortunate events was no doubt helped by his marriage in the following year to Jane Braithwaite. They started a family of their own and for the next 25 years Dr Sealy made his mark as a trustworthy family doctor.

Dr Sealy's death on 9 March 1886 was deeply mourned by the people of Nelson and his large funeral service brought the city to a standstill. Two years later a stained glass window was installed and dedicated to his memory in the Nelson Cathedral.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.