Samuel Marsden: Chronology of Events
 Samuel Marsden (1765-1838) was an English missionary to New South Wales,
Australia, where he began serving as chaplain to convicts in
a penal colony in 1794; and to New Zealand where he was the
first to present the gospel to the Maoris in 1814. He returned
to England once in 1807-1808. |
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| 1765 | Born Farsley, Yorkshire, England. (June 25) |
| 1788 | Penal colony in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, founded by Captain Arthur Phillip of the Royal Navy. |
| 1790 | Began studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge, England. |
| 1792 | Offered chaplaincy post at the penal colony in NSW, through influence of William Wilberforce; he declined at first. |
| 1793 | Accepted appointment as chaplain to penal colony in NSW. (Jan 1) Married Elizabeth Fristan (some sources say Tristan). (Apr 21) Ordained in the Church of England. (May 26) Sailed on William, part of a convict transport for NSW. (Sept) |
| 1794 | Daughter Ann(e) born during voyage. (Mar 1 or 2) Arrived Port Jackson, NSW, to assume duties as second (assistant) chaplain to penal colony. (Mar 10) Took up residence in barracks of Parramatta, near Port Jackson. (July) |
| 1795 | Made an official visit to convict settlement at Norfolk
Island, 1200 miles from Sydney (early in year through Sept) Consented to serve as magistrate in colony at request of colonial Governor. |
| 1798 | Son Charles Simeon (1) born (Mar 21); died Sept 2, 1801. Marsden helped London Missionary Society's missionaries who had fled to NSW from their mission station at Tahiti. |
| 1799 | Daughter Elizabeth born. (Dec 13) |
| 1800 | Senior chaplain Richard Johnson resigned his post and returned to England. Marsden became the only chaplain for the colony. |
| 1801 | Son John born. (Oct 26); died Aug 14, 1803. Became correspondent and adviser to the London Missionary Society for its Tahitian Mission. |
| 1803 | St. John’s Church, first brick church in Australia, completed
at Parramatta; Marsden conducted the service of consecration
(Apr) Son Charles Simeon (2) born. (June 26) |
| 1806 | Daughter Mary born. (July 1) |
| 1807-08 | Marsden and his family return to England (the only time). Made report to government on conditions in colony and its needs including: a proper asylum for women convicts; more ministers; a lending library for the colonists. Appealed to Church Missionary Society to begin mission to Maoris of New Zealand. Brought wool from his sheep raised in NSW, generating interest of the King of England in potential commerce. |
| 1808 | Daughter Jane Catherine born at Hull, Yorkshire, England. (Dec 7) |
| 1809 | Massacre of the passengers and crew of the Boyd by natives in New Zealand. |
| 1809-10 | Marsden given gift of sheep from King George III of England. Returned to NSW with William Hall and John King as first missionaries to the Maoris of New Zealand. Ruatara (or Duaterra), a Maori chief on board ship. Marsden began to learn the Maori language. Ruatara remained at Parramatta with Marsden for several months. |
| 1810 | William Cowper and Robert Cartwright, arrived in NSW in response for additional clergy in colony. |
| 1811 | Daughter Martha born. (May 6) |
| 1813 | Schoolmaster Thomas Kendall and his family arrived to be part of New Zealand mission. |
| 1814 | Marsden purchased the brig Active for missionary
service to New Zealand. Exploratory trip on the Active by Kendall and Hall to Bay of Islands, New Zealand; brought back Ruatara and other Maoris. |
| 1814-15 | First missionary trip to New Zealand by Marsden. (Nov 1814-March
1815) Conducted first Christian service ever held in New Zealand. (Christmas Day) Purchased plot of land at Rangihoua for New Zealand's first missionary settlement. (Feb) Wrote journal of his experiences and observations of the Maori way of life. |
| 1815 | Opened the first Sunday
School in Australia, at Parramatta. Founded the Seminary at Parramatta for Maoris. |
| 1817 | Governor Macquarie's secretary, John Thomas Campbell,
wrote and published an article denouncing
Marsden using the pseudonym "Philo Free" in
the Sydney Gazette. (Jan) Marsden accused Campbell of malicious libel; Criminal Court at Sydney found Campbell guilty. (Oct) |
| 1818 | Superintended the construction of the Orphanage, at Arthur's
Hill, near Parramatta (1815-1818). Resigned magistracy. |
| 1819 | Second missionary trip to Maoris. (July-Nov) Accompanied by John Gare Butler (who would be superintendent of the mission) and his family, and other missionaries. Expanded his contacts with chiefs; detailed his observations of Maori life. |
| 1820 | Third missionary trip to the Maoris. (Feb-Dec) Explored the interior. |
| 1823 | Fourth missionary trip to the Maoris. (July-Sept) Accompanied by the Henry Williams and his family. Investigated and corrected the conduct of erring missionaries. Missionaries Kendall and Butler removed from New Zealand mission. Shipwreck soon after initial departure to return to NSW, no lives lost. Return voyage from New Zealand to NSW. (Nov) |
| 1824 | Attack on Marsden by W. C. Wentworth, A Statistical Account of the British Settlements in Australasia. |
| 1826 | Marsden defended himself in his pamphlet, An Answer to Certain Calumnies in the late Governor Macquarie's Pamphlet and the Third Edition of Mr. Wentworth's Account of Australasia. |
| 1827 | Fifth missionary trip; stayed only 5 days in New
Zealand. (Mar-Apr) Concerned for safety of the mission. Used his influence to bring peace among the Maoris. |
| 1830 | Sixth missionary trip, accompanied by daughter Mary. (Mar-June) Restored peace between rival tribes in the Girls' War. |
| 1835 | Wife Elizabeth, invalid since 1811, died, Parramatta, NSW, Australia. (Oct 2) |
| 1837 | Made last of his seven voyages to New Zealand, accompanied by daughter Martha. (Feb-July); visited most of the mission stations. |
| 1838 | Died at Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. (May 12) Buried in cemetery of St. John's Church, Parramatta, NSW. |
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