Theme: Origins. (“Genealogists often get the question, “Where is your family from?” With this week’s theme, you could explore an immigrant ancestor, but you could also think about the origin of other aspects of your family. Who was the first person in your family to settle in a particular town? If you have a long line of people with the same occupation, talent, etc, who was the first person you know who did it?”).

My GGrandfather Frederick Wentworth Wade (1838-1912), born in Dublin, was the first of his family to settle in New Zealand, and the first and as far as is known only person in the family to profess Law.

He was one of the first settlers in the southern NZ town of Invercargill, was on the Committee formed in 1869 to investigate formation of the first Borough Council, and served on the early Invercargill Council to 1878.

One of his obituaries described Frederick as having been associated with most of the enterprises which had made for the advancement of the town from the time it was in its embryo stage. “Not only was he actively associated with social, municipal and parliamentary activities, but in the realm of sport he was at one time a most prominent figure…” The list included turf interests, rowing, coursing, cricket and football. He was also Sergeant-Major in the first Volunteer company formed in Invercargill, ultimately becoming Captain.
Frederick was a founder, office bearer or early member of various prominent Invercargill institutions – the Invercargill Club, Irish Athletics Society, Fire Brigade, Bowls Club, Coursing Club, Turf Club, Southland Racing Club, the Athenaeum, the Hospital Trust, the Chamber of Commerce and the Southland Caledonian Society. He became a Trustee of the Savings Bank in 1872 together with his brother in law James Blacklock (NZ Gazette)
“… and up to his last illness had not missed a meeting…” according to an obituary in the Southland Daily News.

Disappointingly none of these institutions or their successors have a photograph of Frederick.

He was said by his fellow members of the Bar to be endowed with fine intellectual talents and was a particularly strong advocate who took a keen interest and part in public matters, with a genial manner which endeared him to many, and he always conducted his cases in a fair and honourable way. The Supreme Court adjourned for one afternoon to allow members of the profession to attend his funeral.

One obituary said he experienced to the full ups and downs “…such as seldom come to the lot of one man…” and predicted that Wade’s passing would prompt many old identities to let loose a flood of reminiscences “… which perhaps have never been unearthed previously”.