Engraving of James Reddy Clendon 1800-1872
Alexander Turnball Library

Clendon House is one of the historic treasures of the Hokianga, situated in Clendon Esplanade in the heart of the town, commanding a fine view of the harbour.

The house is named for James Reddy Clendon but, in the view of Heritage Destinations Property Supervisor Lindsay Charman, it is a monument to the indomitable spirit of his second wife, the former Jane Cochrane, who lived there until her death in 1919 at the age of 81 after bringing up eight children on her own. The house stayed in the Clendon family until 1972, when it was sold to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. 

James Reddy Clendon was born in Kent in 1800 and became a ship owner. By 1826 after borrowing £5000 pounds from his parents he was sailing to Australia, transporting female prisoners to convict settlements at Port Jackson, where he married his first wife, Sarah. They eventually had six children.

He was in the Hokianga in 1829 collecting spars and unusually for the time, treated the Maori considerately - something that helped him later when times were tough.

By 1830, he had acquired 89 hectares at Okiato, about six kilometres upstream from Kororareka (later Russell). He settled there and set up a Trading station to serve the whalers. In 1837, he added 32 acres at Okiato and a year later bought 1352 hectares at Manawaroa which became the Clendon farm.

On October 12 1938 he was empowered to act as United States consul, a profitable appointment as he gained business from the 151 ships recorded between 1839 and 1841.

Clendon was a bank president, local magistrate and a member of the first legislative council, but his fortunes plummeted after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. He sold his house and Okiato land to the Government for £15,000, but the deal was blocked by the authorities in New South Wales. He finally got £1200 and a settlement, which included 4047 hectares in South Auckland. It was not much compensation.

Clendon's wife Sarah died in 1855. Five and a half months later, he shocked his family by marrying Jane Cochrane, daughter of Dennis Browne Cochrane and Takatowhai Te Whata. He was 55 and she was a well-educated 18, having been to school with Clendon's daughters. 

In 1861 was, when Governor Grey was very nervous about the security of the Hokianga in the Land Wars, he arranged to ride over to the area with Clendon. They rode from Waimate to Horeke and were then barged down to Rawene with their horses. Clendon then became the local magistrate and was well received by the Ngapuhi.

His first home for Jane and the children was a tiny little kitchen built from pit-sawn kauri and what was known as a rookery - basically a chook house - which he described as neither "wind nor water tight." By 1869 the big house had been built. A two-storey kauri dwelling with an attached kitchen, it had 11 rooms and originally had a shingle roof. It was professionally built and was the first in the area with glass windows.

It was very much Jane Clendon's house. She was left a 34-year old widow in 1872 with the eight children of the marriage, the oldest 16 and the youngest 17 months. James left her £300 and £5500 of debts. Seven weeks after the funeral, she left her teenage son in charge, headed for Auckland and faced her creditors. She made it clear she was going to stay in the house and intended to settle the debt. Sale of bark, firewood and kauri gum went towards the settlement and the house was freehold when she died in 1919.

Lindsay Charman describes her as the first generation of bicultural New Zealanders and she was an example to future generations. As she said: "We will tolerate no lessening of standard in our family."

Clendon House stands today as very much a home, where Jane's oldest son George, lived until 1933. There are copies of some of the most important historic documents such as a hand-written letter from Governor Fitzroy appointing Clendon as a police magistrate in 1845. But there is also original furniture brought out from England and the personal things that were used in everyday life. 

Acknowledgment: Bob Pearce Heritage New Zealand Summer 2003

Further reading

Poles of Pride , Michael Hooper.  Heritage New Zealand Spring 2008. 

Clendon House's listing on the Register of historic places, historic areas, wahi tapu and wahi tapu areas