# John Barnicoat

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New Zealand politician, surveyor, engineer (1814–1905)

The Honourable John Barnicoat Barnicoat (year unknown) Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council In office 14 May 1883 – 21 June 1902 Personal details Born John Wallis Barnicoat June 1814 Falmouth, Cornwall, England Died 2 February 1905 (aged 90) Nelson Spouse Rebecca Lee Hodgson ​ (m. 1849)​ Children Constance Barnicoat

**John Wallis Barnicoat** (June 1814 – 2 February 1905) was an English civil engineer and surveyor who emigrated to New Zealand. In his chosen homeland, he became a local politician in [Nelson](/source/Nelson%2C_New_Zealand). Towards the end of his life, he was a member of the [New Zealand Legislative Council](/source/New_Zealand_Legislative_Council) for 19 years.

## Early life

Barnicoat was born in [Falmouth](/source/Falmouth%2C_Cornwall), [Cornwall](/source/Cornwall), England in June 1814.[1] He received his early education at Falmouth proprietary school and then articled to a civil engineer. He practised in that profession for some years before he left England on the *[Lord Auckland](/source/Lord_Auckland_(ship))* for New Zealand. The *Lord Auckland* left from the [West India Docks](/source/West_India_Docks) in London on 25 September 1841 and they arrived in Nelson on 23 February 1842.[2]

## Life in New Zealand

Barnicoat took up survey contracts in Waimea and the [Moutere valley](/source/Lower_Moutere) for the [New Zealand Company](/source/New_Zealand_Company). He worked alongside fellow civil engineer Thomas John Thompson with whom he had shared a cabin on the *Lord Auckland*.[2][3] Barnicoat was present at the [Wairau Affray](/source/Wairau_Affray) and escaped without injury together with fellow surveyor [Frederick Tuckett](/source/Frederick_Tuckett).[4] Together with Tuckett, Barnicoat then surveyed the districts of [Motueka](/source/Motueka) and [Tākaka](/source/T%C4%81kaka). During 1844, Barnicoat travelled as an assistant to Tuckett along the east coast of the South Island to find a suitable "New Edinburgh" settlement for the New Zealand Company; Tuckett's choice of [Dunedin](/source/Dunedin) as the site was later accepted.[2][5] In late 1844, Barnicoat settled on land near [Richmond](/source/Richmond%2C_New_Zealand). Further exploration happened in 1846, when he explored [Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere](/source/Pelorus_Sound_%2F_Te_Hoiere) in the [Marlborough Sounds](/source/Marlborough_Sounds), and in 1850, when he searched for a more direct route connecting Nelson and the Wairau alongside [John Tinline](/source/John_Tinline). They found a route through [Rai Valley](/source/Rai_Valley) and the [Tinline River](/source/Tinline_River) commemorates the discovery.[2]

## Political career

Barnicoat was elected to the first [Nelson Provincial Council](/source/Nelson_Province) in August 1853 in the Waimea East electorate.[6] He remained a representative for Waimea East until the end of 1876, i.e. the whole period that the provincial council system was in place.[7] From January 1858, he was the council's second Speaker (succeeding Donald Sinclair) for the council's remaining period.[8] On 23 December 1861, Barnicoat unsuccessfully contested the position of [Superintendent](/source/Superintendent_(New_Zealand)) of [Nelson Province](/source/Nelson_Province) against the incumbent, [John Perry Robinson](/source/John_Perry_Robinson).[9] After Robinson died on 28 January 1865, Barnicoat was acting Superintendent for two months. He was the council's last Deputy Superintendent from July 1875.[10]

Barnicoat was a member of the [New Zealand Legislative Council](/source/New_Zealand_Legislative_Council) from 14 May 1883 to 21 June 1902, when he resigned.[11]

## Private life

Barnicoat married Rebecca Lee Hodgson in 1849. During 1865, Barnicoat and her brother, William Charles Hodgson (1826–1894), were both members of the Nelson Provincial Council.[12]

Barnicoat died at his home in Hardy Street, Nelson, on 2 February 1905.[13] He was the father of [Constance Barnicoat](/source/Constance_Barnicoat).[2]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Colonist_obit_1-0)** ["Obituary"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19050203.2.8). *Colonist*. Vol. XLVII, no. 11248. 3 February 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 6 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield194041_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield194041_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield194041_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield194041_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield194041_2-4) [Scholefield 1940](#CITEREFScholefield1940), p. 41.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Obituary"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19010105.2.8). *Colonist*. Vol. XLIV, no. 9998. 5 January 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 6 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Prow_bio_4-0)** Stephens, Joy (24 April 2020). ["John Wallis Barnicoat 1814-1905"](http://www.theprow.org.nz/people/john-wallis-barnicoat/#.X6eka4j7S73). The Prow. Retrieved 8 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Somerville, Ross. ["Frederick Tuckett"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1t108). *[Dictionary of New Zealand Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_New_Zealand_Biography)*. [Ministry for Culture and Heritage](/source/Ministry_for_Culture_and_Heritage). Retrieved 9 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Election of provincial councillors for Waimea East"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18530813.2.20.4). *Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle*. Vol. XII, no. 597. 13 August 1853. p. 7. Retrieved 4 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield1950212_7-0)** [Scholefield 1950](#CITEREFScholefield1950), p. 212.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield1950210_8-0)** [Scholefield 1950](#CITEREFScholefield1950), p. 210.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Untitled"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18611224.2.7). *Colonist*. Vol. IV, no. 435. 24 December 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield1950209f_10-0)** [Scholefield 1950](#CITEREFScholefield1950), pp. 209f.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Wilson, Jim](/source/Jim_Wilson_(librarian)) (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. *New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984* (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 149. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [154283103](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/154283103).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScholefield194041,_402f_12-0)** [Scholefield 1940](#CITEREFScholefield1940), pp. 41, 402f.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Deaths"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19050202.2.7). *[Nelson Evening Mail](/source/Nelson_Evening_Mail)*. Vol. XL, no. 25. 2 February 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 5 November 2020.

## References

- [Scholefield, Guy](/source/Guy_Scholefield), ed. (1940). [*A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L*](https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/dnzb-1940/scholefield-dnzb-v1.pdf) (PDF). Vol. I. Wellington: [Department of Internal Affairs](/source/Department_of_Internal_Affairs_(New_Zealand)).

- [Scholefield, Guy](/source/Guy_Scholefield) (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. *New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949* (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.

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