William James Titchener first arrived in Otago as an eleven year old in 1862. Born in Kent, England in 1850, he was the eldest son of Elijah Titchener, a police constable, and Emma Titchener. As a child William travelled frequently since his father’s work transported the family across several colonies, regions and fledgling settlements. When William was around four years old, he moved from England to New South Wales after Elijah was selected to join the colony’s police force.
Attracted by the gold rush in Victoria, the family next moved to Melbourne in 1858 where Elijah worked as a gold miner for a few years. Otago’s gold rush then brought the Titcheners to New Zealand. They travelled on board the Gamecock and arrived in Port Chalmers in 1862. During the gold rushes, Elijah was stationed as a police officer in Dunedin, Glenore, Tuapeka and then Lawrence where he was promoted to sergeant. He later became the head master of the Caversham Industrial School, a home for children who had no one to care for them.
William himself became a blacksmith. He married Elizabeth Finch at St John’s Church, Milton in 1874. Elizabeth was also an early settler, having arrived in Otago as a baby on the John Wickliffe in 1848. The couple had five sons and two daughters together and they lived in Lawrence before eventually settling in Caversham. Whilst living in Caversham, William established himself as a local blacksmith for the Caversham, Taieri and Green Island communities. Contemporary newspaper advertisements proclaimed that he could ‘execute all kinds of smiths’ works at moderate prices’.
William died in Caversham in 1922. His family remembered him as an ‘easy-going’ and kind man. He is buried in Andersons Bay Cemetery.
Mr William J Titchener