Joseph and Harriet arrived in New Zealand on New Years Day 1884, to carve out a new life in a new country. With them, they brought nine young children ranging in age from 14 year old Alfred, to 2 year old Harold.
Emily Valentina Lydford, Harriet's younger sister immigrated with her family to New Zealand first, settling in Napier. She had sent back word to Harriet that New Zealand would be better for them. It is obvious that Joseph and Harriet respected and valued Emily's wisdom, and quickly sold up their shop and bought tickets to sail on the Lady Jocelyn to Wellington.
On arrival in Napier, the Cobbs quickly opened up a successful photographic studio in Napier, near Emily and her family, then got involved in community and church events.
This blog is a means of recording their story and the stories of their children and grandchildren, so they are not forgotten.
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| The Cobb family celebrate a wedding, probably Alice's in 1902. |
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| The family church - Trinity Methodist Church in Napier. |
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This is an early photograph of Port Aruhiri, Napier,
which was taken by Joseph around 1885.
It is currently owned by the Hawke's Bay Museums Trust.
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