Richard Groombridge Butt was born on June 2, 1832, in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, to Marie (Mary) Cabot (Smith) and Richard Butt. He travelled to New Zealand, via Brisbane, about 1854 and initially settled in Lyttleton. He worked for a period of time as a trader between Okains Bay and Lyttleton.
On 10 September 1856 he married Rosetta Harriett Wells, a laundress, in Lyttleton. Rosetta was born in Kent England in 1834 and had arrived in Lyttleton in 1855 on the Cashmere. Their wedding day was a double celebration for the Wells family, as Rosetta’s sister Amelia was married on the same day to Joseph Foster.
Richard and Rosetta went on to have 10 children between 1857 and 1878. Sadly not all the children survived to adulthood.
By October 1867 the family had moved to Wellington where Richard had a boat that travelled to and from Ward Island to collect ballast. He then expanded his work to trading vessels up and down the East Coast, and eventually ran boats the length of the country. He also guided other vessels to port.
In 1892 a kauri yacht, Rona, was built in Auckland for Alexander Turnbull (of the library fame). Richard was entrusted to sail Rona to Wellington in February 1893 with the boat builder and two other crew. The delivery to Wellington was successful but reported to be one of roughest ever journeys of his career. Rona is now the oldest continuously registered ship in New Zealand.
In September 1900 Richard sustained severe injuries leaving Wellington Harbour on the barque Mayberry. This accident seems to have led to his retirement.
In 1906 Richard and Rosetta celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in a double celebration with Amelia and Joseph.
On 29 December 1909 Captain Richard Groombridge Butt died at his home, 149 Ghuznee St Wellington, aged 75. In his obituary it was reported that he was one of the oldest sea captains in New Zealand and that he was a familiar figure to all seafaring men in the country.
Rosetta died on 9th June 1918. She is interred with Richard in Gum Gully (Public 2/L/111).
Other family members in Karori Cemetery include:
Son Alfred George is buried in Soldiers section U/3/2
Daughter Sarah Florence Kirkland Public2 175Y
Daughter Ada Ellen Bradley Public2/K/103
