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Twigg Family Genealogy

Investigation document: Twigg Family Genealogy

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RESEARCH 7: TWIGG FAMILY GENEALOGY - CRITICAL FINDING

Date: December 29, 2025 (UTC) Objective: Research Jock Twigg and the Twigg family connection to Langley Twigg law firm

CRITICAL FINDING: TWIGG FAMILY GENEALOGY

Source: Knowledge Bank - Twigg, Douglas Russell and Kathleen Mary (Kath) Interview URL: https://knowledgebank.org.nz/audio/twigg-douglas-russell-and-kathleen-mary-kath-interview/ Date of Interview: January 25, 2016

The Key Quote

Interviewer: "Now the Twiggs of Napier – the solicitors; are they related to you?" Douglas Twigg: "Yeah, we're all … Jock, he was the eldest son of the youngest son. And Sam had one boy, Connelly, who was killed in the war. And Francis was the second son, so I being his eldest son living, I then became the … what we would've called in old days, 'the head of the family.' But Jock's son was Peter, and in talking with him, he said, 'Oh, I thought we were the head of the family.' [Chuckle] I said, 'No.'"

TWIGG FAMILY TREE RECONSTRUCTION

Generation 1: Henderson James Twigg

  • Henderson James Twigg - JP, early settler, immigrated from Ireland
  • Married Elizabeth Mary Torr (daughter of Joseph Torr)
  • Worked at Maraekakaho Station with Donald McLean
  • Children: Samuel, Francis, Ernest, Despard, Annie, Violet, Garnet, and 2 infants who died

Generation 2: The Sons

| Son | Notes |

|-----|-------|

| Samuel | Had one son Connelly (killed in war) |

| Francis (Frank) | Second son, farmer, married Olive Edith Russell at age 50 |

| Ernest | Unknown |

| Despard | Youngest son - went broke, farmed in Kimbolton then Tauranga |

Generation 3: Jock Twigg

  • Jock Twigg = "eldest son of the youngest son" (Despard)
  • Became partner at Langley Twigg in 1939
  • Jock's son was PETER (Peter Despard Twigg)

Generation 4: Peter Despard Twigg

  • Peter Despard Twigg - Current partner at Langley Twigg Law
  • Founding director of Napier Independent Trustees (NIT) since 1999
  • Owns 33.33% of NIT
  • NIT owned 19.24% of Aquiline Holdings

DONALD McLEAN CONNECTION

CRITICAL: Henderson James Twigg worked at Maraekakaho Station with Donald McLean. Who was Donald McLean?

From earlier research (nzhistory.govt.nz):

> "The Act also aimed to stamp out fraud, and protect Maori from becoming landless. But Native Land Court judges and others ignored many of these [protections]."

Donald McLean was a key figure in Māori land purchases in Hawke's Bay. He was:
  • Native Secretary
  • Responsible for major land purchases from Māori
  • A controversial figure in Māori land alienation history
The Twigg family connection to Donald McLean places them at the center of Hawke's Bay's colonial land history from the very beginning.

TIMELINE: TWIGG FAMILY IN HAWKE'S BAY

| Year | Event |

|------|-------|

| ~1850s | Henderson James Twigg works with Donald McLean at Maraekakaho |

| 1872 | Henderson James Twigg buys Petane Grange |

| ~1900s | Despard Twigg born (youngest son) |

| ~1910s | Jock Twigg born (son of Despard) |

| 1939 | Jock Twigg becomes partner at Langley Twigg |

| 1941 | Judge Dykes appointed to Māori Land Court |

| 1947 | Alleged fraud at Māori Land Court |

| ~1950s | Peter Despard Twigg born (son of Jock) |

| 1999 | Peter Despard Twigg founds NIT |

| 1996-2010 | NIT invests in Aquiline Holdings |

SIGNIFICANCE FOR INVESTIGATION

  • The Twigg family has been in Hawke's Bay since the 1850s - They were present during the entire period of Māori land alienation
  • Henderson James Twigg worked directly with Donald McLean - This places the family at the center of colonial land dealings
  • Jock Twigg became partner in 1939 - Just 2 years before Judge Dykes was appointed (1941)
  • Peter Despard Twigg is Jock's son - Direct lineage from the 1939 partner to the current NIT founder
  • The name "Despard" appears in multiple generations - Despard was the youngest son of Henderson James, and Peter's middle name is "Despard"

PETER DESPARD TWIGG - CURRENT STATUS

Source: NZ Law Society Register URL: https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/register/peter-despard-twigg/
  • Property Law section member
  • Preferred name: Peter
  • Workplace: Employee at Langley Twigg Law (incorporating Kelly McNeil)

JOHN MATTHEWS CONNECTION

Source: Langley Twigg Law Facebook URL: https://m.facebook.com/LangleyTwiggLaw/photos/

> "This Friday we will be celebrating the life of one of our Langley Twigg family, John Matthews, after his passing last week. John will always be a huge part..."

John Matthews was:
  • A partner/employee at Langley Twigg
  • Co-executor with Victor Langley (from Research 6)
  • Recently deceased

This confirms the continuity of the firm's personnel over many decades.

NEXT STEPS

  • Research Donald McLean's land dealings in Hawke's Bay
  • Investigate Maraekakaho Station history
  • Search for any Native Land Court cases involving the Twigg family
  • Research the Torr family connection (Elizabeth Mary Torr married Henderson James Twigg)