The Morgan family boasts a proud legacy as pioneers in the early settlements of New Plymouth and Wanganui during the 1850s.

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Our family heritage spans many centuries in England, but the focus of this narrative is on my great-great-grandfather's journey, brothers John and William MORGAN, and how and why they ventured to the distant colony of New Zealand. In essence our whakapapa – how we came here and our connection to this land.

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The Morgan story follows their early days in England through to emigration and settlement in New Zealand. From farmers to politicians, family homesteads, and two world wars in between – our family history has both highlights and tragedy.

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John and William left England for many reasons - principally because they wished for a better existence, not just for themselves, but also their children and their children's children. While they could have settled in English-speaking countries comparatively near, they deliberately chose New Zealand - a land twelve thousand miles away shrouded with virgin forest and inhabited by a proud indigenous population. They certainly did not choose an easy path for themselves.

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Life in 1850 was incredibly challenging – lacking roads, fences, shelter, or basic necessities. Everything had to be cultivated or crafted. The land had to be tamed as settlers grappled with the virgin landscape, literally hewing out their homes in the wilderness. John and William hold a central place in this narrative. Their fortitude and resolve has influenced who we have become today.

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Coombes, Faull, and Penfold are family names woven into our DNA. We also have connections to other respected families from the Whanganui-Taranaki regions - Honeyfield, Woon, Garner, Symes, Percival and Gerse to name a few. Understanding our family roots can provide answers on how these connections came to be.