Richard William Sankey of Matakana, and his family connection to Oliver Cromwell

A patch of long grass stands before me with no clear indication that I can reach back to 1645 and Oliver Cromwell.

Buried here is Richard Sankey, his wife Mary (nee Rayner); daughter Mary Fenton and her husband and son - no headstones and long forgotten.

 Sankey/Fenton Burial Plot - 5 unmarked graves

A Google search of the name Richard Sankey and you are deep into English and Irish history. Above all is the connection to Oliver Cromwell - Richard’s 5th Great Grandfather, Sir Hierome (aka Jerome) Sankey, an English soldier and politician educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He rose to fame and power during the English Civil War of 1642 when he took up arms for the English Parliamentary system.

In 1649 Hierome became Oliver Cromwell’s “Enforcer” and together, they caused havoc in Ireland, especially at Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick. After they savagely suppressed the Irish, Oliver Cromwell appointed Hierome governor of Clonmel and Tipperary and in 1652, gave him large areas of forfeited Irish land. Sankey became very prominent in the Cromwellian government and after Oliver Cromwell died, his son and successor knighted Hierome rewarding him again for his support.

The Siege of Clonmel, Ireland - c1650 - In the foreground is Oliver Cromwell demanded his men attack again. Behind him in the black armor is Colonel Sankey.

However, by 1659 Hierome sensed a political shift, changing his mind about Parliamentary Rule and endorsed the restoration of the monarchy. He was never forgiven for supporting Cromwell and lost most of his land in Ireland, along with his reputation and political power.

Under constant attack from those close to the crown, he retired from public life and found consolation in religion, becoming a Baptist minister in Ireland. He died on 4 February 1687.

In our small cemetery, in an unmarked grave, lies Richard William Sankey, 5 generations away from his 5th Great Grandfather Sir Jerome Sankey. The presence of a whole family lost due to no headstone – nothing to tell us “I was here.”

Richard Sankey and his family arrived in New Zealand aboard the “Mersey” on 11 June 1861. Born in Hastingleigh, Kent, England, in 1817, he married Mary Rayner in 1851, and they travelled with their 3 daughters, Mary, Louisa, Margaret and son, George.

We have no evidence of why Richard came to New Zealand other than that his younger brother Henry was already settled in Auckland, having arrived in 1860 with his family.

Of note also on board was Mary’s brother Alfred Rayner.

By 1864 we see the Sankey Family living at Tongue Farm, Matakana, later moving onto their farm on the Warkworth Matakana Road between Andersons’ and Sharps Road.

The Sankey family was prominent in the day-to-day life of Matakana. They held sports days and horse racing on their farm, and Richard participated in local governance. He was educated, confident and a leader of men.

Richard passed away in 1892, then Mary in 1909.