John William Rod (New Zealand)
In 1876, John William Rod (1856–1920) migrated from England to New Zealand and embarked upon a successful business career. He became a well-respected New Zealander, noted for his contributions to industry, sport and local government.
During the 1800s, many of Britain’s workers were looking toward the developing colonies in the hope of finding a better lifestyle. The New Zealand Company (NZC) took this opportunity to attract agricultural labourers and mechanics to New Zealand by offering them free passage to their new homeland. The individuals who seized this opportunity appear in the 19th Century immigration records, unfortunately, most fare paying passengers are not recorded. The date and circumstances of John Rod’s arrival in New Zealand remain unclear; however, his new life in the colony is well documented including his close links with several other migrants including: Jabez Marks, Henry Saint, Thomas Bosher and Edward Llewellyn Jones.
John William Rod was born in Egham, Surrey, the son of John Rod (1827-1901), a carpenter, and Elizabeth Pickett (1829-1903). The Rod family lived in Langham Place until 1870, when they assumed the surname "George" and moved to a new home at Victoria Place, Egham. At that time, 14 year old John Rod (alias John George) was living with his parents and working as a labourer. Family historian, Shirley Ritchie (1984), suggests that he immigrated to New Zealand around 1876. In 1878, John married Elizabeth Bosher (1861-1942). Initially, they lived in Porirua and then moved to Johnsonville in 1887. John and Elizabeth produced one son, George William Rod (1878-1938) and four daughters, Elizabeth Harriet Rod (1880–1962), Annie Eliza Rod (1882-1962), Lilly Elizabeth Rod (1885-1967) and Ann Lucy Violet Rod (1887-1972). By 1896, John's parents and his siblings had also immigrated to New Zealand and had taken up residence with him in Johnsonville. Notably, after using the alias "George" for about twenty years the family was again using the surname "Rod". In 1892, John became the guardian of his sister-in-law, Harriet Mary Jones' three young sons, moving them to his home and providing education in Johnsonville. By 1909, John and Elizabeth had health problems and made the first of several overseas trips seeking treatment. John died in 1920 at his home at Dr Taylor Terrace, Johnsonville and was buried in (the old) Porirua Cemetery.John's obituary noted his civic contributions and his business life, describing him as "a well-respected…man of progressive ideas".
About 1876, John Rod commenced operating a slaughter yard at Porirua Ferry (now Porirua) and Ritchie (1984) states that this was also the location of his first butcher shop. His slaughter yard was probably the source of meat for the butchers shop trading as Rod Marks & Co, in Adelaide Road. In August 1879, the directors of Rod Marks & Co; John Rod, Jabez Marks and Henry Saint, attended a creditors meeting and appear to have narrowly escaped bankruptcy. Subsequently, John continued to reside at Porirua Ferry, but using Thomas Bosher's address, he offered to lease a shop and also a slaughter house and paddock. John’s brother, Henry Rod, arrived in 1884 and joined the staff of J Rod & Co later establishing his own butcher shop in Constable Street. In 1887, John took a lease to purchase a house and shop on the corner of Main Road and Railway Terrace, Johnsonville. By 1890, John's brother, James Rod, had joined him at Johnsonville and together they traded as "Rod Bros", eventually opening another butchers shop at 51 Courtenay Place. John acquired a modest butcher shop on the corner of Johnsonville Rd and Frankmoore Ave, later increasing it to two stories with the interior decorated with the same cattle themed tiles imported from England that also adorned his Courtenay Place shop. John became Vice-President of the United Butchers Association during 1900.
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