The name "Baghurst" comes from Joe's maternal grandfather, Joseph Baghurst. He moved to Martinborough as a small child in the early 1880s from Timaru in the South Island when he was a young boy, to join his older sister who had married a local chap here. His father was a farrier and was incapacitated by a horse kick to the head. The family then fell on hard times, necessitating him coming to live with his sister. His folks came from a village outside Edinburgh in Scotland.
Joseph served in the Boer War in the mounted infantry, and was "received" by Queen Victoria afterwards. We are not quite sure why, other than we understand that he cut a dashing figure on his horse, which was donated to the cause by Mr John Martin, the founder of Martinborough. He cut flax for the mill at Mahaki, and lived in a tent on the riverbank when newly married for a time. His new wife Sarah Jane soon ensured they moved to more permanent quarters!
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