From New Zealand’s Jewish Past: Joel Samuel Polack – one of New Zealand’s first Jewish settlers
Our stories over the last three years have concentrated on amazing men and women who have contributed to the growth of Australia and its community. This week takes us across the sea to New Zealand to learn about their early pioneers.
Joel Samuel Polack – one of New Zealand’s first Jewish settlers
Joel is said to have been born in London on 28 March 1807. He was the son of Solomon and Sarah. His father was a successful Jewish painter and engraver. The family had migrated from Holland to Ireland and then to England, where they settled together with their four children. It appears that art and letters were to play an important part in Joel’s life, but his career began in the War Office (Commissariat and Ordnance) and he served for four years in South Africa and Mauritius. His next move was to America and in 1830 he joined his brother Abraham in his business in NSW. Abraham arrived in Sydney in 1820 as a convict having been sentenced to seven years for stealing a watch. By 1831 Joel was on the move to New Zealand and for the first twelve months he resided at Hokianga which is the area on Northland’s west coast with a long estuary that extends inwards from the Tasman Sea. Joel encouraged the local people to grow and harvest crops which could be sold at the local markets. In 1832 he moved to the Bay of Islands where he purchased several tracts of land from Maori chiefs and he built a large house on a nine-acre site at Kororareka (now Russell) at the north of the Bay and, interestingly enough, called his estate Parramatta. Building continued in the region and included the first brewery for New Zealand in 1835. Joel was a smart prosperous businessman and traded in flax, timber and general produce as well as involving himself in public affairs. In 1837 Joel signed the petition to William IV requesting that the British Government assume responsibility for the protection and government of European settlers.
In 1837 Joel returned to England and attended in 1838 a House of Lords Select Committee inquiry, ‘into the present state of the islands of New Zealand’ advocating colonisation. He saw the chaotic European settlement as being destructive of Maori Society and argued only through systematic colonisation would the Maori people survive. He argued that the Maoris would welcome colonisation by the British and would benefit in ‘their Minds and their Bodies’ through employment by ‘civilised persons’.
He also promoted New Zealand in two books based on his experiences. His books were well-received in England. He wrote in an elaborate style, being conversant with historical, scientific and maritime works. His observations on natural science included the first published reference to fossil remains of ‘a species of the emu (moa)’. Generously illustrated, the books also showed his talents as an artist and his writings were known to be quite valuable.
Before returning to New Zealand in 1842, Joel became a member of the Colonial Society of London and further promoted settlement by running an auction in London of small lots of his own land. This was perhaps the first subdivision into quarter-acre lots in New Zealand’s history. Unfortunately, the post-Treaty of Waitangi era proclaimed British sovereignty over the whole of New Zealand and ratified it in October 1840. This did not go well for Joel and he found his land dealings subject to scrutiny by land claims commissioners, other settlers disputing his rights and some were even encroaching on his boundaries. This brought about squabbles with neighbours and at times Joel displayed ‘a rascally bad’ temper. Commercial progress then came to a halt in the Bay of Islands with the 1845 war, known as the Northern War and this was the first serious challenge to the Crown in the years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Unfortunately, Kororareka and the homestead were totally destroyed by fire. It is known that Joel had stored British ammunition in his home. The extent of his loss was significant and, of course, his personal writings, sketches, collection of rare paintings, books and artefacts were all lost. As much as he pushed for compensation, he was continuously unsuccessful.
Following this tragedy, Joel moved to Auckland – the new capital of New Zealand – to start the next chapter of his life and continued his business dealings. He commenced operation in a bonded warehouse near Auckland’s waterfront and moved into shipping for trade with the California coast. One cargo that he was involved with was known as kauri gum – resin from the kauri trees (Agathis Australis) – which historically had several important industrial uses. He continued to speculate in land, negotiating for town allotments and purchasing large tracts for their economic potential which included a group of islands – Hen, Chickens, Poor Knights and Fanal – that had possible mineral deposits as well as eight hundred acres of Lucas Creek for its timber.
By 1850 Joel was on the move again and sailed to North America on a looking, as always for new commercial opportunities, but not to follow the Californian goldrushes. The ship’s cargo included 1,243 packages of timber, comprising 43 frame houses, 15,000 bricks and 8,000 shingles, which sheds light on his real intentions. There is little known of his time in California. However, there appears to have been a land case regarding the island of Yerba Buena in San Francisco Bay which bears his name.
Joel retained his New Zealand interests for a number of years, and was a signatory to a petition of settlers to the House of Representatives in 1856, seeking compensation for losses suffered during the Northern War of the 1840s. Joel married in San Francisco to a widow of a former New Zealand resident. He died in San Francisco on 17 April 1882 and it appears that there are no known photos of Joel to be found.
As one of New Zealand’s first Jewish settlers, he was isolated from the main religious bodies and, while this may have denied him close friendship with fellow Europeans, he saw it as an advantage in his dealings with the Māori people, who did not identify him with a particular group. He spoke their language and respected their intelligence and ability. They called him Porake (Polack) or Waewaeroa (Long-legs).
Today Joel is remembered mainly for his books and is regarded as an impartial authority on New Zealand’s history in the 1830s. His eighteen years in New Zealand, saw him as a lively young narrator and opportunist, one who became a persistent letter writer to authorities always with a grievance. These letters lie somewhere in the country’s archives and, pieced together with reports of his frequent litigations, and numerous newspaper advertisements promoting his business ventures, they gave a first-hand account of life in the Crown colony during its first ten years.
The AJHS acknowledges the following references in the preparation of this story:-
Joel Polack’s books – New Zealand, being a narrative of travels and adventures during a residence in that country between the years 1831 and 1837 (two volumes, 1838) and Manners and customs of the New Zealanders; with notes corroborative of their habits, usages, etc., and remarks to intending emigrants (two volumes, 1840); Dictionary of New Zealand; Biography Jewish Lives in New Zealand: a History – LM Goldman; UK Parliament Reports
The Australian Jewish Historical Society is the keeper of archives from the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 right up to today. Whether you are searching for an academic resource, an event, a picture or an article, AJHS can help you find that piece of historical material. The AJHS welcomes your contributions to the archives. If you are a descendent of someone of interest with a story to tell, or you have memorabilia that might be of significance for the archives, please make contact via Examplewww.ajhs.com.a or stories@ajhs.com.au
