Appo Hocton

Appo Hocton (c. 1819 – 26 September 1920), with a birth name of Wong Ahpoo Hock Ting or Wong Ah Poo Hock Ting, his Chinese name was 黃鶴庭，^{[citation needed]} was a Chinese-born New Zealand servant, landlord, carter and farmer. Born in about 1819, or as late as 1823,^[1] he was the first recorded Chinese emigrant to New Zealand, arriving in Nelson on the Thomas Harrison on 25 October 1842.^[2]

Appo Hocton in November 1876

Hocton purchased land in Nelson's Washington Valley, where he built eight cottages, four of which still exist today; they are located at 40 Washington Road, and nearby at 16, 38, and 40 Hastings Street.^[2]

In 1876 Appo Hocton moved to Dovedale, Tasman onto a 485-acre block of land near Brandy Creek, after clearing the land Appo farmed cattle and sheep.^[3] On the 12 June 1879, he lost his son, Albert Ah Lina Hocton, to an accidental homicide by his other son, Appo Lewis Hocton.^[4] His wife, Ellen, died at 89 years old near the 21 December 1916.^[5] His eldest son, William Rowling, died on the 31 January 1919.^[6] Appo himself died on the 26 September 1920 at the purported age of 97, although obituaries from the time claim that he had recently celebrated his 100th birthday.^[7] He was buried at Dovedale Cemetery although some believe he was buried behind his home at Dovedale.