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Simon Hardcastle in Hawaii

Amongst the Yorkshire farming history of the family, there was one person who went a dramatically different way, and connected with some major figures and events.
Simon Hardcastle was an engineer who travelled literally half-way across the world to work in Hawaii in the 1870's & '80's. Whilst we don't know how this originally came about, we can learn a lot from just one of his letters home written in 1882. (See the full transcript or a scan of the original).

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Some highlights of his story:-

  • Travelled across the Atlantic on City of Brussels passenger liner, then across America by train, then across the Pacific by liner. (At least twice).
  • Worked within 9 miles of the Great Lava Flow of 1881, when the island's main volcano erupted.
  • Worked for 'Mr.Afong', full name Chun Afong, a highly successful Chinese entrepreneur and plantation owner who became the first Qing Dynasty Consul to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
  • Dealt with Mr. Damon another highly successful businessman. An american who had worked his way up to own one of the major banks



Full Transcript of Simon's letter in 1882

Pepedes, July 13th 1882

My Dear Sister-in-law,

You will see from the name of the place where this is written that I am back again on the old plantation.
Mr Afong has had a great deal of trouble with his engineers since I have been away and with a great deal of persuasion I consented to come up and set things to rights for him, although I had fully made up my mind to have nothing more to do with plantation business. I have had 4 more planters who are anxious to engage me, but I told them that I had given up the business. I arrived here safely in May after a very pleasant passage from San Francisco. My business I found had been satisfactorily attended to by Mr.Damon during my absence, old friends expressed their gladness at my safe return and for the little time I stayed in Honolulu I had a "general good time".

I hope you are all well. I shall long remember the pleasant time I had while in England. We have none of that rich mellow beef and mutton that you have in England no rabbits to chase, partridges are unknown although the few pheasant that were imported a few years ago are getting numerous on the Island of Oahu.

I am within 9 miles of the great lava flow of 1881. I intend in a few days to go over it. I find that a good many of my friends got terribly scared and would have sold their property at almost any price but when the fire was within 1/2 mile of the town the source from whence it came became exhausted, and their property was saved. Mr Goard's fervent and earnest praying this time was of no avail although he says that he succeeded in stopping the flow the last time that Hilo was threatened, so an old native lady, sister to two of our former kings took it in hand and was more successful. She left Honolulu with all her retainers and came to Hilo and commenced her incantations and after throwing several ... bottles of brandy and wine into the lava as it flowed past. The goddess " Pele" became propiciated (sic) and stopped the work of destruction. The natives now boast of the superior knowledge and influence they possess over the supernatural, and well they may.

Your esteemed letter of the 8th of June has just been received. I am glad to hear that you are all well and also to receive the regards of so many old friends. I was rather amused at Mr. R. Topham's speculation about my wife and bairns you must tell him that I must have left them behind me in Skelton for I am not able to find them here. I was glad to learn that Gibson Terry has turned up again. I never had the least doubt myself but what he would, though I think he acted foolish in not taking his money. I cannot understand what his motive could be, surely not pride, and perhaps not Plethora, anyhow I am glad to here that he is doing well. It was my intention before leaving home to tell John not to continue my contributions into the club but I forgot. I think though that I told Henry. I don't see that it is of any use. I told my mother the same thing before I left home. I have had sickness but the club has never been of any benefit to me so it would be best to give it up. Or you can transmit my rights to Henry if the rules will admit of it and he is agreeable.

 I hope Powell (?) will make a little superior architectural display in the new cottage you need it very much in Skelton tell him that it is my wish to be remembered to him and his wife and that I expect that he will give R. Topham fits for trying to scandalize me in my absence, give my very kindest regards to Mrs. Wood & Mrs. Currie. I will write to them as soon as I lay in a sufficient supply of postage stamps. My stay in Honolulu was very short or I should have had a good number by this time but the first time I go down I will not forget. Remember me kindly to John & Henry and the boys, Thomas & John, and to all friends. I hope my niece has made good progress in riding tell her that when you write again she must send me word how many times she has "tumbled off' Tell her she must be very careful and ride only on grass land so that she won't hurt herself.

I am superintending the erection of a new vacuum pan for Mr. Afong and intend to go down to Honolulu as soon as it is completed. When I was in Liverpool and for about 2 weeks before I left home I was taken with violent coughing as soon as I went out into the cold air in the mornings. The landlady of the hotel told me that it was bronchitis and made me take 3 parts of a tumbler of hot milk with a tablespoonful of glycerine. I found it to relieve me a little but the complaint did not leave me until I had been on the Islands about 2 weeks. We had a few passengers on the City of Brussels who were very badly afflicted with bronchitis they had been to every health resort in Europe, without benefit and were going to try to find some place in America that would agree with them.

I hope the farmers in England will have better seasons the prospect last winter was very promising. The trustees for Mulwith are very slow in coming to any decisions as to what they are going to do. It is something like a suit in chancery. They are surely not so slow in educating the youths if so the boys will die of old age before they have mastered the multiplication tables.

I remain your affectionate brother-in-law

Simon Hardcastle

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