Boulcott, John Ellerker

Painted by Matthias Rademacher, these portraits depict John Ellerker Boulcott and Mary Boulcott, after whom Wellington’s central city street, Boulcott Street, where Antrim House, is named.

Mr John Ellerker Boulcott and his wife, Mary (nee Hill), never visited New Zealand, however they were associated with the New Zealand Company, which was responsible for promoting European / English colonial settlement in New Zealand. Through this connection, Boulcott became an owner of land in the Wellington region. His two sons emigrated in 1842, and became farmers on the property owned by Boulcott.

It is likely these paintings were created in England; the artist, Matthias Rademacher, was born in Germany, and is thought to have been a student of Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, a German court painter, who had also practised in Rome.

Rademacher’s portraits of the Boulcotts show both sitters looking directly out of the picture frame, engaging clearly with the viewer. The style of clothing each wears is relatively austere, however several items of jewellery have been subtly included; Mr Boulcott wears a gold and jewel encrusted cravat pin, while Mrs Boulcott wears a delicate lace cap embroidered with pink flowers.

These portraits were donated to the NZHPT in 1982 to commemorate the opening of Antrim House as the headquarters of the NZHPT.
from web site http://www.historicplaces.org.nz/placestovisit/lowernorthisland/antrimhouse/explorethecollection.aspx accessed 9 April 2012

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator 6 September 1839
NEW ZEALAND LAND COMPANY.
CAPITAL, 100,00 l., in 4000 SHARES of 25 l. each. - Deposit, 10 l. per share.
Governor - The Earl of Durham.
Deputy-Governor - Joseph Somes, Esq.
Directors.
...
John Ellerker Boulcott, ESQ.
...
THIS Company has been formed for the purpose of employing capital in the purchase and re-sale of lands in New Zealand, and the promotion of emigration to that country.
A description of these Islands as a field for British colonization, has been rendered unnecessary by the labours of the New Zealand Association of 1837, who collected and disseminated very ample information on the subject. The sole aim of that Society was to induce the legislature to apply to New Zealand the peculiar system of colonization which has proved so eminently successful in South Australia, and to make provision for guarding the native inhabitants from the evils to which they have hitherto been exposed by their intercourse with Europeans of every class. Her Majesty''s Government, however, objected to all legislation for these ends, except on one condition, to which the Society could not assent. The proposed condition was, that the Society, which had excluded from its objects all speculation for private gain, should become a joint-stock company and engage in under-takings with a view to profit. This condition was declined, as being at variance with the declared character of that Society; and the result has been the formation of the present Company, in a form consistent with the condition thus required by her Majesty''s Government.
The purchase and improvement of waste lands in New Zealand has been already carried on to a great extent, and with much advantage, by missionaries and others, who have settled in the country, as well as by persons residing in the adjacent Australian Colonies and such an operation upon an enlarged scale is the proposed object of the New Zealand Land Company.
The attention and business of the Company will be confined to the purchase of tracts of land, - the promotion of emigration to those tracts directly from the United Kingdom, - the laying out of settlements and towns in the most favourable situations - and the gradual re-sale of such lands according to the value bestowed upon them by emigration and settlement. It is also proposed that, to facilitate the transmission of capital between England and New Zealand, the Company shall act as agents for that purpose only.
Such an undertaking affords peculiar advantages to the employers of a large combined capital, and is further suitable to a Company, in as much as it can neither impede individual enterprise, nor is liable to the competition of individuals, and is capable of being managed at little expense for agency, and upon a system of fixed routine.
Very extensive tracts of most fertile land in situations highly favourable both for agricultural and commercial settlements, have been already purchased and secured for the purposes of this Company and an expedition has also been fitted out and despatched for surveying the coasts of New Zealand, making purchases of lands in the most eligible spots, and preparing for the arrival of a large body of settlers, whom it is proposed to establish on the Company''s lands during the present year.
These important purchases, and the fitting out of the preliminary expedition, (including the purchase and equipment of a fine vessel of 400 tons,) have been effected, at a considerable outlay, by parties, to whom a certain number of paid-up shares, to be determined by arbitration, are consequently to be assigned for a transfer of their interests.
Upon the remaining shares, a call of 10 l. per share, (in addition to the deposit,) will be made at the discretion of the Directors, with not less than one month''s notice and all further calls will be made at intervals of not less than three months between each call, and of which one month''s notice will be given and no call, at any one time, will exceed 10 l. per share.
The Directors are to have the entire management and control of the funds, formation, proceedings, and affairs of the Company, and are empowered to enter into any arrangements whatever which they may consider conducive to the interests of this undertaking, - to prepare a Deed of Settlement for the management of the Company, and to take any steps that may be thought proper relative to an Act of Parliament or a charter in aid of their plans, application for which will be made with the least possible delay, - and generally to adopt such measures and proceedings with reference to the grants, and disposal of shares, or otherwise, as they shall consider expedient.
The shares in the first instance will be issued in scrip receipts, upon which will be indorsed (sic) the principal laws and regulations by which the Company is to be governed until a Deed of Settlement shall have been entered into, or an Act of Parliament have been obtained.
Further information on every point connected with the Company may be obtained from the Secretary, at the Office.
London, June 20, 1839.