James Bint

James Bint was born at Hammersmith, London on the 18th of May 1874. He was the son of Philip Thomas Bint and Charlotte Allman who when he was only two years old migrated on the Cardigan Castle to New Zealand.

On the 3rd of August 1903 he married Helen Stratford (1879-1968) at Inglewood Registry Office. According to one family source they had eloped.

The couple were to have a large family. Ellen Bint was born in 1903, Andrew 1905, Darcy 1907, Thomas 1908-1909, Laurie 1910, Noel 1913, Bruce 1914, Alice 1916, Levi James 1918, Jean Sophia 1920, and Rex Arthur Bint 1924.

James Bint's wife Helen Stratford was born on the 15th of November 1880, the daughter of William Levi Stratford and Emily Sophia Brewerton (1850) from Aniseed Valley, Nelson, New Zealand. Her father William Levi Stratford was born in the UK in 1844 and was married in 1868 at Nelson. He came from a Northamptonshire family. His father, also called William Levi (1819-1888), was a boot-maker who with his wife Catherine Barber (1823-1903) had migrated to Nelson and became a farmer at Aniseed Valley..

			Jean Sutton (nee Bint) Bint who was born in 1920 was my very first New Zealand contact way back in 1982. She was writing from their home at Hill Street, Richmond and had seen my name in a UK list of Berkshire family researchers. Jean who had married Yelven Sutton from one of Richmond's prominent pioneering families had many and varied interests. A mother of four, Philip (1938), Pamela (1942), Clare (1947) and Heather (1948), she had been a member of the Richmond Branch of the Women's Division Federated Farmers, captained the 1st Brightwater Girl Guide Company for nine years, a member of the Baptist church for forty years, active in the Genealogy Society, Wakefield History Group and Nelson Historical Society, and when we met on one of her visits to the UK in 1992, had just written a history of her home town "How Richmond Grew". Yelven Oliver Sutton was born in 1918 and lived at "Selbourne" in Hill Street until 1954. His great-grandfather George arrived at Nelson on board the Bolton in 1842. In 1853 George bought sections 68, 90 and part 66 and built the Selbourne homestead. “Selbourne” was apparently named after the Sutton’s home village in East Meon, Hampshire. Their homestead was located on Hill Street almost opposite from present day Sutton Street. It was taken down in 1978 to make way for subdivision.
	Three of Jim's boys. Noel & Bruce with Levi James in front

	George Sutton initially planted hops on the property that he had brought over from England. The hop mill was located behind present day 167 Hill Street. Yelven’s grandfather John Sutton took over the farm when George moved to upper Hill Street in 1896. In addition to 2 acres of tobacco at Easby Park opposite the Griffin pigsty, the Sutton family had the largest herd of pedigree Jersey milking cows in the District. Yelven’s father, Oliver Charles, later took over the running of the farm.
			"Selbourne"

Jean's eldest sister Ellen Bint (1903-2002) married Kenneth William Savage (1900-1972) in 1924. They had three children, Kenneth Maxwell Savage (1926), Stanley William (1927), and Noel Douglas (1932).

Her brother Andrew Bint (1905) appears to have stayed single and died at Reefton on the West Coast in 1972.

Darcy Bint (1907-1995) married Pearl Ashton in 1939. They had three children, Hazel Sylvia Bint (1940), Colin James (1944), and Trevor Eric (1953)

Laurie Bint (1910-1958) married Cleveland Alfred Jessop (1909-1990). They had ten children, Ruth Jessop (1931), Helen (1937), John William (1940), Thomas Philip (1941), Lois (1942), Peter (1945), Mary Grace (1946), Clement Cleveland (1950), Stephen (1953), and Mark (1955).

Noel Bint (1913-1968) married Agnes Nicol Alexander (1917-1997). They had three children, Barry Donald Bint (1938), Delsa Dawn (1940), and Ian James (1942).

Bruce Bint. Born 5 May 1914. Married at Hastings in 1948 to Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Kane who was born 25 April 1924.They had four children, Wayne (1947), Roger (1949), Gordon (1950) and Michael (1963). Bruce died 15 May 1978 at Nelson. Betty died 17 Nov 1991 at Nelson. Both buried at Richmond.

Alice Bint (1916-1992) married Norman Henry Wells (1910-1974). They had two children, Terence Wells (1938) and Jennifer (1942).

Levi James Bint (1918-1996) married Kate Sheaf (1925-2005). They had eight children. June Bint (1951), Dawn (1953), Frank (1956), Mary & Ann (1958), Kate (1962), Susan (1963), and James (1966).

Hi - I am a son of Michael Philip Bint called Samuel Michael Bint. I was just wondering if you could put this on your site.
Roger Bint has two sons named Wayne Bint and Kane Bint. Roger is married to Marie Horgan. Gordon Bint has no children and is not married. Michael Bint has 2 children named Samuel Michael Bint and Lachlan Phillip Bint. Michael is married to Pamela Hills and they live in Rangiora, North Canterbury. Samuel Bint

Dear Tom,

Many thanks for your letter of 13 August 2008. A little about myself. I am indeed from New Zealand and have lived in Australia for the last 21 years having moved here with my children. At present I am unable to connect to the internet web site but I had my daughter look it up and read some of the comments to me.

You mentioned a Jean Sutton in New Zealand - she is my father's sister. My father was Levi James Bint (known as Jim) but sadly he passed away in 1996. I am the eldest of eight children - myself, Dawn, Frank, Ann, Mary, Kate, Susan and James.

We grew up on a farm in Stanley Brook - in the Nelson area, South Island of NZ.

I live near Yeppoon and work in Rockhampton which is about 35 klms away.

Your daughter, Theresa is the first person over here that I had seen with the surname of Bint so was keen to find out where she was from.

I have a daughter who lives in Rockhampton and a son who lives at the Gold Coast.

I am asking my sister in NZ to find out more on our past when she is able. Hope some of this helps you fit in a few more pieces.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Have a great day! Best Wishes June (Crosbie-Dunn)

I see you have some info on James Bint’s family. I have the following. I thought this was from one of Laurie Bint’s children. But it is signed by “Rosa” which isn’t a name in the list of Laurie’s children on your site – maybe it is a daughter-in-law? Anyway it has some details which you may like to add in.

Ellen (Nellie) Bint born 7 March 1903 at Stratford, Taranaki. Married Kenneth William Savage at Richmond Baptist Church (Richmond is near Nelson in the South Island Tom- did the James Bint family move down there?) on 20^th April 1924. Ken died 7 March 1972 at Motueka Hospital and is buried at Richmond.

Andrew (Andy) Bint was born 6 August 1904 at Aniseed Valley. He was a wheel right, railway worker and coal miner at Reefton. Never married and died at Reefton 6 March 1972. Buried at Reefton.

Darcy Bint was born 22 Oct 1906. Married 17 Oct 1939 at Blenheim to Pearl Margaret Ashton who was born 22 June 1918. Pearl died 1993 and Darcy died in 1995. Both were cremated

Thomas – (1908-1909)

Laurie Bint. She should have been called Florrie but her father was drunk when he registered her!!. Born 4 Oct 1910. Married March 1934 at Hope Gospel Chapel (they were the first couple married there) to Cleveland (Boy) Alfred Jessop who was born 19 May 1909. Laurie died in Wellington on 21 Sept 1958 and Cleveland died in Nelson on 4 Dec 1990. Both are buried in Richmond.

Noel Bint. Born 13 Jan 1912 and married in 1937 to Agnes Nicol Alexander. Noel died 17 June 1968 and Agnes died 28 Aug 1997. Both cremated and ashes buried at Marsden cemetery.

Bruce Bint. Born 5 May 1914. Married at Hastings in 1948 to Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Kane who was born 25 April 1924. Bruce died 15 May 1978 at Nelson. Betty died 17 Nov 1991 at Nelson. Both buried at Richmond

Alice Bint. Born 17 June 1916. Married April 1938 to Norman Henry Wells who was born 4 Nov 1912. Norman died 11 June 1974 and Alice died 23 April 1992, both at Nelson. Buried at Marsden cemetery.

James (Jim) Levi Bint. Born 2 June 1918 at Richmond. Married 1952 to Kate Sheaf (known as Kaye) at Stanley Brook. Jim died 17 Nov 1996 and Nelson, buried at Stanley Brook.

Jean Sophia Bint born 3 Aug 1920 at Richmond. Married 16 April 1938 at Richmond to Yelven Oliver Sutton who was born 31 July 1918.

Rex Arthur Bint born 13 Feb 1924 at Appleby. Married Nada Taplin. They had 3 children then divorced and he remarried Muriel Brucina Hunt who was born 12 Sept 1923.

Finally there is a wee note on the bottom of this info saying that “Grandmother and Grandfather, James and Ellen Bint eloped”…….

Large photos are from Charlotte Allman's album - courtesy of Stephanie

My name is INNES BINT. I live in New Zealand and believe I am related to the 'Berkshire Bints'- my Great grandfather JAMES BINT being one which emigrated to NZ. Down here in NZ, Bints are a rare breed so finding some information on our ancestry is always welcome!
I recently stumbled upon the web site regarding the Berkshire Bints and the link to 625 SQN and your father. I am particularly interested in aviation- my Father and Grandfather both being pilots as well as myself. My Grandfather also flew Lancs in WW2 with 75 (RNZAF)SQN which made reading your site all the more interesting. He was lucky enough to survive the hostilities and really enjoyed his time over in the UK.

Thankyou for providing an insight into your Fathers time in the war and giving me some clues that flying really does appear to be in the family!

My Grandfather was Darcy Bint- Son of James but it was actually my other Grandfather; L.G Sinclair -from my Mums side (not a Bint) who was a Pilot in 75 SQN RNZAF. For what its worth, I have attached a fantastic 75 Sqn picture.

Darcy was a Farmer for much of his life. His Eldest Son- Colin James BINT (My Dad) was a pilot flying both Fixed-wing and Helicopters. Myself and my wife, one of my Brothers and his wife are all pilots too. Regards Innes Bint

Contributions, Corrections and Criticisms all welcome!


James Bint in 1910	An older James	Yelven Sutton (1918-2008) & Jean (1920-2004)

Ellen Savage's (nee Bint) home and 1924 wedding cake (from Charlotte's album)