Introduction
All books are said to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. For the family of Percy in New Zealand, the beginning has been established, the middle remains clouded in doubt, and the end will never be reached.
What do we achieve by writing a family history? We will see that the Percy name has been to the fore both in Normandy and Northern England for some eleven centuries. As to the reasons for the migration from the North to Somerset and Dorset, we can only speculate.
The cutting of ties to family and homeland to venture to the unknown on the other side of the world will be examined, as will the arrival in the new land and subsequent branching of the family.
Most of these issues will be discussed in some depth with the accompanying joy and sadness, prosperity and hardship, triumph and tragedy.
Read on and enjoy, always remembering the deeds of your family and reflecting with dignity and pride in their achievements. It is their story, not mine.
My thanks go to all those who have given me access to records, photographs, newspaper reports, recollections and anecdotes. In particular I wish to thank Norma Dolphin, Ian King, Pat Percy, Shirley Lee, Joe and Carole Percy and especially Kevin Percy for his continual encouragement and support.
All opinions expressed in this narrative are my own and for that I make no excuses. For varying reasons, some material given to me has not been used. On occasions some recollections have "clashed". When this has occurred, I have used my own discretion in resolving any dispute and for that I take full responsibility.
Graeme Percy