Tom is mentioned in the history books for an unusual event which happened in August 1838. In July 1838, Tom was involved in an argument with the captain of the Caroline, a Captain Cherry. According to George Potter, the boat-steerer, Ellison, or Thomas as he was called, threatened to break Captain Cherry's head with a stick if he ever landed on Mana Island. On 27 August 1838, the Caroline visited Mana Island and Captain Cherry went ashore with a native to look out to sea for whales. He was found murdered, and suspicion fell on Mr. Thomas, as he was known, who owned a whaling establishment that was only half a mile from the murder.Lieutenant Chetwode of the HMS Pelorus sent for and closely examined Ellison but came to the conclusion that he was not concerned in the murder. The native who had gone ashore with Captain Cherry was later found to have murdered him for his fine clothes , which he was wearing when he was arrested.
Tom continued to run the whaling stations right up to his death. On 15 November 1839, at Korohiwa, their third child was born. He was named Daniel as recorded in Ika's family bible, but was known by his Maori name of Raniera. When Raniera was only 19 months old, tragedy struck. Once again this event is recorded in history by Edward Jerning Wakefield in his book "Adventure in New Zealand". On his entry of 18 June 1840, he was visiting Porirua or Korohiwa and he recorded the following in his journal. " The leader of a whaling station established at this place had been recently drowned while attempting to land through a heavy surf on the neighbouring coast. The natives had assembled from Mana and other places near to scramble for the property of the defunct, according to a very common custom, and Rangihaeata had, as usual ,come in for the lion's share. Some of the whalers intended to apply for the interference of the authorities in Port Nicholson." Another dispatch stated that Ellison died a day or two before the HMS Herald had arrived on 19 June 1840. It is therefore estimated that Thomas Ellison drowned on the shores of Mana Island or in Titahi Bay on 17 June 1840. He would have been about 28 years old.
Though he died at a young age, Thomas Ellison left his mark on the history books of New Zealand and left behind his legacy. Unfortunately, information about his ancestry was not passed down to subsequent generations and remains a mystery. Family tradition states that his grandson, Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison, the great rugby player, may have uncovered a clue as to where Thomas Ellison was born. While on the 1888 NZ Native tour of the UK, and following a game, Tom was approached by an elderly man who told Tom that there was a Tom Ellison in his father's family, who ran away from home and boarded a ship, possibly bound for Australia .They never heard what became of him and he never returned to England . When this man saw Tom Ellison on the team list, he was prompted to enquire and was quite excited to hear that Tom Ellison's grandfather bore the same name. The man apparently came from Kent, England but no other details have been recorded.
Thomas Ellison left behind 3 children and his wife Ikairaua. Little is known of the years that followed. It appears that the family stayed around Korohiwa because their eldest son Thomas was accidentally drowned in Titahi Bay while still a child. Another story states that he drowned near Westport as a young man). Hariata or Catherine, eloped with an Irishman, Andrew Nicholson Magrath when 15 years old, and had her first child when only 16. She had 4 children from this union and numerous descendants are alive today. Raniera had 12 children and has several hundred descendants living today and became quite famous for striking gold in Central Otago and will be treated in a separate biography. Ika's history is a little vague except that she lived out the remainder of her life in Wellington,
living in Oteha Valley , Wellington and she is probably buried in the Catholic Cemetery near the University,
in Wellington.( Sean Ellison)
By Thomas Brons