William Hooper Barnard was born 24 Apr 1822 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, the son of John and Jane (nee Hooper) Barnard. He was christened on 14th Apr 1830, St Pancras Church, London. It is thought he went to sea at age 12. On the 1841 Census he was living at 17 Guilford Street, Borough of Marylebone - Parish of St. Pancras.

He married Sarah Kemp 18 Jun 1848 in Kennington,Epsom, Surrey, England - witnesses were Thomas and Mary Sanders. Sarah was born 15 Jul 1827 in Surrey - her parents were William and Mary Kemp. Sarah died 18 Jun 1906 in 14 Mein St, Wellington and her burial took place 20 June 1906 at Karori Cemetery, Wellington.

1851 Census and the family is living at 40 Friendly Place Stepney - William now 28 is a Mast Maker with wife wife Sarah aged 26 Surrey, daughter Jane aged 2 and infant son William aged 8 months - sadly he and next-born son John died in 1853.

The loss of their 2 sons doubless influenced their decision to immigrate to New Zealand and sailed from London 5th November 1856 on the 1050 ton 'Indian Queen" which carried 451 passengers under the command of Captain D F Jobson and arrived at Wellington on 31st January 1857. On board - William and Mrs Barnard" Mary Jane aged 9, Sarah aged 3 and baby Frederick 1 year.

Tinakori Road extends from Thorden Quay to Glenmore Road by the main entrance to the Botanical Gardens and Carkeek's Map published 1861 shows section 652 with the names Henrietta C Johnston, Wm Barnard and Lord Petre, opposite a grant for hospital land.
1st June 1857 William Hooper Barnard, 5th Class Locker, Wellington is appointed Locker in the Wellinton Custom's Dept. In 1858 the family are living at Quin St, his occupation, Boatman,

In the Petone Settler Passenger 1863 records there appears correspondence concerning the repayment of passage money and remission of 25 acres of land if paid within 12 months (REF TO CARTERTON. 19/09/1863) They move to Taranaki Street in 1863 and the Almanac that year gives the names of the residents on the east side, viz.: L. Hook, D. Bell, Lieut. Furneaux(14th Regt.), R. Rose (dairyman), J. Barrett (dairyman), and on the west side were E. H. Grigg (printer), J. F. Flowerday (Capt.), H. W. Jones, R. Woodgate, G. Tandy, E. Thirkill, J. Bull (printer), G. Gray, T. Jones, W. H. Barnard, R. Reid, R. Mitchell. At this ytime William is recorded as a sailmaker and boatman and in 1865, his property, house and ground at Taranaki street are freehold. He purchased a share in the speculative Ohariu Gold Mining Company on George Hawkin's farm, at Ohariu 1869

1871 records - Govt Employees 1 July , Wm Barnard, Locker, Customs/Wgtn, Salary £10, Appointement 1 Jun 1857, length service 14 yrs 1 month
1872/73 Electoral Roll; William Hooper Barnard, of Taranaki St., Wellington has Freehold, 63 acres No 322 Hutt, Western District

In February 1877 - a deputation met the Mayor with the view of obtaining an extension of the water supply to some of those streets in the city in had no pipes laid down. particularly the property situated in the neighborhood where fires at Mr. Griffiths' and Mr. Barnard's had occurred. As they had been paying rates for a number of years, they felt they had a right to ask that their property should be protected by the extension of the water supply. When the fire at Barnard's occurred on the previous night, the firemen had to get water from the mains in Manners and Willis streets. An extension of the pipes down Old Custom House-street would limit the danger should a fire break out in the locality. The Mayor said he would consult Mr. Marchant, the City Engineer, who had charge of the water department to meet the views of the deputation and also a larger water pipe would be laid along the wharf, as the present one had been shown to be too small to be of service in case of fire.

1881 - Hutt electoral Roll; Nature of Qualification - freehold; Residential - Wellington; Property Qualification - section 322 Western Hutt and Te Aro Electorate; Nature of Qualification - Freehold; Place of Residence - Taranaki St; Occupation Settler; Property Qualification - House and land Taranaki St; part acre 108; Value £750 - total value in county

Marlborough Express,29 June,1881, William retired from Customs, advertised: To Fishermen and Others.
W. H. BARNARD, "FISHING NET MANUFACTURER; Taranaki-street, (Opposite the Barracks) Wellington.
SEINE & SET NETS MADE TO ORDER. Net Twine, Cork, and Nets always on Hand, ALL ORDERS PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO. Particulars may be had from Mr Chas. Williams, bootmaker, Picton where samples may be seen.

and in June: Fishing Nets, Ac—Mr W. H. Barnard, fishing net manufacturer of Wellington, announces through the medium of our advertising columns that he has established an agency in Marlbourgh. The samples of nets shown us were of a most excellent discription, and the prices are reasonable

From 1890 he moved to farm at Carterton until August 1896 when it was announced in "Mr William Hooper Barnard has sold five acres with 8 roomed dwelling to Mr W C Spackman. South of Carterton for £400. 1896 he receives a Pension paid by the NZ Government to people once in maritime jobs. He died at his residence 14 Mein St Wellington on 13th Dec 1899 and his burial on 15-12-1899 was at Karori Cemetery, Plot Number: 429 A

Obituary: Evening Post, 13 December 1899.
Another of Wellington's early settlers --Mr. William H. Barnard passed away quietly at his residence this morning, in his 78th year. Mr. Barnard arrived in Port Nicholson on board the ship Indian Queen in 1857, and has resided in Wellington province ever since. Joining the Customs Department the year following his arrival, he experienced some lively times with the boat service before the wharves were constructed and was especially detailed upon the transmission and receipt of despatches during war time. In his later days in the service Mr. Barnard was in charge of the Queen's Bond, and he retired on a pension nearly 18 years ago. His next ten years were spent in Carterton, and then he came into town again and settled in Newtown. He is survived by Mrs. Barnard and four sons and three daughters, as well as a brother, Mr. James Barnard, a resident of Newtown

Feilding Star: Mr Wm. H. Barnard, who arrived in Wellington in the ship Indian Queen in 1857, and who has resided there ever since, died the other morning in his 78th year. Mr Barnard was for many year in the Customs Department, and performed many arduous services in the capacity of a Customhouse officer long before proper equipment for Wellington harbour was thought of. He was eventually placed in charge of the bond, and retired on a pension about 18 years ago. Then he spent 10 years in Carterton, but eventually returned to Newtown, where he has since resided.

Obituary: Wellington Post - Wellington resident passed peacefully away on Monday morning in the person of Mrs. Sarah Barnard, relict of the late William Hooper Barnard, formerly of H.M. Customs. The deceased lady, with her husband, arrived in Port Nicholson on 1st February, 1857, in the ship Indian Queen, and with the exception of a few years spent in Carterton, has resided in Wellington ever since.
She leaves a family of 4 sons - Messrs. Fred and Henry Barnard of Eltham, George Barnard of Wellington and Charles L. Barnard of Foxton - and three daughters - Mrs. D. Billman of Wellington, Mrs. A. Clark of Lawrence and Mrs. Brigadier Fisher of Melbourne. Included in her descendants are 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.