Daughter of James Staines (1902-1842) & Mary Page (1809-1841) who married in Essex 24 April 1827

Maria married Stephen Hutch1802-1842ing on 11 Oct 1857 in High Laver, Essex. They left Gravesend on 9 Aug 1873 and arrived in Wellington on the Helen Denny on 19 Nov 1873, with their 6 children
their children
. born England .
* 1858 - 1936 George Reuben Hutching (+Taylor +Silk)
* 1860 - 1875 Arthur Alton Staines Hutching (age 14)
. age 13 on ships list, died in Napier age 14
* 1864 - 1927 Phoebe Hutching (+Scadden)
* 1867 - 1951 Artemus Stephen Hutching (+Crawford)
* 1869 - 1918 Aristarchus Paul Hutching (+Beckett)
. his widow next married his brother Acton
* 1871 - 1920 Alpheus Ariochi Hutching (+Green)
Maria was about 7 months pregnant on the journey. They had a further 5 children in New Zealand, the last 4 in Woodville.
* 1874 - 1965 Albert Featherston Hutching (+Pascoe)
. born in Featherston 7 weeks after arriving
* 1878 - 1883 Alton Arthur Staines Hutching (age 4)
. crushed to death by a falling tree
* 1881 - 1967 Acton Adolphus William Hutching (+Beckett)
. married Ellen Gertrude Hutching (nee Beckett) in 1919, the widow of his brother, Aristarchus
* 1883 - 1964 Ada Maria Hutching (+Boyd)
* 1895 - 1970 Frances Winifred Horne Hutching (didn't marry)
. born in 1895 but registered in 1918 as a daughter of Stephen & Maria, however Maria would have been 57, so likely she was a granddaughter of an unmarried daughter/son. She never married.

They made their way up to Woodville around 1872-74 (their last 4 children were born there), there joining Stephen's 2 younger brothers, George & James.

Waipawa Mail, 10 Aug 1883
HUTCHING - At Woodville, on August 7, Alton, seventh son of Stephen Hutching of Woodville

Fatal Accident A shocking accident occurred at Woodville on Wednesday, by which a little boy named Hutching, five years of age(sic), son of Mr Stephen Hutching, a well-known Woodville setter, was crushed to death. From the particulars to hand it appears that the unfortunate child, went out to pick fungus. Not returning quickly he was missed and a search was instituted. with the melancholy result of finding the little fellow lying crushed beneath a tree which had fallen upon him.

Woodville Examiner, 17 Jan 1919
Obituary We regret to have to report the death of another of Woodville's old residents in the person of Mr Stephen Hutching, which took place at his residence "Hawthorne Villa," Gladstone road, early yesterday morning. Mr Hutching arrived in New Zealand in 1872, landing at Wellington from the ship Helen Denny. He went to Mount Vernon, near Waipukurau, where he became head gardener for the late Mr John Harding. After two years there he came to Woodville. It is recorded of him that in 1874 he felled the bush at the corner of McLean and Vogel street, where the Bank of New Zealand now stands. This is an interesting incident in the early life of the settlement. Subsequently Mr Hutching left Woodville to enter the service of Mr George Hunter, Porangahau, but he finally returned to this district and resided at Papatawa. He then took up a section in Manga-atua Valley and engaged in farming operations there till finally settling down, about 10 years ago, at Gladstone road, where his residence "Hawthorne Villa" is one of Woodville's recognised beauty spots.
Mr Hutching was born at Moreton, Essex in 1835 and was therefore 84 years old at his demise. He leaves a widow, five sons and three daughters. Of the latter one is Mrs Scadden, Foxton; another, Mrs Newton Body, Terrace End, Palmerston and the third, Frances is unmarried. The sons are George, Pongaroa; Artemus, Woodville; Alfred, Mangarawa, Bert, Woodville and Acton, Matamau.

Maria died 16 months after Stephen
Woodville Examiner, 24 May 1920
HUTCHING - On May 21st 1920, at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr N. Boyd, Palmerston North, Maria, relict of Stephen Hutching, late of 'Hawthorn," Gladstone Road, Woodville; aged 82 years. The deceased lady had been ailing for about a month and the end was not unexpected.

Obituary The late Mrs Stephen Hutching, of 'Hawthorne Villa," Gladstone road, was one of Woodville's oldest residents. She came to the district with her husband and family in the very early days, residing as they then did on the Napier road now known as Papatawa. She was the only woman on the road between there and the township and of the lovely bush and the enchantment of the tui song, she could speak very interestingly. She was a lady of retiring disposition, whose kindness of heart only her most intimate friends were privileged to known.
She leaves five sons and three daughters to mourn their loss.
The late Mrs Hutching was buried beside her husband who predeceased her by 16 months. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. R. Gardiner, assisted by Mr Carlisle of Palmerston