Antoine (Br Michel) Colombon

From THE FIRST WAVE OF FRENCH MARISTS by Michael O'Meeghan SM, 2008, 9.

Br MICHEL (Antoine) COLOMBON, aged 26 (on arrival in New Zealand in Group I on 10 Jan 1838).

He remained at the Hokianga station till the arrival of Group II in mid 1839 when he was transferred to Kororareka. In mid-1840 he left the Marists, though for a few years retained some link with them by acting as a catechist at Whangaroa. Later he lost contact. His last years were at Reefton where he was a jobbing gardener known as Antonio Michel, alternatively "Jimmy the Gardener". He died there on 14 March, 1880, aged 68, and is buried in Reefton Cemetery as Antonio Michel.

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