Switched Identity?

Victor Tambling's Theory

Victor Tambling's thesis is that some time between October 1866 (when Daniel made his Will at Patea) and May 1868 (when he apparently died at Hokitika), Edward St John Daniel secretly returned to England.

Having left New Zealand, Daniel's identity in that country was then adopted by another man, who may have found this to be of some personal advantage.

This other man, Tambling believes, is possibly Robert Daniels of Birmingham, who enlisted with the Taranaki Military Settlers in Melbourne on the same day as Daniel. Robert Daniels’ Regimental No. was 427 (Edward St John Daniel’s was 428), and he sailed to New Zealand with Daniel aboard the Gresham. There is also evidence that information on the two men in the NZ National Archives may have been mixed up.