I am in a contented state after enjoying "fickling in the centre" as a friend of mine calls the Family History Expo. I met, again, many old friends and spent a lot of time talking to new researchers. It is apparent that the hobby is not dead or dying but is growing and changing rapidly. Technology has had an amazing effect on how and why we research. DNA is the new genealogy wonder tool.

One thing that I did feel is that because I haven't done my DNA I'm on the outer. I heard story after story about the amazing finds that arose from a simple DNA test. But I'm still a Luddite although I have given up the pencil for the keyboard. I enjoy the paper hunt or should I say the computer screen hunt.

The sad thing I observed was that organised genealogy i.e. societies, libraries, repositories etc are looking like stunned mullets at this rapid growth and change of research priorities. We all must change and respond differently. But the one golden rule that I always expound still applies. Genealogy is a social pastime. Better results happen after talking to other researchers.

Anyway, I present another month's offering for your perusal. I spend too much time preparing this because I read everything and wander off on tangents doing my research as a result. I get stimulated by our correspondents.

Peter Nash

Do you want to receive this newsletter every month?

This newsletter is free. There are not many free newsletters of this length in New Zealand. I am biased but it should be an interesting read.

To subscribe is easy too. Go onto the FAMNET website - don't misspell it as I have, twice already. http://www.famnet.org.nz

The front page is lovely, but click on [Newsletters]. A page opens showing you a list of all the past newsletters, you can click the link to read one that you’re interested in.

Like the front page, the newsletters page has a place where you can log on or register. It’s in the top right-hand corner. Put your email here and click [Continue]. If you aren’t already on our mailing list, there will be a message “Email not in database” and a button [New User] appears. Click this and follow the dialog to register. It’s free and easy. You should receive a copy every month until you unsubscribe.

Robert has assured me that he will not send begging letters to your email - apparently, he has enough money at the moment. You will not have to put in your credit card number. You will not be charged a subscription.

Tell other genealogists so they can enjoy the newsletters too.

Regards

Peter Nash

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Regular Contributors

From the Developer

Have we found a long-term home for FamNet?

Readers will recall that an issue that I’ve spend some time trying to solve is “How do we ensure that FamNet outlasts me?” I promote FamNet as “Not just where you go to look up stuff, but a repository, a place where you can safely save your story and share it with your friends and family. But there’s an obvious glaring hole in this argument. It’s all very well as long as I’m around to administer the site, make whatever program changes are necessary to keep up with technology changes and new requirements, and so on. But unless I can sort out the technical difficulties of personal immortality, FamNet is not much of a repository if it is only a repository for as long as I’m around. I’ve been looking for an answer. I’d hoped that either the Auckland Public Library or the National Library would step up, but both turned us down. One of them – I forget which – said that it didn’t meet their security requirements, but simply didn’t respond when I asked them what had to be done to solve this issue. I concluded that their real message was actually “Go away and don’t bother us”.

Fortunately, there was a Plan B. At the 2018 Family History expo I’d spoken to Mike Higgens from FamilySearch.Org, and he’d indicated that they would be interested in preserving the family history recorded in FamNet. At the time I said that I was interested, but my preference was to keep FamNet in New Zealand and under New Zealand control, but obviously this hasn’t happened, so we had another talk at this year’s expo, and we sent an email to relevant people in Salt Lake City. An email conversation is now underway (and by the time this newsletter comes out, Skype also) which is starting to explore what would be involved. As a minimum we want to preserve the data, and this means not just the gedcom-like database but also all the associated scrapbook data. To me a gedcom is just a coat hanger, to only preserve gedcoms would be like have a wardrobe full of coat hangers with no clothes. I would be very upset if we lost the richness that can be possible, and that I illustrated with my article last month. But I’d also like to preserve some of the features of FamNet that I think are valuable, like

· The ability to manage privacy automatically, by individual record not just database. This ability allows you to share your whole database with your friends and family, but only dead ancestors with others, and ensures that the living-people information will eventually become available to future researchers.

· The ability to combine trees, so that I can be the owner (= the expert) for this part of our common family, you can be the expert for that part. How else do we remove some of the huge amount of duplication? All family history sites can show you examples of ancestors appearing in dozens of records from different databases, usually with sparse and doubtful information, and many copying the same incorrect facts from other records.

· The ability to include scrapbook information. Without the ability to include photos, audios, web links, etc and display them from the web page, the coat hanger is pretty bare.

· The ability to edit and create records on line, without requiring a program like Legacy on your own computer, is useful. There are some smart features to make it very easy to link scrapbook objects to several related records. It would be worth preserving this.

· Some of the displays, like TimeLine view, and perhaps Tree View including pictures, are (as far as I know) unique. The ability to scan Digital New Zealand and simply post the useful links you find into your records is certainly unique.

So I’ve offered to gift the software, as well as the data, to the LDS. My fondest hope would be that they see the value some features (TimeLine view?) and make them generally available. With any luck we can preserve a “New Zealand Site” even if is just a URL and is actually the same database as the rest of FamilySearch.

Discussions are really just starting, and I’ll keep everybody informed as we go through this process, but unless some credible New Zealand organization holds their hand up pretty quickly, FamilySearch will be the future of FamNet if we can sort out the issues that concern me. Not that anything will happen quickly, as I do not have any immediate plan to shuffle off this mortal coil.

If anybody who has data in FamNet objects to their data being handed over to FamilySearch then let me know and we’ll remove it from FamNet if/when I hand over control. Actually I can’t think why anybody would object, the LDS are probably the best custodians for our data, and FamNet is already available in the Family History Library in SLC and Family History Centres around the world, but FamNet has always been firm in its view that YOU control your data, we are just its custodians, so we will continue to respect your wishes.

Please comment, either privately to me or through letters to the editor. I really want to know how people feel about this.

Telling your story: Index

1. Writing your story as notes, or with Word.

2. Embedding pictures in Word documents.

3. Saving Documents for Web Publication.

4. Saving Scrapbook Items

5. Sharing your Story: Managing your Family Group

6. On Line Editing: More Facts, Family, GDB Links

7. Comparing and Synchronising Records

8. Producing and Using Charts

9. Merging Trees. Part 1: Why Bother?

10. Merging Trees. Part 2: Adding Records On-Line

11. Merging Trees. Part3. Combining Existing Trees

12. Finding Your Way Around FamNet (Getting Help)

13. FamNet – a Resource for your Grandchildren

14. FamNet’s General Resource Databases
15. Updating General Resource Databases

16. Privacy

17. Indexes: beyond Excel.

18. Linking trees

19. Uploading a GEDCOM file

20. Uploading Objects to your Database

21. Bulk-uploading Objects. FamNet resource: Useful Databases
22. Publishing Living Family on Family Web Sites

23. Have YOU written your family story yet?

Robert Barnes

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The Nash Rambler

The Family History Expo

Earlier this month I attended the Family History Expo held at the Fickling Centre in Mt Roskill and organised by the Auckland Public Library and The Genealogical Computing Group. It was a wonderful weekend and the organisers must be congratulated and thanked for their work.

I don't know the attendance numbers but there was a massive turnout. My observation was that there was a high percentage of a beginners or recent starters on this addictive pastime. I also saw that there were many representatives of the many ethnic groups that make up modern New Zealand. If the main aim of the event was to attract these people then it was a massive success. The help tables were very busy all day each day. That has to be a big plus and hopefully the quality of the volunteers on these tables was high to give these inexperienced researchers the help and encouragement they needed. There were many attendees who were from out of Auckland and even a few from Australia. I had a very pleasant session with an old friend from Dunedin I had not seen for years - good coffee and good company what more can an old fellow need.

I have burbled on many times in this column the value of talking to fellow genealogists. There is always a chance to assist other addicts or even get a gem of a suggestion for further research. You do not have to talk to an expert - some of my best inspirations have resulted from an idle chat over a coffee or just a quiet seat in the sunshine. Genealogy is both a social and antisocial pastime. I enjoy the social side. I have been known to give an amazing suggestion in a throwaway line that has resulted in the breaking of a brick wall. To me this is the major reason why I attend functions like this. I prefer this expo above others I can attend because this is free to attend.

The speakers were of a high quality with Cyndi Ingle of Cyndi's list and Nick Barrett being well worth the battle to get into the room to hear. I attended specially to hear these two and enjoyed their efforts. There was much mumbling about the fact that many were locked out because the room was full. Even I missed out on two lectures but I didn't stamp my feet and perform like a demented person who thought that my importance was so high that somebody should have been tossed out so that I could take my rightful place in the best seat in the room. But there were a few self-important people who expected this to happen. I think the funniest thing I saw was the friend of mine who saved her seat by leaving her EFTPOS card on it whilst she ducked out to get a coffee. It was still there when she returned but I made sure she wouldn't do that again. I think that the rooms are all right for size. I think some people need to rethink their priorities. They are not going to learn anything in some of the lectures because of their long experience and expertise and their time would be better spent talking to attendees and encouraging and advising them.

Another thing I noticed was how full the rooms were for those lectures on DNA. No matter who spoke they had a full room. DNA testing has changed the face of genealogy. The debate is whether this is a good thing or not. I witnessed a conversation in which an old experienced researcher spent quite a bit of time telling a newbie that the right way to go was the paper chase. The newbie wasn't interested and eventually walked away leaving a very frustrated old hand.

I heard that some people complained about the parking. I thought there was plenty but obviously some expected their spot to be right beside the door. I don't have much time for this complaint. They are better to attend the NZSG conference where there are not so many attendees. I heard that there were complaints about the food - the cafe was OK and the coffee cart had excellent food and the coffee was particularly good. Thanks to the many that kept me topped up - I enjoyed speaking to you. There are a few cafes within a mile of the venue.

The one valid grumble, in my humble opinion was the lack of a designated area to sit and chat. But that didn't stop me chatting. It seemed that anywhere I sat people were pleasant and enjoyable to talk to. If the weather had been a little drier and warmer there would have been ample sitting areas outside. Maybe the organisers can change the people they have praying for good weather.

The major consideration was that this was an excellent event that had an excellent attendance fee ($0). It was value for money. Those complainers should go away and attend that exclusive conference that costs about $400 plus accommodation and travel. For that they can have their personal seat, chat area, exclusive car park and five Michelin star food.

Regards to all

Peter Nash

panash@xtra.co.nz

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DNA Testing for Family History

From the editor: Gail has written quite a series on DNA Testing. You will see them all on the FAMNET website and they are a must-read, particularly if you are considering or have had a test done. They are easy to read and not too technical. Click Index so far to see these articles.

38. Opening Pandora's Box

Before I made the personal decision to retire, I had been making a mental list of what I wanted to do after I stopped going to work every day. Partially this was because the common story related to me was that I would really miss ‘work’ and that I would likely find myself feeling bored. Another reason I did this was because I never had enough time for my favourite hobby that is genetic genealogy (I find genetics and genealogy impossible to separate). I also thought I would set up in business to aid others. I even got so far as purchasing a domain name and setting up some forms etc.

All this plus manage housework, keeping a vegetable garden and even the occasional socialising plus some travel.

Ha!

How little the people knew regards boredom setting in after retirement.

How little I knew regards having lots of extra time to do the things I had mentally planned and keep up with all the genome discoveries.

I have never been so busy. And what’s more, the housework is still only spasmodic and socialising is still almost non-existent.

So (I hear you wonder), what has all that got to do with DNA.

Nothing and everything.

This is because I have been forced to become picky as to which matches I make contact with. Not only that, I need to be familiar with the various DNA results firms to learn which one I should go searching in. The same applies to all the genetic blogs that are written each week; the Facebook groups; the project forums; the Yahoo groups and so on.

Like me, you will have your favourites. But of course, initially you have to take the time to see what there is to see. You also have to know what sort of information you want to find or to learn about; otherwise it is a case of ‘a-wishin-and a-hopin’. And a very big issue is one of privacy given you from that firm. Who are the IT people – are they reputable?

Read the fine print. Ask questions. Consider the email hackings that have occurred in recent years. You do not need me to tell you that the moment you place something on the net, you have lost your privacy. (Many years ago, I placed some very naive questions on Rootsweb. They are still there). Google, Chrome, G-mail, Facebook etc. etc. have all been in the firing line very recently.

I was challenged recently whilst attending the Auckland Libraries Family History Expo about how easy it is for someone with the right knowledge can find living peoples’ information. It was demonstrated to me and although I was delighted to get the information, I was horrified at the ease at which it was available (simply because the operator was familiar with “internet mechanics” - I do not know the correct terminology).

That brought up the matter of me getting DNA tests and could I (or more importantly they) be identified.

In defence of Family Tree DNA (no, I do not work for them nor do I receive any perks from them), I argued that no one can tell from the public charts who the person is who has tested. The response was that I needed to think this through more carefully because were not my matches being identified?

Well, yes, was my response, but those testers agreed to such matches being made available – in fact, was not the hope of getting a match in the first place likely to be a major reason as to why the test occurred in the first place?

After giving this aspect more thought, it dawned on me that to a greater or lesser extent, so too were my grandparents and great grandparents etc being identified along with their siblings, their offspring, their cousins (and any half siblings or relatives).

Now, admittedly, you have to have done your genealogy really well to be able to make some of these connections but the fact remains that with genetic understanding, diligence and knowledge – all sorts can come to light.

This is because your DNA exposes your family both past, present and future to discovery. In other words, before you tested did you go to your family and ask them how they felt about you taking a DNA test? I know I did not.

As it turns out, Pandora ’s Box has indeed been opened and in a most unexpected way!

Gail Riddell

mailto:gailriddelldna@gmail.com

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Index so far

Jan’s Jottings

Jan is taking a break this month.

Wairarapa Wandering

What the name Chichester conjures up.

I have been reading a most interesting article in our local paper, August 7^thissue of Midweek. It was entitled "Everybody needs a role model". It appears that some local person was related to Sir Francis Chichester, who sailed around the globe in 1966, in his small yacht, Gypsy Moth 1.

I am sure that I met Sir Francis at a Boat Show in London after the event. My parents always attended the National Boat Show at Olympia in London, annually, and normally included their youngest daughter, namely myself, as I loved sailing. Our family had owned a few yachts and sailed over to Belgium and Holland for holidays.

So, this article got me thinking about my teenage years back home in London. Many a time, we would sail from Upnor, on the Medway in Kent, over to Ramsgate and next day set sail for Zeebrugge then next to Walcheren Islands, through from Vlissingen, Middleburg to Veere. We explored the towns as we moored nearby - such memories of the old buildings in each town. Sometimes we would sail onto GOES and I can remember the "toilet" at the yacht club - just like a lighthouse, as one entered, on would go the light! Funny to think what can get one’s memory going many years later! But what such happy memories of my childhood from London!

I learnt to sail on Chichester Harbour – see, the name comes up again. We had a boat moored at Itchenor. The first boat we had was a converted lifeboat at Kingston on Thames, Tania. I still have a photograph of her. But after my sister fell overboard and caught typhoid we ended our years on the Thames, and moved off to the seaside! We had several lovely yachts built at Emsworth in Hampshire, all Folk Boats, Norwegian design - they served us well over the years. The first one was built, then Dad wanted a newer model so sold one and then got a second one built. We called first one Heidi (guess which books I read as a child and still have them!) then Heidi 2. Incidentally one has just recently been sold in Essex. It was named Heidi 59. I traced her and told the owner where we used to sail her. He said “I am not as keen as your parents were, Adele, I just sail around Essex but I knew that your father had it first because he has the pedigree papers on her”.

I have emailed the person who wrote the article and saying I had met Sir Francis Chichester and saw the yacht at the Boat Show… now I await his response…

Adele Pentony-Graham

12 Neich’s Lane

Clareville 5713

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Digging Into Historical Records

Coffins purchased at Nelson by the New Zealand Company

When people received money from the New Zealand Company for the provision of goods or services they or their representatives signed vouchers as acknowledgement of the payment received. Approximately 3000 ‘Nelson’ vouchers covering the period 1841-1850 survive in the New Zealand Company papers held at Archives NZ in Wellington. An inventory has been commenced and a rough transcript of the first 950 or so (up to October 1843) can be viewed online. [1] It was sad to find seven vouchers that covered the expenses of 23 coffins.

Voucher No.96

This appears to be dated 17 February 1842 where R. Turner was paid for “boat repairing, nails and a coffin.” Turner appears again on another voucher for Thomas Graham Freeman, dated 08 July 1842, for “T. Freeman and R. Turner – three days labour each.”

This was probably Robert Turner, chairmaker, who arrived with his wife Agnes and daughter Mary Ann on the Slain’s Castle at Wellington the previous year. His eldest son, William Robert Turner (1842-1919) was born at Nelson on 17 August. By about 1844 the family had moved to Akaroa. [2-3].

The identity of the occupant of the coffin is unknown. Maybe it was for Mary Margarey and her infant child who arrived on the Fifeshire at the beginning of February? [4, 8]

Voucher No.425 for William Leighton, carpenter, 25 Mar 1843

This voucher had two items attached dated 04 Nov 1842 and 06 Feb 1843. The former item was for “Coffin for Thomas Clarke.” The family of Ishmael and Betsy Clarke had arrived via the Olympus just a few days earlier. [4] Their second son Henry Thomas Clarke, aged seven, was baptised at Winterslow, Berkshire on 19 July 1835. [5]

The 1843 item was for “one infant’s coffin” and may be for Frances Bombay Cooke who was buried on 14 January 1843. [8] Her parents, Joseph and Charlotte Cooke, arrived on the Bombay on 14 December 1842. [4]

Voucher No.408 for William Jones, of the Olympus, carpenter and joiner 12 Mar 1843

This was “for a coffin for Keats; timber, nails, pick and labour.” David Keates, aged 28 years, was completely buried under a slip while working with a party of men on the Haven Road, leaving a wife and a two year old daughter. [4, 6] A second reference to Jones – “for coffin for Keats £1 2s” – is included in a Nelson Settlement Road Labourer’s list for the week ending 11 March 1843. It also lists “Keats & Shearman (… with Tucket at Wairau – To Goddard) £2 11s.” [7]

Voucher No.556 for Thomas Bright and William White 06 Jul 1843

This pair first advertised themselves in July 1842 as “Messrs Bright and White, builders, Auckland Point… with eighteen years’ experience under some of the first architects in England… N.B. Funerals performed.” [9] In April 1843 they were granted a license for the New Zealand Tavern. [10]

Their voucher was “for making of Red Pine Coffin for Mrs Morgan who was drowned.” In another voucher (No.564 dated 22 July 1843), James Cross received £3 10s “for boat hire conveying rations for Road labourers and fetching body of Mrs Morgan from the Moutere.”

Richard and Johanna Morgan and their 12 year old twin daughter Mary were drowned when their boat was swamped in heavy seas at the western mouth of the Waimea on the night of 29 June 1843. [11] On 25 September Richard and Mary were found by John Barnicoat on Rabbit Island. [12] In early October 1843 Richard’s eldest son, Joseph aged 19 years, received £4 10s for wages as a Massacre Bay survey labourer from Aug 5 to Sep 30. (Voucher No.920 dated 07 Oct 1843).

The remaining three vouchers were all for Wastney and Doughty. Edmund Wastney and Thomas Doughty both arrived on the Whitby on 04 November 1841 and they established their business as general builders in March 1842. [13]

Their first voucher, No.41 dated 04 April 1842, was for “Erecting three houses, shingle nails, screws, hinges, pivots for hanging windows in Little Buildings, two days work completing barracks, erecting privy, one coffin for Richardson’s boy, one coffin and materials for Mr Bell, one coffin for Norris’s child, one coffin for Winter’s child, erecting two brick fireplaces in Hospital.”

The Richardson boy may have been George, the five year old son of William and Frances Richardson of the Fifeshire.

Henry Angelo Bell, aged 20 years, died on 08 March 1842 and was interred in the cemetery at the Port. [17] This would have been The Haven or Pioneer’s Cemetery.

For the large family of John and Mary Norris, who arrived on the Bolton, this voucher may record the death of their seven year old son James. Their two year old daughter, Hannah, died on 22 April 1842 and was buried in the Halliwell Cemetery. [14]

Also on the Bolton were two Winter families from Selborne, Hampshire, numbering 15 individuals. One child, James, died on board. William Winter, the father of four, was paid £16 13s 4d for acting as Cook to the Emigrants during the voyage. (Voucher No.40 dated 05 Apr 1842). Perhaps the coffin was intended for Jane, the daughter of James Winter, who was born at sea. [15, 16]

Eleven coffins for four mothers, three fathers and four children were listed and dated on the second voucher, No.76 of 26 May 1842.

John Scutter (12 Apr), Creswell’s child (19 Apr), Mrs Shephard and Jackson’s child (25 Apr), Mrs Holdaway (09 May), Mrs Hughes (10 May), Mrs Richardson (15 May), Thomas Kent (17 May), Thompson’s boy (20 May), Thomas Roe and four men to carry Mr Roe (24 May) and Richardson’s child (25 May).

The odd one out in this group is Thomas Roe. Another researcher has concluded that this is probably John Rowe who arrived on the Bolton with his wife Sarah Ann and son John Henry. Later in the year Sarah Ann married widower Charles Jennens, of the Martha Ridgway. His wife and son had died during the voyage. [18]

The third voucher, dated 17 December 1842 was for “moving Mr Bishop’s house; one coffin for Mr Watson’s child; one coffin for Mr Bainbridge; one coffin for Mr Rogers; one coffin for Mrs Lusty and child.” These five individuals are recorded in other New Zealand Company papers (unspecified) with the date 06 August 1842. [8] Can it be concluded that these deaths occurred between 26 May 1842, the date of the second voucher, and 06 August 1842? As no clues were found within the fairly sparse genealogical data available an attempt was made to learn more about Mr Bishop’s house.

William Bishop, who arrived as a cabin passenger on the London on 10 April 1842, was a 25 year old chemist. [4] On 30 April he advertised that he “intends, when his house is built, opening a Shop as Chemist and Druggist… Spices may be procured at his tent, Haven Road, near the Ford.” [19] In June 1842 he supplied spirits, tinctures and castor oil to the New Zealand Company (Voucher Nos 248 and 302). When, in October 1842, he advertised the lease or purchase of Suburban Section No.12 in the Maitai Valley he described himself as being “near the bridge.” [20] Charles Heaphy painted his house c1844 and its location, at Maitai or Nile Street, is a point of discussion. [21]

Although the New Zealand Company vouchers provide a wide variety of detailed information care needs to be taken with regard to dates. Some vouchers may reflect same day activity while others can span a period of months. They take a variety of forms from very small slips of paper to larger items with enclosures. An important point to note is that often these are written by the recipient of funds and are graced with their signature, a mark, or that of a named representative. Sometimes the latter may be another member of the family and there are several instances of wives.

They also present, at times, quite a challenge when it comes to transcription due to varying writing styles and paper condition. Consequently, for many vouchers, the transcript reflects only a flavour of what is there or what can most easily be discerned. The 3000 or so vouchers are stored in five boxes and are grouped in tied bundles with indicative number ranges attached. Within these bundles they are generally in chronological order.

Archives NZ Wellington References

AAYZ 16010 NZC232/8/8/1 Vouchers 1-560 (21 May 1841 to 8 July 1843) - R15386171

AAYZ 16010 NZC232/8/8/2 Vouchers 502-2300 (24 May 1843 to 26 Jun 1844) - R15386170

AAYZ 16010 NZC232/9/8/3 Vouchers 2303-2904 (01 Jul 1844 to 12 Mar 1849) - R15386169

AAYZ 16010 NZC232/9/8/4 Vouchers 1-249 (02 Mar 1849 to 11 Mar 1850) - R15386168

AAYZ 16060 NZC232/9/8/5 Vouchers 6-198 (03 May 1850 to 31 Dec 1850) - R15386167

[1] New Zealand Company Vouchers – Nelson Archives NZ Reference AAYZ 16010 NZC 232/8/81

http://www.nzpictures.co.nz/pandoraresearchANZ-NZC-232-8-8-1.pdf

[2] Passenger List: Slain’s Castle 1841 https://www.geni.com/projects/New-Zealand-Settler-Ships-Slains-Castle-1841/39173

[3] Robert Turner Ancestry Tree by trevorjill https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/69185445/person/112024266660/facts

[4] Nelson Provincial Museum Early Settlers Database http://www.museumnp.org.nz/early-settlers/Default.aspx

[5] Ancestry: Wiltshire, Church of England Births and Baptisms – Winterslow 1813-1842

[6] The Nelson Examiner 11 Mar 1843

[7] Survey Office Papers December 1842 to June 1850 Archives NZ Reference AAYZ 16013 NZC 235/1/5

http://www.nzpictures.co.nz/pandoraresearchANZ-NZC235-1-5.pdf

[8] New Zealand Cemetery Records – Early Deaths in Nelson

[9] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 02 Jul 1842

[10] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 22 Apr 1843

[11] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 01 Jul 1843

[12] The Morgan family or the Rabbit Island Skeletons written by Margaret Nicholas (2012)

http://www.theprow.org.nz/yourstory/rabbit-island-skeletons/#.XV8vxegzaM8

[13] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 26 Mar 1842 Wastney & Doughty

[14] Ancestry Tree for John Norris (1803-1879) by macdev1

https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/13713826/person/28123942816/facts

[15] Ancestry Tree for William Winter (1804-1847) by Dianne Davidson

https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/160244648/person/402094894344/facts

[16] North Isles Family History

https://www.bayanne.info/Shetland/getperson.php?personID=I421954&tree=ID1

[17] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 12 Mar 1842

[18] Ancestry Tree for John Rowe (1816-1842) by Christopher John Hillier

https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/22089871/person/73000108617/facts

[19] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 30 Apr 1842

[20] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 08 Oct 1842

[21] William Bishop – Early Nelson Settler by James Spencer Fife Nicholls (2019)

http://www.theprow.org.nz/yourstory/william-bishop-early-nelson-settler/#.XV-4Z-gzaM8

Pandora Research

www.nzpictures.co.nz

Dawn Chambers
nz19thcentury@outlook.com

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Chinese Corner

The Beginning of Chinese Families in New Zealand.

Before the Japanese War with China, the Chinese in New Zealand were sojourners – men who travelled back and forward to China, with no family here.

With the help of the Chinese Association throughout New Zealand, they contributed thousands of pounds towards the war effort.

Nationals Abroad. N.Z. Fund Of £10,000. Appeal Launched.

Ten thousand pounds has been contributed by Chinese in New Zealand towards a fund to support China in the event of war. Money is being contributed by Chinese people in all parts of the world. The fund, which has been launched through the Chinese Association, Incorporated, did not start in Auckland until Monday, but already the local Chinese population, numbering about 500, has responded splendidly. It is unlikely that volunteers will be sought outside China, "It would be a poor thing if Chinese settled in other lands did nothing to assist their countrymen prepared to give up their lives for China's cause" said Mr. Andrew Chong, secretary of the Auckland Chinese Association, yesterday. "Japan's attitude is more than ever like kicking a man when he is down. Whenever aggression has come from China it has been at a time when China was in the throes of floods or famine. Our people are not convinced that war is imminent, but "we are preparing for it." Mr. Chong said he failed to see how Communism in China could ever interfere with Japan. Apparently, it was being used as a feeble excuse by Japan to justify her action. From recent reports, however, it appeared that the rest of the world would more or less reject such excuses as improper. Territorial designs on China constituted the sole aim of Japan. China had never been an aggressor. She wanted to be left alone to develop her own resources. China was marching toward greater nationalisation, said Mr. Chong, and in another year would prove a much stronger force to attack. Japan seemed to realise this. America and Great Britain could not afford to sit back too long; they both had interests in China. There are between 2500 and 3000 Chinese in New Zealand. Auckland Star, 11 August 1937, Page 5

Clothing Appeal. China War Refugees

With the approach of midwinter in China, urgent need has arisen for supplies of warm clothing for war refugees, many of whom have been compelled to shelter in open spaces. The New Zealand Chinese Association is making a strong appeal in this respect for castoff clothing of all descriptions. The Australian Oriental Line has offered to carry supplies of clothing from Sydney free of freight charges. Donations of footwear will be welcomed, but the greatest need is for serviceable clothing, which may be deposited, states Mr. Andrew Chong, secretary of the Auckland branch of the association, at any Chinese shop in Auckland, or will be called for on ringing one of the telephone number advertised to-day. Auckland Star, 9 November 1937, Page 8

Chinese Give £100 Towards National Funds

As a result of a collection taken in conjunction with the day of semi-fasting conducted among Chinese residents in New Zealand to commemorate the conclusion of the first year of the war with Japan, Chinese residents of Auckland city subscribed over £100. This is only a provisional figure, as it is expected that it will be greatly increased when the suburban and country collections are received by the organisers.

Local Chinese are contributing a weekly levy from their earnings, and the money is being forwarded with other collection funds to China to be used for various relief measures. In the collection taken last Thursday it is reported that 100 Chinese residents in Otago and Southland contributed £37 4/6. The Auckland Chinese Association has 600 members. Auckland Star, 11 July 1938, Page 10

Stricken Chinese Auckland Relatives

Anxious to send help to who lost homes and possessions in the destruction of Canton, Chinese in Auckland find themselves blocked by the new regulations restricting the transfer of money overseas. Here, in Wellington, most of the Chinese community comes from Canton, and the Government's licensing scheme is for them the latest of a series of disasters. Mr. Andrew Chong, secretary of the Auckland Chinese Association, said that cables for assistance were being received regularly from dependents who had found refuge under British protection in Hongkong. Previously they had required little assistance, but now those who had found safety were left destitute. Efforts had been made to obtain drafts from Auckland banks to send them help, but these had been restricted to £8 in English currency, which was of little use to large families who had lost everything. To obtain more, application had to be made for a special permit from the Government, but so far none had been obtained. In any case, said Mr. Chong, many of the Auckland Chinese could speak little English and could not understand how to go about the business of applying for permission. It was only because of the urgency of the situation that more money was required, he said, as normally they do not send away half the amount that has been going to China from Auckland since the fall of Canton. Previously their dependents in Canton, most of them farming their own plot of land, could supply most of their own needs. The position was changed when the hostilities moved south and their homes and crops were destroyed. This is not the greatest of their troubles, for many have lost their families as well as homes. For weeks after the fall of Canton the Auckland Chinese, while going about their business in their usual imperturbable style, knew nothing, of the fate of their people. Then numbers of cables came from those who had reached the safety of Hongkong, and later letters telling of the horrors of the assault and capture of their home city. Numbers are still anxiously waiting for news of wives and children, who have either lost their lives or taken refuge in the interior. Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 308, 30 December 1938, Page 9

For Auckland - Chinese Refugees. Women and Children.

Women and children left destitute by the destruction of their homes and loss of property in the fall of Canton will be brought to Auckland if their relatives here can obtain the necessary permission from the Government.

Most of the Chinese in Auckland come from the war zone, and many of them have dependents among the refugees. Seeking to bring wives and children out of danger and give them a temporary refuge hero, some have already applied for permission to the Minister of Customs. According to Mr. Andrew Chong. secretary of the Auckland Chinese Association, a favourable reply has been received.

One applicant has been notified that under certain conditions his request to be allowed to bring his wife into New Zealand for a period of two years will be considered. The conditions include the signing of a £500 bond, and if permission is allowed, the payment £200 deposit to be forfeit in the event of the conditions being broken One of the conditions is that any children born to his wife while she is in New Zealand will be taken out of the country on the expiry of the two years allowed. Sorry Plight. "Refugees from Canton are in a sorry plight," said Mr. Chong, "even the more fortunate ones who have been able to reach safety in Hongkong. Some of the Chinese living in Auckland who had dependants in Canton have had no news of wives or children since the fall of the city last year, and a few have gone home to China to search for them." Mr. Chong said that the exchange control under the import licensing scheme had not.so far, prevented Auckland Chinese from sending money to assist refugees, where they could be located. Licenses were allowed for the first six months of the year to obtain drafts, the amount varying according to the number of dependants. With the tightening of control by the banks in the past few weeks, however, drafts had been refused in some cases, even although licenses were held. Applicants have been informed that the funds were not available.

According to Mr. Chong, the Chinese community is well satisfied with the consideration shown by the Government in their difficult time. Only a few have returned to China this year, and they have been allowed to take out of the country a sum of money not exceeding £200 Auckland Star, 1 June 1939, Page 13

Tribute to Dead. War in Far East. Chinese Meet in City. Second Year of Conflict.

With upraised and clenched fists, urging defiance of the Japanese invaders of their homeland, members of the Chinese community of Auckland paid tribute to the fallen dead when they observed the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese conflict to-day. Shortly before 10 o'clock the upstairs room of the Chinese Masonic Society in Grey's Avenue was crowded by Chinese, young and old. It. was an impressive spectacle, the room being decorated with long white streamers painted with the black, brush-swept characters of the Chinese language, urging continued resistance and paying tributes to the soldiers who had been killed fighting for China.

At one end of the room was set an altar of honour on which lay wreaths sent from various Chinese societies and individuals. Over these, on the wall, hung a large picture of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, "Father of the Chinese Revolution," and Chinese cabalistic characters in a plaque decorated with violets set out that honour was to be done to the fallen defenders of the nation.

Many Wreaths. Wreaths were received from the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Chinese Association, the Chinese Church in Auckland, the Kuomintang and the Chinese Masonic Society, among others. Mr. Ng Fong presided over the gathering.

As various members of the Chinese community arrived, they were presented with black arm-bands as a sign of mourning. Proceedings opened with the singing of the Chinese National Anthem and then followed the reading of the last declaration of the welder of modern China, Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Representatives of the various societies which had presented wreaths laid their symbols of remembrance on the altar of honour, at the same time making an obeisance. Each in turn made a brief, though impassioned speech, in Chinese.

Particularly impressive was the complete three-minute silence which was observed at exactly 10 o'clock. With bowed heads, those in the gathering sent their thought across the world to their native land—and to those who had died in its defence.

The Rev. Y. S. Chau, minister of the Chinese Church- in Auckland, addressed the meeting at some length, detailing the events that had led up to the outbreak of war and the heroic acts of the Chinese. Finally, with upraised hands, the audience vowed fealty to the ideals of the new China and to the need for continued resistance, and kowtowed to the altar of honour on which lay the wreaths. Auckland Star, 7 July 1939, Page 8

This year marks the 80^th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese Women and Children.

In 1939 wives and children of Chinese men in New Zealand were allowed temporary entry as refugees from war-torn China. They paid a 200-pound bond and any child born in New Zealand would have had to return to China – with no right on re-entry. http://tpo.tepapa.govt.nz/ViewTopicExhibitDetail.asp?TopicFileID=0x000ae203

War Refugee Celebration Lunch 80th Anniversary Ellerslie Event Centre, Ellerslie Racecourse, Ellerslie Sunday 13 October 2019, 11.00am

Email for information to: 80thnzca@gmail.com

Helen Wong

helen.familytree@gmail.com

Guest Contributors

Anne Sherman

From the Editor: Anne Sherman is a professional researcher living in the UK. Her website is:

https://leavesfamilyhistory.co.uk/

Quoting her website, she is:

A Registered and Qualified Family History Researcher and Tutor, who researches English and Welsh family history.

With over 30 years’ experience in the field I cover everything from complete research portfolio’s, specific research (lookups), to coaching and training on how to research your own family history tree, because I believe everyone should know where their family started.

Hopefully she will become a regular contributor. Have a look at her blog section for some very useful articles.

The Register of Qualified Genealogists

Setting up your own business can be a huge and sometimes formidable experience. For a variety of personal and work-related reasons this is what I chose to do in 2009. Initially the idea was to teach family history research, so I took a two year teacher training course. It was whilst I was teaching that I realised my skills as a researcher was also being sought. In 2012 I decided to set up my own family history researching business which would incorporate a teaching element.

After deciding to set up my own genealogy business my first concern was to ensure I was properly educated and trained in the subject and its related disciplines. I therefore undertook three years of online training with Strathclyde University culminating in a Post Graduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies.

Upon graduating I wanted to find a way to convey my now qualified status to potential clients. It was at this time that I was aware of a move to create an organisation specifically for genealogists with a high-level qualification. Co-incidentally (or perhaps not) some of the main people behind this were my Strathclyde tutors.

In August 2014 a symposium titled “The Future of Professional Genealogy? A Symposium for Professionals” was held in Glasgow, Scotland. The outcome of that and a related survey strongly suggested that there was a “clear and substantial support for the creation and desire to join a body or group which would represent and promote the interests of genealogists who possess a formal qualification.”¹ It was agreed that the level of qualification had to be high so a Post Graduate Diploma was chosen. To our knowledge there are only three institutions that provide courses at this level: Strathclyde University, Dundee University (both in Scotland) offer online courses, and The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies in England which is a correspondence course.

The Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) was registered as a ‘not for profit’ company on the 31^st December 2015 and started to accept members in the following March. I was amongst those early members.

Being a self-employed genealogist working from home can be a lonely occupation. Being a participating member of RQG gave me the contact I needed with my fellow researchers. Early in my membership I helped to set up the RQG Communications Group. We were tasked with setting up and managing social media pages to spread the word about the existence of RQG. For someone who did not use social media it was a steep learning curve, but I managed it and now I am not only the chair of the group but also managed the public Facebook page and the members’ only Facebook group. We also have a Twitter page and a LinkedIn group.

RQG not only accepts qualified genealogists but those who are currently studying the requisite qualification. These ‘student’ members may have many years’ research experience in their own right, but have decided they need to broaden their skills and understanding.

Over the past three and a half years RQG has grown to over 150 members of which less than a third are student members. Although the majority are based in the UK we also have members in New Zealand, Australia, USA, France and even Kuwait. Many, but not all, fully qualified members accept client research. Some work for genealogical based employers, others are primarily tutors and some are authors. Of those that do accept client work, many have their own profiles on the RQG website which can be searched by location and skills. You can find the list here: https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/resumes. One of my other roles for RQG is as its Research Coordinator. If you cannot find anyone on the website to help you can email the details of your request to me at: annesherman@qualifiedgenealogists.org. I will do my best to find an RQG member to help you.

Perhaps one of our greatest achievements was setting up The Journal of Genealogy and Family History. This is free to read and free to contribute to. Articles can cover “all fields related to genealogy and family history where new, interesting and challenging work can be published”². Each article is blind peer reviewed twice before publication. Launched in 2017 the Journal now has three issues with a fourth imminent.

The Register of Qualified Genealogists has come a long way since its inception. In April this year I was proud to be accepted as one of its Directors, and I hope to help steer the organisation and its members to an even brighter future.

If you have one of the relevant qualifications mentioned above and would like to join us please email admin@qualifiedgenealogists.org.

References:

¹ Executive Summary of the ''Qualified Genealogists' Survey https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Executive-Summary-of-the-QG-Survey_final-BD.pdf

²About the Journal.https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/ojs/index.php/JGFH/about

Anne Sherman

anne@leavesfamilyhistory.co.uk

Linda Gomas

Richard John Cottingham

13/652

Auckland Mounted Rifles, NZEF

Died of Wounds

Friday, July 2^nd 1915. Age 34

Buried No. 2 Outpost Cemetery,

Gallipoli, Turkey A.1

Richard John Cottingham was born to Wolfram and Elizabeth Annie Cottingham in Auckland on 11 December 1880. Wolfram was himself the child of a soldier, Wolfram Senior, a sergeant in the 58^th Regiment who came to New Zealand in 1852.

Richard served in the Boer War with the Auckland Fifth and Seventh Regiments in South Africa. At the time of his attestation he was a painter, living with his parents in Khyber Pass in Auckland. Richard took his discharge in South Africa, having attained the rank of Sergeant, and travelled to England to form part of the Coronation Contingent 1 Detachment (1902) in honour of King Edward VII.[1] The news was particularly significant to his family as Richard’s grandfather had been present at Queen Victoria’s Coronation, being a sergeant in the regular army.

Richard married Claribel Maud Vaughan on 20 January 1907 at All Saints Church in Ponsonby. They were to spend much of their married life in Suva, Fiji, where Richard was employed as an agent. On 6 August 1914, Britain despatched a cable, which read in part “If your Ministers desire, and feel themselves able to seize German wireless station at Samoa, we should feel that this was a great and urgent Imperial service”. The New Zealand Government unanimously approved the request and mobilised a task force. Richard Cottingham joined the expedition when the convoy had a brief stopover at Suva.

On 16 September 1914 a group from the Fiji contingent travelled to Auckland and lined up under Richard to hand over the first German flag to be hauled down in Samoa. Four days later he marched into the mobilisation camp at Alexandra Park as Trooper Cottingham of the 3^rd Battalion, Auckland Mounted Rifles (AMR).

The Contingent left New Zealand on 24 September for England where they were to complete their training with the British Army and then travel to France and Belgium to fight on the Western Front. Their departure was delayed due to the New Zealand Government’s anxiety about the Imperial German Navy’s East Asiatic Squadron which was known to be lurking in the Pacific. Had the Contingent sailed on time, they would have reached England before Turkey came into the war. However in November 1914 Turkey came into the war as Germany’s ally and the AMR disembarked in Egypt to assist with the defence of the Suez Canal against the Turkish forces, thus sealing Richard’s fate.

Before dawn on 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops began landing on Gallipoli, a peninsula guarding the entry to the Dardenelles. Before the day’s end, nearly a quarter of the New Zealanders would be dead or wounded. The Anzacs were hemmed in within a thousand yards of the beach, losses were heavy, casualty lists high and ammunition almost exhausted.

On 12 May 1915 under cover of darkness 1,500 New Zealand Mounted Riflemen landed at Anzac Cove as infantrymen, having left their horses behind in Egypt. Clutha Mackenzie, a 19 year old farm worker from Balclutha, wrote of their last night in Egypt “…Some busied themselves with final preparations; some glided silently away from the zone of flickering candle-light, towards the horse-lines to give a parting pat to their faithful horses, a sad farewell for many … a rough crowd they looked, these amateur infantrymen, overloaded with awkward, extemporized gear … gradually the reverberating tread of heavily-laden men grew fainter in the distance. So went the mounted brigade.” [2]

On 30 June the troops on Russell’s Top came under heavy fire. Two hundred Turks were killed but still the Turks dutifully attended to the enemy’s wounded and allowed the Anzacs to collect them.

On 2 July 1916 Richard John Cottingham died of his wounds.

Papers Past provides a moving insight into the circumstances of Richard’s death.

Nelson Evening Mail – 17 September 1915
ALL IN THE GAME - IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO DIE

An affecting story of the death of a brave soldier – Sergeant Cottingham, late of Fiji – is told by Trooper T.V. Roberts, in a letter from Gallipoli, to his sister, Miss M. E. Roberts, of North Sydney.

"We have just had our first loss among the little band of Fiji boys with us," Trooper Roberts, who himself lived in Fiji for some time, writes. "One out of six is marvellous luck, considering the percentage of losses here. Dick Cottingham died at 4 o'clock this morning. He had done some wonderful scouting work. He was observing with field-glasses, while one of his mates was firing at a sniper some distance away. He was head and shoulders above the trench, and as he turned to speak to his mate a sniper at close range fired, and the bullet hit him on the neck. He lived for sixteen hours, and was conscious nearly all the time. When I arrived he was beyond hope. He greeted me in Fijian, and talked quite a lot. 'I'm not afraid to die,' he said. Then he added, referring to a Communion service held just before we landed, 'It is never too late to make peace with our Maker, is it, Tom?' Most of the officers who had fought with him in South Africa came to have a last word, and spoke of his bravery here and in Africa.

"The General Commanding paid him a high tribute by coming the whole length of the field – about seven miles – to speak to him. When the General expressed his regret, Dick said: 'Oh, it's all in the game, Sir.' The General told him he had been promoted to the rank of sergeant, and that the gazettal would be made that day. Dick thanked him, and said he was pleased for his folks' sake. We had to wait until dark to bring him on, as we were under fire. The journey weakened him, and he said faintly to me. 'It does take a long time to die.' We buried him on a spot he liked so much – in a coffee field near the sea. We all prayed that God might grant us as game an end. If I should go like that, there need be no tears."

The Gallipoli campaign decimated the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade – 727 died, 1,239 were wounded – New Zealand lost 2,721; 4,742 were wounded.[3]

1 War File, Defence Dept, National Archives, Wellington;

2 Echoes of Gallipoli, in the words of New Zealand’s Mounted Riflemen by Terry Kinloch; Exisle Publishing

3 The New Zealand Army, A History from the 1840s to the 1980s, RNZA.

Linda Gomas

lindlu@xtra.co.nz

From our Libraries and Museums

We are offering a forum to our libraries and museums to publicise their events, and to contribute articles to this newsletter that may be of interest to our readers. Auckland Libraries makes good use of this free service, let’s see if other libraries and museums take up this offer.

For readers of this newsletter: please bring this to the attention of your local libraries etc, and encourage them to participate.

Auckland Libraries

HeritageTalks - Waha pū-taonga

July to November 2019
Are you interested in family and local history; the historical stories of New Zealand, the Pacific, and beyond?

Then why not come along to one of our fortnightly HeritageTalks - Waha pū-taonga and hear more about both our personal and our shared heritage?

These talks are given by experts in their field and can provide valuable insight into our histories.

When: At least fortnightly on Wednesdays, from February to November, 12pm - 1pm unless otherwise stated
Where: Whare Wānanga, Level 2, Central City Library, Lorne St, Auckland
Cost: Free
Booking: All welcome. Booking recommended but not essential.

To ensure your place, please contact Research Central on 09 890 2412, or book online at www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/heritagetalksbookings

Wills and probates with Marie Hickey

Wednesday 11 September, 12pm -1pm

Many researchers believe that it’s not worth looking for their ancestors’ wills, because their family didn’t have much money. This means that they miss out on vital information: Lists of household items, what happened to a particular item, or even learning about a family squabble.

This presentation will look at material from New Zealand, England, Scotland and Ireland, including websites where information may be found and why you may not find anything when you believe that there should be a will.

The growth of New Zealand towns with Hugh Dickey

Wednesday 25 September, 12pm -1pm

Enjoy an interactive visualised presentation including fascinating facts about the growth (or otherwise) of our towns and cities, including a focus on Auckland. Misconceptions and historical myths are dealt with, as well as current trends and possible future changes. Based on extensive new research.

5 October to 27 October 2019

Auckland Heritage Festival
Various events around the Auckland region.

Auckland`s History through its placenames with Phil Sai-Louie

Sunday 6 October, 12pm -1pm

Come and hear a talk on Auckland’s history from a different but interesting angle. Historian Phil Sai-Louie’s research shows that the names of our suburbs, districts & streets reveal many fascinating snippets about Auckland`s evolution & cultural heritage.

St James Theatre with George Farrant

Wednesday 9 October, 12pm -1pm

Join George Farrant for this HeritageTalk for Auckland's Heritage Festival and hear all about "Auckland's Greatest Theatre" - the St James - from its glorious past to its less illustrious present.

Showing a montage of interior views of St James Theatre. Creator New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review, July 1928. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A11880.

Opened in 1928 and proclaimed "Auckland's Greatest Theatre", the St James Theatre has had an interesting past with vaudeville shows, musicals, comedy, theatre, dance, royal command performances, and movies. Its future is a bit more checkered since its closure in 2007 following a fire in an adjacent cinema, an electrical fire in 2015, and the recent withdrawal of finance for the planned adjacent multi-storey apartment block that would part-fund the already-started restoration of the theatre. Join George Farrant, Auckland Council Principal Heritage Advisor to hear more about this building with its sad external look, but gorgeous well-preserved Spanish-Renaissance style interior.

Journeys through the Pacific Ocean to Tamaki Makarau before 1890 with David Wong Hop and Lisa Truttman

Sunday 13 October, 10.30am -12.30pm

From China, Syria and India, to England, Scotland, and Ireland, our ancestors endured long and often arduous journeys to reach their new homeland of New Zealand. Join David Wong Hop and Lisa Truttman as they look at some of these pre-1890 journeys, from the shipwrecks and the hardship of the voyage, to how ‘shipping intelligence’ was reported, along with difficulties encountered - including the Chinese who had to pay poll tax to enter New Zealand.

Early Auckland: Highlights from Kura with Joanne Graves

Wednesday 16 October, 12pm -1pm

From the 300-page Addresses to Sir George Grey, to the Pioneer Women's Honour Roll, the Old Colonists Association Register to the C. Little & Sons Funeral Director cards, Auckland Libraries continues to digitise all manner of items for Aucklanders to enjoy. Join local history librarian Joanne Graves on a tour of these treasures and learn about the stories behind them, the information held in them, and how you can access them on Kura Heritage Collections Online.

Sarah Mathew and the musical entertainments of the English ladies with Polly Sussex

Wednesday 23 October, 12pm -1pm

Sarah Mathew arrived at the Waitematā Harbour in 1840 with her husband the surveyor Felton Mathew. At first, they lived in a tent in present-day Britomart and Sarah kept “my devoted piano” in a box beside it. Once their house was built the piano became indispensable for entertainment. In this talk Dr Polly Sussex will share a glimpse of recreational music in the life of a lady in early Auckland using examples from musical scrapbooks compiled by the family of missionary Henry Williams.

Dr Sussex will play music from the Henry Williams scrapbooks on a square piano from 1835 at concert that will take place on 7 November 2019 at Central Library.

The Kiwi speaks… with Max Cryer

Wednesday 6 November, 12pm -1pm

Max Cryer examines the somewhat casual relationship New Zealanders have with the English language. The average Kiwi knows little about the structure of the language most commonly spoken in Aotearoa - but Max does know. He illuminates the scene by light-heartedly examining formidable-sounding local language by-ways such as metathesis and hypochorism styles which many New Zealanders didn’t know they used.

Women Mean Business: Colonial Businesswomen in New Zealand, with Dr Catherine Bishop, author

Wednesday 6 November 6pm-7.30pm

‘The greatest comefort to me is to get an honest living for my familey’. Boarding-house-keeper Susannah Wall’s words in 1845 echo the sentiments of many colonial women in New Zealand throughout the nineteenth century. Like Susannah, many of them ran small businesses (though not all were as concerned about the ‘honesty’ of the living they got).

‘Milne and Choyce’ and ‘Smith and Caughey’s’ are well-known female-founded businesses in Auckland - but what about the Mclaughlin sisters’ drapery, Mary Ann Brassey’s school, mess-woman Louisa Darby or Sophia Paris James’ Q.C.E. Hotel? In this talk Catherine Bishop, author of Women Mean Business (Otago University Press), explores the stories of some of New Zealand’s colonial entrepreneurs – the successful and the outright failures, the heart-warming and the tragic, the everyday and the scandalous.

Born and raised in Whanganui, Dr Catherine Bishop is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Macquarie University in Sydney. Her first book Minding Her Own Business: Colonial Businesswomen in Sydney (NewSouth Publishing, 2015) won the prestigious 2016 Ashurst Business Literature Prize. This is her second book.

From Taranto to Trieste with Jennifer Mallison, author

Thursday 7 November 6pm-7.30pm

Following the 2nd NZ Division’s Italian Campaign, 1943-45

This is a modern journey in the path of 2nd New Zealand Division in Italy, from its arrival in Taranto in October 1943 until disbandment after the end of the war in Europe.

The author faithfully reconstructs the journey of the Division, from disembarkation in Taranto to peace-keeping in the ethnic and political hot-bed of Trieste, commenting on the landscape and social context while recalling the impressions and experiences of the soldiers as they passed through. The author also visits the four areas where the Division went into action: above the Sangro River in Abruzzo, at Cassino and in the mountains to the north, south of Arezzo and Florence in Tuscany, and across the rivers of Emilia-Romagna. The historical context (military and political) is related separately to explain and complement the story of the overall Kiwi experience.

The book is generously illustrated with detailed journey and local maps, numerous contemporary photographs, and a selection of war history photographs. The story is embellished by personal reflections, and notes on the physical and cultural environment, with interesting detours off-route to irresistible and often hidden attractions.

Two appendices provide brief descriptions of the Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Italy where New Zealanders are buried, and the Italian POW Camps where New Zealanders (from previous campaigns) transited or were held prisoner.

Explore new DNA tools - Michelle Patient

Wednesday 20 November, 12pm -1pm

Michelle Patient is back to share her in depth knowledge of genetic genealogy. This replaces the DNA talk originally programmed with Seonaid Lewis.

Using tools is essential in extracting genealogy evidence from our DNA results. Some are within the company websites, while others are available via a third party.

Join us as Michelle explores some of the more recently released tools along with those currently considered 'essential' by the genealogy community.

Michelle is a very popular speaker, speaking on a very popular topic! Booking is highly advised. To book please phone Research Central on 09 890 2412 or book online.

https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/pages/event.aspx?eventid=7775

Lunchtime with Sylvia Valentine, UK guest speaker

Wednesday 27 November, 12pm -3pm

Speaker Biography

Sylvia Valentine is a UK based researcher and has been researching her own family history for almost 40 years. After retiring from a 30-year career working in the charity sector, she became a student of the University of Dundee, and graduated in 2016 with a Master of Letters degree in Family and Local History. She is now a doctoral candidate researching Opposition to Compulsory Smallpox Vaccination in Scotland in the late 19^th and early 20^th Centuries. She owns her own research company, Recover Your Roots, researching particularly in northern England and Scotland.

Her specialist area of interest are the records created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 – and compulsory smallpox vaccination. Sylvia is an Honorary Teaching Fellow of the University of Dundee and delivers their online family history courses. She is also the Doctoral Fellow 2019 for the Centre for Scottish Studies.

She is a Director of the Register of Qualified Genealogists, (RQG) a member of the Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives, (ASGRA) and is an Associate member of the Association and Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA).

Website: www.recoveryourroots.co.uk

Twitter @historylady2013

Researching Workhouse Records in England and Wales

Family historians often think of using workhouse records chiefly in terms of the admission or discharge of a pauper ancestor. However the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 created a bureaucratic system across England and Wales for the management of local poor law unions. Not all records have survived, but those which do frequently name individuals with some connection to the workhouse. For example, suppliers of foodstuffs clothing and services such as dentistry. Your Ancestor might have been a workhouse employee or been one of “the great and the good” who oversaw day to day management. You can find information about absconding parents, apprentice records and smallpox vaccination records. This lecture explains some of the records you might be able to find.

The Dawson Orphans - From the Workhouse to Oxford University

Starting with a letter discovered in a workhouse letter book, out of curiosity, Sylvia set out to research the story of the five Dawson orphans who were born in the early nineteenth century. This talk shows how a researcher can use a variety of resources to put together a family history. The story has been pieced together using more than 25 resources, but, spoiler alert, sadly there are no happy endings for the brothers.

Smallpox Vaccination Records for Family History

Smallpox vaccination records might seem an unlikely source for family historians but, where they have survived, they might just help you with a “brick wall”. This presentation discusses some of the history of smallpox vaccination, resistance to compulsory vaccination and suggestions for locating any records, primarily within England and Wales.

Our 2020 HeritageTalks for will start again on Wednesday 5 February

Phone: 09 890 2412

Nga mihi | Kind regards

SEONAID

Seonaid (Shona) Lewis RLIANZA | Family History Librarian

Central Auckland Research Centre, Central City Library

Heritage and Research

Auckland Libraries - Nga Whare Matauranga o Tamaki Makarau

Ph 09 890 2411| Extn (46) 2411 | Fax 09 307 7741

Auckland Libraries, Level 2, Central City Library, 44 - 46 Lorne Street, Auckland

Visit our website: www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

@Kintalk on Twitter / Auckland Research Centre on Facebook

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Group News

Whangarei Family History Computer Group

Contacts:

Wayne: (09) 437 2881 wayne@bydand.co.nz

Pat: (09) 437 0692 whangareifamilyhistorygroup@gmail.com

Venues

Thursday evening venue is 6 Augusta Place, Whau Valley. Call Wayne or Pat or;

email Whangareifamilyhistorygroup@gmail.com, if you need directions.

Saturday meetings are held in the SeniorNet rooms in James Street.

The rooms are upstairs in the Arcade leading to Orr’s Pharmacy and Tiffany’s Café, Start time 9.30 till finished before 1.30pm.

Waikanae Family History Group

Contacts: Email: wfhg2012@gmail.com

Venue: Meets every 4^th Thursday morning at the Waikanae Chartered Club, 8 Elizabeth Street Waikanae, just over the Railway Crossing from 9.30am to 12 -12.30pm, every month from January to November.

Research days: at the Waikanae Public Library, 10am to 12 noon on second Wednesday of each month.

Waitara Districts History & Families Research Group

The contact details of this group are:

Waitara Districts History & Families Research Group

Rose Cottage 33 Memorial Place

WAITARA 4320

Tel: 06 – 754 – 3212

waitarahistory.genealogy@xtra.co.nz

President:- Rona Hooson

Vice President:- Doree Smith

Secretary:- Trish Smart

Treasurer:- Marilyn O’Lander

office:-067543212

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News and Views

rious Articles worth reading:

From the Editor: Because of space restrictions and copyright issues I cannot put the complete articles in this newsletter so here are some URLs that are worth looking at:

Statistical Accounts of Scotland site now completely free

Posted: 05 Aug 2019 02:22 AM PDT

Update from the Statistical Accounts of Scotland ( https://stataccscot.edina.ac.uk/static/statacc/dist/home):

From 1 August 2019, the Statistical Accounts of Scotland Online website will be hosted by the University of Edinburgh Library for a period of two years. Scans, transcripts, map-based searching and our Related Resources will be available free of charge to all users.

As a result of these changes, you no longer need a subscription or a user account to use the website.

Over the next year, our Board will be working with the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, Historic Environment Scotland and the National Library of Scotland on their plans to integrate the Statistical Accounts of Scotland into their national collections. We look forward to updating you in the coming months as these plans take shape.

COMMENT: The accounts were previously available to read for free, but certain additional functionality required a subscription. This is what is being made free now.

NZ Police Gazettes

Have you noticed that the NZ Police Gazettes are now available (for free) on the PapersPast website. They are in the magazine section.
Have some fun finding the crims in your family. https://natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/black-sheep-in-the-family

Book Reviews

It seems nobody has read any books this month.

In conclusion

Help wanted

Letters to the Editor

Advertising with FamNet

Every now and then we get requests to put an advertisement in the newsletter. I have therefore created a new section which will appear from time to time. Advertisements will be included only at the Editor's discretion and will be of a genealogical nature.

If your organisation is not a group subscriber then there will be a charge for advertising events and services, which must be paid for before publication. Charges start at $NZ25 for a basic flier, and increase for more elaborate presentations. Like everyone else we need funds to help keep FamNet going. Fees are very minimal. If your organisation paid a yearly subscription you can have all the advertising you want all year round in the Group News section. Your group could be anywhere in the world, not just in New Zealand. The editor will continue to exercise discretion for free events.

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A Bit of Light Relief

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If you have problems with this page you can email us directly, but the page should be self-explanatory.

Copyright (Waiver)

Feel free to redistribute this newsletter. If you publish a newsletter yourself you may include material from this newsletter in yours provided that you acknowledge its source and include the FamNet URL. www.famnet.org.nz/

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