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Genealogist
The New Zealand
October 2019 Vol 50 No 379
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Old Auckland
Genealogist
This month’s theme
The New Zealand Marriages
Upcoming themes
December 2019:
The Americas
October 2019 Vol 50 No 379
February 2020:
JOURNAL OF THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS INC Memorials: How are your
TE RANGAPŪ KAIHIKOHIKO O AOTEAROA ancestors remembered?
Headstones, rolls of honour,
Contents parks, seats?
April 2020:
Features Nelson/Marlborough
182 Julie MacDonald The carpenter, the stonemason June 2020:
and a marriage Cemeteries
184 Pauline Weeks Two West Coast families joined August 2020:
in marriage Family History Month
187 Lynda Richards A clandestine marriage in 1720 October 2020:
189 Robyn Williams The elusive Turanga Creek ‘Black sheep’
Cemetery burials
December 2020:
192 Eric Bowater Pre-wedlock births Eureka moments
193 Nick Vine Hall Award
February 2021:
194 Miles Dillon Romance in the air Australia
198 Bruce Ralston The wedding present
202 Sue Dinsdale The little brown suitcase April 2021:
Favourite resources
209 Brenda Joyce Marriage expediency
210 Wanda Hopkins One of the right sort June 2021:
Family businesses
212 Marilyn Wreakes Vette family reunion
August 2021:
Regulars Family History Month
179 Board News 208 Genealogy on the October 2021:
180 Services and benefits Internet Island life
for NZSG members 214 Members’ enquiries
General: Articles of any subject
188 Projects and notices relevant to this magazine which
190 Record collections 215 Branches meet the submission criteria will
196 Library 217 Interest Groups be considered. We especially
200 News from 220 Letters seek how-to articles based
around a source or subject
The Methodist Church Inside back cover which explains relevance,
of New Zealand Branch and Interest access and use.
Archives Group services
See next page for submission
206 News from Archives information.
New Zealand editor@genealogy.org.nz
Journal distribution
Change of address and
general enquiries: Membership
Administrator, PO Box 14036,
Panmure, Auckland 1741.
cover: Studio portrait of Josephine Daniel E: membership@genealogy.org.nz
taken in Masterton, November 1921.
https://www.facebook.com/NZSGFRC/ The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 177
Objectives of the NZSG Submission of copy
• To promote the study of family histories, whakapapa, genealogies and kindred Articles of any subject relevant to this
subjects to the members of the Society and the New Zealand public. magazine and that meet the submission
• To advance the education of the members of the Society and the New Zealand criteria will be considered for publication.
public in the study of family histories, whakapapa, genealogies and kindred We especially seek how-to articles based
around a source or subject that explain
subjects. relevance, access and use. We prefer
• To provide assistance for the members of the Society and people wishing to submissions in electronic format by
compile family histories from sources in New Zealand and overseas. email in.doc,.txt or.rtf file format emailed
to editor@genealogy.org.nz. Hard copy
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documents and digital records and to encourage the preservation of records margins and double spacing, on one side of
having a genealogical or historical value. A4 paper and posted to the Editor, NZSG,
• To encourage accurate and scholarly research into the histories of P O Box 14036, Panmure, Auckland 1741.
Include your name, contact details and
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Provide descriptive captions for each image,
Membership entitles you to including name of photographer if known,
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• All issues of The New Zealand Genealogist per year. The submitter is responsible for obtaining
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• Have queries answered from the reference material held by the society. Editing
The Editorial Team reserves the right to
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• Access to online services via the society website. readability, but if substantial changes are
required the Editor will consult with the
author.
How to become a member Criteria
Applications to become a member can be made online at 1. Relevance: related to people and their
www.genealogy.org.nz or may be made in writing. society; genealogy, family history,
whakapapa, research, documentary
Application forms can be downloaded from the website or sources, application, biography,
are available from NZSG Membership Department, PO Box 14036, genealogical technology etc.
Panmure, Auckland 1741. 2. Length: Feature articles: 1,800 to 2,700
words (2–3 pages) plus images; Short
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Youth Open to people 12–21 years. $30.00 December 3 November
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ISSN 0110–4012 Members’ Area
© COPYRIGHT New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc. and Authors. Researchers and Includes: Contact Sought, Information
teachers may reproduce articles for private use provided that the source is acknowledged. Wanted, Information Offered, Trader
and Reunion notices. Members may
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect submit queries of no more than 50 words
the views of NZSG Board or staff. NZSG Board reserves the right to remove or amend (excluding submitter’s name, address
any advertisement or article but is under no obligation to exercise editorial control. No and membership number). These can be
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178 The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 www.genealogy.org.nz
Board News
AGM arrangements In the meantime, the increasing deficit
One of the realities the Society now faces is the need is of concern and Peter Gibson, Finance
to hold our Annual General Meeting as a stand-alone Director, explained factors causing that and
event, and the Board has been considering the challenges measures being considered to deal with it.
associated with doing that. The Board would like to ‘share the AGM
While it is preferable to hold the AGM in conjunction load’ around the country, and is currently in discussion
with a national conference, understandably regions with one region to hold the 2020 AGM. We will probably
and branches are increasingly finding full conference need to approach another region for 2021.
organisation over two to four days a major undertaking, In the meantime the Board also needs to investigate
with the need to engage overseas speakers and a various aspects of AGM procedure, which must be held
considerable financial commitment required. The well within 120 days of the end of the financial year (31 March),
organised annual Auckland Family History Expo jointly and whether we can do things differently e.g.
run by Auckland Libraries and NZSG’s Genealogical • Quorum numbers (currently 100)
Computing Group over a weekend in August provides a • Proxy voting (currently we don’t count as quorum
‘conference experience’ for those able to attend, and usually numbers)
results in follow-up speaker tours to main centres, and • Electronic voting (members can vote using smart
sometimes regional areas. phones)
It is therefore time for us to consider alternative AGM • Online meeting/web conference/live streaming (enables
arrangements. We were grateful this year for the support members to participate from anywhere; potential for
given by Auckland region and members who travelled in significant cost savings).
groups from branches in surrounding areas to the 30 June Any major changes would require revision of our
AGM in Onehunga, with Sarah Hewitt ‘Getting It Right’ as rules, a somewhat lengthy process, so we need to start
guest speaker. That format appeared to work satisfactorily, considering new ideas now.
with those present appreciative of the opportunity for We welcome any suggestions from members, Branches
genealogy input in addition to attending to AGM business. or Regions. Please email NZSG.Chair@genealogy.org.nz;
The Board is attempting to ‘turn the Society around’ NZSGManager@genealogy.org.nz or your Regional Director
and meet challenges facing us in a changing technological by 1 November, so your ideas can be considered at the
and demographic environment. As Board Chair I November Board meeting.
outlined to the AGM the refocussed Strategic Plan; goals We look forward to hearing from you.
to improve membership retention and recruitment, Mary Shadbolt,
and increase revenue streams; and our key strategy of NZSG Board Chair
a major technology upgrade which will culminate in
Kiwi Collection going online in 2020.
The New Zealand Genealogist is online. This issue and all those back
to 2010 are available to members online through the NZSG website.
Board of Directors Membership Administrator Auditor
Mary Shadbolt (Chairperson and Charmaine Hall William Buck Audit (NZ) Limited
Executive) T: 09 570 4248 Ext 2
Peter Gibson (Finance and Executive) E: membership@genealogy.org.nz Editor
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and Executive) Accounts Administrator E: editor@genealogy.org.nz
David Jack Hetti Gamage Layout
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Jillian Williams Printed by
Robyn Williams Projects Co-ordinator Blueprint Ltd, Christchurch,
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NZSG Manager Published by
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Barbara Haughey The New Zealand Society of
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Library Co-ordinator E: webmaster@genealogy.org.nz Auckland 1741
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https://www.facebook.com/NZSGFRC/ The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 179
Services and benefits for NZSG members
These pages explain services and other benefits available NZSG Library
through individual or joint membership of the New Zealand The Library is open Monday, Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to
Society of Genealogists. 4pm, with late nights on Wednesday and the first Friday of the
month. Check the website for opening hours around holidays.
The Library is based at the Family Research Centre (FRC) in
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in New Zealand receive a substantial discount on entry fees.
All NZSG members support the Society to make resources This is New Zealand’s premier collection of worldwide
more accessible through projects and liaison with national genealogical and family history resources with over 50,000
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The New Zealand Genealogist members can request lookup assistance from the FRC
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You receive six issues per year of our award-winning journal, There are 12 computers connected to the Internet for
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The Editor welcomes articles for publication. See the New Zealand illegitimacies database (see Projects page), Quick
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• Purchase products and services from the NZSG Shop in the Library Catalogue.
180 The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 www.genealogy.org.nz
Services and benefits for NZSG members
Consult the online Library Catalogue to find out what is Register of corrected entries transcripts
available for your area of interest. If you find a reference of and index searches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . no charge
interest in one of the NZSG CD indexes, e.g. Kiwi Collection,
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Cheque service
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Contact the NZSG Manager for details: NZSG Cheque
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Assistance for members tracking pupils in school registers E: accounts@genealogy.org.n
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age etc. Contact the Scottish Certificate Officer. be listed in the member only section of the NZSG website and
Pam Hamlyn, 3a Brett Avenue, Takapuna, Auckland 0622. promoted in eKIT.
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See the Records Collection page for details of other lookup NZSG Kiwi Collection v2
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$15.00 per document and can be paid through the NZSG Shop Digital Archive for Family History
web page. See details about this service in the April 2017 issue, The purpose of the Digital Archive is to create a repository
page 57. that allows NZSG members to preserve the results of their
Nancy Buckman. E: landresearch@genealogy.org.nz unpublished family history research in a digital format. The
North American Research Officer Archive specifically aims to encourage members to create a
literary piece of work, including documents and images, in
Mrs Harriet Taylor, 7 Smith Street, Waihi 3610 a digital format that reflects their family history research.
Huguenot Research Officer This is a digital archive and as such is paperless—paper copies
Mrs Marion Heap. E: Huguenot@genealogy.org.nz of documents, photographs and stories will not be accepted.
Each narrative family history must be accompanied by an Index
of Names from which a searchable index is generated. This is
Overseas certificates available to members to search.
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documents in New Zealand currency.
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Members’ Area, or on application with a stamped addressed • Back-up and Retrieval
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E: ScotCert@genealogy.org.nz
Scottish certificates Reciprocal access
Births 1855–1918, Marriages 1855–1943, Members can request a letter of introduction for reciprocal
Deaths 1855–1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . digital copies $4.00 access to Australian genealogical libraries, including the Society
Births 1919–2018, Marriages 1944–2018, of Australian Genealogists in Sydney and the Genealogical
Deaths 1969–2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . transcripts $6.00 Society of Victoria. Contact the NZSG Manager with
Parish Register entries to 1855 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4.00 details of your visit and your membership number.
Testaments (wills) 1500–1925 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.00 E: membership@genealogy.org.nz
https://www.facebook.com/NZSGFRC/ The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 181
The carpenter, the stonemason
and a marriage
Julie MacDonald to New Zealand, aged 23, with the
intention of farming with his cousins.
Bishop Selwyn had other plans for him
T he legacies and joys from the
study of families migrating to new
countries can unearth many amazing
and instead William studied at St John’s
College, Waimate North and was
ordained a deacon and then took up the
coincidences. In the early 1840s who appointment in New Plymouth.9
would have anticipated the coincidence The settlers in New Plymouth, were
that was to occur on the other side of the ABOVE: St Mary’s, Scilly Isles.
going through difficult times. The BELOW: St Merthiana, Boscastle.
world nearly 160 years later that would Plymouth Company had been absorbed
involve a carpenter from Boscastle and a by the New Zealand Company and
stonemason from the Scilly Isles? many of its plans had failed due to a lack
In the picturesque village of Boscastle, of funds. Few settlers could afford to do
on the west coast of Cornwall, Jonathan the work the New Zealand Company
Pearn married Elizabeth Carter in had promised to do. A rift was growing
their parish church of St Merthiana, between the settlers and the local Māori
Minster, a church whose origins go back over land ownership and the spirit of
to the sixth century. Both Jonathan and adventure that had been present when
Elizabeth had been baptised in its 13th these settlers came to Taranaki had been
century Norman font. The first of their worn down by the hardships they had
four children, two boys and two girls, endured.
would also be baptised in that ancient The new vicar hoped that by building
font.1 a new church he could bring his parish
In 1840, Jonathan, a carpenter, read together, and it was proposed it would
advertisements that were circulated in be built quickly and cheaply by the
Devon and Cornwall of the planned donation of goods and labour. Soon
settlement by the Plymouth Company in after his arrival in New Plymouth in
Taranaki, New Zealand.2 Jonathan and December 1843 the young vicar was
his family were among the emigrants planning the construction of the new
who took up the Plymouth Company’s church. The settlers were keen to build a it is likely William and Jonathan would
offer of free passage for agricultural wooden structure that could be erected have become friends, and talked of their
labourers and artisans.3 quickly and cheaply in a matter of plans for their families and their future
Jonathan and Elizabeth’s younger months, but the vicar was determined in New Zealand.
daughter, Lavinia Baker Pearn,4 was “only the best is good enough for God”,10 In 18 October 1859, at the home of
only 12 weeks old when the Pearn and they agreed that the building was her father in Vivian St, Lavinia Baker
family set sail for New Zealand from to be made of stone. This church has Pearn, who had been the youngest
Plymouth on 19 November 1840 on the recently become the Taranaki Cathedral child on the William Bryan, married
William Bryan, the first of the Plymouth Church of St Mary. James Riley, a soldier with the 65th
Company’s six ships to bring 868 Building the walls of the church Regiment stationed in New Plymouth.14
immigrants to New Plymouth. involved hauling rock (Egmont He had come to New Zealand in 1846
William Williams, a stone mason andesite) from the Long Reef at on the Java and first landed in the Bay
from St Marys, the largest of the Kawaroa south of New Plymouth. It of Islands.15 He had been born in Zante
remote Scilly Isles, married Elizabeth was then worked on the beach before in the Greek Islands in 1824 when his
Edwards, also from St Marys, in 1837.5 being hauled by sledge up to the site of father, who was in the 90th Regiment,
They too read the Plymouth Company the church by teams of settlers. It took was stationed there.16
advertisements and decided to emigrate 12 months to assemble sufficient stone Lavinia and James had a family of
to New Zealand and sailed on the to build the walls of the church. Golden seven children – five sons and two
Blenheim,6 leaving Plymouth, Devon Bay was the source of the limestone for daughters. Their third son William,
on 2 July 1842 with their two small the windows.11 born in 1868, married Alice Maud
children.7 There were several stone masons Franks in Dannevirke in 1897. William
Meanwhile in New Plymouth, involved in this work: Thomas Rusden, was a tailor and after their marriage the
Jonathan and his family had settled the master mason, Edmund George, family moved to Hawke’s Bay and had a
in Vivian Street, across the road from Nathaniel and Henry Hooker, Mr family of five children, the youngest one,
the site of Bishop Selwyn’s proposed Julian, Phillip Moon, B Vercoe a daughter named Patricia Lavinia Riley,
Anglican church. Jonathan was earning and William Williams.12 was born in 1912.
about 8/6 per day as a carpenter, nearly Jonathan Pearn, a carpenter of William Williams and his family
twice as much as a labourer.8 considerable ability,13 helped George did not stay in Taranaki beyond the
The vicar in New Plymouth, William Robinson, the builder, fabricate the 1860s when they moved to Auckland.
Bolland, was a young graduate of trusses of the church and the open rimu Their daughter Sarah, married William
Oxford University, and he had come pews. Working together on the church Jaffrey, a bootmaker who had come
182 The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 www.genealogy.org.nz
ABOVE:
St Mary’s,
New Plymouth.
RIGHT:
Jonathan
Pearn’s chair.
Puke Ariki,
New Plymouth
to New Zealand on the Caduceus in May Jonathan and William worked together 7 ibid, p.244.
1859.17 Together they had a family of on St Mary’s, New Plymouth, in 1843. 8 ibid, p.227.
seven children and the eldest daughter, Surely a great-great-great-great 9 Carey, H E, updated by G A Butt, Poem
in stone: history of St Mary’s Anglican
Mary Matilda Jaffrey born 1866 married coincidence. Church, New Plymouth, 1846–1971 (1978),
David Simpson, a builder from Julie MacDonald. page 11.
Auckland. The youngest child of David E: juliemacd@xtra.co.nz 10 ibid, p.12.
and Mary’s six children was Harold 11 Alington, Margaret H, Goodly stone &
Richard, born in 1906. timbers, a history of St Mary’s Church
In 2000 in London, Lesley, Notes (1988), p.6.
1 Baptism register entry for Lavinia Baker 12 ibid, p6.
the youngest daughter of Neil Pearn. Cornwall Record Office, Registers 13 Jonathan Pearn, ‘Pearn-Heal Family
and Julie MacDonald, and third of baptisms, marriages and burials, Chair’ (1840–60). Collection of Puke
great-granddaughter of Jonathan Minster Parish Church, 1678–1979. P153/1, Ariki, New Plymouth.
and Elizabeth Pearn, met Julian no 272. 14 Marriage registration of Lavinia Baker
Simpson while working together, and 2 http//teara.govt.nz/en/taranaki-places/ Pearn and James RILEY, 1859/2647,
page3. Births, Deaths and Marriages,
eventually married before returning
3 West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, New Zealand.
to New Zealand. Research into Julian’s 24 July, 1840, p.3. 15 Elliott, Gerald, The 65th Regiment (2nd
family found he was the third great- 4 Lavinia’s middle name Baker was for her Yorkshire North Riding) in New Zealand
grandson of William and Elizabeth maternal grandmother Jennefer Baker. 1846–1865, p.4.
Williams. Lesley and Julian’s daughters, 5 Marriage register entry William Williams 16 Baptism certificate of James Reiley, Zante,
Abigail and Emma, both born in and Elizabeth Edwards. Cornwall Record Zakinthos, Ionian Islands, 9 March
Office, Registers of baptisms, marriages 1825, Birth indexes 1761–1924, Archive
England (the first descendants since and burials, Isles of Scilly, St Mary’s, Reg 1824, p.27, vol 1256, line 16, General
1840 born outside New Zealand) now 1653–2015, P206/1, no 210. Registry Office, England.
share ancestors on both sides of their 6 Rutherford & Skinner, The New Plymouth 17 Passenger list of Caduceus, The
family that go back to that time when settlement 1841–1843 (1969), p.246. New Zealander, 21 May 1859.
https://www.facebook.com/NZSGFRC/ The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 183
Two West Coast families joined in marriage
Pauline Weeks the South Island, he followed the rush no photographs to record the day, but
again. But this time, armed with the it was the start of a long, happy life
wisdom of experience, he opened a store together. They had a family of four boys
A marriage in Australia in 2016 joined
two prominent West Coast families
together 150 years after their ancestors
in Greymouth selling equipment and
supplies to miners and struck a ‘gold
and three girls and Edmund started a
family tradition, naming his first son
mine’ as an ironmonger, auctioneer and after himself.14
emigrated to New Zealand. There were mining agent.8 In 1867 Edmund arranged for his
many similarities about both ancestors – His luck continued. In February two younger sisters, Catherine and
Edmund Wickes and Henry Lee 1866 he married Irish-born Catholic, Ellen to join him in New Zealand.
Robinson. They were born in the same Eliza Hinchey, an orphan from Toem in They arrived on the Lincoln on 19 June
year in London, England, they started Tipperary, who arrived into Auckland 1867 as assisted passengers with their
out on other goldfields, married young on the Columbus in October 1864.9 fares of 14 pounds each paid for by the
Irish Catholic girls, had other family Perhaps they had met in Auckland? Canterbury Provincial Government.15
members join them in New Zealand Their wedding was one of the first Catherine aged 23 and Ellen aged 27
and became prominent local figures in solemnised in Greymouth though it had were both listed as needlewomen.
two neighbouring towns – Hokitika and a shaky beginning. Catherine married Lorenz Mathias
Greymouth. As contemporaries, they There is a family story of a pre- Riesterer on 25 November 1868
certainly would have known each other. wedding falling out, with Edmund and though the Wickes were staunch
Research about these two men could making a peace offering of oranges, a Anglicans, they were married in
not have been completed without scarcity at the time. Eliza is said to have St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in
the invaluable footprint they left in thrown them back at him.10 If there were Wellington.16 The service was conducted
newspapers available through Papers issues, they were resolved. Women were by Reverend Father Petit Jean and the
Past and previous research and family in short supply on the goldfields and newspaper report mentioned that she
stories of their lives recorded by competition was fierce.11 Edmund was was the youngest daughter of
Norman Wickes and Helen Booth. said to have fallen madly in love with Mr A N Wickes, London and sister
Edmund Wickes, born in Clements Eliza and not wanting to risk losing of Mr E Wickes of Greymouth.
Lane, London on 9 February 1836, was her, he walked 40 kilometres from Ellen, who had converted to
the youngest son of Alfred Nelson Greymouth to Hokitika and back to get Catholicism, married George Thompson
Wickes and Maria Wright. His father a marriage licence.12 Henry, a 28-year-old stock owner, on
was a watchmaker and the Parish Clerk As there was no church, the 10 August 1869 in St Patrick’s Catholic
for St Edmund the King and Martyr wedding was held in a private house Church at Akaroa.17 Her sister Catherine
Church, London.1 It is thought that and witnessed by two of Edmund’s was a witness. Ellen had put her age
Edmund was named after this church friends, Thomas Watson and Thomas down by four years to 26, perhaps to
where he was baptised.2 Goodison. Edmund and Eliza both be more attractive to George. George
He was apprenticed into the building signed the register and Edmund gave was not a Catholic as he signed a
trade and worked on the erection of his occupation as timber merchant. declaration at the foot of the church
buildings in the first Great Exhibition The ceremony was performed by a records promising never to interfere
in London in 1851.3 Like many other Minister of the Church of England, with the religion of his wife and
young men of the time, Edmund was Lorenzo Moore.13 Sadly, there were promising to bring all their children up
lured to Australia by newspaper stories
of rich gold discoveries. Aged 17, he
broke his apprenticeship and sailed
on the Strathfieldsaye as an unassisted
passenger for Melbourne, arriving
in May 1853 along with 220 other
passengers.4
He spent the next 10 years digging
for gold in Victoria and Queensland
with mixed success. He was said to be
present at the Eureka Stockade affray.5
With poor conditions on the gold
fields, Edmund began to develop chest
complaints, coughs and fevers and was
advised by a doctor to get out of mining
before it shortened his life.6
Edmund took the advice and left for
New Zealand, arriving into Auckland
on the Glenshee in August 1864,
where he worked for a short time as
a builder and contractor.7 When gold
was discovered on the West Coast of Edmund Wickes. Henry Lee Robinson.
184 The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 www.genealogy.org.nzin the Catholic religion. But there were children and reported that his business days apart, from scarlet fever and
no children and George died just three was doing well. He was truly thankful convulsions.39
years after the marriage, aged 31.18 for his lot in life and thought he had Henry entered politics in 1867 joining
From his arrival on the coast done his share to perpetuate the family a committee for the management of
Edmund played a prominent part in name in New Zealand, as it was now electoral affairs and proceeded to be
the advancement of Greymouth and “Wickes Ltd”.28 elected to the Provincial Council in
district rendering many services of great Edmund died a year later and was 1869.40 He was said to be, “a man of
public value. He was chairman of the buried beside his wife in the large more than average ability, is honest and
first Improvement Committee formed family plot in the Karoro Cemetery, outspoken, and will add very materially
in Greymouth in 1865, was a member of Greymouth, which he bought when and advantageously to the present
the first Greymouth Borough Council Eliza died in 1902.29 He was recognised Council.”41 He was against the payment
and Mayor in 1871–72 and a member of for his service to the town with the of members and pledged to decline his
the first and only Westland Provincial entire community lamenting the loss 30 shillings a year, donating this to the
Council in 1876.10 During his mayoralty “of one who had done yeoman service local hospital on two occasions.
the great flood of 1872 devastated the for the district, who was ever a staunch In September 1868 Henry was
southern portion of Greymouth, and he and genial friend, and who won the chairman of the Kaniere Road Board,
was instrumental in pushing for walls regard that is always due to an estimable chaired a meeting in Kaniere in August
for flood prevention.20 He supported gentleman”.30 1869 to raise funds for the Hokitika
building a place of worship, a school, Henry Lee Robinson was baptised Hospital and was a member and
and roads. He was one of the founders on 22 June 1836 in Holborn, London – chairman of the Waste Lands Board
of the Greymouth Acclimatisation about a 30-minute walk today from in 1878. He became the chairman of
Society and was a Forester and a where Edmund was born.31 He was the Westland County Council in 1873.42
Freemason.21 eldest son of Henry Robinson, a butcher In proposing him, Mr Cuming said,
Edmund was also heavily involved in and Anne Bunter.32 “He had experience, intelligence, and
the development of the timber industry He was reported to have travelled straightforwardness. He was not given
and could be said to be a pioneer of for two years in North America, mainly to logrolling, and always spoke his
the timber export trade to Australia.22 in British Columbia, Canada. He mind fearlessly for the general welfare
He brought his eldest son Ted into the arrived into Dunedin on the Chile on of the whole County.”43 It was a popular
business and with expansion into the 26 December 1860 from London as a choice as “on the announcement of the
Australian market they made several cabin passenger and spent four years on result, the cheering was deafening and
trips to Melbourne. On one trip in 1908 the Otago goldfields before heading to prolonged.” The Grey River Argus in
Edmund was mistaken for the Premier Hokitika.33 reporting the election suggested that
of Victoria, Sir Thomas Bent.23 Imagine Perhaps also having learnt there he should at the earliest convenient
his surprise when he was stopped in was no money to be made from gold, opportunity acquaint himself with the
the street and saluted by policemen. Henry set up a butcher’s shop in Lake Greymouth district and its inhabitants.
Edmund was said to have thought it was Kaniere in 1865. He moved to Hokitika, This would of course have included
a great laugh at the time.24 Caricatures purchasing an old established stock Edmund Wickes.44
depicted ‘Wickes’ as a striking portly salesman’s business of Mark Sprott & Henry was Mayor of Hokitika
figure, elegantly dressed in a great coat Co, which he ran for about 18 years.34 in 1892 and officially received Lord
and top hat.25 He was remembered by His strong family background in Onslow, then Governor of New Zealand,
one of his grandsons as a “genial elderly farming and butchering35 gave him an when he visited the West Coast.45
man with a kind and generous nature eye for stock and he was thought “in He was involved in many other local
who adored all his grandchildren.”26 some respects as good a judge of cattle community activities, amongst other
He was involved in a number of and sheep as any man in New Zealand” things – a judge at the Westland Racing
mining activities including the Wallsend at the time.36 Club, a member of the Literary Society
Coal Mine, at Brunnerton, and the He married Catherine Thompson Committee and President of the Lawn
Wealth of Nations mine at Reefton. from Kilrush, County Clare, on 9 July Tennis club.
In a letter written by Edmund in 1912 1866 at Barrett’s Hotel, Hokitika, just a One brother and sister, Edward Terry
to his last surviving sister, Catherine few months after Edmund and Eliza’s Robinson and Helen Robinson, followed
Riesterer, he said he was “jogging along marriage.37 According to the Intention Henry to New Zealand. Edward had
quietly.”27 He recounted news of all his to Marry registration, Katherine (sic) spent four years in Australia on the
had arrived in Kaniere in December of Queensland goldfields, where he
the previous year. Henry was aged 30, did not fare well, or working around
a butcher and had been in the area 14 Sydney.46 He wrote to Henry asking
months. Catherine gave her age as 21, for the fare to New Zealand and joined
though in fact she was only 18 and was a him in Hokitika in about 1870. Life
milliner. There was no Catholic church improved for Edward. By 1873 he was
built at that time, but they were married the postmaster for Kaniere and in 1874,
by Catholic Priest, Reverend John along with Edmund Wickes, was elected
to the Provincial Council for Westland.
Mcgirr with the wedding reported in
Edward married Anne Jane Atkinson
the local paper.38
on 27 April 1875 at All Saints Church,
They had 11 children between 1867
Hokitika with Archdeacon Harper
and 1884. However, two, Seth Charles
officiating.47
aged four and Austen Thompson aged
Eliza Hinchey. two, died in 1876. They died just four (Continues on page 186) →
https://www.facebook.com/NZSGFRC/ The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 185→ (Continued from page 185)
Helen arrived in Hokitika in 1878 and
obtained work as a schoolteacher. She
was married by Reverend H G Gould to
widower Ezra Brook Dixon on 7 June
1886 at All Saints’ Church, Hokitika.48
Henry bought a number of properties
in Hokitika and a farm, Matakitaki
Station, at Paringa River, south of
Hokitika, which was worked on by his
sons. While he was visiting his sons,
Henry received the devastating news
that his wife Catherine had died on
20 May 1896 aged 47 years.49 Distances
were so great and communication so
limited that Henry did not make it back
to Hokitika for her funeral.
Henry’s health deteriorated after the
death of his wife, which preyed on his
mind, and he died on 2 November 1898 Transcript of marriage certificate.
aged 62 leaving nine children.50 He was
remembered as a man of exceptional
ability having “strict integrity” and a ‘Gold and gold mining’.
https://teara.govt.nz/
special aptitude for public business as mi/gold-and-gold-
well as possessing, ‘a polished and facile mining/print, Accessed
style of public speaking’.51 He is buried 9 August 2018.
with Catherine in the Roman Catholic 12 ‘Obituary’, Grey River
section of Hokitika Cemetery, though Argus, 21 August 1913,
p.6.
cemetery records note, after an Anglican 13 ibid; Marriage
service.52 certificate of Eliza
Charlotte Josephine Simpson- Hinchy (sic) and
Young, great-great-great grand Edmund Wickes,
daughter of Henry Lee Robinson and 13 February 1866,
New Zealand Births,
my son, Jason Thomas Gordon Weeks Deaths and Marriages,
great-great-great grandson of Edmund 1866/8335.
Wickes, were married at the Toy and 14 Birth indexes
Railway Museum Amphitheatre, Leura, for: Mary
in the Blue Mountains, New South Wickes,1867/26304;
Edmund Alexander
Wales on 17 April 2016. Catholic priest, Wickes,1868/22595;
Father Stephen Henry Sinn officiated.53 Margaretta Eliza
After over 150 years two prominent (known as Daisy)
families of the West Coast have been Wickes,1871/25517;
joined together in marriage. Alfred Robert Wicker
(sic),1872/26120;
Pauline Weeks, Sydney. Henry Joseph
E: pauline.weeks@gmail.com Wickes,1874/36223;
Intention to Marry Henry Lee Robinson
Arthur John Wicker and Catherine Thompson.
Notes (sic),1876/5249;
1 Baptism of Edmund Wickes, 6 March and Alice Orindo
1836, St Edmund the King and Martyr, Wickes, 1878/1678.
City of London, England, Ancestry.com, New Zealand Births,
Accessed 15 July 2019. Deaths and Marriages
2 ibid. On-line.
3 ‘Obituary’, Grey River Argus, 21 August 15 Archives New Zealand,
1913, p.6. Passenger Lists,
4 Public Record Office of Victoria (PROV), 1839–1973, database
Unassisted Passenger Lists, https://prov. with images,
vic.gov.au/node/1194, Accessed 19 July FamilySearch (https://
2019. familysearch.org/
5 ‘Obituary’, Grey River Argus. ark:/61903/1:1:FST6-
6 Family papers held by author. 8QM: 8 July 2019),
7 ‘Shipping Intelligence’, New Zealander, Catherine Wickes,
19 August 2019, p.2. 19 Jun 1867; Lincoln,
8 ‘Obituary’. Archives New Zealand, Marriage – Robinson, Henry Lee and Bunter, Ann.
9 Marriage certificate of Eliza Hinchy Wellington; FHL
(sic) and Edmund Wickes, 13 February microfilm 004411845. 17 Marriage certificate of Ellen Wickes and
1866, New Zealand Births, Deaths and 16 Marriage certificate of Catherine Wicks George Thompson Henry, New Zealand
Marriages, 1866/8335. (sic) and Lorenz Riesterer, 1868/7364; Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1869/7347.
10 Family papers held by author. ‘Marriage’, Evening Post, 28 November
11 Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1868. (Continues on page 187) →
186 The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 www.genealogy.org.nzA clandestine marriage in 1720
Lynda Richards 1906. A member of the London-based will indicated that she was living in
Society of Genealogists, George Blundell comfortable circumstances. Her sister
Longstaff, MA, MD Oxon, FSA, had for had subsequently married Benjamin
A lice Langstaffe was the eldest
daughter of John Langstaffe
(1671–1741) of Whitby, Yorkshire. She
the previous 25 years sought assistance
from scholars all over England. They
Linskill, and it was her sister’s son,
John Linskill, who was the beneficiary
searched every available record for of the property. Alice’s manservant,
and her two sisters had been educated Langstaffes or similar names. Robert Harland, received two
in a genteel and frugal manner and This account was found in court silver spoons marked ILM, the silver
had received offers of marriage. It was records from 1750, when a bitter and plate, wagon and plough, husbandry
understood that each daughter was to lengthy dispute arose between Alice, gear, two mares and the colt, oxen,
be given a marriage portion of £1,500 if and her ex-husband John, over the value and cows. The maidservants, Sarah
they married with their father’s consent. of oak timber which had been felled and Jane Stonehouse, shared the
Alice’s father had approved a treaty on Langstaffe land. It was reported that beds, blankets, hangings, furniture
of marriage with Benjamin Linskill, after four years of marriage Alice had and wearing apparel, as well as the
who was a sea-faring man with a good complained of her husband’s cruelty household goods, copper and brewing
fortune in money and land. However, to herself and her two children. Her vessels. Jane was to have the red and
his daughter was attracted to the farm mother had been sending extra food white spotted cow and the young filly,
manager who had been in the employ of and clothing for the children. Finally, and Sarah was to take the red cow with
her father. Bearing the same name, John her mother came to visit bringing with the white face.
Langstaffe (1691–1758) of Boulby, had her servants and horses. Alice and her At his death in 1758, John Langstaffe,
held this position for three years, but mother left with the children and their the ex-husband, shared his wealth
had recently left. He was from a well-to- possessions while John and his servants among his nephews and nieces, with
do family, but not considered a match were working in the fields. When their a donation to “the poor of Easington”
for a rich farmer’s daughter. Benjamin departure was discovered John pursued and “the poor widows and fatherless
Linskill was master of his ship and away them and begged Alice to come back. children in Staithes”.
on a voyage when Alice, who was then Alice refused and returned to her family
sixteen, and John agreed to elope. Lynda Richards,
home where sadly her little daughter
On Holy Thursday they met near Mt Maunganui.
died the following year.
the farm at midnight and clandestinely E: garylyn@xtra.co.nz
Her son was sponsored through
travelled the 15 miles to the parish school by his grandfather, then
church at Easington. It is reported that apprenticed to a surgeon and apothecary Source
they were married there at 3am! The in Scarborough. He was commissioned Longstaff, G B, The Langstaffs of
marriage was registered on 26 May 1720, to the surgeon’s staff of HMS Rochester, Teesdale and Weardale (1906). See
much to the “inexpressible grief of her but died in Barbados at the age of Pedigree 26 ‘Langstaff of Whitby, Co
parents”. twenty-one. York’. Appendix XII. Also Pedigree
These details are documented in The outcome of the court 27 ‘Langstaff of Boulby, Parish of
a very large book, The Langstaffs of proceedings is not stated, but when Easington in Cleveland. This book is
Teesdale and Weardale, published in Alice Langstaffe died in 1778 her available online at familysearch.org.
→ (Continued from page 186) 31 Baptism of Henry Lee Robinson, baptised 43 ibid.
18 New Zealand Births, Deaths and 22 June 1836, St John’s Church Parish 44 Grey River Argus, 9 January 1873, p.2.
Marriages On-line, Death Index for Register, Hackney, England, Ancestry. 45 ‘Obituary’, West Coast Times.
George Thomson (sic) Henry, 1871/9143. com, Accessed 15 July 2019. 46 Booth, Helen M. Henry Lee Robinson and
19 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Nelson, 32 ibid. his family, 2005, p.8.
Marlborough & Westland Provincial 33 Booth, Helen M. ‘Henry Lee Robinson’, 47 Booth, Helen M., Henry Lee Robinson,
District), Cyclopedia Company Limited, The New Zealand Genealogist’s family p.11; New Zealand Births, Deaths and
Christchurch, 1906, p.551. historian, Vol 2, p.6. Marriages On-line, Marriage Index of
20 ‘Obituary’, Grey River Argus. 34 ‘Obituary’, West Coast Times, Helen Robinson and Ezra Brook Dixon,
21 ibid. 14 November 1898, p.2. 1886/1477.
22 ibid. 35 ibid. Butchers go back to his great- 48 Marriage’, West Coast Times, 19 June 1886,
23 ‘Mr Wickes in Australia’, Greymouth great grandfather, Abraham Robinson, p.2.
Evening Star, 5 October 1908, p.3. who had a butcher’s shop in Cookham, 49 West Coast Times, 21 May 1896, p.2.
24 ibid. England in 1795. 50 ‘Obituary’, West Coast Times, 14
25 ‘The Two Dromios; or Which is Wickes?’, 36 Booth, ‘Henry Lee Robinson’, p.6. November 1898, p.2.
Punch, 22 October 1908, p.20. 37 ‘Obituary’, West Coast Times. 51 ibid.
26 Wickes family papers in author’s 38 ‘Marriage’, West Coast Times, 12 July 1866, 52 Westland District Council, https://e-
possession. p.2. search.westlanddc.govt.nz/cemeteries/
27 Edmund Wickes to Catherine Riesterer, 39 New Zealand Births, Deaths and search.php?value=robinson, Accessed
letter, 14 February 1912, copy held in Marriages On-line, Death Indexes for 15 July 2019; New Zealand Cemetery
author’s possession. Austin Thompson Robinson, 1876/4285 Records, New Zealand Society of
28 ibid. and Seth Charles Robinson, 1876/4280. Genealogists Incorporated.
29 Death certificate of Eliza Wickes, died 40 ‘Obituary’. West Coast Times. 53 Certificate of marriage for Jason Thomas
4 June 1902, New Zealand Births, Deaths 41 West Coast Times, 31 December 1869, p.2. Weeks and Charlotte Josephine Simpson-
and Marriages, 1902/3372. 42 ‘County Council’, West Coast Times, Young, 16 April 2019. New South Wales
30 ‘Obituary’. 9 January 1873, p.2. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
https://www.facebook.com/NZSGFRC/ The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 187Projects
Cemetery records • Date of Birth
New Zealand Cemetery Records is a collection of transcripts of • Address
headstones and burial registers commenced by volunteers in the • Last School
1960s. Over 1,400 cemeteries, urupā and other burial grounds • Last Day of Attendance
and public memorials transcripts have been compiled, with a
date range of 1812–2017. • Destination
• Comments
Contribute
• Parent/Guardian field Indexes.
The majority of the initial transcriptions were completed in the
1970s and 1980s, so there is always scope for adding more Contribute
recent burials and headstones. Contact the Project Co-ordinator, Contact the Projects Co-ordinator, Carole Devereux, for
Carole Devereux, for guidance and assistance. guidance and assistance. E: nzsg.projects@genealogy.org.nz
E: nzsg.projects@genealogy.org.nz
Access
Access For the most part transcribed and indexed school records are
A full set of the collection is held at the NZSG Library in held by the NZSG School Records Officer or locally by the NZSG
Panmure. For a full listing search the Library Catalogue on the contributing branches. An index to the searchable records is
NZSG website. NZSG branches, cemeteries, libraries, museums published on the Kiwi Collection v2. These entries indicate
or historical societies may also hold copies of individual where to enquire for further details.
transcripts locally. Schools included in NZSG Kiwi Collection v2 are listed in the
Cemetery records were first published on microfiche in 1985, ‘Record source’ details in the the database. The table shows
with 11 supplements added up to 2009. These microfiche may school name, year range of registers indexed, number of records
still be available at NZSG branches and in local libraries and and the years that are missing from within the year range.
museums. Note that for years post 1919 listed, only the entries that have
The major listing of transcribed headstone and burial persons born pre 1915 are included.
records is available on the website under the Research tab. See Assistance can also be obtained from the NZSG School Look
New Zealand Cemetery Records: an index of microfiche holdings Up Service. E: SchoolLookups@genealogy.org.nz
held at 2009.
Cemetery records received after 2007 have not been Funeral director records
published. Funeral director records were added to the NZSG list of
Since 2014 the transcripts published on the microfiche have significant national projects in 2016. This particular type of
been searchable through the Ancestry.com website, accessible record is in accord with the Society’s objective “to encourage the
by private subscription and through many public libraries, plus preservation of records having a genealogical or historical value”.
the FRC in Panmure. Funeral records are not only ‘at risk’ – there is no legislative
NZSG members can also ask for search assistance of the requirement for their retention beyond seven years – but they
database of recent additions from the Research Service. contain details of the deceased’s immediate family and burial.
E: ResearchService@genealogy.org.nz The NZSG currently holds records of about 20 different funeral
See also the ‘Local Authorities Cemetery Information’ directors for Auckland and Hamilton at the NZSG Library in
compiled by Tracy Little on the NZSG website. Many local Panmure.
authorities now have online searchable burial databases, We are keen to increase our holdings across New Zealand
also with headstone transcriptions included. over the coming years.
The index template in each publication includes: surname;
School records given name; age at death; place of death; cemetery; mother’s
Since the early 1980s NZSG members and others have name (maiden); father’s name; name of spouse.
transcribed school records from New Zealand Primary and
Secondary schools, notably the School Admission, Progress, Contribute
Withdrawal Registers (APWs). This collection holds at least 1,800 Contact the Project Co-ordinator, Carole Devereux, for guidance
schools nationwide. Generally there was only one copy of each and assistance. E: nzsg.projects@genealogy.org.nz
school register made and not all registers have survived or yet Access
been located. This is part of an on-going national project of the
NZSG to preserve school registers due to their importance as a A list of what is held in the Collection can be found on the
record of the family and social life in New Zealand. Library Catalogue via the website.
Records with admission dates that are at least 95 years old A hard copy record is held at the NZSG Library in Panmure.
are published on the Kiwi Collection and these are available for Remote enquiries can be made to the Research Service.
searching; the assumption being that a student will have at least E: ResearchService@genealogy.org.nz
attained the age of five years on admission. Records are being
transcribed and submitted all the time, but anything earlier than Land information
95 years is withheld due to the 1993 Privacy Act. Since the early 2000s several groups of volunteers have been
If we hold records within the restricted period, these may be working at LINZ in Hamilton on indexing a range of documents
accessed by members provided it can be proven that the person associated with land transfer. These include notices of death
is deceased or that the record involved belongs to the person and marriage, applications, declarations, transmissions, birth,
making the enquiry. marriage and death certificates, deed polls, bankruptcy
Records contain the following fields: documents and wills.
• School This project does not transcribe or index land transfer records.
• Name Access
• Register Number A CDROM database New Zealand Land Transactions Index:
• Former Number North Auckland, South Auckland and Taranaki Land Districts,
1871–1991 was produced in 2016 with 210,000 individual
• Admission Date records extracted from 150,000 documents. Details usually
• Parent/Guardian include surname, given name, dates, place of death or
188 The New Zealand Genealogist October 2019 www.genealogy.org.nzYou can also read
