In the first week of February, Auckland Libraries was delighted to have hosted several events to support New Zealand Cemeteries Heritage Week, which was to celebrate the launch on Ancestry of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) cemetery microfiche.


The cemetery microfiche was the culmination of almost 50 years' worth of work by volunteers from the NZSG - a painstaking process of recording and transcribing cemetery headstones from 1400 public and private cemeteries nationwide, including Māori urupa from 1800 right up until 2007.

The official launch day was held on Monday, 2 February, 2015, at the New Zealand Society of Genealogists head office in Panmure where current NZSG President Gay Williams discussed the history of their Cemetery Collection and explained the work that was behind it.

The launch made the news on TVNZ.


Auckland Libraries hosted events in support for the following three days. Subjects presented were:

• S.S.Tararua  - our worst civilian shipwreck, 29 April 1881 - Gay Williams, President, (NZ Society of Genealogists) 

• The shipwreck of the HMS Orpheus on 7 February 1863 - Michael Wynd, Researcher, (National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy)

• The ‘Great Flu’ pandemic, 1918 - Gay Williams

• Hawkes Bay Earthquake 3 February 1931 - Christine Clement

• The Tangiwai Railway Disaster, 24 December 1953 - Gay Williams

• The Air NZ Erebus disaster, 28 November 1979 - Gay Williams

• Why can't I locate my NZ ancestors place of burial - David Verran, Local Historian and Team Leader, Central Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries

• Locating your ancestors through NZSG burial records and Ancestry online (NZ cemetery records 1800 – 2007), Diane Wilson and Gay Williams 

In the first week of February, Auckland Libraries was delighted to have hosted several events to support New Zealand Cemeteries Heritage Week, which was to celebrate the launch on Ancestry of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) cemetery microfiche.


The cemetery microfiche was the culmination of almost 50 years' worth of work by volunteers from the NZSG - a painstaking process of recording and transcribing cemetery headstones from 1400 public and private cemeteries nationwide, including Māori urupa from 1800 right up until 2007.

The official launch day was held on Monday, 2 February, 2015, at the New Zealand Society of Genealogists head office in Panmure where current NZSG President Gay Williams discussed the history of their Cemetery Collection and explained the work that was behind it.

The launch made the news on TVNZ.


Auckland Libraries hosted events for the following three days:

• S.S.Tararua  - our worst civilian shipwreck, 29 April 1881 - Gay Williams, President, (NZ Society of Genealogists) 

• The shipwreck of the HMS Orpheus on 7 February 1863 - Michael Wynd, Researcher, (National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy)

• The ‘Great Flu’ pandemic, 1918 - Gay Williams

• Hawkes Bay Earthquake 3 February 1931 - Christine Clement

• The Tangiwai Railway Disaster, 24 December 1953 - Gay Williams

• The Air NZ Erebus disaster, 28 November 1979 - Gay Williams

• Why can't I locate my NZ ancestors place of burial - David Verran, Local Historian and Team Leader, Central Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries

• Locating your ancestors through NZSG burial records and Ancestry online (NZ cemetery records 1800 – 2007), Diane Wilson and Gay Williams 

Family History involves a great deal of detective work which is both enjoyable and frustrating.

One tends to examine documents for the tiniest details and then put them to one side or, if you are really serious about your family research, file them away in the relevant family file.  Every so often they are pulled out to examine again and a real gem that hasn’t been noted previously may emerge.

Auckland Libraries have the most amazing Digital Library which includes library subscriptions to sites that I intend to personally subscribe to just as soon as I win lotto.  The websites that I use most often in the Digital Library are Ancestry and Findmypast but there are many others to be enjoyed.

In my search for Richard George Collins’ immigration to New Zealand circa 1880, several digital databases have provided the evidence I need to back up my hunches.

Long ago I downloaded a passenger list from Findmypast which I thought could possibly be “my” Richard:

Although the age was correct there were a couple of problems. Richard was never known as “Richard Collins” - from babyhood he had used his second name, George, as his given name.

The other problem was that the ship sailed a week after George’s wedding day and no wife was listed on the passenger list although it was clear from other records that she was in New Zealand at the end of that year.

So I filed away the passenger list because there was no conclusive proof that Richard Collins (with no second name recorded) travelling 3rd class from Plymouth England to Sydney Australia on the Chimborazo in January 1880 was my Richard George Collins.  Sigh.

Sometime later I thought it might be a good plan to see if there was anything about my man in Papers Past.  This website has digitised New Zealand newspapers covering the years 1839-1945.

My search turned up an article in the Auckland Star on 5 October 1897 with an interesting title – “Railway Disaster, the inquest”.  To my surprise Richard George Collins was a witness to a fatal accident between a train and a horse drawn bus. But it was the evidence of another witness which made my mind race:

Where had I seen the name “Maples” before?  Ah yes, that document that I had tucked away a few years back; the Chimborazo passenger list of 1880.  Just who was that person just above Richard Collins on the list?  It was Alfred Maples, the father of the bystander in the report above and also the uncle of Richard George Collins.  All of a sudden a document which had been a “maybe” suddenly became a “definite”.

Alfred William Maples senior, George’s companion on the Chimborazo was escaping England and deserting his wife in order to start a new life and a new family in Australia.  Young George was travelling with his uncle.

I was surprised to discover, when I went into another database in our Digital Library that the steamer Chimborazo’s voyage had been shorter than I thought it would be.  The British Newspaper Archive  is another site which is accessible free in the library, containing newspapers from 1603 to the present day.

The Chimborazo had a dreadful trip starting out on 08 February and striking a storm on 10 February.  Many newspapers in England, Australia and even New Zealand reported the tragedy that occurred – this account is from the Staffordshire Sentinel on 11 February:

After undergoing a refit she set off on her journey again on 16 February. One can only imagine how much courage it took for the passengers to re-board.



The following is a clip from the wonderfully named “Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate”:

Regardless of its false start, the steamer arrived in Sydney on 04 April having dropped passengers in Melbourne on the way – a total of just 47 days.  Not bad for 1880!

The Auckland Libraries Digital Library gives you lots of different options for “fleshing out” your ancestors without the need for expensive subscriptions.  Why not have a look?

Deborah

DC Thompson Family History, the company that also provides Findmypast, has launched a mobile app called Here & Then that can provide you with articles from the British Newspapers Archive.

On your iPhone, you can view "On this day" articles, humorous stories, and historic topical stories that mirror today's news - free!

If you don't have an iPhone, you can view online. But maybe eventually it will also be available on Android one day?

 Good reading!

Seonaid

What were working conditions of children like in Britain in the 1840s?

I was checking out the library edition of Ancestry.com for any newly added databases to bring to the attention of staff recently and came across the 1842 Commissioners’ report of children’s employment (appendix, trades and manufactures part 2) .  It is a very interesting document in that children and adults from all over the British isles have been interviewed about the working conditions children are being employed in.  Not only that but you get the child’s name, age, occupation, address of home and work and sometimes mention of other family members and pay rates.

Two children and a trolley laden with boxes, c.1928 Sir George Grey Special  Collections, Auckland Libraries.

The document has been name indexed so is searchable but there is also a name index at the end of the work as well.

If you are interested in social history, you will find this worth reading.  It is rather a lengthy tome but probably dipping in and out of the interviews would be enough to give a flavour of the document.

Marie Hickey

As mentioned in my 18 December blog about searching for passenger lists, particularly for those of us with ancestors who arrived through the port of Auckland, things are looking up!

Landing passengers, c.1910. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19100721-3-1

There is another online source which might help. The free website offered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints now includes NZ passenger lists digitised from microfilms held by Archives New Zealand. An online name index is gradually being built up by volunteers (they still want help if you feel like joining in) and is worth checking. If you don't get a hit on the family name, there is an alternative, but be warned it is not a quick fix.

It is possible to browse through the more than 350,000 images of ship passenger lists for the period approximately 1855 to 1973. Now, I am not suggesting this for someone who hasn’t a clue on what ship or in which year their ancestor came into Auckland. However, if you have got a hit in either the Auckland Area Passenger Arrivals Index, or the online newspapers' shipping news, which means you have a ship name and date of arrival, then the task, although onerous, is possible!

The images of passenger lists are arranged by port and year, with different sequences for Auckland. For instance there is 'Auckland',  'Auckland (inwards)',  'Auckland (other ports also listed)', 'Auckland and Hawkes Bay' and so on. Each of these categories needs to be checked in turn to see if they cover the year in which you are interested. Where that year is listed you need to check through the listings of that year to see if your ship name appears. Where it does, scrolling through the images will reveal the original record and date of the passenger list(s). But be warned. Some vessels, particularly Trans-Tasman ones, made multiple trips into Auckland in the same calendar year so care is needed to check you get the right date of arrival.

So what do you get as the reward for all this effort, I hear you wondering?

Image from NZ, Immigration Passenger Lists, familysearch.org

Well, the results are variable. Some passenger lists are hardly more useful than the brief stuff in the papers, but others yield details such as ages of passengers and ethnicity. Some include occupation and (at least by the 20th century) some give a basic address from their place of origin.

The results may be rewarding or disappointing, but that is the essence of all family history research, is it not?

Good luck!

Janelle

Oh, and I should add, these search strategies and techniques work for other ports as well. For a discussion about finding passenger lists and some of the online sources that exist for other NZ ports, see my blog post from 25 May 2011.

The name Cyrus Haley won’t be familiar to many today, but back in the late 1800s, Cyrus Haley’s nefarious exploits were well documented in the print media, from his attempts at murder, his fondness for setting fires, right down to his death in 1875 while attempting to escape imprisonment.

So who was the man that caused such speculation in the media of the day?

Cyrus had emigrated from England to New Zealand with his family in 1870 and wasted little time making enemies and enacting his own form of justice. When his wife Emily’s singing performance at the Music Hall was savaged, the hall was mysteriously gutted by fire. More arsons took place and while all these couldn’t be linked to Haley, there was one involving the property of BNZ founder Thomas Russell, also director of a company in which Hailey claimed to have lost ₤3000.

While Thomas Russell himself wasn’t short of enemies, Cyrus’s grudge was so intense, he set about trying to kill him. In December of that year, Haley fired through the windows of the Russell home (the glorious Pah Homestead in Hillsborough Road, Auckland), almost killing one of Russell’s children. Haley also wrote anonymous notes threatening death to Russell.

He was caught and tried, and subsequently convicted of attempted murder, threatening to kill and threatening to destroy property - he had also set fire to hay on the Russell property. His sentence was life imprisonment in the Dunedin gaol.

Ref: Taranaki Herald, 6 October 1875, Papers Past


Haley first attempted to escape the prison in 1873, but in 1875, after receiving disturbing news about his children, he tried to flee a labour gang and was shot by a warder. The inquest following his death concluded it was “justifiable homicide.”


Ref: Taranaki Herald, 9 October 1875, Papers Past


To learn more about this fascinating and disturbed character, you need only check out the Papers Past website where all his activities and accompanying speculation were well documented.

Ref: Daily Southern Cross, 30 January 1872, Papers Past

Indeed, the Daily Southern Cross of January 30 1872 says of the man following his arrest after the Hillsborough house incident, “Various reports respecting Haley are in circulation, one of which is that he is insane, and another that he is feigning insanity. Neither report is correct. Haley's conduct in confinement is perfectly rational, and he is neither apparently nor in reality insane.”

Joanne

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC256

Showing the grave and tombstone of Eliza Anne Larkins and John Russell Larkins in St Mark's Cemetery, Remuera.

The inscription reads:

In loving memory of Eliza Anne the beloved wife of Frederick Larkins of this parish who fell asleep in Jesus September 14 1885. Until the day break and the shadows flee away.

Also of John Russell Larkin beloved and only son of Frederick and Eliza Anne Larkins who died May 31st 1886 aged 20 years.

'Thou gavest him a long life even for ever and ever'

Heritage Images database  'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC282'

Showing the grave and tombstone of Edward Rickerby in Symonds Street Cemetery.

The tombstone reads:

In memory of Edward Rickerby who died at New Plymouth 23rd Jan 1897 aged 61 years.

Mark the perfect man and behold him upright, for the end of that man is peace

Heritage Images database 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC278'

Looking from the church yard towards the apse of St John's Theological College Chapel, showing the grave and tombstone of Charles William Selwyn.

The inscription reads:

In memory of Charles William Selwyn, late Captain Royal Horse Guards and MP for Wisbech. Born 7th March 1858 died 1st March 1893.

'What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter'

Heritage Images database 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC277'

Showing the grave and tombstone of Johanna Stone, John Thomas Stone, Philip Henry Hackett, and Henry John Hackett in Symonds Street Cemetery.

The inscriptions read:

In affectionate remembrance of our loving mother Johanna Stone who died August 25th 1889 aged 60 years.

Also in the glory of our beloved father John Thomas Stone who died March 12th 187? aged 43 years. (The rest of this inscription is obscured.)

Sacred to the memory of Philip Henry Hackett native County Tipperary Ireland who departed this life 24th February 1877 aged 34 years. Erected by his beloved wife.

Also of Henry John Hackett infant son of the above who departed this life 13th March 1873 aged 1 year and 6 months.

May their souls rest in peace

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC276

Showing the grave and tombstone of Charles Sutton and Ann Jackson in St Mark's Cemetery, Remuera.

The inscription reads:

In loving memory of Charles Sutton died 12th August 1896 aged 66 years.

The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Ann Jackson died 6th June 1877 aged 78. Not thy will, but thine be done

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC273

Showing the grave and tombstone of Helena Williams at St Matthias' Church, Panmure.

The inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of Helena dearly beloved wife of William Perkin Williams and eldest beloved daughter of Alfred and Sarah Pollard died 12th March 1890 aged 21 years.

Not lost but gone before.

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC265

Showing the grave and tombstone of Michael Gallagher in Symonds Street Cemetery.

The inscription reads:

In affectionate remembrance of Michael Gallagher who died May 26 1894 aged 38 years.

Erected by his widow, H K Gallagher.

In charity with all men.

The grave and headstone of his mother Mary Gallagher is partly visible to the left.

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC261

Showing the graves and tombstones of Joseph Bennet Goold, Isaac Gwynne and Sarah Gwynne in St Mark's Cemetery, Remuera.

The inscriptions read:

'Jesus Christ tasted death for every man'.

In loving memory of Joseph Isaac Goold of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, who died November 25th 1890 aged 27 years.

Sacred to the memory of Isaac Gwynne, who departed this life 7th July 1880 aged 35 years. Requiescat in peace.

Also his beloved wife, Sarah Gwynne, who departed this life December 6th 1893 aged 45 years.

The grave and tombstone of James Sutton is also partly visible to the left.

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC260

Showing the graves and tombstones of Elizabeth Kensey, Anne Dines Halstead, James Stevenson, James Percy Stevenson, Richard Dines Halstead, and Leigh Dines Halstead at St Andrew's Church, Epsom.

The tombstone of James and Annie Jackson is partly visible in the background.

The inscriptions read:

Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, relict of the late Thomas Kensey and mother of Anne Dines Halstead. Died 27th July 1878 aged 80 years.

The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy morning shall be (rest obscured).

Affectionate remembrance of James Percy, infant son of the late James Stevenson, died April 187-, aged 9 months 17 days.

In affectionate remembrance of James Stevenson, son-in-law of the late L.D. Halstead who departed this life Nov 14th 1875 aged 33 years. (The rest of the text is obscured).

Sacred to the memory of Richard Dines, the second and beloved son of Leigh and Annes Dines Halstead who was killed by a fall from a horse, March 20th 1871 aged 14 years. (The inscription for Leigh Dines Halstead is obscured)

In loving memory of Anne Dines Halstead who departed this life 22nd August 1890 after long suffering which she bore with sweet patience and Christian resignation

Heritage Images database Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC257

Showing the grave and tombstone of Philip James Kunst, Helena Kunst, Charles Albert Kunst and Mary Ann Kunst in the Symonds Street Cemetery.

The inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of Philip James Kunst, printer of the city who died August 9 1884 aged 78 years, Helena his wife August 30 1894 aged 68 years, Charles Albert Kunst died July 16 1895 aged 43 years, Mary Ann Kunst died June 12 1855 aged 9 months

Early this year we blogged about how the Old Colonists Association Register images had been digitised and were now available for viewing online by searching our Manuscripts Online database.

We've now made the images even easier to find by adding them to the entries in Index Auckland. So now, if you find mention of someone in Index Auckland, who belonged to the Old Colonists Association, the image will also be attached there as well!

We have other blogs that tell you more about Index Auckland and our related database the New Zealand Card Index.

Happy hunting

Seonaid

We are regularly adding to our stock family and local history books in the Central Auckland Research Centre.

Some books you look at the title and think "not my area of interest/thing"; while others just seem to leap off the shelf at you. Two such books arrived recently which I found to be very interesting and thought they may be of interest to some of you.

Ragged London: the life of London's poor