For approximately 10 years, the Central Auckland Research Centre has run a fortnightly family history lunchtime series lectures from February through to November at Central Library.

They are a diverse range of lectures, covering many subjects related to family and/or local history, New Zealand and world history.

These popular talks are well-attended, but typically there are always people who are unable to make them largely due to geographic distance. I've frequently had calls and emails from people all over New Zealand and overseas - from as far away as the UK asking if we were going to be able to make the presentations available online.

This year, we have been able to record some of our lunchtime talks as part of a pilot study.

We were able to record most of the New Zealand Cemeteries Heritage Week events held at Central Library, and those proved very popular. We do captioning which means transcribing the whole presentation, to make each one accessible for the hearing-impaired.

Online now, is "The records of the English parish church" with Viv Parker.

Vivienne Parker, researcher & speaker, member of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists a former editor of The NZ Genealogist and the GRINZ Yearbook, and the compiler of Forty years on: The development of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.

"The records of English parish churches recount the day-to-day running of the parish, including not only baptisms, marriages and burials but also a wealth of information about our ancestors. Their findings also uncover the roles of the vestry and church wardens, who held the responsibility for raising funds, appointing people to various jobs, maintaining roads and bridges in the parish, the care of the elderly, dealing with miscreants and illegitimacies, as well as ensuring the removal of those who had no right to remain in the parish."

About 40 people attended this lecture that Viv did for us on Wednesday, 4 March.

Viv is a member of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists and frequently runs workshops and tutorials out at their centre in Panmure.

She is also a regular speaker for Auckland Libraries and helps out with other events such as the Karen Kalopulu Family History Lock-In (28 August this year) and the Sunday Family History Club sessions (next one on June 21) that are held around three times a year.

I hope you enjoy watching  "The records of the English parish church" with Viv Parker.


Happy hunting

Seonaid

Sir George Grey Special Collections, AWNS-19021113-2-1

In 1902 the SS Ventnor sank off the Hokianga coast with the remains of 499 Chinese people on board. It had left Wellington just two days before. The bodies were being returned on the Hong Kong bound vessel to their families to be buried in accordance with Chinese tradition.

The SS Ventnor had been hired by the Admiralty to carry a standard cargo of coal from Westport to Hong Kong but was also under charter to the Cheong Shing Tong Society. This Society was concerned with Chinese immigrants from the Poon Yue area in the Guandong Province of southern China, particularly the poor and the elderly, and operated under the leadership of prominent Dunedin businessman Choie Sew Hoy.

Choie Sew Hoy, about 1895

Choie Sew Hoy died in 1901. In 1883 the Cheong Shing Tong Society had exhumed and returned to China the bodies of 230 miners, so it was natural for his son Kum Poy Sew Hoy to arrange for the Society to return his father, along with many others, to his ancestral home.

The Auckland Star, 30th October 1902

Just after midday on the day of departure the SS Ventnor struck a submerged reef just off Cape Egmont. Wellington didn’t have the facilities to repair the vessel so it carried on to Auckland with water starting to enter the ballast tanks and at the entrance to Hokianga Harbour the order to abandon ship was given.

Nigel Sew Hoy, Great-Great grandson of Choie Sew Hoy wrote in 2007:

When Kum Poy Sew Hoy received the sad news, he immediately engaged people to search the area. A canvas bag of bones was found washed up on Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North. This was sent to China as the only remains. The rest of Ventnor's unusual cargo was not recovered. A court of inquiry ruled that the Captain had been negligent and incompetent and responsible for the wreck because of his poor navigation around Cape Egmont. (Bananas NZ Going Global International Conference 18-19 August).

Nigel and his family hoped to be able to carry out their grandfather’s dream to have the Ventnor salvaged, the bones identified and returned to China.

The location of the ship remained a mystery until December 2012 when, after a search of three years, it was found by documentary producer John Albert, assisted by charter boat owners John and Linda Pattinson and underwater explorer Keith Gordon. A recent article from the New Zealand Herald explains the story and highlights the importance of the find to ties between China and New Zealand.

For more on the SS Ventnor read the article 'The mysterious wreck of the coffin ship', pages 160-161, in Secrets & treasures: our stories told through the objects at Archives New Zealand, available for loan from Auckland Libraries.

Bridget

This week Auckland Libraries is celebrating Samoan Language Week starting today through to 1 June 2014. The nationwide theme is ‘Taofimau i au measina’ or ‘Hold fast to your cultural treasures’. We have found some Samoan family history treasure!

Many of you reading this will use the subscription database, Ancestry.com on a fairly regular basis but how many of you ever refer to the card catalogue?

There are probably quite a number of records “hidden” away treasures that we are unaware of, and an example of this is some select records of baptisms (1805-1910) and burials (1895-1970) for Samoa. To access these, click on “card catalog” which is in the lower left-hand side of the Ancestry.com Home Page.  Enter Samoa as a keyword and you will have a selection of record sets including these select baptism and burial records.

The entries on Ancestry are only transcripts but do give a (FamilySearch) film number and are included in the catalogue entries for films held at the Central Auckland Research Centre - the desk staff are always available if you require any assistance.

The Ancestry.com database it is accessible through Auckland Libraries Digital Library from within any of the 55 libraries for free.

Marie Hickey

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-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.

New Zealand Historic BDMs are searchable online.

• Births that occurred at least 100 years ago
• Stillbirths that occurred at least 50 years ago
• Marriages and eventually Civil Unions that occurred 80 years ago
• Deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago or the deceased's date of birth was at least 80 years ago

• Vol 1 BDMs from the New Zealander 1845 -1866
• Vol 2 Thames Newspapers 1869-1909
• Vol 3 NZ Herald 1863 -1880
• Vol 4 Daily Southern Cross 1843 -1876
• Vol 5 Index of names of soldiers who died in WWI and whose pictures were published in the Auckland Weekly News.