St Andrews Cemetery, Newcastle- Upon-Tyne

A memorial in St Andrews Cemetery, Newcastle- Upon-Tyne says:

“In loving remembrance of George Brewis McQueen, solicitor of this town who went to Auckland New Zealand for the benefit of his health and died one month after his arrival November 16th 1874 aged 26 years and was interred in Auckland Cemetery. His gentle loving disposition endeared him to all who knew him. His end was peace. Also Robert McQueen brother of the above who died July the 11th 1859 aged 1 year and 10 months. Robert McQueen father of the above died December 14th 1890 aged 71 years. Also Frances his wife died October 9th 1893 aged 78 years.”

Symonds Street Cemetery, Auckland

George’s grave is situated in the Symonds Street Cemetery where his gravestone is still in fairly good condition.  A search of the Symonds Street cemetery records on Auckland Libraries Digital Library shows the partial transcription of the stone.  But what is George’s story? Why is he buried alone in Auckland when his immediate family are buried in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne?

A search of Ancestry.com reveals that George Brewis McQueen was born in January 1849 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England.  His parents were Robert McQueen (1819-1890) and Frances (Fanny) Brewis (1816-1893) who married in December 1847.

George had one sister, Elizabeth Brewis McQueen who was born in 1851 and two brothers, William Brewis McQueen who was born in 1854 and Robert who was born in 1857 and died in July 1859.

In 1851 the family were living at 7 Wellington Street, Newcastle on Tyne.  George’s maternal grandmother was living with the family too – they were awaiting the birth of George’s sister so she was possibly with them to help with the new baby.  The family also had a 17 year old servant girl living with them.  Robert McQueen was a Cutler (a maker of cutlery) & maker of surgical instruments.

In 1861 the family are at 3 St Cuthberts Terrace, Gateshead, Durham.  George and his sister Elizabeth have been joined by their brother William.  Robert McQueen is still a Cutler by trade but he is now an employer of 1 man and 2 boys.  The family are cared for by a 16 year old servant girl.

In 1871 the family continue at 3 St Cuthberts Terrace.  Robert describes himself as a Cutler & Surgical Instrument Maker, George at the age of 22 years is an Attorney & Solicitor and William is an apprentice Cutler.  Robert will later change the name of his business to McQueen & Son when Robert partners with him in the business.


On 11 April 1873 The London Gazette reports that George is to be Ensign in the 8th Durham Rifle Volunteer Corps on 12 April 1873.


In January 1874, George is in partnership with William Chartres and John Youll, who are attorneys and solicitors at 18 Grainger Street West, Newcastle Upon Tyne. But the London Gazette of 21 July 1874 reports that the partnership of Chartres, Youll and McQueen has been dissolved by mutual consent on 6 July 1874.  Three days later, on 09 July 1874 George is in London boarding a ship for New Zealand.


Auckland Area Passenger Arrivals 1838-1889 says that George arrived in Auckland on the “Zealandia” on 15 October 1874.  A quick check of Auckland Area Passenger Vessels 1838-1886 and we find the “Zealandia” leaving London on 09 July 1874 with 219 immigrants aboard.  George is a Saloon passenger rather than an immigrant, so it may be that he was not planning to settle in New Zealand indefinitely.

George is now safely in New Zealand after a three month sea voyage and he books in to Riding’s Boarding House in Turner Street (off Upper Queen Street).  Mrs G L Riding provided apartments for families and room with or without board for gentlemen at Wolverton House.


Papers Past reveals that just one month later, George is dead.  Friends are invited to his funeral, leaving from Riding’s Boarding House.


Someone arranged his funeral, someone arranged for a burial plot and a gravestone.  We will probably never know who did this for him; or even why George decided to come out to New Zealand; or whether he came alone or with companions.  He may have indeed been ill as his memorial suggests (a colleague suggested tuberculosis) or there could have been other reasons to come half way around the world.

On 28 January 1875 Robert McQueen proved the will of his son George Brewis McQueen.  George left effects of less than £200.


His tidy grave site is tended by a kind hearted stranger who never knew George or his story.

Deborah

'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.

Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC263 Showing the grave and headstone of Christopher Greenway and Herbert George Greenway in the Symonds Street Cemetery. The inscription reads: Sacred to the memory of Christopher Greenway who departed this life March 20th 1889 aged 70 years and in loving memory of Herbert George who departed this life September 27th 1871 aged 13 years and 5 months. Beloved youngest son of Christopher and Helen Greenway his wife. 'His will be done'

'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-RIC327' Showing the grave and tombstone of James Joseph Conway in the Catholic section of Symonds Street Cemetery. The inscription reads: Erected by the Shipmasters of Auckland in memory of Captain James Joseph Conway, accidentally killed 18 March 1897 aged 50 (or 56). May he who rules the billows speed us on our way. Auckland Region (N.Z.)

Although Symonds Street Cemetery was closed to new burial plots in 1886, people continued to be buried there if they had family already there right up until 1950s - from the end of 1909, they had the added requirement of needing to also be over 50 years of age.
  

Full length portrait of Private William Parker, Reg No 38740, of the Auckland Infantry Regiment, 22nd Reinforcements, - E Company. Killed in action in France on 4th October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele. Heritage Images: 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-P2442'


However, there are 11 names associated with World War One noted in the Cemetery. Memorials were erected for soldiers lost in action. These are:

• Sapper Walter Edwin Clarke (4/516) who was killed in action on Gallipoli on 7 August 1915.
• Sapper Alfred Ernest Drummond (12/2687) who was killed in action in France on 4 October 1917.
• Private Walter Drummond (12/3307) who was killed in action in France on 26 September 1916.
• Private Thomas William Hobson (12/3681) who was killed in action in France on 7 July 1916.
• Corporal Leonard Ivy Joseph McCarthy (24663) who was killed in action in France on 17 February 1918.
• Private Ernest Wieland Monk of the Royal Fusiliers who died in France on 12 March 1916.
• Lance Corporal Charles Stanley Nicholson (23/535) who was killed in action in France on 15 September 1916.
• Corporal Edward John Parker (2/2896) who was killed in action in France on 26 September 1918.
• Private William Parker (38740) who was killed in action in France on 4 October 1917.
• Rifleman Stanley William Rowe (26690) who was killed in action in France on 12 June 1917.
• Wesley Neal Spragg, Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action in Egypt on 1 January 1918.

David Verran

PS - Don't forget you can contribute
your ANZAC story to our
Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge

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-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-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

Jewish ancestry?

“Why New Zealand? Some had heard of Australia but New Zealand? 
For me it was absolutely the right decision – there was no where further away from Germany...”

- Hansi Silberstein in Promised New Zealand



 The eight-day Jewish holiday, Hanukkah (the festival of lights) is celebrated this week, in commemoration of the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

This year, Hanukkah runs from Saturday December 8th until sunrise on December 15th and while there has never been a large Jewish population in New Zealand, there are certainly resources to help you start your research if you think you may be able to lay claim to Jewish ancestry.



Gary Mokotoff’s Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy (we have the 2011 edition in our collection) is recommended by New York’s Museum of Jewish heritage (and their www.jewishgen.org website).

Mokotoff shows how you can trace ancestry on line and he describes a search he conducted on a family (going back 200 years) using familiar sites such as www.ancestry.com with its Ellis Island databases.

While Kiwi Jewish ancestors are less likely to have travelled via Ellis Island, in our collection we do have several books to mull through, such as guides to cemeteries and how to read headstones (in Auckland, both Symonds Street and Waikumete have Jewish sections), and especially relevant to our country, stories of post World War 1 Jewish immigration (such as Freya Klier’s Promised New Zealand.)

Interestingly, a couple of our prime ministers can lay claim to Jewish roots– Sir Julius Vogel was a practicing Jew, and John Key has Jewish ancestry via his mother, an Austrian immigrant.

If you’re looking for aids to begin your research, use the Central Auckland Research Centre call number on the catalogue, which is... 1 GEN REL JEW.

Bring on the potato latkes and Mazel Tov in anticipation of some excellent finds.

Joanne