Ashburton District Family History Group - RootsWeb
Ashburton District Family History Group - RootsWeb
Ashburton District Family History Group - RootsWeb
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ASHBURTON DISTRICT FAMILY HISTORY GROUP<br />
Newsletter –October/November 2010<br />
====================================================================================================<br />
Convenor : Lindsay Holland: 5 Buchanan Place <strong>Ashburton</strong>. Phone 308 3201 puzzle@xtra.co.nz<br />
Treasurer: Marilyn Ellis: 3 Cherry Lane <strong>Ashburton</strong> Phone 307 2253 m_ellis@xtra.co.nz<br />
Secretary & Editor: Alice McLaren: 5 Pages Road <strong>Ashburton</strong>. Phone 308 7580 alice.mcl@ihug.co.nz<br />
Committee: Linda Blackmoore, Anne Epps, Rothery Reesby, Ann Cairns, Shari Early, Heather Ralston, Lynne Armstrong, Merv Beauvais, Rita<br />
Wright.<br />
Cemetery Records Officer: Michael Sheate: sheate@farmside.co.nz Phone 03 3025 665<br />
Church Records Officer: Rita Wright slightly foxed@clear.net.nz<br />
Early Settlers & Intentions to Marry Register: Heather Ralston ralstonp@xtra.co.nz Phone 03 307 0084<br />
Librarians: Lynne Armstrong d.c.armstrong@xtra.co.nz . & Marilyn Ellis<br />
Research Officer: Linda Blackmoore lindyb@xtra.co.nz<br />
School Records Officer: Ann Cairns Phone 308 2141. ann.cairns@xtra.co.nz<br />
◄►<br />
Library Hours: Rooms (254 Cameron St.) are open:<br />
every Wednesday - 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.<br />
2 ND & 4 th FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH – 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.<br />
PLUS!! EVERY SATURDAY MORNING - 10 a.m. – noon.<br />
(Public Holiday weekends excepted)<br />
UPCOMING MEETINGS: (put these dates in your diary!!)<br />
THERE WILL BE NO MEMBERS’ MEETING in October - about a dozen members are<br />
planning a Research Trip to Christchurch on 14 th October in place of our usual meeting – to car pool, meet<br />
in car park at Hotel <strong>Ashburton</strong> (Racecourse Road) at 8.30p.m. (clutching payment for drivers). For further<br />
information, phone Lynne at (03) 308 4115 ASAP!!<br />
Possible/probable places to visit are as follows:<br />
National Archives (wills, shipping records etc) - N Z Room at Canterbury Museum<br />
Cant. Branch NZSG Library LINZ – land information etc. - BMD place on Peterborough St. Public Library<br />
(Church Registers for Christchurch & surrounding areas etc.)<br />
9 November 2010 – Tuesday at 7.30p.m. Annual General Meeting and Election of Committee, following<br />
which Lindsay (and maybe Elizabeth) Holland will share some of their Scandinavian experiences with us.<br />
Supper will follow.<br />
8 February 2011 – Tuesday at 7.30p.m. – Ven. Jacqui, and Craig Paterson – sharing their experiences in<br />
UK exploring the areas where their ancestors originated, etc.<br />
☺☺☺☺<br />
A Very Warm Welcome to New Members:<br />
Marion Harrison and welcome back to past member, Jill Cribb. – We hope you enjoy the various activities<br />
arranged for members, and wish you every success in your research!!<br />
☺☺☺☺<br />
30 September marks the end of the 2009/2010 financial year.<br />
Our Treasurer, Marilyn Ellis is standing at the ready, receipt book in hand, to accept subscriptions for the<br />
2001/2011 year!. Subscriptions remain the same – i.e. $25 per annum - Or $35 for two people in the same<br />
household.<br />
These may be posted to Marilyn – 3 Cherry Lane <strong>Ashburton</strong> 7700 or left at our Rooms.<br />
TWO NEWSLETTERS ONLY (this one & one more) will be sent while subs remain unpaid.<br />
1
Convenor’s Comment:<br />
Well, Elizabeth & I have arrived back refreshed from a most interesting visit to Scandinavia.<br />
If we go back far enough most of us will have Viking ancestors in our trees. In Denmark and Norway<br />
particularly they seem to like reminding us of the links to Great Britain. I found Norwegians were very keen<br />
on genealogy and were quite knowledgeable about their ancestors, and were quick to claim a link to early<br />
Vikings. In most cemeteries gravestones were decorated with fresh flowers on a regular basis, according to<br />
one woman I spoke with the only time you get flowers is on your grave!! Mind you, most graveyards charge<br />
an annual fee, and if you don’t pay your plot is allocated to someone else!<br />
Home a few days and we were shaken and stirred by the big earthquake, and all those unsettling<br />
aftershocks, then looking around the house for signs of damage. <strong>Ashburton</strong> was rather lucky compared with<br />
those living near Christchurch. A visit to that city a few days after made us realize how bad things were for<br />
those in older brick houses, or who worked in similar buildings.<br />
The libraries, Archives and offices which hold materials we use in Christchurch suffered some<br />
damage, library shelving dumped books and materials on floors. Canterbury University Library is a huge<br />
mess with 100,000 books on the floor. The City Library and the Canterbury Branch Rooms all had some<br />
damage, and books thrown from shelving. It raises questions about placing records in centralized archives,<br />
and the importance of keeping copies in other places.<br />
Michael is working out a plan for the Headstone imaging project and we should start this soon. This week<br />
has been busy also; our team has been looking through the books at Rotary’s Bookarama again and has<br />
come away with another hundred or so books and pamphlets to add to our library.<br />
We applied for and received a grant of $1,800 dollars from the Licensing Trust Charitable Foundation,<br />
which will be used to upgrade the office suite. Last week we purchased another computer to replace one of<br />
our aging machines; some of the recently released software discs won’t operate on the older windows 98<br />
systems, so this will keep us up to date, we are still trying to sort out a good reliable printer /photocopier<br />
which will be purchased in the near future.<br />
I hope to see you all at the Annual Meeting; I’ll show a very few of the 3000 images I took in Scandinavia!!<br />
Lindsay Holland – Convenor<br />
Members Interests:<br />
McKINLAY- Sanquhar – Dumfries – Scotland – pre 1863<br />
MACADAM – Auchinleck – Ayrshire – Scotland – pre 1863<br />
McKINLAY – Auckland - New Zealand – 1920s onwards<br />
RYAN – Cahirdrinny – Cork – Ireland – 1800s<br />
BOOKLE – Plebestown – Kilkenny – Ireland – 1800s<br />
PYE – Rayleigh – Essex – England – 1800 onwards<br />
HURRELL – Rayleigh – Essex – England – 1800 onwards<br />
BISHOP – Steeple Ashton – Wiltshire – England – mid 1700s onwards<br />
LOVELL – Geraldine – Canterbury – New Zealand – 1900 onwards<br />
LOVELL – London England – pre 1900<br />
JOHNSTON – Roberton – Roxburghshire – Scotland – 1830s<br />
JOHNSTONE – Geraldine – Canterbury – New Zealand – 1900s<br />
Submitted by Olwyn McKinlay<br />
1081 Halkett Road R D 1<br />
Christchurch 7671<br />
Ph. 03 318 1727<br />
volts@xtra.co.nz<br />
(Who will supply a list of their Research names for the Members Interests corner in the next newsletter??? - Please??<br />
2<br />
Heaven is Where:<br />
The Police are British,<br />
The Chefs are Italian,<br />
The Mechanics are German,<br />
The Lovers are French and<br />
It's all organized by the Swiss.
“MY GRANDPARENTS WERE”<br />
McILVRIDE - Daniel, b 13 May 1852, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, d 23 Jan 1939, Parramatta, New South Wales,<br />
Australia (son of James McIlvride, b 13 Dec 1817 at Muthill, Perthshire, Scotland, and Christian Dochard,b 27 Jun<br />
1819, at Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland).<br />
Married 31 Dec 1885, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia to<br />
McRAE - Elizabeth B, b 17 Sep 1858, Albion Park. New South Wales, Australia d 11 Aug 1934, Warwick,<br />
Queensland, Australia (daughter of Duncan McRae b Abt. 06 Jan 1826 in Cromarty. Scotland and Jane MacFarlane of<br />
Inverness Scotland).<br />
WALDEN - George Hadley, b 23 Nov 1871, London Bridge Hotel, Dean Street, Southwark, London, England, d 21<br />
Oct 1922, Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia,(son of George Walden, and Mary Hadley),<br />
Married 17 Sep 1896, Maclear, Hopedale, South Africa to<br />
HACK - Edith Mary, b 02 Jan 1876 Barkby, Leicester, England, d 28 Oct 1948, St George <strong>District</strong> Hospital,<br />
Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia, (Daughter of William Hack b 8 April 1852 and Mary Maria Frost)<br />
Submitted by Judith Leeming (nee McIlvride) 133 SH77 <strong>Ashburton</strong>, 7776, New Zealand.<br />
AND<br />
LEEMING - John Thomas b 25 Oct 1866, Lyttelton, New Zealand, d 19 Apr 1931, Christchurch Hospital.<br />
Christchurch, New Zealand, (son of William Webster Leeming,<br />
b 21 Nov 1840 d 23 May 1907 of Hapton. Lancashire. England and Elizabeth Ann Abbot b 15 Dec 1840<br />
They are buried in South Malvern cemetery.)<br />
Married 01 Jun 1887, Baptist Church, South Malvern, to<br />
BUCKINGHAM - Selina b Abt. 21 May 1861, Calstock, Linkinhorne, Cornwall, England.<br />
d 18 May 1942, South Malvern, New Zealand. (Daughter of William John Buckingham and Maria Osborne<br />
of Calstock, Linkinhorne. Cornwall. England)<br />
DOWN - John, b 01 Feb 1852, Chilla, Black Torrington, Devonshire, England, d 02 Dec 1922, 21<br />
Rosewarne Street, Spreydon, New Zealand, (son of John Down b c1816 of Black Torrington, and Mary<br />
Horrell)<br />
Married 09 Apr 1885, Methodist Church, Addington, New Zealand to<br />
NEILL - Eliza, b 29 Jan 1859, Clanaghan, Bangor, Ireland, (d of Andrew Neill and Agnes Nancy<br />
McMeckin b c1831 in Dondonnell Bangor Ireland) d 26 May 1951, 21 Rosewarne Street, Spreydon, New<br />
Zealand.<br />
Submitted by Graham Leeming, 133 SH77 <strong>Ashburton</strong>, 7776, New Zealand.<br />
We invite members to submit their list of Grandparents for inclusion in the next newsletter – you could make contact with a<br />
previously unknown relative! Also, please do take time to complete (and return) the “Members Interests” and “My<br />
Grandparents’ Were” forms.<br />
Three organisations charged with handling public records in Scotland, including the burgeoning office<br />
responsible for the genealogy boom, have been asked to look at merging.<br />
Ministers have asked the General Register Office for Scotland, National Archives of Scotland and Registers of<br />
Scotland to explore the benefits of amalgamation.<br />
It is claimed that a merger of the three bodies has the potential to deliver savings for the taxpayer while maintaining<br />
the high level of services provided.<br />
Hell is Where:<br />
The Police are German,<br />
The Chefs are British,<br />
The Mechanics are French,<br />
The Lovers are Swiss and<br />
It's all organized by the Italians.<br />
3
The following is some Information forwarded by NZSG:…<br />
A breakdown of the records appearing in the 2nd edition of the British Isles Vital Record Index from The Church of<br />
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be seen at http://genoot.com/downloads/BVRI2/. The numbers in the tables<br />
indicate the number of records for that county. Clicking on the numbers will retrieve a pdf file with the breakdown<br />
showing individual parishes and the periods covered. This is particularly useful as it has details for many Free Church<br />
and other congregations’ records.<br />
The new Somerset Heritage Centre on the edge of Taunton opened on 27 September 2010. More details can be<br />
found on the Internet at http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/SHC/Intro.htm<br />
Contact details are:<br />
Somerset Heritage Centre<br />
Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren, TAUNTON, TA2 6SF<br />
Tel: 01823 278805 (enquiries) Tel: 01823 337600 (appointments)<br />
Fax: 01823 347459 Email: archives@somerset.gov.uk<br />
The following press release was issued by the UKBMD team:<br />
Cheshire BMD celebrates its tenth anniversary on 15th October 2010. From its small beginnings in 2000 it has<br />
continued to grow steadily over the years as volunteers from the <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> Society of Cheshire work with the<br />
local register offices to put online the birth, marriage and death indexes based on the original records held by the<br />
local register offices.<br />
Over the years eight other regions of the country made use of the free UKBMD software and therefore have web sites<br />
that function in an identical manner. All of these are accessible for the main UKBMD web site at<br />
http://www.UKBMD.org.uk/<br />
When you click on the "Local BMD" button in UKBMD's menu you will be shown a list of links to all<br />
the sites that use the UKBMD software, and also all the other sites that are placing their original<br />
BMD indexes online using differing systems.<br />
Now as the project reaches its tenth anniversary the UKBMD project is pleased to announce the launch of<br />
the tenth web site to use the UKBMD software, Cumbria BMD indexes are now online!<br />
As with the other BMD projects this is a joint effort between the register offices and various family history<br />
societies. Its initial launch will include data from the Barrow register office with other offices in the area<br />
adding their data soon after.<br />
As stated above, the software used in the UKBMD web sites is free for any society and register office to use. If your<br />
area of the country does not have their indexes online yet, perhaps it would be a project that your society would<br />
consider? <strong>Family</strong> Historians gain by having access to original BMD indexes, registrars gain by being able to supply<br />
copy certificates without needing to search. Everyone wins!<br />
http://www.Cheshir BMD.org.uk/ http://www.Cumbri BMD.org.uk/<br />
http://www.UKBMD.org.uk/<br />
Thanks to Chris Paton for informing me of this - http://scottishancestry.blogspot.com<br />
From: Roger Lewry, FFHS Archives Liaison archives.liaison@ffhs.org.uk<br />
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.<br />
An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon,<br />
perform the operation. As he was about to get the anaesthesia, he asked to speak to his son. 'Yes, Dad, what is it? '<br />
'Don't be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me...<br />
your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife.'<br />
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.<br />
4
THE IRISH INTEREST GROUP OF THE N Z SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS INC.<br />
IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF<br />
Experienced speakers and long-time Irish family history researchers<br />
MALCOLM MCDONALD & CHRISTINE MILLS<br />
will conduct two sessions aimed at helping people research their Irish ancestors.<br />
When: Sunday 17th October 2010<br />
Where: Upper Riccarton Community & School Library<br />
71 Main South Road, Sockburn, Christchurch<br />
Morning session: 11am to 1pm<br />
Topic: PARISH RECORDS of Ireland<br />
Afternoon session: 1.30pm to 3.30pm<br />
Topic: PROBATE RECORDS (Wills, etc) of Ireland<br />
Cost: $10 per session<br />
Both sessions are suitable for researchers of any level of experience (from the novice to the more<br />
experienced<br />
genealogist) and will cover the following:<br />
The sessions are designed to be informative and fun! Handout notes are included.<br />
Positions are strictly limited & PRIOR BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL !<br />
To secure a position at this workshop please send an email to cxmprint@gmail.com or<br />
phone Malcolm McDonald on (09) 426 3674 or 027-2080832<br />
Don’t miss out ……. BOOK NOW !!!<br />
Two Sessions<br />
ON IRISH FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH<br />
• What records are available • Where the records are located<br />
• How the records may be accessed • Information contained in the records<br />
• and much more<br />
TIMPSON FAMILY<br />
Timpson – This is notification for a dedication ceremony of a memorial seat commemorating Jack and Nellie Timpson,<br />
also Henry and Ann Timpson (the original Timpson couple who emigrated from England in 1886 and made their<br />
home in the Staveley area, Mid Canterbury). The ceremony is to be held at 2pm Sunday 21 st November 2010 on the<br />
Green opposite the Staveley Store.<br />
The Staveley Historical and Geological Centre will be open, where extensive social history records of the area are to<br />
be found.<br />
<strong>Family</strong> members will be in attendance on both Saturday the 20 Nov 2010 and Sunday 21 Nov 2010 for family and<br />
friends who wish to visit the location.<br />
Stan Smith a Timpson descendant who has been researching the family for over 40 years will be attending. Stan is<br />
keen to gather more copies of family history documents and photographs from people who attend the event and wish<br />
to share and will have family information from his research to share with you, at the dedication. (Copies of your<br />
documents and photos can be taken at the event). Immediate associated families are Blyth, Andrews, Grieve &<br />
Stockdill. Ann Timpson nee Wheelband kept a shipboard diary on their voyage out on the “Langstone”. <strong>Family</strong><br />
members have transcripts but if anyone knows the whereabouts of the original it would be great to view and compare<br />
with the transcript.<br />
It is hoped the event will be a time for family and friends to renew old and make new acquaintances and to celebrate<br />
the pioneering spirit of Henry and Ann Timpson.<br />
The organisers are relying on word of mouth to inform family and friends of this event.<br />
For further information and confirmation of attendance (for catering purposes) please contact; Stan Smith (03) 358<br />
7075 Christchurch or John Timpson (06) 877 6678<br />
Or by email to stanjsmith@xtra.co.nz<br />
☺☺☺☺<br />
We exchange newsletters with a number of NZSG Branches – recently received are: Cant. Sep 10; Whangarei Sep 10;<br />
Westland Sep 10; Riccarton Sep 10; Papakura Aug, Sep, Oct 10; Wellington Sep 10;<br />
these can include queries for research as well as lists of suggested websites.<br />
There is, as always, some good stuff in these, so check them out at our Rooms. !!<br />
5
Latest Accessions to the library are:<br />
LIBRARY REPORT<br />
G14 Vanguard of the South – Nelson New Zealand – C.B. Brereton (donated by Rita Wright)<br />
K255 The Mt. Somers Tramway 1886-1943 – I.D. Maffey<br />
O31 Doubtfull Harbour – John Hall-Jones (donated by Gwen & Merv. Beauvais)<br />
CD The Jim Pearce Index – Obituaries reported in The Evening Post 1929-1977 (this CD<br />
has been loaded on to our new computer, which is next to the 2 other computers beneath the windows. The<br />
Victorian Outwards Passenger Lists CD has also been loaded onto this computer)<br />
Some of the books purchased from Bookarama this year are as follows:<br />
C9 Memories of Old Wanganui Vol. 4<br />
F14 Out of Mind Out of Sight – Wendy Hunter Williams<br />
G15 Nelson Pilgrimage – A.H. Reed<br />
G16 Pioneer Passengers – To Nelson by Sailing Ship March 1842-June 1843 – June Neale<br />
H9 Holy Trinity Church Picton 1863-1963 – A Centennial <strong>History</strong><br />
J114 St. Albans from Swamp to Suburbs – An Informal <strong>History</strong><br />
J115 Trotting Beneath the Nor’west Arch – Hororata Trotting Club 1951-1991 – T. Brankin<br />
J116 St. George’s Hospital - The First Fifty Years – L.C.L. Averill<br />
J117 Many a Glorious Morning – David McLeod<br />
J118 A <strong>History</strong> of the University of Canterbury 1873-1973 – Gardner, Beardsley, & Carter<br />
J119 Templeton Primary School and <strong>District</strong> 1862-1987<br />
J120 Rangiora RSA 1919-1994 & Rangiora RSA Club Inc. 1972-1993 Souvenir <strong>History</strong><br />
K19b Willowby School 1876-1999<br />
K256 Mid-Canterbury Rugby Football Union 1927-2002<br />
K257 <strong>Ashburton</strong> RSA – 70 Years On<br />
L88 Thomas of Timaru – The Life & Work of a Great Headmaster – George Guy<br />
L89 The Lyalldale Waltz – Isaac M. Thompson<br />
L90 Fairlie Fire Brigade 1908-1983<br />
M34 Westland’s Golden Century 1860-1960 – Rupert A. Kay<br />
N82 To Fame Undying – The Otago Settlers Assn. 1898-2008 – Sean G. Brosnahan<br />
N83 Goldfields of Otago an Illustrated <strong>History</strong> – John Hall-Jones<br />
O27 <strong>History</strong> of Drummond and Gladfield – One Hundred Years More or Less<br />
O32 The Heart of Fiordland – George A. Howard<br />
O33 A Cut Above – Early <strong>History</strong> of the Alliance Freezing Co. (Southland) – Clive A. Lind<br />
P4a Petticoat Pioneers Book 2 – North Island Women of the Colonial Era – M. Macgregor<br />
P183 Erewhon – Samuel Butler<br />
P184 No Idle Rich – The Wealthy in Canterbury & Otago 1840-1914 – Jim McAloon<br />
P185 The Long White Cloud – William Pember Reeves<br />
P186 The Sugarbag Years – A People’s <strong>History</strong> of the 1930s Depression in NZ – T. Simpson<br />
P187 Insight Guides – New Zealand – ed. Gordon McLauchlan<br />
P188 Open Country – ed. Jim Henderson<br />
P189 From North Cape to Bluff – A.H. Reed<br />
P190 Faith & Fraternalism A <strong>History</strong> of the Hibernian Soc. in NZ 1869-2000 – R. Sweetman<br />
P191 A Century of Change 2 nd ed. NZ 1800-1900 – M. Stenson & E. Olssen<br />
P192 Epitaph – Paul Gittins<br />
P193 Epitaph II – Paul Gittins<br />
P194 The Bad Old Days – A Century of Life in the Young Colony of NZ – Tony Nolan<br />
P195 Awesome Forces - the natural hazards that threaten NZ – ed. Hicks & Campbell<br />
P196 A Salute to Trotting – A <strong>History</strong> of Harness Racing in NZ – Ron Bisman<br />
When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.<br />
Advice just to hand from Internal Affairs Department re increases in charges for certificates<br />
(GST increase):<br />
Standard cert (bmd) –was $26 - now $26.50<br />
Electronic printout or photocopy of cert (bmd) – was $20 now $20.40.<br />
Full list of charges can be emailed by Editor (alice.mcl@ihug.co.nz) – do ask if you would like a copy<br />
- or inspect the list in our rooms.<br />
6
Recently the <strong>Group</strong> received an email from Ireland – Brendan Hennessey lives in County Cork, and has discovered<br />
that a relative had been a teaching Sister in <strong>Ashburton</strong>. Brendan was under the impression that Norah COMMONS aka<br />
Sr Mary Agnes had maybe come to NZ by herself He was able to tell me that her parents were Jeremiah COMMONS<br />
and Alice HENNESSEY. He is coming to New Zealand in October, and decided that he would like to visit <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
cemetery where Sister M. Agnes was buried in 1935, and possibly view the Convent where she lived, if it is still in<br />
existence. By coincidence I was speaking with Maree O’Neill who is the office administrator in the Holy Name office,<br />
so I asked her whether there would be any records available of Sisters who had lived in <strong>Ashburton</strong>. Not a lot was<br />
available, but we discovered that she had been in <strong>Ashburton</strong> by 1930 until her death. I popped out to the cemetery, and<br />
located the grave, so took a couple of photographs, which were emailed to Brendan. By looking at the Christchurch<br />
cemeteries database online, I was able to find what I was pretty sure were Jeremiah’s & Alice’s burial details – both<br />
buried at Linwood cemetery in 1897 and 1918 respectively. On Papers Past (online) was a great obituary for Alice – it<br />
mentioned how long the family had been in New Zealand (Norah was just a few months old when they arrived on the<br />
“Rakaia” in 1874), plus the fact that two of their four daughters were resident at the Convent in Barbadoes St. There<br />
were also four sons in the family. A few days ago, I mentioned the story to a friend whose sister is a member of the<br />
same order as the two Commons sisters (Our Lady of the Missions) – she phoned her sister in Christchurch; and with<br />
the phone number she supplied, I contacted the Archives for the Order in Wellington. The Archivist, Sister Theresa<br />
was most helpful – told me heaps about the two Sisters – and has since scanned and forwarded all documents relating<br />
to their various placements etc – a wonderful dossier on the lives of the two COMMONS daughters, Norah/Sr M<br />
Agnes, and Ellen/Sr Mary of Loretto.<br />
Sister Theresa is herself interested in family history, and has helped to compile her own family’s history. Brendan is<br />
thrilled with the info that we have been able to supply re this branch of his family. Does anyone have, or know of, a<br />
connection with this family? Please contact me 03 308 7580 if you have/know of a connection, as Brendan would<br />
love to meet up with a/some descendants of Jeremiah and Alice Commons while he is in New Zealand<br />
If anyone wishes to learn more details about a family member who entered the Order, Sister Theresa has indicated that<br />
they would be willing to assist – their email address is: . – Alice McLaren.<br />
Remember – to check out the research queries folder in the Rooms. More than 13 pages of names, all referenced for<br />
easy access to material – you could be lucky and find a connection here!<br />
☻☻☻<br />
INTERESTING BITS FROM OTHER GROUPS’ RECENT NEWSLETTERS<br />
◙ NEW RESOURCE on ANCESTRY: Many of you will already know that Ancestry has just released a new<br />
database with accessible images: England & Wales, National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and<br />
Administrations, 1861-1941.<br />
From the website: The records were created by the Probate Registry, which took control of proving wills and<br />
administrations in 1858. Before this, four different types of ecclesiastical (church) courts dealt with these<br />
cases. A Principal Probate Registry was established in London in January 1858, and several district probate<br />
registries were created around the country. From then on, the registries oversaw all grants of probate and<br />
letters of administration. This collection is the Calendar of these grants, each year separated into a different<br />
volume.<br />
The entries in each volume are then alphabetised by surname. Information varies across different entries, but<br />
each typically includes:<br />
Probate date Full name of the deceased Death date Death place Registry where issued<br />
Missing volumes: The collection covers 80 years from 1861 to 1941. Currently there are no books for the<br />
years 1858-1860 and there are some gaps for the years 1863, 1868, 1873, 1876, 1877, 1883, 1888, 1899-<br />
1903 and 1910-1911. However, we hope to add records for these years as soon as possible.” - (Borrowed<br />
from Papakura’s September newsletter - Thanks!!)<br />
☺☺☺☺<br />
Cemetery Corner<br />
Our Cemetery Archivist Michael Sheate reports that he has approached the <strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>District</strong> Council re<br />
the proposed imaging of the headstones in the various county cemeteries and aligning them with the ADC’s<br />
burial records online. This will be a massive task - it is hoped that a start will be made this summer.<br />
Shotgun wedding - A case of wife or death.<br />
7
Does anyone have a photograph of the Holmeslea homestead on River Road above Barrhill?<br />
We have received a request from Jenny Rodger of Twizel – her family lived there for a few years in the<br />
early 1970s, and she would like to obtain a copy for a book she is compiling of all the places they have lived.<br />
If you can oblige, please contact Linda Blackmoore (03) 308 3014 (evenings) or lindyb@xtra.co.nz<br />
Have you visited ADFHG website yet??? http://www.rootsweb.com/~nzlasfhg<br />
◄►<br />
I wish to give praise to the excellent service given by the North Shore Branch of NZSG.<br />
They hold the excerpts from the "New Zealand Herald" newspapers [Auckland] for Deaths,<br />
Memoriam etc. The service is quick. Contact Dennise Cook. P.O. Box 89 045, Torbay, Auckland 0742.<br />
Charge is a donation. It is helpful if you know the exact death date though not necessary, The earlier<br />
papers have been indexed by name, the later ones by surname only. Dennise is an extremely helpful<br />
person. The information I have personally received from various death notices have been helpful in<br />
finding cousins, aunties and uncles I never knew existed. Also placing which cousin actually belonged<br />
to which parents. It was also most helpful in finding what cemeteries they were buried in.<br />
Linda Blackmoore<br />
☺☺☺☺<br />
A couple of (in fact, three) Research Queries – can anyone help, please??<br />
McBride - I Would appreciate any help with the researching of Richard McBride, My great grand mother's brother<br />
who has proved rather difficult in locating.<br />
Also - Mary McBride. 17. Gen Serv. Co Down. m James Crosson. 1/4/1875 Farmer. <strong>Ashburton</strong>. d 13/3/1902 buried at<br />
Waterton Cemt. <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
Contact - Kevin Lewis – via Linda Blackmoore (03) 308 3014 (evenings) or lindyb@xtra.co.nz<br />
Also:<br />
POCOCK - I am researching my family "the Pocock's" who first settled in <strong>Ashburton</strong>, I noticed on the<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Group</strong> site reference to My family members, but could not find any more in<br />
detail.<br />
I am particularly interested in my Grandfather Claude Pocock (other Christian names Rupert Vivian) and his<br />
father George Pocock, can you tell me where to start and if there is any information on them.<br />
Regards Ian Pocock. (contact via Linda Blackmoore as above)<br />
AND LASTLY - I am researching the 100 Lyon Officers of WW1, one of whom was <strong>Ashburton</strong>'s own Doctor George<br />
Lyon.<br />
What I am still very keen to track down is a photo of George, preferably in his WW1 uniform, does your <strong>Group</strong> have<br />
access to one such ?<br />
Dan Lyon (contact via Linda Blackmoore as above) § § § § §<br />
Our collection of “Funeral Memorial Sheets”– given out at funerals – continues to grow – we are still accepting<br />
contributions – thanks to those who have donated so far.<br />
Sender: 5 Pages Road<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
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