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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: Curley on Tuesday 11 March 08 10:25 GMT (UK)
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H.B.Burnett was born in Magherafelt,Ireland in 1836. He travelled to Australia to work in the goldfields and then on to New Zealand approx 1860. Having made enough money he returned to Ireland and educated himself and a brother at Queen,s University, Belfast and came out as Presbyterian Ministers. He returned to New Zealand on the "Alhambra" and arrived at Lyttelton on 14.3.1874. Ministered around different churches and was Moderator in 1890(www.archives.presbyterian.org.nz).Died 15.4.1912 Auckland.
Looking for information on travelling to Australia and N.Zealand and also if a James Burnett travelled with him. Any relevant information would be very welcome
Curley
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Not sure if after all this time this response will reach you. My great grandfather James Burnett went to New Zealand and settled in Westport area.
He was born James William Burnett and at some point changed it to Barnett. My grandmother and separately my great aunt both mentioned he had a brother who was a minister. However the name Alex was recalled; and while Alex was a family name I have never found a single thing about him to prove he existed.
At this point I think there may have been a minister in the family, Alexander was definitely a family name, but by now at least one document or record would likely have cross-referenced to find a sibling and no hints whatsoever.
There was a large gap of 10 years between children however, which is quite odd an rule of of thumb is these family stories no matter how warped in retelling they become, usually have some basis in fact. His family were from Glasgow and Edinburgh however, and I don't know if any of them went to Ireland, although they could have.
I feel like I have looked into Henry Brown Burnett at some point in the past regarding the same issue and he was discounted as being a relation. There was family in Dunedin, his parents and a brother who was also in ministry so if it's the same person I'm thinking of, he spent time in ministry at Denniston. Sounds like it since you mention his brother also became a minister. I was able to go back a couple of generations and couldn't find any connection to my family so moved on.
Every Reverend or Minister who was an Alexander Burnett/Barnett who was a minister I've found over the years has been discounted, which has been 3 or 4 now. Apparently Henry Brown Burnett also had a brother Alexander Burnett.
Reverend Henry Brown Burnett and grandson Reverend Henry Beaumont Burnett gets a mention in the National Library here (they seem to have the names jumbled up)
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23084323
and it mentions him visiting family in Westport so that would be something to look into. My great grandfather also had other family there. his cousin Christina Barton nee Burnett who migrated from Scotland around 1876-1878.