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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Scottygirl on Sunday 26 June 11 23:57 BST (UK)
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Hello - I'm new here and have been researching my family for awhile now. I've done most of it but am stuck on my GG grandfather, Thomas Law. He was born in Dublin, Ireland around 1837. He married in NZ in Christchurch in 1865 to Elizabeth Bowis. He was a miner and owned part of a claim in Cullensville and I think Haast. I know for certain the "Thomas Law's that appear for Marlborough area on the electoral roles etc are my Thomas (esp from 1875). My problem is that I see a Thomas Law down in Otago, and being a miner, I'm sure he went there first when he arrived in NZ. There seem to be many Thomas Laws down there - is it mostly the same person with several gold claims? Could you be on the role for more than one area at the same time?
My second question is I can't find when he came here - perhaps he did the gold fields of Australia first? If there are any clever people out there with way too much time on their hands ;D then I'd love some ideas, help etc. I do know most of what happened from the 1880s on, it is just the early stuff I'm having trouble with.
Thanks
Lynda
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Hi Lynda, and welcome to RC.
From http://www.elections.org.nz/study/education-centre/history/right-to-vote.html
In 1860 the right to vote was extended for the first time - to gold miners. Any male British subject over 21 who held a miner's right (that is, a licence, which cost £1 per year) was entitled to vote without having to enrol.
You will see that for many years, it was possible for a person (only males until 1893) to be listed on more than one electoral roll.
John B
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Ah... well that explains why there are many listings for Thomas Law - everywhere he had a gold stake, he was a listed voter? If only I could know he was "my" Thomas Law by knowing when he arrived in NZ.
Thanks
Lynda
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Do you know where he is buried? sometimes cemetery records state how long a person has been in NZ
Cheers Janette
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If you search the OTAGO NOMINAL INDEX
http://marvin.otago.ac.nz/oni/basic.php
you will see the many thomas Law's
so maybe the Otaho ones are different.
Bye
althea
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Firstly Althea ... should I say "cousin Althea"? I am a Berry... from Barker. You sent me some wonderul information about 4 years back.
Thanks to the above posters for the info - yes there is a grave but no date of arrival. I wonder did he come alone, with brothers or family?? There are a lot of Law families in the south island and a John Law, who came over in 1856, settled for a time in Marlbourgh with children. I found that through a newspaper article on his death. I'll go and check out that site you mentioned Althea.
Lynda
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If you search the OTAGO NOMINAL INDEX
http://marvin.otago.ac.nz/oni/basic.php
you will see the many thomas Law's
so maybe the Otaho ones are different.
Bye
althea
Yes, many Thomas Laws!! I suppose I could safely presume that some of those entries might be my GG grandfather? I also am having trouble this week with www.yesteryears.co.nz - when I try to search it comes up with a google alert and won't search. I've tried this on three computers and a different ISP addresses so I'm assuming the problem is with that site? Are there any other passenger listings that are searchable?
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Hi
Lovely area around what was Cullensville in the Mahakipawa Valley.
photographs click on ID#, especially 0000.900.0763, at this address
http://exhibits1.museums.org.nz/collection2MHS2/exhibit3/vextitle3.htm
Is this your Thomas Law or the Publican (see below) buried in Picton?
Date of Burial 29 Oct 1922 Age 85Y
or this one 1891/4544 Law Thomas 72Y (as in NZ BDM)?
Working back from Thomas Law the mine manager of the Hibernian Mine, Cullensville late 1880'- 1890's, in the hope of clarifying which Thomas Law could be yours.
5/2/1886 A Thomas Law was supposed to appear in court in Inangahua (could be associated with goldmining)
4/1/1885 A Thomas Law drowned near Naseby - obviously not your Thomas and this Thomas I believe is the Thomas, brother of Peter and John Law, all of whom were farmers in the Gimmerburn Valley - Rough Ridge area, Central Otago.
1885/170 Law Thomas 21Y
Marlborough Express, Volume XIX, Issue 125, 12 June 1883, Page 2
Thomas Law, a Publican of Picton, filed a declaration of insolvency
Southland Times , Issue 2778, 22 May 1877, Page 2
LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION. On the application of Mr P. F. Finn letters of administration were granted to the widow of Thomas Law.
1877/563 Law Thomas 44Y (as in NZ BDM)
Otago Daily Times , Issue 4004, 16 December 1874, Page 3
A Thomas Law of Caversham, formerely a grocer, now a builder was adjudged bankrupt.
It seems likely that this Thomas Law of Havelock, 11 miles from Cullensville was formerly in Waitahuna, Otago. But he too cannot be your Thomas Law as it is recorded in:-
Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 279, 5 June 1873, Page 4
MATTHEW HAY has received instructions from the Executor in the Estate of the late Thomas Law to sell by public auction on the Claim, at Havelock, on the above date, at 1 o'clock, One-fourth Share in a 6 Acre Claim, situated at Havelock, and known as Hamilton and Co.'s, together with the Plant complete. Also, 2 Water Races 5 Horses 3 Drays and Harness, complete. Chaff Cutter. Stack of Oats. Stable and Hut, and One-third Share in a Saddle Mare, in foal to Quicksand. Also, One-third Share in 3 Cows and a number of Articles. NO RESERVE. Terms Cash. see
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TT18730605.2.8.1&l=mi&e=-------10--1----2--
Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 279, 5 June 1873, Page 2
NOTICE. ALL Accounts due to and by the Estate of the late Thomas Law, of Havelock, will be received and paid by the under- signed, on or before the 20th day of June. JOHN PEARSON, Executor. Accounts to be sent under cover, to the care of Mr. Dewes, Waitahuna.
NZ death reg 1873/1981 Law Thomas NR (age not recorded)
FOR, SALE. ONE-FOURTH SHARE in a Six Acre Claim, situated at Havelock, and known as Hamilton and Party's. The Plant consists of two Water Races, two Water Wheels, four Horses, one Filly, three Drays, Stables, &c. There are also three Brood Mares in foal to Emperor. The ill health of the Proprietor of the above shares is the only reason for his desire to dispose of it. Further particulars may be obtained by application to the Party, at the claim; or to Mr. F. Oudaille, storekeeper, Havelock. THOMAS LAW.
and then there are :-
6/6/1872 A Thomas Law severed his partnership in the coal Merchants "Low, Law & Robertson" of Coal Creek, Central Otago
8/2/1866 A Thomas Law, of Waitahuna, was a shareholder in the Canada Quartz Mining Company which had been formed the previous year. (probably the one who died in Havelock 1873)
13/2/1862 A Thomas Law signed a "thankyou notice" on reaching Otago in the good ship "Hannah" see
Papers Past , Otago Daily Times, 13 February 1862, Page 3, Advertisements Column 3 - in the ship's list he has "jnr" appended to his name.
I know the Nelson Museum has a wealth of information and I have had great service from them. There is also the Havelock local Museum (and if you are not a NZ'er don't confuse it with a "Havelock North" Museum). Try also the Marlborough Museum in Blenheim and Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin. All have websites and contacts.
Cheers
MalNZ
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Hi Lynda
Great to see you here
Maybe we can hunt some Barker/Berry brickwalls
I have been ignoring my own tree but am full steam looking at each line from this week!! my mid winter resolution 8)
Bye
althea
re the passenger list, look at the resource section at the top of page a full list of searchable databases
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,493441.0.html
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Oh my goodness MalNZ - that is a lot to take in, I am amazed you could find all of that so quickly!. I have seen some of that so hopefully you can understand why I am so confused. My private detective ability is lacking.
Firstly THANK YOU, yes that is my Thomas on the ladder in that photo. I already had seen the one of him outside the Miner's Arms Hotel (also on that list you gave) but I had not seen the mining one. Fantastic!!
Yes my Thomas is the 85y 1922 one. Yes, he was the mine manager. Yes he went bankrupt in 1883 and also in 1895 (for Miner's arms which then burned down, lets hope he didn't do it!!).
I wonder if the "other" Thomas law could be his father?? My Thomas had a son called Thomas (in the 1880s) so it is possibly a name handed down. I also have a feeling that the Canadian Reef mine could be his - only because both of Thomas's sons - William and Andrew - later went to Canada to mine. Maybe there is a connection with Canada??
I would rule out the grocer/builder. I wonder if that is my Thomas on the ship Hannah?
So many posibilities but not many I can be sure of. Thank you for the time you've put into this for me.
Lynda
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I've checked the "Hannah" arrival in 1862 and notice the ship's list has "Low" but the thank you advertisement has "Law" - I would tend to agree with the advertisement over the ship's list, what do other's think? My goodness, if he is Thomas Law jnr then the snr probably could have been the Thomas who died at Havelock.
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.... my GG grandfather, Thomas Law. He was born in Dublin, Ireland around 1837. He married in NZ in Christchurch in 1865 to Elizabeth Bowis.
Hi
This one arriving from Victoria, Australia ... (will be dependent on when in 1865, he married).
LAW - Thos - age 28 [bc 1837]
Vessel: Albion I - March 1865 - to NZ (destination port(s), not stated) .
http://pro.vic.gov.au/
>> select "online indexes" >> Passengers from VIC
~ Lu
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Thanks Lucy, he married on 13 Feb 1865 so can't be him, great try though!! :)
Edit: actual marriage was 1866
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Did you have the Intention to Marry? for his marriage
Bye
Althea
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Hi Althea. I have the marriage date on the birth cert of his son, Andrew. The BDM is 1866/7333. I have just applied for Thomas's death cert in the hope it might give me something more - esp parent's names.
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Hi Althea. I have the marriage date on the birth cert of his son, Andrew. The BDM is 1866/7333.
Mmm ... not sure the marriage date on birth certificate can be relied upon ? ;)
Seems odd that a February 1865 marriage should be indexed in the following year ?
If you're going to be requesting a look-up of the ITM, then 1866 is the year to begin with. I say that because there is a note on the NZSG Marriage resource - Thomas LAW has been indexed (1866) with two brides (Folio # 1018).
A note alongside the name of Elizabeth BOWIE, indicates the correct bride has been found for Thomas - via the ITM, (Intention to Marry notice) ;)
~ Lu
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Oh my did I miss something that obvious!! If they married 1866 then yes, that would be him coming over from Victoria in 1865.
Could someone please tell me - where do you find ITMs is it the record on the searchable index for BDM? Where do you all get your information? You seem to have so much.
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Hi
Go to the Resources Section at the top of page of this NZ Board, and click on the "Look Ups". From there you can see what info ITM's offer, and a guide to placing a request for same. :)
~ Lu
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Sorry, not sure I understand but are you saying I can ask someone to do a look up for me? Can someone find the date of their marriage or just the year? Sometimes I just get lost in all of this :(
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Sorry, not sure I understand but are you saying I can ask someone to do a look up for me? Can someone find the date of their marriage or just the year? Sometimes I just get lost in all of this :(
Have replied to this (in part) on your new "ITM request" thread. ;)
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Hi again Scottygirl
Apologies ... I think perhaps I was a bit vague with my earlier attempt to explain the "Resources" on here. :D :)
So once you've read this, scroll back to top of the thread and >> click on "New Zealand" (alongside of the green leaf icon - top left-hand side). This will take you to the Home Page of the New Zealand RootsChat board where you'll find the "Resources and Offers" link.
~ Lu
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I just received the
Marriage death (edited) print out for Thomas Law (wow that was quick) - it says that he had been in New Zealand for 59 years so 1922 less 59 = 1863 approx.
His father is given as John and Mother as Mary (formerly McDonald). Fantastic to find out a little bit more!! Now I'm really curious - did they all come out, probably just him but maybe with a brother?? I wish Irish history was as easy to look up as English and Scottish!!
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Hi Scottygirl
was that the marriage or death printout you got
Cheers Janette
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Hi Scottygirl
was that the marriage or death printout you got
Cheers Janette
Sorry, that was the death printout. Marriage still to come.
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Do you know where he is buried?
cheers Janette
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Yes Picton Cemetery - no information on the grave though.
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OK, so I will summarise what I know to be true.
Born c 1838 Dublin Ireland.
Thomas Law arrived in New Zealand approx 1863 (death cert and ITM back this up).
His parents were John Law and Mary (nee McDonald) presumably of Dublin, Ireland.
He married Elizabeth Bowis (Bowie) on 13 Feb 1865.
A Thomas Law of Havelock (close to Cullensville) died in 1873. I thought he might have been my Thomas's father but he is not (his father was John).
My Thomas Law mined on the west coast of New Zealand (Hokitika/Buller) in the 1870s as his children were born there.
My Thomas Law ran the Cullensville Pub, The Miner's Arms for about five years until 1896. He then went bankrupt.
A Thomas Law was the proprietor of the George Hotel in Picton from aroun 1880 to 1883 and went bankrupt - the advertisements for this hotel said "Thos Law, late of Wairau". I would presume this is my Thomas?
Electoral roles show a Thomas Law at both Hokitika and Wairau/Picton for the periods 1880, 1885, 1890, 1896 - same person, just one showing miner's rights? or different person?
Thanks for the help so far - would I be right in assuming the above is correct? Would it be likely there was yet another Thomas Law in the same area given that one already died in 1873? Anything else that anyone can contribute would be wonderful.
Thanks, Lynda
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Hi Scottygirl,
Just re-visiting old posts and read yours. I was wondering if you ever gained a transcription of the Intention to Marry Notice you were interested in?
And might this be your Thomas LAWS in Blenheim?
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22907198
There are other less likely references to men of that name on Archway: http://archway.archives.govt.nz/
Spades
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Hello, yes I did get the intention to marriage - seems his bride was underage and lied to say she was older!! The Thomas Laws you mentioned could be my Thomas Law - perhaps they got the name wrong? He did get into debt so it is likely there would documents like this.
Thanks
Lynda