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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Shizara on Sunday 11 March 12 10:28 GMT (UK)
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I know this is possibly a distasteful subject and apologise if it offends anyone, but am trying to prove or disprove a connection with someone who was hanged, in NZ in 1858. The only information I have I collected by doing a Google search on the name. I cannot find him in the death registrations.
JOHN KILLEY - New Zealand
Killey, John, Pte dis, ch murder Ak 27 12 57
The sentence was carried out in 1858.
I am trying to find a certified record so I can check his ancestry.
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Hi Shizara
Mmm ... haven't been able to find him either - using variants of surname. (Our online BDM index searches are made all the more frustrating by not having a "wildcard" facility ... grrr ! ]
Have looked for a burial / cemetery record, but to no avail so far.
Unfortunately with a New Zealand death of this era, the information contained in any (official) record, is scant. (The info recorded is much the same as what is available on UK death certs. ) :(
Newspaper items at our PapersPast website though, provide snippets, which may prove helpful in finding out more about John KILLEY.
see next >>
~ Lu
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Link to PapersPast >
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
[I've only looked fleetingly at the following articles, so there's hopefully a whole lot more to be found. Search terms used : "John Killey" & "Killey" . ] ;)
"Daily Southern Cross" (Auckland) - 5 March 1858
-- Supreme Court Criminal Sittings
[Trial details, evidence, etc. Some of the country's other newspapers also published items on the case - which may or may not include additional detail. ]
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Although the murder occurred in "Wangarei" (nowadays spelt as "Whangarei"), KILLEY appears to have been based in Auckland for the most part. His name is on the Auckland Town and District electoral roll of July 1853 -- (and he may also be the John KILLEY, bricklayer, listed "as liable to serve on juries" for that district for the year 1851-52 ? )
He was self-employed, working at sinking wells and fencing of land ...
see > advertisement "Daily Southern Cross" - 3 February 1854 - page 1/ column 6 :
John KILLEY also had an un-named wife ( the marriage though is not recorded in NZ.)
see next >>
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Haven't found anything that hints at a likely age for this John KILLEY ???
[I'm guessing that as he was self-employed in what seems to be a job requiring some skill (well-sinking), then maybe he was in his mid-30's in 1857 ? Weren't wells lined with bricks ? Possibly he was the "bricklayer" chap in 1851-52 ??]
Aah ... but did eventually find the name of his wife. :D
Mary Ann KILLEY.
John KILLEY had published, some "notices of caution" asking that his "runaway" wife not be given credit, etc. etc. (Poor lady).
"Daily Southern Cross"
-- 24 October 1854 - page 4/ column 1
-- 6 February 1857 - page 2 / column 1
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Not sure if any of this is going to be of help to you ? A number of websites carry "a list of persons hanged in NZ" but all have the same sketchy detail for KILLEY.
Will keep on looking though ...
~ Lu
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Is that PTE after his name
was he a Private
if so may good war records could help..will look in things like discharged in NZ later, if no one can do it sooner
Bye
althea
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Just to elimat red herrings as such
there was a marriage for a John Killey to a Mary Ann Cannell Isle of Wight 11850
but census and family trees have them staying in UK
Bye
Althea
There were 2 James KIELY in discharged list from Ireland..I only used the book, someone with CD may be able to search to make sure I haven't missed one
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possible arrival 1843??
if speeling was never a variant
Name KILLEY, J.
Vessel VICTORIA: Departed:Sydney ? September 1843 Arrived:Port Nicholson (Wellington)
Notes Mr
Source Sydney Morning Herald, 25 September 1843 p2.
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The man that was murdered was from the 58th Reg and one newspaper reports has the names John Killey or Kelly
coincidentally there is a John KELLY in the 58th from Tenagh
Bye
Althea
another thought that they may have not registered but put him as nameless because of crime
eg you can search by NR unnamed unknown etc
1858/352 Unknown Male NR
of course the result is probably worthless given they don't want info recorded!!!
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He is on this list as
•Kohn Killey (Auckland) 18 March 1858
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/the-death-penalty/notable-executions
Cheers Janette
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there is also this list
waves to Janette :)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~shamere/Executions.html
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Hi there,
I think it may be worth checking the Symonds Street Cemetery:
After a quick search I found a lot of information on a JOHN KELLY, 1858 alleged murderer. He was first buried in the old Auckland gaol yard,then later exhumed and reinterred in Symonds Street Cemetery.
The Daily Southern Cross of 25\12\1857 has John Kelly murdered John Butler at Whangarei.
Alternate subject headings for this topic include: ; Kelly, John, d.1858; 58th Regiment
Several KELLY burials mentioned in later records, which may or may not be connected.
Cheers
Del
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Hi again,
At the following link, there is a list of soldiers from the 58 Reg', named is a John Kelly, and there is a link to an email address for person researching him, perhaps this could be of help to your search.
http://www.rter.co.nz/Carters/58thsur.html#Ksur
Cheers
Del
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Here is the article in the Daily Southern Cross 31st Aug 1875
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0kxm/
Note the spelling of hs name was Kieley
If you put Kelly in this search, it has a bit about Symonds St Cemetery
Cheers Janette
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Another option is to see if you can get some answers through the links from the Police Museum site
https://sites.google.com/site/newzealandpolicemuseum/home/enquiries
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Dels mentions above confirm he was from the 58th reg
The man that was murdered was from the 58th Reg and one newspaper reports has the names John Killey or Kelly
coincidentally there is a John KELLY in the 58th from Tenagh Bye Althea
Regimental records, attestations may hold more clues to the ancestry
Bye
Althea
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Thank you all for your help on this, it really is appreciated.
I went to Papers Past in NZ and found a lot of detail including unexpected snippets regarding my Dad and his siblings so have squirreled them away as well.
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In terms of a death record, this is a closest match I can find in the index:
1859/6,Kelly,John,NR