RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: RedMystic on Tuesday 08 May 12 15:05 BST (UK)
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Hello Chatters, I'm not familiar with New Zealand research at all & am hoping someone can help me connect some dots please.
I'm looking for transit from Scotland to New Zealand shortly after WWI & a return trip to Scotland sometime in mid 1923 for:
Wilhelmina Margaret Johnston Taylor "Mena" Ayton
B:abt 1897 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(father: James Ayton / mother: Isabel Taylor)
Mena met a WWI New Zealand soldier in Edinburgh: surname Harris. She went to New Zealand with him or following him. I'm unsure if she travelled using surname "Ayton" or surname "Harris".
I'd like to figure out the forename of this "unknown" Harris.
Can one do a free search for New Zealand attestation papers for WWI soldiers? If so, where would I do that search once I figure out the forename of "unknown" Harris.
I'd also, if possible, would like to know where Mena went in New Zealand. The only info I have is that it was the Harris family homestead "in the middle of nowhere".
I have access to the world version of *A*, but don't seem to be able to make it search for New Zealand arrivals / departures. I'm doing this search for a distant relative so don't want to spend any $ unless I absolutely hit a brick wall.
Thank you for any help, information, or direction you can provide.
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Hi,
This looks like the marriage in New Zealand in 1922:
Mena Margaret Johnston Ayton and Robert Hugh Harris
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/
Regards,
Mo
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You will find her coming back 7th April 1923 on the Ruapehu - she is indexed as Mrs R M J Harris aged 25, but the image is W M J Harris
Mo
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:-* Thank you very much mosiefish - & sooooooo quickly too. Much appreciated.
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http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz shows a divorce in 1929 for this couple.
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/
- if you search here you can find his record which contains quite a lot of info on him, including a photo.
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I can't thank you both enough!
This fellow's daughter is still alive & has never even seen a picture of him. :o She didn't know if she'd ever even heard his forename. (She was born shortly after her mum, Mena, arrived back in Scotland.)
You will have made her day! You made mine too!!
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They married on the 18/12/1922
1922/7567 Mena Margaret Johnston Ayton to Robert Hugh Harris .
He died
1989/38524 Harris Robert Hugh born 25 June 1893
Cheers Janette
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Hi Janette
You wouldn't believe how many unexpected doors have opened because of the info provided by Chatters today.
Thanks to all & to you Janette.
It's a very good day.
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Hi,
This looks like it his burial ...12 June 1989
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0m6o/
Cheers
KHP
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Hi again,
There is a Probate held for him at Auckland Archives. I am sure some kind chatter will have a look at this for you and take a copy.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0fcf/
Cheers
KHP
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Thank you kiwihalfpint. (Your avatar always makes me smile. ;) ;D)
The probate from the archives would be really great if any Chatter comes by it.
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The divorce file is also available to view at Archives
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=6695507
Cheers Janette
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Here is his birth and siblings
1891/12364 Harris Harriet Mary / Lillian/ Herbert Charles
1893/9891 Harris Robert Hugh / Lillian/ Herbert Charles
1895/9135 Harris Herbert / Lillian /Herbert Charles
1897/4189 Harris Lillian Adah / Lillian/ Herbert Charles
1899/17434 Harris Joseph Owen/ Lilian /Herbert Charles
1901/13830 Harris Edward Charles Burchell/ Lilian /Herbert Charles
1906/9170 Harris Gordon Stephenson/ Lilian/ Herbert Charles
1908/12242 Harris Alfred Allan / Lillian/ Herbert Charles
Cheers Janette
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His parents marriage
1890/2124 Lillian Maxwell to Herbert Charles Harris
Cheers Janette
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Hi,
If you have a sub to A$y you will be able to follow Robert Hugh Harris from the NZ 1853-1981 Electoral Rolls. He is first showing on the 1914 E/R for the Bay of Islands.
Cheers
KHP
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His parents marriage
1890/2124 Lillian Maxwell to Herbert Charles Harris
Cheers Janette
Lillian died in 1969 and Herbert in 1947. Both are buried in Rawene Cemetery.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0m6q/
Cheers
KHP
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I can see Joseph Owen Harris buried Kaikohe at the above link.
Cheers
KHP
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Can one do a free search for New Zealand attestation papers for WWI soldiers?
The only thing I can see for him is in the link below. You would need to start a new thread asking one of the Wellington Chatters to see if they can look it up. Maybe with "Wellington Archives" as the title so it is easily spotted by them. You would need to put this link up, so they can order it.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0m6r/
Cheers
KHP
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RedMystic
There happens to be a rather comprehensive one name study of Harris families in New Zealand compiled and maintained by Leonard Harris.
Your family is included. You may like to contact him for access to this information on his web pages.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0m6s/
Twiggy
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Hi,
If you have a sub to A$y you will be able to follow Robert Hugh Harris from the NZ 1853-1981 Electoral Rolls. He is first showing on the 1914 E/R for the Bay of Islands.
Cheers
KHP
Thanks kiwi. I have a subscription &, based on those, have been consulting a lot with Google Maps to try to get a lay of the land. ;) ;D
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Thanks very much for the cemetery links as well kiwi.
I almost missed your link TwiggyTree; I'm going there directly. Many, many thanks.
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Thank you for the divorce record & the siblings list Janette.
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Hi,
I am going to Archives tomorrow and have ordered the probate and divorce file for viewing,
Cheers Janette
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That's very generous of you Janette. Thank you.
The divorce may be quite telling & I really look forward to that. I anticipate that the probate won't mention the former wife & 1st daughter. (The trees I've seen on-line don't mention the first marriage.)
Many thanks once again.
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They often contain the marriage cert and also a photo,which would be nice,
Cheers Janette
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That's very generous of you Janette. Thank you.
The divorce may be quite telling & I really look forward to that. I anticipate that the probate won't mention the former wife & 1st daughter. (The trees I've seen on-line don't mention the first marriage.)
Many thanks once again.
The divorce files are really interesting .... the family washing on the line .... ones that Janette has got for me in the past have been really hair-raising ;D Been lucky with photos as well.
Cheers
KHP
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Hi,
I have the divorce file photos and also his probate photos,could you PM your email addy,
Cheers Janette
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Awww what a lovely photo.
Cheers
KHP
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Hi Janette, I can't thank you enough. What you sent is perfect! It is more than I ever anticipated.
The finds from this wonderful thread have been printed & will be presented to Mena's daughter tomorrow. I think she will be delighted to have filled in the unknowns she has lived with for all these years.
Thank you once again for the will & probate & to other Chatters who loaned their talents on the quest. :-*
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Give her a big hug from us in NZ,please ;D ;D
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Give her a big hug from us in NZ,please ;D ;D
I second that ....and please report back, we like happy endings :D
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Hi all.
I'm checking back in to let you know how it went when the now elderly daughter of this short-lived couple had a chance to review the fantastic finds you made.
The materials were presented by one of her cousins (also a relative of mine). He said that she was quite amazed & needs some time to soak it all in. She was particularly delighted with the photo of she & her mum that was discovered in the divorce file & the war time photo of her father that was in the link to his war history.
While she has no doubts that her mum, Mena, did the right thing in returning to the UK, she was very happy to hear that her father had married again, had a family and a long life.
Thank you once again. :-* By all accounts, it sounds like you made an elderly lady's day. I know you made mine. :) :) :) :) :)
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Do you know if Mena's father, James Ayton, was originally from Yorkshire? (even though Mena was born in Scotland) If so do you know James' parents name?
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Hi Kiwi,
Jonas (b1811 Yorkshire) is her grandfather; grandmother Margaret Crawford (1811). Their son William (1838) married Margaret Johnston Taylor (1842-1915). They are Mena's parents.
Grandparents: Jonas / Margaret had two sons James; one born in 1843; the other 1850. Both were born in Humbie, East Lothian.
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Got thrown from your original post
Wilhelmina Margaret Johnston Taylor "Mena" Ayton
B:abt 1897 in Edinburgh, Scotland
(father: James Ayton / mother: Isabel Taylor)
As Jonas is from Yorkshire he is possibly is related somewhere but haven't dug that deep yet.
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Hi kiwibob, Thank you for your interest.
I totally screwed up the last post.
Jonas (b1811 Yorkshire) is her great grandfather; great grandmother Margaret Crawford (1811). Their son William (1838) married Margaret Johnston Taylor (1842-1915). They had son James (1871) who married Isabelle Taylor Stephan. They are Mena's parents.
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I thought I would pop back in to thank you & tell you what became of this search as I received this note a few hours ago.
In a way it is all a bit sad because * and his family seem very nice people (MY NOTE: the people in New Zealand who knew nothing of their grandfather's other daughter) and I am sure that Isabel (MY NOTE: Mena's daughter) would have loved them. But I now realize that by the time I told her the results of your research, her dementia was already having an effect and she just couldn't take it in – though she was very happy to see the photo of herself as a baby with her mother – and to learn some more about her father.
While Isabel wasn't fully able to absorb all the research you did regarding her parents, it did make a difference to her - and filled in hole in my husband's tree. :-*
As you know, the couple I was searching with your generous help divorced soon after their marriage. You were the ones that found the picture of Mena and daughter Isabel referenced in the note above. Isabel, who passed a way at Easter, did not know her father at all - & apparently his children & grand children didn't know he'd been married previously nor that he had a daughter in Scotland.
The family connection to Isabel's living relatives in New Zealand only came about as she died intestate. The lawyers tracked the New Zealand family down - apparently taking months to do what you wonderful Chatters did in a matter of days. ;)
Thanks again. You made a significant difference for me & for an elderly woman who wanted to know more about her past.
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Hi,
Thanks for letting us know what happened to Isabel .....not many let us know the outcome of their research.
Glad that we could give Isabel some happiness with the photo. :)
Cheers
KHP
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Thank you so much for updating us,I am pleased we could help,
Cheers Janette