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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Churchie on Monday 23 July 12 10:18 BST (UK)
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I'm looking for a possible marriage between Charles William Meade b Shadwell, London 1889, and an F. Smith of Auckland, possibly in Auckland, between 1916 and 1918.
Or, his marriage to anyone with the initial 'F'
He died in November 1918, is buried in Waikumete, and shares a plot with four members of a Smith family, who also died in November 1918. I am guessing influenza for all of them, though he was wounded in action in 1916.
His wife was F.R. Meade of Arch Hill.
I've found him in London up till the 1911 census, but no sign of an English marriage, and I don't have access to NZ records.
Any ideas?
He's not a relation, but I'm transcribing for a database, and would like to make a complete record of his life.
Caroline.
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Hi Caroline,
It might pay to get his Military Personnel File digitised which you will be able to download, which might have the marriage date on and also there is a Probate for him held at Wellington... these will help you with your research.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0ozp/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0ozq/
Hopefully SKS from Wellington will cast their eye over this thread. If no bites by end of week, suggest you start a new thread, asking if someone will do "Wellington Archives Digitised/Probate lookup" and give the two links.
Cheers
KHP
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A possability?
1916.
Charles W Mead married Florence R Jeffries in West Ham, Essex, UK. Oct Q, 4A, 10.
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Wife's name is Florrie.
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Hi
Wonder if this is Florence:
Marriage 1924/4647 WALKER Karl Verne - MEADE Florence Rebecca
Florence was born 12dec1899; died 1982
Karl was born 1900, died 1983
This would mean Florence was 15-16 when she married Charles but at that time girls could legally marry at 12-13 years of age.
There is also this entry which may be their son:
DEATH 1998/3660 MEADE Charles William (born 1aug1917)
Best wishes
Elli
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http://www.findmypast.co.uk/passengerListPersonSearchStart.action shows a F Meade, b. 1899, heading to NZ in 1917.
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Thank you all for your input, I'm confident that is his wife, and happy to have priced together some of his short life. I managed to completely miss his marriage record, so thank you for locating it, John.
Now, why he is buried with the Smith family is another mystery!
Caroline.
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Now, why he is buried with the Smith family is another mystery!
Caroline.
Hi Caroline
Are you able to give us the names of the SMITH family members please ?
~ Lu
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Hi Lucy,
They are:
George Gregory SMITH d November 8th 1918 age 66
Mary Ann SMITH (his wife) d 1940 age 78
Sydney SMITH (his son) d November 15th 1918 age 37
Sergeant Albert Harrison SMITH (his son) d November 20th 1918 age 33
George Stanley ASHBY (his son in law) d November 8th 1918 age 35
Dorothea ASHBY (his daughter) d 1933 age 52
Gunner Charles William MEADE d November 9th 1918 age 28
Others named: Nancy and Ralph Ashby - grandchildren of George Smith.
Aside from the main influenza epidemic memorial, this is the most poignant marker to influenza deaths I have found in Waikumete.
I have made contact with a cousin of Charles Meade, who had lost track of him after the 1901 census, so this has been well worth the effort.
Now, can any of you figure out the connection?
Caroline.
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Hi Churchie,
I think it may be profitable to contact the office of the cemetery involved regarding the SMITH/MEADE burials. I believe graves were reopened for further burials sometimes within days, weeks or months of the first which took place. I am not sure of the reason, but within my own family have come across this same situation and there has been no kinship whatsoever between the parties.
It is also possible that the cemetery records may be incorrect. Especially during such a time as the influenza epidemic things may have been a bit chaotic in the recording of burials.
Minniehaha.
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Hi Caroline
Tend to agree with Minniehaha re: contacting the cemetery office. ;)
According to Waikumete's online records, it does appear that Charles William MEADE was buried close to the SMITH family members - Anglican, DIV E - ROW 8 - Plots 73 and 74... and ASHBY - Plot 75.
Charles though is in Plot # 77, (adjacent to) ... though that does not necessarily mean he was related to the SMITH / ASHBY clan ?
I did a bit a tracking to see if I could find a connection between all or any of these families, but alas, nothing was apparent. Will add info in following post, in case anyone is able to find a link.
~ Lu
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Hi Lucy,
They are:
George Gregory SMITH d November 8th 1918 age 66 [aged 63 - bc 1855 according to NZ BDM ]
Mary Ann SMITH (his wife) d 1940 age 78 [In her 87th year - bc 1853-4, according to her death notice. ]
Sydney SMITH (his son) d November 15th 1918 age 37 [ His full name was Sydney George SMITH. Aged 28 years according to his death notice. Birth reg'd. NZ 1889. ]
Sergeant Albert Harrison SMITH (his son) d November 20th 1918 age 33 [Died at Featherston Military Camp (Wairarapa) - given a military funeral in Auckland. ]
George Stanley ASHBY (his son in law) d November 8th 1918 age 35
Dorothea ASHBY (his daughter) d 1933 age 52
Gunner Charles William MEADE d November 9th 1918 age 28
Others named: Nancy and Ralph Ashby - grandchildren of George Smith. [Ralph Gregory ASHBY - d. 1992 (83 yrs.) buried at Waikumete - Western Lawn A - Row 8 - Plot 29. ]
Hi - ^ some amendments ^
~ Lu
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George Gregory SMITH
- Born, Limehouse, Tower Hamlets (London) 13 August 1855.
- Baptised, Limehouse, St Anne (along with 2 siblings, Sarah Jane and Charles) - 5 September 1855. Children of John (a labourer) and Martha* SMITH of 6 Salmon's Lane.
[* Martha SMITH, possibly nee HARRISON ? Parents must have travelled a bit - as well as children born in a variety of counties, eldest son John was born c. 1846, Dieppe, France. ]
- 1861 -- George Gregory SMITH (5) living at Wednesbury, Staffordshire with mother Martha (31 - born Radmore, Staffs.) and 3 brothers. [In a neighbouring household is a Gregory HARRISON (57, born Radmore ... poss. father of Martha ?) who also has teen children born Dieppe and Rouen, France ? ]
- 1875 -- possible arrival in NZ ? [Auck. Library passenger lists has : George SMITH - 20 yrs - per "Baron Aberdare" - 19 March 1875, though shown differently on transcript of pass. list ? ]
- 1876 -- Marriage : George Gregory SMITH - Mary RATCLIFFE. [ All records - marriage, electoral, births, show "Mary" rather than "Mary Ann", the name she was buried under ?]
next >
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George Gregory SMITH cont'd.
- Children : Adelina (aka Ada) (1876) m. FITZPATRICK / Nellie (1879) / Dorothea (1882) m. ASHBY/ Albert Harrison (1884) / Myra (1887) m. James CLARK / Sidney (Sydney) George (1889) / Gregory Ratcliffe (1893) / Esmeralda (b & d 1897) :
- George Gregory SMITH - Thames electoral roll 1880-81 - Pollen Street, Freehold, occupation - miner. [1885 - Licence granted for a gold mining claim with a William Ratcliffe Hunter ? 1897: Youngest child, Esmeralda SMITH, buried at Shortland Cemetery aged 10 months. ]
- 1900 - Still resident at Pollen Street, Thames.
- 1905-06 -- Auckland Central Electorate: George Gregory SMITH, labourer - with wife Mary and spinster daughter, Adelina, at Union Street.
- 1914 -- Auckland Central Roll: SMITH: George Gregory, labourer / Mary, home duties / Sydney George, painter / Albert Harrison, blacksmith :
ASHBY: George Stanley, rattan worker and Dorothea (wife)
.... ALL living at 31 Union Street.
1918 - Deaths of G. G. SMITH / A.H. SMITH / S.G. SMITH and (George) Stanley ASHBY :
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http://www.findmypast.co.uk/passengerListPersonSearchStart.action shows a F Meade, b. 1899, heading to NZ in 1917.
Additionally, Auckland Library Passenger Lists have ...
C W MEADE
Male - Title: GNR Occupation: NZFA
Ship: "TAINUI" departed Plymouth
Arrived: Auckland - 6 July 1917
and ... same ship
MEADE : F.
Mrs. aged 18 years / Occupation: Housewife
Born: England
[Archives NZ Ref: BBAO 5552/4a - pages 335 and 331 ]
~ Lu
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Hi Caroline,
I assume you have been to Waikumete,looking at the Smith's plot numbers they are 73 and 74 are back to back and then 75 and 77 (Charles )are side by side,did you notice if 76 was incorporated into the Smith grave,do they all share a common headstone?
Cheers Janette
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Hi everyone.
Looking into this again, and having popped up for another inspection this afternoon, I think this is what has happened:
Charles Meade has been buried next to the Smith family, who have the adjoining plots to his.
Last year, the whole section had a small concrete wall around it filled with tiny white pebbles, giving the appearance of one large family plot.
The headstone for Charles was recently restored, as part of the ongoing upgrade of former servicemen's graves in Waikumete.
At the same time, the Smith family's headstones were also restored, and re-cemented, joining them onto Charles Meade's grave so they still appear to be one common grave.
Now I see that Albert Smith was buried with military honours, I realise his grave, and that of his family, may have co-incidentally been renovated at the same time, and joined together with Charles Meade, giving the impression there was a connection....
The good thing that has come out of this - I have been able to pass this information to Charles' cousin, who had 'lost' him, so he can now have his missing details filled in.
I can also add all this information to the Smith family too, which will be added to the photo collection and matching database I am collating for a website: www.gravestonephotos.com so that it is saved for anyone to access, even if the stones themselves degrade beyond repair (though the Smiths and Charles Meade are now intact for another century)
Thanks to all of you for your input and help, as I have very limited access to, and knowledge of NZ records, even though I am a local!
I will now close this thread as completed.
Caroline.
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I have the answer to my question, plus a whole lot more, thanks everyone for contributing.
Caroline.