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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: SAM100 on Sunday 13 January 13 03:27 GMT (UK)
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Hello,
I would like some help with John Johnson
A newspaper article dated around 1934 states:
"Captain John Johnson of Commercial Road, Grey Lynn will celebrate his 92nd birthday tomorrow.
Taking to sea at the age of 14 he served in windjammers trading to various parts of the world. After eight years of this sailing experience he sailed on the SURAT for New Zealand, in 1864.
A short while later he settled on the Gt Barrier and from there moved to Thames where he remained for several years. Finally he came to Auckland where he made his permanent home.
During these years he was engaged in the coastal trade and was a well known figure in shipping circles. Captain and Mrs Johnson had 9 children and there are 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren" The above article is accompanied by a magnificent photo of Captain Johnson.
He married Florence Ann Smith in 1876 and I have the names and dates of all children born.
Unfortunately we do not know anything about Captain Johnson's place or date of birth.
His death certificate (November 7th 1934) states his father's name as John Johnson (Landowner) and his mothers name as Malfred Johnson (no maiden name) and that he (John Johnson )was born at sea and is aged 92 years and has been in New Zealand 72 years.
We are, of course, trying to find his Danish name (assuming John Johnson is a English translation of his Danish name). To this end I have had correspondence with the Maritime History Archive in New Foundland who have the crew agreements of the Surat but John Johnson is not mentioned on them. ???
I have also been to Archives Auckland to see if there was any documentation relating to naturalization but could not find anything.
So.....
Can anyone advise me where else I might look to ascertain if John Johnson is a anglicised version of his Danish name
If a person is born at sea where is that birth likely to be recorded
Are there any New Zealand records relating to Ships' Captain's that I could access that might give me a clue to his Danish name.
Many thanks
SAM :)
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Hello...
The A to J's give an 1888 reference to a Renewal of Master (Ordinary) Certificate for a John JOHNSON.
Page 16
http://tinyurl.com/a66pf4h (http://tinyurl.com/a66pf4h)
His Certificate of Competency number is 460.
Most annoying but I can't pinpoint the relevant volume on Archway. Normally the certificates are listed by volume but I can't find a mention. I'd suggest the following but don't hold me to it...
Certificates of Competency - Master - Ordinary (R14557083) 1885 - 1888
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557083 (http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557083)
Certificates of Competency - Master - Ordinary (R14557084) 1888 - 1891
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557084 (http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557084)
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The A to J's also give a 1902 reference to John JOHNSON, Master (Home Trade).
Page 14
http://tinyurl.com/anyn7or (http://tinyurl.com/anyn7or)
His Certificate of Competency number is 5393.
Same again with pinpointing the relevant 1902 volume. Most annoying. Here's a best guess...
Certificates of Competency - Master - Home trade [duplicate certificates] (R14557311) 1900 - 1905
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557311 (http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557311)
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The Masters Certificate will list date and place of birth. Hopefully it's for your John JOHNSON.
If I were you I'd have a really good hunt through Archway before you visit Wellington. I'm not sure if the powers that be have changed things but you used to be able to match certificate number to relevant volume. No idea what the story is now
Regards
Beg
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Hello Beg
Many thanks for your prompt and comprehensive reply.
Fingers crossed but I will do as you suggest and have a hunt through Archway before anything else.
Will keep you posted if crossed fingers work!! :)
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Might the marriage certificate give better information as it is more likely to have been contributed to, by the groom himself?
Is there a naturalisation record for him?
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There is a register of Maritime people and ships here:
http://www.nzmaritimeindex.org.nz/izsearchpersons.php
Is there something that you are going on that suggests Captain John was Danish in the first instance?
Here are some Danish websites that may help if he is Danish:
When you have a name, this database may help in finding a passage for him out of Denmark: http://www.emiarch.dk/search.php3?l=da
These two may help with the birth, marriage, death and movement(*) records:
http://www.ddd.dda.dk/dddform2_uk.asp
http://www.sa.dk/ao/
[*The Danes recorded each persons movements in and out of a town, which is a great way to track people who moved around]
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Had you seen this entry:
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Bre01Whit-t1-body-d186.html
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Hello TwiggyTree
Thanks for the useful links
I am aware of the final fate of the SURAT and I have looked at the NZ Maritime Index.
I had not thought to get his marriage certificate; an excellent suggestion and one that I will attend to tomorrow.
The gentleman I am assisting in researching his family recalls his grandmother being in touch with her father's family in Denmark and receiving letters etc., from them. Unfortunately, all that documentation has been lost so he only knows his GG Grandfather's name is John Johnson.
I was not able to find a naturalization record for him.
Hope I get the opportunity to use the links you gave me for researching in Denmark
Many thanks
SAM100
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The A to J's give an 1888 reference to [...] John JOHNSON
Hello SAM...
I seem to have steered you wrong with the 1888 mention of John JOHNSON, Certificate No.460
According to the Lloyds Register of Captains he was born in Stockholm in 1852.
Page 61
http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/capsJ.pdf (http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/capsJ.pdf)
Sorry about that.
Fingers crossed for the 1902 mention.....but I wouldn't hold my breath :-)
Regards
Beg
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Might the marriage certificate give better information as it is more likely to have been contributed to, by the groom himself?
I had not thought to get his marriage certificate; an excellent suggestion and one that I will attend to tomorrow.
He married Florence Ann Smith in 1876 and I have the names and dates of all children born.
Hi SAM100
Unfortunately a New Zealand marriage record (certificate) of 1876, does not include details of the bride or groom's places of birth (nor names of their parents). [That information was only included after October 1880. ]
~ Lu
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Hi Lu,
Thanks for your input which has saved me some dollars.
I am planning to visit the Maritime Museum at the Auckland Waterfront later in the week; I am woefully ignorant of the documentation relating to Sea Captain's
Cheers
SAM100
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Fingers crossed for the 1902 mention.....but I wouldn't hold my breath :-)
Hi again...
A possible favourable wind for the 1902 Master John JOHNSON I mentioned in my earlier post.
The A to J's have an 1897 mention of a Certificate of Competency for a John JOHNSON, Mate (Home Trade). The certificate number is 5393.
Page 19
http://tinyurl.com/bbv2gcx (http://tinyurl.com/bbv2gcx)
The 1902 Certificate for John JOHNSON, Master (Home Trade) has the same number (5393) so it's the same man. He was a Mate in 1897 whereas the other John JOHNSON with certificate no.460 was already a Master in 1888. So fingers crossed that they're different men.
I'm guessing the 1897 Mate's certificate would be in one of the following volumes but I may be wrong....
Certificates of Competency - Mate - Home trade ship (R14557137) 1889 - 1897
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557137 (http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557137)
Certificates of Competency - Mate - Home trade passenger ship (R14557138) 1897 - 1904
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557138 (http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=14557138)
My only concern is the age in 1897 of your John JOHNSON b.1842. Possibly a bit too old to be a Mate.
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The A to J's name the captain of the Surat as Edmund Joseph JOHNSON
Page 16
http://tinyurl.com/b38mvlj (http://tinyurl.com/b38mvlj)
Regards
Beg
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Hi Sam
I have just found your entries regarding John Johnson on this website.
Did you manage to find any more information?
Thanks
Tracey
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Sam, I am wanting to send you a Personal Message, but as I am a new member to this site I see I am unable to do so until I have made at least 3 postings. This is my second - third one to follow shortly.
Tracey
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Hi again SAM100. Do you have a link to the "magnificent photo" of John Johnson that you refer to in your first link? I came across a photo of him with an article in Papers Past but it was of very poor quality. If you have access online to a clearer photo I would love to see it.
Thanks Tracey
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Hi Tracey
Welcome to Rootschat.
Unfortunately, the photo I have of John Johnson is the one you refer to, published in the Newspaper.
May I ask your relationship and interest in him and perhaps we could share information