RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: LancsCity70 on Wednesday 15 May 13 20:52 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I am looking for information on the Lee family who emigrated from the UK to Auckland around 1928. This is my first post so apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum for this.
Specifically, I'm looking to find out any information I can about Joseph Lee (1875-1943), his wife (my Great Great Aunt) Mary Ellen Hadfield/Lee (1871-1954), and their son Stanley Lee (1909-2003). I believe they settled in the Birkenhead area of Auckland. Any information at all about any of them and their lives in Auckland would be greatly appreciated.
On a second more general point (again forgive me for my inexperience in this area), I understand Joseph and Mary also had three daughters who came to New Zealand. Can anyone guide me as to how I might find out any more about their lives given that I think possibly two of them married in New Zealand in the last 80 years and I understand there are restrictions on the availability of data from marriages within that timespan. Is there anyway I could trace marriages/descendants of the daughters given the restrictions ? (I haven't posted the daughters' names as this is a public forum and there is a possibility - albeit very small as they would all be over 100 now - that they are living)
Finally, a far more specific request. I believe Mary and Joseph Lee are buried together at Birkenhead Glenfield cemetery, Auckland in Anglican block 2, plot 16. Is there anybody out there in that area who may be able to photograph the grave for me ?
Any help anyone can give me with any of there points would be very gratefully received,
Tony
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Hello Tony,
Welcome to Rootschat...........
I can offer to photograph the grave for you, if you don't mind waiting a little. It will depend on the weather over the next couple of weekends. This coming one is expected to be wet.
If you wish, I can also do newspaper death notice(s) look-ups for you in respect of Joseph & Mary Ellen.
Minniehaha. :)
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Hi Minniehaha,
Thanks for your kind offer. That would be wonderful. I don't mind waiting at all. It took me quite a while to work out where they emigrated to, so I'm sure I can wait another couple of weekends for a photograph of their grave !
Anything you can find in terms of newspaper death notices also greatly appreciated,
Thanks again
Tony
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Hi Tony,
My pleasure..........
I now have these things on my "to do" list. Will probably be able to attend to the newspaper look-ups for you tomorrow.
Minniehaha.
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Hello again,
I have found that Stanley LEE died on 27.07.2003 aged 94 years and was cremated.
I will have a look for his newspaper death notice too.
Minniehaha.
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Hi Minniehaha,
You may need to go to North Shore memorial Park to get a map unless you know the cemetery well.
Cheers Janette
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Hi Janette,
I have just this very minute received a detailed map (e-mailed) from the Council with all the relevant bits highlighted. A very efficient service............
Minniehaha. :)
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Oh wow,they must have upped their game,last time I requested directions it took 10 days ;D ;D ;D
Cheers Janette
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Hi Tony,
It looks like Mary Ellen and the children arrived on the Tainui in 1928,she had Stanley aged 18 and 2 girls,Hilda aged 26 and Lilian aged 17
Here is the ship's manifest
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11708-17290-2?cc=1609792&wc=M9S3-W3X:1838831970
Cheers Janette
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Hi Tony,
A joint effort between Minniehaha and myself has the headstone photos for you,if you PM your email addy I will send them,
Cheers Janette
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[...] Lilian aged 17
Hello...
There is a Lilian HILTON, ashes burial, at the same cemetery. This may be the younger daughter Lilian. The age fits.
BDM NZ Deaths
1998/2407 - HILTON, Lilian - d.o.b 30 December 1910
BDM NZ search
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/ (https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/)
I can't put the details of this Lilian's marriage on the board due to the 80-year marriage privacy rule so I'll send you a PM (private message) with the details....once you make a third post as you can't send or receive PM's until you have made three posts.
There's no proof it's your Lilian but it's a possibility.
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There is also a Hilda CLARKE mentioned on the same cemetery website. Doesn't specifically mention Birkenhead/Glenfield but there's a chance this may be your Hilda.
Ex-North Shore Council cemetery database
http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/Services/OnlineServices/pages/IFCemetry.aspx (http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/Services/OnlineServices/pages/IFCemetry.aspx)
Regards
Beg
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I will add this death (Lilian HILTON) to my look-ups for Tony tomorrow.
If you can find Hilda too, I will include this death as well.
Minniehaha.
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Ooops...sorry Minnie just saw your post.
Hilda CLARKE looks a likely candidate for the older sister.
D.o.d 30 July 1980
Just matching ages, burial location and maiden name so no actual proof.
Regards
Beg
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I will have a look at Hilda Clarke while I am at it............
Thanks Beg.
Minniehaha. :)
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Lilian Hilton ashes are in Birkenhead cemetery Rose Garden Plot 6 in Rose Garden Plot 5 are the ashes of
Frederick Walter HILTON.
Cheers Janette
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Frederick was cremated at Waikumete Cemetery
HILTON, FREDERICK WALTER
Interment Type: Cremation
Title: MR
Surname : HILTON
Given Names: FREDERICK WALTER
Age : 56
Gender : Male
Occupation: RETAILER
Date Of Death : 23-Jan-1967
Funeral Director : H MORRIS FUNERAL SERVICES LTD
Cheers Janette
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If Hilda Clarke and Lilian Hilton prove to be Lee family members, I will have a look for Frederick & the husband of Hilda.
I have two dates of death for Frederick:
23.1.1967 &
31.1.1967.
Minniehaha.
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Hi Minnie :)
Sneaky BDM NZ transcription error...
1967/25370 - HINTON, Frederick Walter - 56Y - d.o.d 23 Jan 1967
Regards
Beg
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Thanks for this Beg,
I shall look for HINTON.............
Minniehaha. :)
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Hi Minniehaha, Janette, and Beg,
Thank you so much for all this. I'm overwhelmed you've gone to so much effort to help me. I really do appreciate it.
Just to give you a bit more background. I've been researching my family history for some time now, but earlier this year was fortunate enough to receive a wonderful photo of one set of my great great grandparents, along with 9 of their children (one of which is Mary Ellen Hadfield/Lee). The photo led me to redouble my efforts to try and find out what I could about these people. Mary was proving somewhat troublesome as all I had initially to work off was a document from a relative in Canada stating that Mary was buried in New Zealand, however the matter was somewhat confused by another relative believing the family had actually gone to Australia. I got the break I was looking for when I was sent a copy of an audio recording made by Mary's niece (who died in 2001 at the age of 99) talking about her own life. In this she confirmed the New Zealand link. This led me to finding some of the family on a 1935 Auckland electoral roll, which subsequently led me to finding where Mary and Joseph were buried. I thought that was probably where I would have to leave it, but thankfully you've now kindly provided me with this (at least potentially) new information. Many thanks again to you all.
One other thing by means of clarification. I was aware Mary, Stanley and 2 daughters came over in 1928, however there were 2 other daughters who seem to have chosen to remain in the UK and both married within months of the others leaving. It appears though that one of these may have then died in 1929, with the surviving daughter seemingly coming to join the others in Auckland with her husband in 1931 (I have I think managed to find a few things relating to them in 'Past Papers', but nothing on any of the other family, hence I'm really pleased to have received the assistance you have offered). That's why I believe there were 3 daughters in Auckland, not 2. Just thought I'd clarify that !
Thanks again
Tony
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Hi Tony
Photos sent,
Cheers Janette
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Hello Tony,
I have found a great deal of information so far from the newspaper death notices, including the name of the third sister.
Can you please send me your e-mail address and I will forward the scans to you.
Minniehaha. :)
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Hello again,
I will leave you to disclose the name of the third sister (if you wish to do so) but I think she died on 23.9.1991 in Wellington, where she was cremated. She was aged 85 years. On the New Zealand BDM website there are two ladies with this name whose birth dates were close to each other.
I'm not sure if I can do a Wellington newspaper look up for you as I am uncertain of the coverage in our library. I will have to check on that.
Minniehaha.
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A little more.........
Probates for the following are held at Archives (Auckland):
Hilda CLARKE, widow (1980)
Frederick Walter HILTON, salesman, Orewa (1967)
Stanley James CLARKE, zoo keeper, Auckland (1977)
www.archway.archives.govt.nz
Minniehaha.
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Hi Tony,
Scans sent of the following newspaper death notices:
Mary Ellen LEE (Husband Joseph's death notice not found.)
Lilian HILTON
Frederick Walter HILTON
Hilda CLARKE
Stanley James CLARKE
Stanley LEE.
Mention is made in one of death notices of the name of CASCI. There are only 4 listings in the New Zealand "White Pages".
The birth of Lilian LEE was registered @ Oldham in the March quarter of 1911.
The "missing" sister's birth was registered @ Oldham in the December quarter of 1906. Her marriage was registered @ Oldham in the June quarter of 1928.
Hilda LEE'S birth registration has not been confirmed.
I hope you enjoy putting the families details together............
Minniehaha. :)
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Hello Tony,
Thank you for your PM re the scans.
If I am on the right track I have found death of the husband of the third sister.
He died @ Auckland on 7.10.1981, aged 72 years. The New Zealand BDM index records his birth date as 14.12.1908.
Next week I will do a newspaper look up for this death and hopefully that of his wife too, who died in 1991 @ Wellington, if I have the correct lady.
Minniehaha. :)
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Hi Minniehaha,
Thanks for your update.
Excellent information again. I'm very interested in the 'third sister' as if I have the right lady it seems from what I've found in 'Papers Past' she may have been quite a well known lady in the district in the 1930's (being involved in dramatic productions, an acquaintance of the mayoress, etc), but then as you note she seems to have moved to Wellington, before possibly moving backwards and forwards between Wellington and Auckland later in life.
As such I look forward to hearing from you again in the hope you may have found newspaper death notices for her and/or her husband,
Kind Regards again,
Tony
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Hi Tony,
Yes, I will endeavour to obtain the remaining newspaper death notices later this coming week. Hopefully they will fill in the gaps and prove we are on the right track..........
Minniehaha.
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Hello Tony,
I have sent a further four newspaper death notices. Do we now have a "full house"?
Minniehaha. :)
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Well done,Minniehaha,a lot of hard work ;D ;D ;D are there anymore headstones to photograph?
Cheers Janette
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Hello Janette,
I really don't know about the headstone situation. At the moment the ball is in Tony's court and by PM I have offered to do any more look-ups if required. Perhaps your message will now bring forth a request for some more photographs?
We should "watch this space"!
Minniehaha. :)
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Hi Janette and Minniehaha,
Many thanks again for all your help. I think I now have all the photos and documents I need on this one. The information you've supplied has been fantastic and I'm delighted to say I've now managed to make direct contact with the family in New Zealand. This wouldn't have been possible without your help, so truly heartfelt thanks,
Tony :) :) :)