RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Silent Night on Friday 12 July 13 07:44 BST (UK)
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Thanks to New Zealand's wonderful 'Papers Past' site, I have learned a large amount about a closely related ancestor, James Alexander Murdoch, born 1867, died 29 May 1945 at Hokitika. One revealing entry contains information to effect that he was a Barrister and Solicitor, of Seddon Street, Kumara; that he was formerly a member of the legal firm Park & Murdoch of Hokitika and Kumara but that changed with him later practicing on his own account in Kumara. It seems he trained with Mr Park in Hokitika, passed his exams as a solicitor in 1893 and was admitted in 1898 as a barrister. Tellingly, the same article notes that Mr Murdoch is referred to as 'Mayor of Kumara'. Subsequent checks revealed he served a number of successive terms as Mayor in the early 1900s (around 1907). Due to the nature of his business, there are countless entries in 'Papers Past' of him representing clients in court and beyond that, innumerable entries listing his involvement with council matters in his role of Mayor, and yet more involvement with Water Board, Harbour Board, Hospital Committee, Schools Committee, gold diggings, etc. etc. Yet, despite possessing all that information, try as I might, I can't find, and would dearly like to have, a photo. I feel there will be one - perhaps more. From here at the other side of the world, if I might ask please, without putting anyone to any trouble, is there a possibility of looking towards the council in Kumara to see if there is a publicly available photograph etc. of James Alexander Murdoch that may be legally copied. Were that to include his wife Margaret (only info - born C1881, don't know where, died C1971, New Zealand), then what a bonus. Despite her husband's years of council work, I can only find one newspaper entry listing her as 'Mayoress'
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Not a photo, but maybe you could email the law firm?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vap/
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Hello TwiggyTree,
Thank you ever so much for the suggestion. The law firm that Park and Murdoch formed/were involved, exists to this day from what I read in the successor company's published history. I emailed them some months ago but didn't get a reply, hence my look-up request. My attempts to streamline my initial entry meant I didn't include this information but thank you again for taking the trouble to answer.
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Hi
In case you don't already have this, a photo of headstone for James Alexander MURDOCH (and his parents) is available at ...
http://www.westlanddc.govt.nz/
> click on services > Cemeteries
~ Lu
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Just a thought re: obtaining a photo of J.A. ...
You may like to enquire of the Westland District Council (link in previous post), as to whether they hold photographic memorabilia - or if they can point you in the direction of where this might be found (local museum, historical society, Council Archives etc.) I'm sure there will be something available. ;)
Perhaps mention too, the boards/committees on which James served.
From his obituary -- Westland Power Board / Westland County Council / Hokitika Savings Bank / Grey Harbour Board.
Good luck. :)
~ Lu
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Hello,
I think I have found the death registration for wife Margaret @
www.dia.govt.nz
Died 1965 aged 83 years. This entry being the most likely candidate.
If placing an order, it is better to obtain a printout as this is cheaper and may contain more information than a certificate.
Some other Rootchatter may be able to find the cemetery in which she was buried.
Minniehaha. :)
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Probates are held @ Christchurch Archives for both James Alexander (1945) and
Margaret Ann Murdoch widow, Greymouth/Hokitika (1965)
Minniehaha.
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Hi Minnie
I'd earlier looked at Electoral rolls (Westland) for James A. MURDOCH and his wife Margaret.
It appears that she (consistently) used the forenames "Margaret Anne".
I'm guessing that the following is their marriage ??
NZ
James Alexander MURDOCH - Margaret Anne McMullen - year 1900
~ Lu
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Hi Minnie ... our posts crossed. :D
Mmm .. suspect she is buried in a Greymouth cemetery ? (these are not available online unfortunately).
[I did write her last place of residence - Greymouth from memory - but will need to recheck ].
~ Lu
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Also, it appears the same couple ?? has a son born in 1900.
1900 - MURDOCH - James Duncan
Parents: Margaret Anne and James Alexander
I couldn't find this child in adulthood on electoral rolls, though there is a PapersPast reference to a James Duncan MURDOCH gaining a medical degree from Otago University ?
~ Lu
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Electoral
1954 - Westland
MURDOCH - Margaret Anne - 115 Shakespeare Street, Greymouth - widow
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No sign of a death in NZ (that I could see) for a James Duncan MURDOCH.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
"Evening Post" (Wellington) - 22 October 1927 - page 11
Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery ... amongst names listed is >
James Duncan MURDOCH (University of Otago)
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Lucy, there is a separate Rootschat forum headed:
Dr. James Duncan Murdoch, India, Burma...........
Not sure which country it appears in. I just Googled the name.
He died in the UK.
This by the same poster as on the New Zealand board.
Minniehaha.
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Cool Minnie ... cheers. :) [I haven't yet had a chance to go looking further for him ... but will do so. ]
Did suspect as a medical man, that he may have left New Zealand to further his career.
Thanks.
~ Lu
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Hi Minniehaha
... yes looks like the poster already has some knowledge of James Duncan MURDOCH.
I found him returning to UK in 1946 (from India), with what appears to be his wife and children.
Have added the info to "Silent Night's" 2012 thread on the subject.
~ Lu
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This may be the birth (NZ) of Margaret McMULLEN, 1865. Parents: Elizabeth & Thomas.
The Law partnership between James PARK & J. A. MURDOCH was dissolved in 1900-
See "Papers Past', 'West Coast Times' dated 7.9.1900.
Minniehaha.
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Hi
see
http://www.mjrlawyers.co.nz/news/brief-history-of-the-firm-of-murdoch-james-roper/25860
MalNZ
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Hi,
Oops - didn't read some details on the page 1 entries
see James Duncan obit. http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1600361/pdf/brmedj00003-0062.pdf
Cheers
MalNZ
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Thinking I already had most everything there was available on this stem, except a photo, I posted asking for one. No photo - instead much welcome fresh thinking and new material. Thank you Lucy2 for the headstone information and for suggesting turning to the various boards on which he served to get further detail. You mention James Alexander Murdoch's obituary - where did you find that? Also his 1900 marriage - where did that take place? (You landed on the correct son - James Duncan Murdoch, a medical man, (Obstetrics) who spent the remainder of his life in England. Didn't know about his return passge from India in 1946 though. With him, the surname 'Bruton' later features, with links to the Manchester area in the north of England). Didn't know about Margaret Murdoch's address in Greymouth - all new. And thank you Minniehaha for new information on probates; for Margaret McMullen's death particulars; for details of her parents and for pointing to the dissolution of the Park and James Alexander Murdoch partnership in 1900 - perhaps he branched out on his own around the time he married?? And thank you to MalNZ for pointing to Murdoch, James and Roper's company history. But no photo..........yet. One last thing that might be of interest - James Alexander Murdoch's brother was a John Murdoch (1873 to 1955). He is listed as onetime 'Mayor of Ross', New Zealand, quite near to Hokitika, so I'm going to see what's publicly available about him. Thank you again to everyone involved in providing this very interesting new information. I am most grateful.
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Report in the 'Grey River Argus' (Papers Past) dated 17.11.1905 re the death of the mother of John Murdoch..............
Also a number of other entries concerning John in the same newspaper.
Minniehaha.
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Correction to last entry...........
The late Mrs. Murdoch was the wife of John Murdoch of Ross & mother of J. A. Murdoch, mayor of Kumara.
Minniehaha.
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PM sent with details as requested...............
Minniehaha. :)
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Hi Silent Night,
In 2001 I visited Shantytown Heritage Park on the West Coast whilst in search of my own Murdoch mob and on the wall of the church (?) I photographed a large, framed testimonial to 'Presented to James Alexander MURDOCH Esq.' It is beautifully illustrated with flowers and lots of gold leaf.
When I originally read your topic the name rang a bell but I couldn't find the photo - I just have, although I see that the body of the text is too small to read in my photo.
The original testimonial is probably still at Shantytown and I suggest you approach them.
http://www.shantytown.co.nz/
I do not have any connection to James Alexander MURDOCH.
Regards,
Spades
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Hello,
Thank you ever so much for remembering my research and for taking the trouble to advise of this new information. I shall contact Shantytown and see if they are willing to forward a photo of the testimonial.
With kind regards.