RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Revolution on Thursday 22 August 13 09:55 BST (UK)
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Hi All
Born 1808 in Newcastle upon tyne or thereabouts. Died 12 April 1865 in Gisborne, New Zealand.
I am one of the many Thomas Halbert decedents. I have found a lot of information about Thomas online but like many other people I have been trying to find out more about his life beofre he moved to New Zealand.
I have recently employed a genealogist to undertake some work and check the parish records which might find more about Thomas, his family and possibly why he may have moved to New Zealand.
I recently purchased his death certificate from the New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages website. They inaccurately had it listed as 1864 but even the certificate said 1865.
I would be interested in finding out if any other people have found information about Thomas which might help me. I am quite happy to share all that I have found and hopefully the genealogist finds.
Cameron
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So you found the article about his death?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vu4/
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That would mean that his arrival was in the 1830's. Records are very scant for that era from what I have been told. You may find that museums in the area hold such historic information, or historic societies.
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If this person is one in the same, then perhaps this archive may help?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vu5/
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Did he marry into a Maori family? If so then perhaps the book about Gisborne-based ancestry may help in a general way to confirm family relationships etc. I can't remember how much it had in it about the stories of people.
"Horouta: The History of the Horouta Canoe: Gisborne and East Coast" by Rongowhakaata HALBERT
Our local library has a copy of this, if you'd like me to look for you.
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Hi
Thanks for the info. I did have the papers past article and I have a mention of the court case although I do not have the exact court case record you linked to - Id like it but if it can only be viewed by someone in Wellington I am a few thousands kilometers away! Is there any other way of getting it?
I also have a painting of him although I have no age for that painting and it may have been much more recently.
I have excerpts from life in early poverty bay book, a photo of thomas halberts three sons. excerpts from Rongowhakaata and the crown and a few other pieces.
He had 6 alliances with Maori women.
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Ive tried to find the book you mentioned but the cost had been significant. Id appreciate any information that it contained.
"Horouta: The History of the Horouta Canoe: Gisborne and East Coast" by Rongowhakaata HALBERT
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You can open a new thread and request a 'Look-up' of the Archive NZ file. Our resident go-to RCer isn't back on the beat in Wellington, but someone else may be able to pop in there for you.
Look-up information: http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vr1/
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Yes the Horouta book is hefty in both size and price. I will see when I can get in there, unless another member has access to this also.
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Thank you for the great information!
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I am not sure of the relevance of this line of enquiry but as you mentioned it, this looks to be a complete copy of Rongowhakaata and the Crown, fwiw:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vuf/
This is a charitable trust specific to Rongowhakaata descendants http://rongowhakaata.iwi.nz/rongowhakaata-trust-2/
Have you seen the correspondence from a Thomas Halbert in our Turnball Library?
In one it says that he was requesting land to raise pigs for export.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vug/
Apparently he was also known as Tommy Short.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vuh/
It notes him as a trader, so perhaps that article may answer your question.
You may like to request a copy from our National Library service
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vuj/
Along with this one about his 6 wives
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vui/
Added: one of the Turnball links had a photo negative of Thomas, that was used in a book.
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I recently purchased his death certificate from the New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages website.
They inaccurately had it listed as 1864 but even the certificate said 1865.
Hello...
1864/5762 is just a reference number, nothing more.
The BDM NZ website gives the date of death as 12 Apr 1865
This can be found using Twiggy's guide at...
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vus/ (http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vus/)
Regards
Beg
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Hi
Thank you so much for those links. I have managed to save many of them but was not able to find these ones to download or request: Definitely want that photo!
You may like to request a copy from our National Library service
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vuj/
Along with this one about his 6 wives
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vui/
Added: one of the Turnball links had a photo negative of Thomas, that was used in a book.
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This is just a link to our national library 'Ask the Librarian' service. It may help with both of the newspaper articles (about him as a trader and the other about his 6 wives).
You may like to request a copy from our National Library service
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vuj/
Along with this one about his 6 wives
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vui/
This item is held at the Turnball Library in Wellington. You could also use the 'Ask a Librarian' service for how to access it. As it is issuable, there is a chance that a Wellington-based RCer could do a look-up on the image, and the 2 newspaper articles
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0vuw/
Added: one of the Turnball links had a photo negative of Thomas, that was used in a book.
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I have the Horouta book. I was surprised that it was scant on any details, even in the genealogy about Thomas HALBERT (I). He features directly in one tree, with other references through one of his wives Perie in other trees. I can photograph or scan these if that helps but it doesn't answer your 'why did he come here?' question.
BTW, the mother of the librarian I spoke to has HALBERT as a middle name, and the nephew as a surname. They hail from Gisborne! She is from Rongawhakaata lineage.
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Hi Twiggytree...if you could scan the images of any of the Halbert information that would be great from the Horouta book. Hi Resolution is fine :). My email takes up to 25 megs per email
I will try emailing the Turnbull library directly and see how far I get.
Thank you
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I do wonder how many Halberts and other non direct lines are descendant from Thomas..that would be a fascinating study!
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Hi again
Was the photo negative you referred to of a painting of Thomas and also one of his sons?
Regards
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Hi again
Was the photo negative you referred to of a painting of Thomas and also one of his sons?
Regards
The library catalogue says "Three images of painting inside a meeting house, possibly at Te Karaka, Gisborne district. One image shows panels featuring Thomas Halbert and Wi Pere."
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Sorry I forgot to say Thanks Beg ;D
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Thanks Twiggy I will follow the steps you suggested:
Gisborne Library, perhaps even the Gisborne City Council Archivist, to see if anyone else can help with information about Thomas HALBERT.
Gisborne historical society there
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The book "Historic Poverty Bay" by J A Mackay would have information. Also the manuscripts for this book is held at the Turnbull library. They have a lot of info that did not get put in the final publication.
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Hi 777
http://natlib.govt.nz/items?i[category]=Manuscripts&text=Historic+Poverty+Bay
Are these items Id have to get someone to copy for me?
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Hi 777
http://natlib.govt.nz/items?i[category]=Manuscripts&text=Historic+Poverty+Bay
Are these items Id have to get someone to copy for me?
Yes. They are loose papers in boxes if I remember correctly. I don't live in Wellington or I would do the copying for you. It is possible that the staff at the library would do it. You can only ask.
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Thanks I see the book is online. Ill keep searching to see if the notes are as well before enlisting help
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Hi 777
I got the manuscript of the book a few weeks back and its quite insightful and shows how the book developed. There is some extra info in there about Thomas. Much of it seems to come from his grandson some 80 years after Thomas death. Some of it I explored employing a researcher in the UK to follow up on his reported sister a Mrs Carrott but no evidence could be found.
Unless some more records get digitised and they show Thomas other siblings
My researcher found: Thomas Halbert baptised in 1814 at aged 8 son of Thomas Halbert and Sarah
Others have Thomas parents listed as Robert and Mary. Its difficult ot say where the truth sits without some formal documentation.
Also, theres no Gisborne Historical Society. For a land with an incredible history its very surprising that there are no local groups trying to maintain the local history.