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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: dfwdavies on Monday 03 February 14 21:31 GMT (UK)

Title: Allan Family COMPLETED
Post by: dfwdavies on Monday 03 February 14 21:31 GMT (UK)
I have spent 10 years trying to trace my father's uncle, David Robert Anderson Allan, who disappeared from Scotland in the 1920s. I finally tracked him to New Zealand and think I have pinned him down. I was hoping to find some way to contact his living relatives, but am not familiar with the NZ records, and would be grateful for any help in how to get access (digitally) to the necessary records.

I found a death cert. under David Richard John Allan (1 Apr 1977), which has the same date of birth (2 Jan 1905), place of birth and parental information.

The certificate and his gravestone, which was photographed online, provided details on his wife - Martha Euphemia Eagan (1904 - 1993, m. 1940 in Dannevirke).

I have found his will (under David Richard Anderson Allan) and that of his wife online, but have no idea how to get digital copies. There doesn't seem to be anything on Ancestry and I cannot find any clues online.

I would be extremely grateful for any advice.

Dfwdavies
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Monday 03 February 14 21:46 GMT (UK)
Hello

Firstly (and unfortunately) you will need to remove from your posting, the names of the sons born in 1943 and 1945.     

It is very probable that they are still living and we are not permitted in this forum to publish names (or identifying details) of persons likely to be alive.

   ~  Lu
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Monday 03 February 14 21:47 GMT (UK)
Hi again

I'll look further and see if there is some way we can get a "result" for you.   :)

   ~  Lu
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: dfwdavies on Monday 03 February 14 21:51 GMT (UK)
Many thanks for the advice on the rules!
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Janette on Monday 03 February 14 22:00 GMT (UK)
Hi

What cemetery are they buried in?

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: spades on Monday 03 February 14 22:01 GMT (UK)
Hi Dfwdavies,

The probates you're referring to must be these ones:

http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=23244065
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=23679301

Both are held at the Wellington office of Archives New Zealand. I'll have a look for them.

Spades
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:04 GMT (UK)
Hi

What cemetery are they buried in?

Cheers Janette

Burial place located.   

However, the plaque - of which there is an online photo - identifies the sons who were born 1940's (their names having previously been removed from this thread. )

Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: spades on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:07 GMT (UK)
Hi Dfwdavies,

I have images of the two probates for you.

Could you send me a Personal Message with your email address please.

Spades
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:10 GMT (UK)
[Burial place located.   

However, the plaque - of which there is an online photo - identifies the sons who were born 1940's (their names having previously been removed from this thread. )

Yes thanks Lu,I realise that,I only wanted to know the cemetery they were buried in so I could do my own research,

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:29 GMT (UK)
Hi Dfwdavies

... just in case it is of interest to you, the following is an electoral roll listing for Martha, prior to her marriage.

1935 - Canterbury - Hurunui

EGAN - Martha Euphemia - c/- F.C. Archer, Waikari - spinster


[Note spelling of surname differs from info you have. ]  ;)

[Canterbury is in the South Island of New Zealand - Dannevirke is in the North Island. ]

  ~   Lu
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:45 GMT (UK)
I was hoping to find some way to contact his living relatives,

I see by the cemetery record for Martha that the funeral directors were THOMAS GRIGGS & SON LTD
http://www.pncc.govt.nz/servicesandfacilities/onlineservices/cemetery-and-cremation-detail/?id=17280

You could try contacting the FD's and ask them if they have a copy of the death notice from the newspaper,this may have a contact for the sons,
THOMAS GRIGGS & SON are now The Lychway,you will find their email here

http://thelychway.co.nz/

I can't see David on the cemetery database,if you can locate his cemetery record his details are more recent and would be the better option


Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:45 GMT (UK)
Just confirming that marriage record (NZSG index) shows bride's surname as "EGAN".  [She doesn't appear to have been born in New Zealand.]

Your man appears to have used the names "David Richard John" (sometimes shown as "David Richard J." ) in electoral listings.

This looks to be his first listing in 1938.

1938 - Wellington - Masterton


ALLAN - David Richard John - Branscombe Stn. (Station) - farm hand

Glad you've managed to locate him after so long a search.    Good work on your part in connecting "all the dots".    :)

   ~  Lu
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:53 GMT (UK)
It appears that David and Martha are buried in different cities
Martha is in Palmerston North and David if in Napier

Dunstall's Funeral Services Ltd  were the FD's for David

http://www.dunstalls.co.nz/

Try sending them an email,most FD's have a copy of the death notice on file

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 02:55 GMT (UK)

I can't see David on the cemetery database,if you can locate his cemetery record his details are more recent and would be the better option

Cheers Janette

Didn't David die in 1977 (before Martha - 1993) ?

David appears on another cemetery database > the one which has the plaque photo giving details of his sons (who were apparently born in 1940's, so still possibly living.)


Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:03 GMT (UK)
Yes thanks Lu,I found David in the Napier cemetery database.

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:06 GMT (UK)

The certificate and his gravestone, which was photographed online, provided details on his wife - Martha Euphemia Eagan (1904 - 1993, m. 1940 in Dannevirke).

OP appears to have already viewed the gravestone (plaque) photo.    It's a pity that the cemetery details have now been added to this thread, as that then leads to identification of the sons.  :(

   ~  Lu

Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:10 GMT (UK)
Ooops!   Granny moment ;D

Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:21 GMT (UK)
Ooops!   Granny moment ;D

Cheers
KHP

Who ?  You or me ?   ;D  ;D

Mmm ... can see on later electoral rolls a similarly named man to the father ?    Difficult though to say he might be the son ?

Maybe the probate record for Martha (which "speedy" spades has just obtained) will give some further clues to locating living relatives ?    ;)
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:23 GMT (UK)
No, me Lu ;D  I don't think it was a Granny moment now ;D  I believe that this is a son :P

Wellington Newspaper Deaths and In Memorial Notices

Name: ALLAN David Richard John (Dave)
Date : 6 Sep 2005
Deathdate : 3/09/2005
Location : Blenheim
Further enquiries to : Hutt Valley Branch - NZSG

Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:30 GMT (UK)
Perhaps having a gander at the newspaper for the above chap see what it verifies as well :D



Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:39 GMT (UK)
Ah, nice find KHP.    :)
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:43 GMT (UK)
Perhaps having a gander at the newspaper for the above chap see what it verifies as well :D

Yep, I can have a look for the death notice.

Perhaps we will though firstly just await confirmation from OP (once probate records have been viewed.)

     ~   Lu
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Tuesday 04 February 14 03:59 GMT (UK)
I see that two other references for the son's death that the year has been transcribed as 2003 .... possibly a typo.

Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 04 February 14 04:02 GMT (UK)
I see that two other references for the son's death that the year has been transcribed as 2003 .... possibly a typo.

Cheers
KHP

KHP.could it have been a In Memoriam notice

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Tuesday 04 February 14 04:04 GMT (UK)
Yes, it was Janette :D


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: dfwdavies on Tuesday 04 February 14 06:41 GMT (UK)
Dear Lu, Janette and KHP,

I am a little overwhelmed by such a helpful and detailed response! I will let you know what the Probate records contain, and whether they show a relationship between David Allan (d. 1977) and David Allan (d. 2003).

I must also apologise for my original post breaching the rules insofar as it referenced the names of possible living relatives. I will bear this in mind with future posts.

Thank you all again!

Dfwdavies
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: spades on Tuesday 04 February 14 06:44 GMT (UK)
Images sent.
Title: Re: Allan Family
Post by: dfwdavies on Tuesday 04 February 14 10:48 GMT (UK)
The probate images confirm that David Richard John Allan and David Richard Anderson Allan were the same person, and indicate that David Richard John Allan (d. 2003) was the son of David Allan (d. 1977).

I would appreciate any help in finding the death notice of David Allan (d. 2003), and will in the meantime contact the funeral directors, as per your advice.

Thank you all again.