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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: TunjiLees on Tuesday 12 May 20 13:24 BST (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
I am not very familiar with New Zealand research but as I understand it there are 3 main resources; 1) BMD index, 2) newspapers, 3) electoral rolls. Are there any other resources worth consulting?
As part of my study into Northern Irish Lees families I am trying to trace 2 brothers who emigrated from Tullyraw, Ardtrea, Co. Tyrone, Ireland to New Zealand.
From the obituary of Samuel H. LEE/LEES who died 1917 Illinois USA, I know that he had 2 brothers David and Isaac who emigrated to New Zealand.
The obituary does not mention where exactly in New Zealand they migrated to, but I feel positive it must have been Greymouth in Westland, as that is the only place I can find records of both an Isaac and a David Lees, though I have yet to find something definitively confirming the link.
The family appear to have run a ferry business known as Lees' Ferry.
I have found what I believe to be the death of David Lees at Ahaura in 1915 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG6K-2FQW (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG6K-2FQW)
According to an Ancestry family tree he first went to Australia where he married Mary Lyons of County Galway in 1859 Victoria, before moving on to New Zealand, and they had children; William Henry 1860, Ann 1862, David Isaac 1866, John Joseph 1867, Thomas Michael 1871, Mary Catherine 1873.
The problem is, I cannot find a marriage or death record for brother Isaac Lees. This appears to be him on the electoral rolls;
1878: Isaacs Lees, 903, North of Grey River, Grey Valley, Household
1881: Isaac Lees, North bank of Grey, Ahaura, Inangahua, Residential
1893: Isaac Lees, 1486, Farmer, Moonlight, Inangahua, Residential
1896: Isaac Lees sen, 4388, Farmer, Ahaura, Grey Supp 2, Residential
1896: Isaac Lees jun, 4389, Miner, Ahaura, Grey Supp 2, Residential
I have found obituaries and more on David's family, but not much at all on Isaac, not even his death or marriage.
To summarise, I would appreciate some advice on;
- Tracing Isaac Lees and his family
- Confirming 100% that this is the same family
Cheers
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As an aside in the search for Samuel's brother Isaac...
Here is a probate (will) for a David Isaac LEES although nothing in the probate links to family. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2VCC-24D
Dates to a birth in 1866 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W3-Y8JY
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Here is another generic place to search for NZ records: Archway https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/Home.do
Military service is often indicated here too: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph, and if it is WW1 or prior there is often a record linked to there or on the Archway database.
A physical resources (ie not online) can often be the (Wises) post office directories from the earlier years, in many of the public libraries.
A look-up in the Intentions to Marry at the national archives can sometimes state where a person has come from prior to marrying.
You will find a lot more resources in our NZ Resources and offers area https://www.rootschat.com/forum/new-zealand-resources-offers/
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I presume as you noted newspapers, that you have looked at Paperspast?
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
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Some possible passenger entries here http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pg9/ ?
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Could this be the marriage of Isaac junior?
1902/767 Clara Thomas Isaac Lees
Minniehaha.
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IF your Isaac LEES went to Australia or specifically New South Wales, perhaps a wee look on the Australian historic newspapers website Trove may be helpful? http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pga/
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Hi and thanks for the replies!
I checked Trove and found this article which almost certainly seems to be about the brothers in question. Can't find anything for him in Australia after that date, so maybe that's when he moved to New Zealand and David joined him later.
Missing Friends
ISAAC LEES, who left home on the 3rd of August, is requested to communicate with his brother, David Lees, Sydney Store, Golden Gully, Bendigo (28 Dec 1860 Bendigo Advertiser)
Are the New Zealand civil registration records complete? If there is no record of Isaac's death on the NZ index, does that mean that he moved elsewhere?
I don't know when exactly Isaac was born but it must have been sometime 1825-1845.
Will keep on searching.
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Another thought that might exclude the David LEES you found who had died in NZ in 1915, is that he was Scottish.
https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/cemeteries/cemeteries-search?recordid=63090&type=Burial
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If there is no record of Isaac's death on the NZ index, does that mean that he moved elsewhere?
That's what I am picking. No Isaac deaths, no appropriate David deaths.
Most times Australia is the next thought, back to where they came from, or in your case where other family emigrated to.
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To go back to the beginning...
Do you have records for the three brothers leaving Ireland?
Do you have the shipping record for Samuel arriving in the USA? Who else was with him?
What evidence was in the obituary to confirm the brother's went to NZ? Or did Samuel lose contact with his brothers whose intention was that they go to NZ but instead sailed elsewhere?
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Back in Ireland in 1859 there are two Lees leasing land at Artrea - John & William. They lease it from a Rev James Jones. Also in Artrea is Matthew Lees in Donaghenry. (Info from Griffiths Valuation)
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Another thought that might exclude the David LEES you found who had died in NZ in 1915, is that he was Scottish.
https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/cemeteries/cemeteries-search?recordid=63090&type=Burial
I think this is the 1915 death: [The one above died in 1903].....
1915/3821 Lees David 80Y
Funeral notice:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19150417.2.17.4?end_date=31-12-1915&query=david+lees&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1915
You could contact the council for the cemetery details.
https://www.greydc.govt.nz/our-services/cemeteries/Pages/default.aspx
Minniehaha
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You're right Minniehaha.
I had so many tabs open for inclusion or elimination that I missed seeing that date.
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I think this is the 1915 death: [The one above died in 1903].....
1915/3821 Lees David 80Y
Yes that is correct. I found a headstone transcription on Ancestry for this David who would have been born around 1835. His wife is recorded as a native of Co. Galway, Ireland, but unfortunately it doesn't say where David was originally from. With the circumstantial evidence though I am around 95% sure he is the right guy.
There is someone on Ancestry with a family tree for David Lees which does indeed say he is born Co. Tyrone. Not sure where they got that information from. I may try messaging them to ask. I thought of contacting the cemetery though from the website it seems they don't take genealogical queries.
Not sure how it will help here, but this is the obituary of brother Samuel H Lee from Illinois;
(https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2018/245/146207534_b390ea95-28f8-4b1c-924d-cdf41b85783c.jpeg)
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Back in Ireland in 1859 there are two Lees leasing land at Artrea - John & William. They lease it from a Rev James Jones. Also in Artrea is Matthew Lees in Donaghenry. (Info from Griffiths Valuation)
Yes, the William Lees is David and Isaac's father. I have uncovered a lot for those of the family in Ireland and the USA using many different sources, but New Zealand is proving more challenging.
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If you obtained the death printout for the death of David in 1915 you may find out where he was born.
Data collected:
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/dataCollected/death
Minniehaha.
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Thanks I had no idea the NZ records gave so much info. Unfortunately they are not cheap though! Seems a bit steep to pay at this stage, though it's good to know there's that option.
The hunt goes on for Isaac...
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Just a quick update in case any other researchers stumble upon this.
I found that David's brother Isaac Lees sailed from Auckland to California in 1898 and I have found further records of him in the state of Montana where he died in 1919. The informant of his death certificate was a James Leeds (sic) who may have been a relative. Curiously, though Isaac's parents' names are correctly listed as William Lees and Miss Moore, there is a ? next to the married field. I also could not find Isaac on the 1900 or 1910 US censuses. The man still remains a bit of a mystery.