COMPLETED w.thanks...Birth reg.Par.Stepney - GRO Somerset Hse - HUGHES b1874

[allycat]

Dear Rootschatters, Hi there.  I've been at the Emigrants to New Zealand board lately, and find that I have to post here for this query.  I'm looking for birth records of a child (British subject) that was born at sea and died before arrival in New Zealand.

I'm researching my MIL (mother-in-law's) g.grandparents - Stephen HUGHES born 1838 Kent, England, died 1877 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand, and Eliza CHEESEMAN (also known as Eliza SHORTER) born 1842 somewhere in England.

More information:  The family came to New Zealand on the ship "Avalanche" which sailed on the 22nd October 1874, and arrived in Wellington on the 21st January 1875.  They then continued their journey on the same ship and landed in New Plymouth.

Passengers were:
HUGHES, Stephen aged 36, Kent, Farm Labourer
HUGHES, Eliza, aged 32
HUGHES, Stephen aged 13, transferred to S.M.
HUGHES,  Thomas aged 9
HUGHES, John aged 7
HUGHES, William aged 4
HUGHES, George aged 2

It is possible that a child was born to Sephen and Eliza HUGHES aboard ship and that this child died and was buried at sea.  The child's name was either Avalanche, Isaac or Elizabeth.  {MIL's thoughts on the topic before she found letter below}.

Notes from a genealogy letter in my MIL's possession:  Letter dated 19 March 1971 from Pauline Jenkins - Archivist, New Zealand.  Info as follows:- "In reply to your letter concerning the Hughes family, the ships papers say Eliza Hughes gave birth to a son on the 23rd Oct 1874.  A British child born at sea was registered as belonging to the Parish Stepney.  Those records are held by the General Registration Office of Somerset House, London, UK."

Can anyone assist me in finding out more info on this little one?

Alison in QLD Australia.

[AnjiM]

Hi Alison,

Based on the information in your post  I have found the following entries from the FreeBMD index:

Birth Male Hughes
Q4 (Oct-Dec) 1874
District Stepney
Vol 1c  Page 502

Death Male Hughes
Age 0
Q4 (Oct-Dec) 1874
District Stepney
Vol 1c  Page 404

You'll need to order the certificates from the GRO to be sure that this the little one you are looking for.

Hope this helps.

Anji

[Meliora]

The Births at Sea Register folio 866 at the ONS shows the child's name as Avalanche Isaac Hughes, parents Stephen & Eliza Hughes.  I could not find a death entry.

Meliora

[allycat]

Dear Anji and Meliora, thanks to both of you ladies for finding this child.  I just spoke to my MIL on the phone and she was so pleased that he won't be forgotten now.  Thank you, Alison.