Gilbert Islands, South Pacific

[dunscore]

Robert David Corrie went to the Gilbert Islands c. 1859 (born Liverpool, England) and became a Trader.  He was a witness at the Proclamation ceremony in 1892.
He married twice and had 6 children to his first wife (she died in childbirth) and 6 children with his second wife.  He sent his children to Sydney Australia for their education.
He possibly died c. 1915 but not known if it was in the Gilbert Islands or not.
Any information on his children would be appreciated.  The names of his children are:
Charles, Fanny, Alec, Mary, Ben, Agnes.  Also May, Sarah, Mita, Charlotte, Ruth, James.

Any information would be very much appreciated.

Dunscore

[farmertom]

Dunscore,
My name is %$#@!.  I live on the island of ^&*, Mariana Islands.  My mom asked me to look up information on her grandfather Robert Corrie.  My mom is the daughter of Mita Milne Corrie of Kiribati who is the daughter of Robert Corrie; she married a man from the Marshall Islands.  Robert Corrie is my mom's grandfather.  My mom said the Corrie family still in Kiribati, in the Marshalls and in Fiji.  She also mentioned Sydney Australia and an Alexander Corrie.  It's good to hear of the Corrie family.  Perhaps my mom may be able to help with information from the stories her mom told her, in addition to making contact with family members in Kiribati if there is some info you're looking for.  Take care.
 

*moderator's comment: details of living people removed in accordance with Rootschat policy

[dunscore]

Hi there,
My apologies for taking a while to acknowledge your chat but there has been a lot going on in my family, including the sudden death of my mother-in-law.
I knew Robert Corrie had a daughter Mita, I think from his second marriage.  Robert and his second wife and two of their children drowned in 1915 between Tarawa and Maiana Islands, a trip he had no doubt done hundreds of times before.  His daughter Agnes (from Robert's first marriage) indicated this in an article she wrote for a Pacific Islands magazine.
I know very little of the children of the 2nd marriage, other than their names, although I did meet a descendant of one of Robert's daughters when she visited Sydney earlier this year.
Alexander and Benjamin Corrie were two of Robert's sons from his first marriage and some of their descendants are living in Queensland now and I have met them.
I would certainly be interested in any information your Mom can give me regarding Robert Corrie's children.  Do you know the names of the ones who drowned with him?
I have tried to find a Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Tarawa without success, but I am sure there must be records of some sort kept there.
Perhaps there is a Corrie family member in Kiribati who is interested in the family history?

Cheers,
Dunscore

[Braonnain73]

Hello family, just posting a reply in regards to comment by Telefunu. I am a great great grandson of the man that came to live in the Torres Strait his name was Charles Corrie not James and he was the eldest son to Taoniti and Robert David Corrie, he married Lillian Savage in 1905 at Thursday Island some of his descendants are living in Cairns and Mackay. I am a grandson to Marjorie Bobongie (nee Corrie).

[elizabeth neemia]

Hi Dunscore,

Im one of the descendants of Robert Corrie with his second wife (Lydia). I know just 3 of their daughters. They are my great grandmother, Mita who resided in the Marshall Islands and Charlotte.

My great grandmother (forgot her name sorry) was married to a man from Maiana named Tamaroa. They have 2 daughters named Bitaa Elizabeth (my grandmother) and Teuea Florence and they have sons too. So in my case the family tree from Robert Corrie is like this.

Robert Corrie and Lydia > My great grandmother > My grandmother (Bitaa Elizabeth) > My mother Georgina and then myself

I know more about Charlotte because she was looking after my mum since my mum was a little girl until she got married and we were born. Charlotte didn't marry and she took care of my mum (my mum's mother passed away when my mum was a little girl). Charlotte died in our home when I was about between 6-8 years old (cant really remember).

I know little about Mita because she was living in the Marshall Islands but I knew that Mita and her children and grandchildren used to visit my family in Kiribati (Mita visiting her sister Charlotte) from time to time when I was little. I have pictures of Charlotte and her sister Mita.

You did mention that Robert Corrie is your great grandfather and Robert Corrie is my great great grandfather then you are definitely my uncle. I am so happy that this website has allowed me to get to know some of my close relatives from the Corrie family living outside Kiribati.

I knew my Corrie family in Kiribati but want to know more about others who reside now in other parts of the globe. Take care

[Brenda Ball]

I am so thrilled to have come across this site as I have been trying to get information on my heritage and it is so nice to know that there are family out there doing the same.

My grandfather is Alexander (Alec) David Corrie, son of Robert.  Growing up in Fiji I met with Ben (his brother) and his family and whenever he visited from Rabi we would connect.  I remember Lizzie (she lived with us for a while when I was younger) her mother was Mary and I also met Makin.

I have a beautiful photo of Robert with one of his daughters.  I will dig it out and post it on this site.

Any family information about our roots would be most welcome.

Brenda Ball

[dunscore]

Hi Brenda,

I have just tried to send you a PM on Rootschat, but it bounced back as your Inbox is "Full".

Can you let me know when you are back on Rootschat as I wanted to be in touch regarding the Corrie family in Gilbert Islands.

Dunscore

[Brenda Ball]

Hi Dunscore
I think I'm on now!!!!

[majm]

Hi Brenda,   If you make one more reply, even just to say Hi, then you should be able to access all of RootsChat, and that includes sending private message to dunscore.

Cheers,  JM (not a family member)