Oxford,Canterbury

[Trees]

I have just found that an ancestor went to Oxford ,Canterbury he was a blacksmith the last information I have is from the 1871 census in Oxfordshire UK then his daughters marry in NZ in 1876, 1882 & 1885
1. How can I find when he arrived in NZ
2. Are there any records on line that will help me locate him in NZ are there for example any censuses available or trade directories?
3. When did oxford get its name were the majority of inhabitants from Oxfordshire? ere they from a particular area of oxfordshire? I would like to know why my James and Ann ALLEN went there.
4 Their son was also a blacksmith and he too disappears from the censuses after 1881 how can I find out if he followed his father?
Any help would be very welcome
Trees

[Corkscrew]

Well I'll take part 3
Canterbury as a whole was a Wakefieldian planned settlement.  The original idea was that the main settlement of Christchurch would have a satellite university town.  Naturally given the amount former Oxford students in the committee they chose the name Oxford.  It was supposed to be far enough away to seclude its imates from the bright lights of Chch but close enough to build a tram link.  It never worked out, Oxford became and remained a small rural service town for western North Canterbury.  No mass migrations of Oxfordshire folk I'm afraid.

[Trees]

Many thanks that is most interesting how big was it?  My contact said James was a blacksmith in oxford village.
trees

[Lucy2]

Hi Trees   

Hopefully we can help you find information for your ALLEN family.

New Zealand does not have census records, but the area of Canterbury, is very well catered for as far as other helpful records are concerned.   Yes, there are trade directories / electoral rolls etc.  (not available though, online).   The 1881, and 1893 (which includes women for the first time), electoral rolls, are available on CD, so someone on this board should be able to help with a look-up of those.   

As far as finding the arrival in NZ of your family goes, it would be helpful if you could supply the names of the
daughters ... and the son who you think might also have come here.

*  Did James and Ann ALLEN have additional christian names ?

*  Have you got the birth years for members of this ALLEN family ?

Lu

[Lucy2]

 ---   Archives New Zealand (Christchurch office) have a Probate file for > >

ALLEN - James - East Oxford, Blacksmith - 1893

[This could quite possibly be "your man"  ... but there are many similarly named persons, so it may pay to wait until a little more information comes to hand.]

Lu

[Lucy2]

Hi again

Are these your ALLEN's  ??

From the passenger list of the "Crusader" - departed Plymouth 25 September 1874 - arrived Lyttelton, 31 December 1874.    (Lyttelton was/ is, the port servicing the Canterbury / Christchurch area).

ALLEN - James (44) - Oxfordshire - Shoeing Smith
ALLEN - Ann (43)
Children in this family group - Joseph, Gertrude, Elizabeth and David.

In the single women's accommodation, these three girls ex Oxfordshire  - surname ALLEN ... Sarah (20), Laura (16) and Jane (13).   

Link to passenger list >>

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Crusader74.htm


Lu

[Trees]

many thanks lucy2 this is what I can give you
James Allen b 1829 Middle Barton m to Ann nee CANNING b 1831 Duns Tew last found 1871 Blacksmith
Children who were on 1871 census then also disapear
1.Sarah Eliza b 1854 I think I have found her m to Robert Fisher 11 Apr 1876 from NZ BDM was this Oxford I wonder
2 Ellen Laura b 1858 found m Frederick Adolphus WATERMAN 17 jul 1882  I have found a piece about him http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d4-d17-d1.html it mentions his wife  Laura  Ellen (reversed from her bapt.) 2nd daur of the late James ALLEN ( she was in fact the third dau one having died in infancy before they went to NZ.
3 Jane mary 1860
4 Joseph b 1864 Middle Barton
5 Gertrude Ann b 1866 Duns tewseveral possible m in the BDM
6 Susan Elizabeth b 1869 Duns tew
7 David b 1871 Duns tew

The oldest son James b 1852 m to Laura Elizabeth nee EBBORN was in Steeple Barton 1881 a blacksmith. Although they had m in 1873 they had no children. Nothing can be found in the UK after 1881 for them.

Once again many thanks for your interest.

I saw a death in NZ BDM for a James 1893 age 62 and for an Ann 1902 age75 and wonder if these are the ones
trees  

[Trees]

Red post YES thats them HOORAY and thank you very much
Trees

[Lucy2]

Hi Trees

Oooh !     You did very well finding that article on Mr. WATERMAN  ... and a photo to boot !   What a handsome fella he was.   

I was amused that, that article mentioned the "1901 census"
... and I should have pointed out earlier of course, that all the New Zealand census records, were in fact destroyed.

Yes, possibly they are the deaths  ... but if you hold tight, someone here, may be able to find burial records (to confirm they are the correct James and Ann).

Will see if a shipping record can be found for James (the younger) and his wife.      This James also might appear on the 1893 electoral roll ?

Lu