Jethro Smale - Where to start researching in NZ?

[sunic]

Didn't know about them until just now - will investigate.  Maybe you could stay at the Immigration Depot as long as you wanted.

[D Morgan]

I have only just registered with roots hat, so your request may no longer be relevant; but Jethro Smale was married to my mother's great aunt, Fanny Godsave, from Great Warley, Essex. I think that Jethro worked his passage back from NZ, as on his police attestation  forms, his occupation was given as seaman.
He was with the Thames police, stationed on a floating police station at Greenwich. He was drowned on August 21st 1890. The family tradition was that for a bet he said he could dive in and swim under the station - he drowned! Because he had taken off his jacket, he was not in uniform, and thus his widow got no pension. Police re rods confirm no pension was granted.
I have a little more information, if you are interested.
D Morgan

[sunic]

Hi,

Yes I am interested!!  Jethro was my 3x great uncle through his sister Sarah.  I saw the newspaper reports into his death.  I felt so sorry for his wife and children. I presume one or other of them didn't like NZ as they decided to come back pretty quickly.  Are the Attestation Forms online?  I've only found the entries in the Police Registers.  I would love to hear any information you have.  I have a lot of information about his father Humphrey which was hard to come by.  If you're missing any info about him I'm happy to help.
Thanks, best wishes,
Sunic

[D Morgan]

I got the police info by emailing heritagecentre[at]met.police.uk they sent me digital copies of their records. As I'm not supposed to put my email address on here, I'm not sure how to send them to you - my computer skills are a bit limited! And they are on my laptop, not this ipad.
I have several pictures of Fanny, one (I think) before she married.
Why did they marry in Croydon, rather than her home in Great Warley?
Could you tell me what paper his death report was in, and do you know where he as buried?
My interest in Jethro was sparked by the family story of his death, although he is fairly peripheral to my main family history.
I have just thought: If you wrote to me. Dan Morgan. ^(*)
I could send you hard copies of what I have got.
Dan Morgan

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(*) Moderator Comment: personal address removed to protect personal privacy.
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[spades]

Hi Dan, and welcome to RootsChat.

If you make one more post you will be able to use the Personal Message facility and contact other members direct.

Spades
Moderator

[sunic]

Thanks Dan, I'll email the heritage centre and will PM you as they've removed your address.  I'd love to see a picture of Fanny!  I have a copy of their marriage certificate and it says Fanny was living in Penge (which is also where Jethro's parents were living).  If my research is correct, in 1871 she was a cook in Lewisham, which isn't that far away.  I can't find Jethro in 1871, but his family moved up from Devon at some point between the 1861/71 censuses.  I don't know whether you've researched them, but it's a convoluted story (however I have proved it without doubt).  They have been very hard to trace and I'd love to know their motivation for their actions, but I presume I never will, unless I get really lucky!  The newspaper report of Jethro's death was in the 'Morning Post' on 28 August 1890 - I tried to attach a copy but it wouldn't let me.  It's on FindMyPast.  Is there a way I can get it to you if you can't access it?
Do you have Ancestry?  I wonder if the easiest way for you to see the information I have is for me to share my tree with you (it's set on private because I had a problem with a man insisting I had siblings that I don't!!).
Sue

[penne]

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/ also worth a look.