Newell's in Christchurch North

[Skybluechris]

Hello

I am trying to find more information relating to my great aunt and her husband who were last known to be in Canterbury.

My great aunt was Nellie (also know as Helen) Newell, nee Craig born in 1890 in Carnlough, County Antrim, Ireland.  Her husband was Francis Newell, an mechanical engineer.  The last known record of them is in the NZ Electoral Roll for 1928 where they are both resident at 18 Gordon Avenue, Christchurch North, Canterbury.

Any information regarding the above would be most welcome.

Thanks
Christopher

[Lucy2]

Hello Christopher

Archives New Zealand (Christchurch office) hold the following probate record.

NEWELL - Francis - Christchurch - Mechanical Engineer -- 1973

and NZ BDM has    ....

Death

1973 - NEWELL - Francis - d.o.b.  7 April 1881

Will see what else I can find.

    ~  Lu

[Beg Clonrode...]

Hello...

EDIT:

Sorry about this :-)

My original post may or may not be a red herring (which will become clearer later in the thread).

I'll leave it up anyway....

--------------------------------------------

Can't give any definite information (sorry) but when you put Francis NEWELL into the NZ electoral roll index on ancestry you also come up with Francis David NEWELL. He is listed on the NZ WW2 Nominal Roll and his "other" is Mr F NEWELL. There is also a James NEWELL on the WW2 Nominal Roll and his "other" is also a Mr F NEWELL.

I've checked the WW2 Nominal roll at my library. It lists the same "Last NZ Address" in Oxford, Canterbury for both Francis David NEWELL and James NEWELL so I'd guess they were brothers. For both of them Mr F NEWELL (father) is listed as next-of-kin. His address is different to the brothers. For the first enlistment (Francis David in 1941) he is in Rangiora, which is near Christchurch (I think). For the second enlistment (James in 1942) he is in Riccarton, which is part of Christchurch.

Francis David NEWELL is buried in the Oxford Public cemetery

http://www.waimakariri.govt.nz/services/cemeteries/cemetery-search.aspx

Buried in the same cemetery is a Helen King NEWELL. Sharing the plot with Helen is a Graeme Francis NEWELL aged 0 years. He is the infant son of Frances David and Jean Mary NEWELL. His death is registered as BDM NZ Births 1950/107849

I don't know where James NEWELL is buried but a James NEWELL is listed on BDM NZ as having died in 2000. His death notice is in the Press (Christchurch newspaper) on the 22nd and 23rd of June 2000. You could always ask for a death notice look-up and see if there are any family mentioned.

BDM NZ
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search

Press Death Notice 2000-2011
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/about-us/reader-services/2259796/Death-Notices-List-of-Names

Or you can just file this away for the moment as it's all supposition. Might be a good idea until you see what names are in the probate Lucy mentioned.

--------------------------------

Regards
Beg

[Canterburynorth]

Just in case its of any help, the headstone at Oxford

[Lucy2]

Mmm ... the nominal roll info is helpful Beg.   

I've spent a bit of time on this query also  ... trawling e/rolls  and other indexes ... and arriving eventually at the burial record of Helen King NEWELL (1937).

But this would seem to be the marriage of  this Helen (and her maiden surname is not that given earlier by Christopher).   

NZ Marriage

Helen King RADCLIFFE - Frank NEWELL -- 1908

~    Lu
                                                  more to follow   >>

[Lucy2]

NZ Births  (to "today's date", 1912 )

1909 - NEWELL - William Radcliffe

Parents:   Helen King and Frank NEWELL

[Lucy2]

NZ Births  (to "today's date", 1912 )

1909 - NEWELL - William Radcliffe

Parents:   Helen King and Frank NEWELL

[Lucy2]

Electoral rolls

Have not found on any rolls, a listing for a "Helen King NEWELL".

Whilst there are listings (Canterbury area) for "NEWELL - Francis, sharing an address with a Helen or Nellie, married", the following is the only one for the Oxford locality.

1935 - Huruni Supplementary roll

NEWELL - Francis - High Street, Oxford* - cartage contractor
NEWELL - Helen - Oxford - married

[* High Street, Oxford is a match with the WW11 roll info (for Francis David NEWELL) given by Beg.     
That this couple are on a supplementary roll, could mean that they had only recently taken up residence in the area. ] 

So, the above "Francis NEWELL" (who is possibly the "Frank" who wed Helen King Radcliffe ?) has the occupation of "cartage contractor" (and not engineer) ?

But I have some further info which (very possibly) leads back to the "Francis NEWELL" probate record (1973).
Need a break  ... will continue with this shortly.   

   ~  Lu

[Beg Clonrode...]

Thanks Lucy,

I've amended my original post accordingly :-)

I really must consider subscribing to ancestry (but that's no excuse for not checking the BDM NZ marriage you linked to...very sloppy)

Regards
Beg