I'd really appreciate some help with this one - brick walls abound!
I was fortunate in receiving a very comprehensive (and obviously commissioned) family descendant document for my ancestor John WHITE who immigrated to New Zealand in about 1864. It starts with him, and his wife Mary NELLON (or Nailon; Nelan; Nellin etc who also immigrated to NZ about the same time). This information comes from their respective death registrations. John WHITE was a quarry-man/miner in Orepuki and his residence there is well documented by voter registrations and school record information.
John White originates from County Derry and Mary Nellen from County Kerry. Both appear to have been protestants, possibly Presbyterian. John and Mary were married on the 10th Oct 1865 at Knox Church, Dunedin. Mary was a Spinster, but there is a rather ambiguous squiggle in that column for John, however he is listed 'full age'. They had a large family, of which my great grandmother was a child - Prudence White. There are a number of 'John Whites' in NZ at the time, some of them holding govt. positions - I doubt they are connected to this family.
My quest is to find the ship, or ships they came out on, and more about them if possible. I have looked for them in 'Papers Past' without success, and also have not been able to find them in Australia, or on a ship from Australia to NZ. There are some possibilities with family left in Ireland with the dominance of the female name 'Prudence' (repeated a number of times in generations of this family) but nothing conclusive.
Would anyone have a clue as to how I can find out more about John and Mary? I'd be most grateful!
