Samuel Ward Roberts

[BegClonrode ....]

Thinking the only way of knowing for sure would be to get the death cert for the 1910 death.How do I go about getting this.

Hello Judy...

Before you spend any money you should wait until someone has checked the BDM NZ Deaths fiche to find out where in NZ the 1910 ROBERTS death was registered. If it was registered in Northland (better still Kaitaia) it's worth looking into. (Kaitaia would be the largest population centre near Herekino)

I can't get to my library to check the fiche until the weekend. Maybe someone else can help before then.

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To actually purchase a death certificate you just go to the BDM NZ Historical website, find the death, then click "Purchase". Fill out your credit card details and choose delivery via email or via the postie. It's better to purchase a printout of the certificate (costs NZ$20.40) as opposed to an actual death certificate (costs NZ$26.50). Not only is the printout cheaper but it's an actual scan of the Death Register, whereas a death certificate is a transcription of the Death Register.

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

Regards
Beg

[bozzo2]

Thanks Beg,I will wait and see if anyone can check before ordering a cert.
Thanks again
Judy

[BegClonrode ....]

Hi again...

Managed to check the Deaths fiche. The 1910 death was registered in Mangonui in Northland.

Mangonui is about forty miles from Herekino. Not really that close in terms of registration districts but Samuel may have moved after the 1908 electoral roll was compiled. Or not.

So nothing definite to suggest it's your man. You may or may not want to keep looking before you spend any money.

Have you checked electoral rolls to see how many Samuel ROBERTS' there were living in Northland at the time. Might help to clear things up.

Sorry I'm not of more help.

Regards
Beg

[Thamesite2017]

HI BEg
I was surprised how few Samuel Roberts there were, and at no time was there another in Northland for the rolls we looked at.
So may well be the right person,
Nothing guaranteedd
Bye
Althea

[bozzo2]

Hi Beg and Althea
You girls are fantastic,thanks for checking,hmmmm,now what to do,can you tell me what is normally on the NZ certs,guessing they are like the aussie ones for info,and the info only as good as the informant.
Althea you asked did the two children stay in Australia,one died in Toowoomba,Qld and the other died young in Qld,so guessing they didn't venture out of Australia,but who knows,for 20 bucks,maybe worth getting a cert much cheaper than ours at 38 bucks.Thanks again
Cheers
Judy

[BegClonrode ....]

Hi again...

As you say, the info is only as good as the informant.

A post-1875 death certificate has the following info...

Deceased:
When and where died
Name and surname
Rank or profession or occupation
Sex and Age

Details of Death:
Cause of death
Duration of last illness
Medical attendant

Parents:
Name and Surname of father
Name and if known maiden surname of mother
Rank or profession or occupation of father

Burial Details:
When and where buried
Name and Religion of Minister or name of witness of burial

Birth Details:
Where born
How long in New Zealand

Marriage Details:
To whom married
Where married
At what age married

Children:
If living issue, the number, age and sex (not the name)

Informant:
Signature, description and residence of informant

Registrar:
Signature of registrar
Date of registration

Don't forget, a printout is preferable to a certificate (and six dollars cheaper)

------

Hi Beg and Althea
You girls are fantastic

Speaking for myself...

Neither fantastic nor, last time I looked, a girl :-)

All the best
Beg

[bozzo2]

Hi Beg and Althea

Got the online cert today,unknown on who his parents were,and unknown if he was married,the informant was an agent authorised by the matron of the hostipal,so would be the reason why.
It says he was born in England,and it looks like he had lived in NZ for 7 years,there looks like another number just above and to the side a bit of the 7 but carn't read it,carn't be 70 something years as he was 68 when he died.His occupation is ???digger.Is it possible to email to you the cert as you may be able to read it better.A plus is this fellow was born in England and if it is only 7 years he was in NZ it could well be my man,but with no parents names,will not know for sure.
Cheers
Judy

[BegClonrode ....]

Hi Judy...

For what it's worth, I'm more than happy to have a look at the certificate.

I will PM you my email address

Regards
Beg

[BegClonrode ....]

Hi Judy...

As you say, not much info at all. Sort of gives the impression that he was a man alone with no family.

He was a gum-digger which wasn't really the easiest of jobs.

Here's a bit of info on them from the Encyclopaedia of NZ...

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/kauri-gum-and-gum-digging/2

Years in NZ is 7, as you said. The other mark is just a dash. Maybe browse through the 1903-ish passenger lists into Auckland using PapersPast or LDS. Passenger lists for trans-Tasman voyages were rare but there's a slim chance he may get a mention.

I don't suppose the witnesses "A.C BALLANCE" and "R CAMPBELL" are names associated with your Samuel. Maybe they travelled over with him. Maybe not.

All in all, not the most helpful of certificates. But at least it didn't confirm that it wasn't him (if that makes sense)

Regards
Beg