John McCaughern Buried Kaitangata Old Cemetery

[Lucy2]

I have managed to get a little more information on Mervin and John Thomas ( Thomas & Violets sons) When finding their death record on the births deaths and marriages NZ site, there was no birth date for John ( who died at 16 yrs) just the year and his age. The year was 1933 and he was sixteen, bringing his birth date to 1917.

Hello again

Although the death of John Thomas McCAUGHERN was registered in the year 1933, he in fact died on 17 December 1932  ... aged 16 years.   
[Often with deaths which occurred towards the end of a year, the registration of same made its way into the following year's records - i.e. 1933 in this case. ]

    ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

Did you see John (John Thomas) McCAUGHERN's burial ?    He is with mother Violet, at Waituna West Cemetery.

[Manawatu District Council website ]  >

http://www.mdc.govt.nz/Online_Services/Find_It/Cemetery_Search

  ~  Lu

[Tinmac]

The son (identified only as "Jack"), who is referred to in the 1919 articles mentioning Violet, was said to have been aged 3 years, as at early May 1919.  By my reckoning, (and I'm lousy at maths  ), I'd estimate "Jack's" birth to have been 1916.
[At the time Violet also stated she had another child (not identified as being younger or older than "Jack"), whom she said had been left with her people in Feilding.  ??   Was this child the son born in October 1917 ?? ] Yes, I read that. Melvin was definately born in 1917. It is also interesting that Olga ( my husbands Mum) was born ine 1919, so Violet would have been 8 months pregnant with her! I should take a copy of the photo showing the twin boys and put it up, someone may recognise someone. I would say it is a photo of a Grandmother with her Grandchildren and as it is a Fielding studio, at this point in time, I am assuming the young ones could be John and Melvin but will need to do more digging.

    ~ Lu

[Tinmac]

I have been doing more digging and have found someone with a link to the McCaugherns. I have viewed the family tree which shows Violet being married to Thomas mcCaughern and the two children "Jack" ( John) and Melvin. I will try to figure out how to put up this photo I have because now, on closer inspection the two boys in the photo are not twins ( although they are dressed in similar outfits) you can see that the one on the right ( which I think is John) is older than the one on the left...I can see by the type of shoes he has on ( and foot size) as well as the length of his legs and the fact that he is wearing shorts rather than rompers which is what the one on the left ( Melvin?) is wearing. The photo was taken at "Hobdays Rona Studios" in Fielding. I know that Daniel Colvin McCaugherns "Excelsior tearooms" were next to the Cobbes Building in Manchester St. It also happens that Hobdays Rona Studios were also next door to the Cobbes building. I have scanned the photo and sent to the McCaughern link in the UK to see if they can cast any light ( although, they only know a little about Melvin and John and knew nothing about Olga!

[New Zealander]

Hi there

For what it is worth my input

The Clutha District Council at help.desk[at]cluthadc.govt.nz <help.desk[at]cluthadc.govt.nz> should be able to assist you with information on the Kaitangata Cemetery.  They also have a website at http://www.cluthadc.govt.nz/Default.htm.

Could also be worth contacting the Balclutha Museum at southotagomuseum[at]xtra.co.nz for further information on the family or photographs of the Kaitangata cemetery.

Alex G


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[Tinmac]

Good morning, many thanks Alex G, I shall check it out. I have managed to track down a relative of one of Violets Sisters ( Anne) this woman is Anne's great niece and her Mother, who is still alive has some photos she thinks may be of interest. I am going to send her one of the photo's I have to see if she recognises anyone in it.

[Tinmac]

I have sent an email to the council at Clutha and hopefully I might get somewhere.

[Lucy2]

Hi Tinmac

You might like to also try contacting the New Zealand Society of Genealogist's, (NZSG) Balclutha Branch, who have John, Jane, Tom and a Miss Margaret McCAUGHERN, listed in their Master Index (see link on left-hand sidebar).

http://www.balcluthagenealogy.org.nz/index.htm

   ~  Lu

[Tinmac]

Hi Lu
Thank you very much.