Who am I and why did I not exist

[spades]

Here's a picture of the Willard orphanage:

http://digitallibrary.palmerstonnorth.com/awweb/awarchive?item=4737&type=meta

Spades

[spades]

Sue isn't joking about the duration of her search: I see unanswered enquiries on both Ancestry and Rootsweb dating back to 2000.

[suemillie]

Bless you Spades, believe me it is so upsetting to not even get off the ground in researching family trees.  To have absolutely nothing to start with is really frustrating. 

Sue

[spades]

Hi Sue,

During the period you mention New Zealand had a state-operated system known as Industrial Schools which did the same function, see: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/NewZealandIndustrialSchools.htm)

I wonder if he was in an Industrial School before ending up at Willard?

Perhaps the reason no records of him can be found is because he was entered under another name and was given another at a later date.

For records of the Willard orphanage have you eliminated any local library, family history society or archive?

What happened to the WCTU? If they still exist do they still hold any records?

Spades

 

[spades]

Yes, you're right, Sue.

[firefly74]

Hi Sue

Have you discounted 1918 GRAY Jack? I'm not sure where this birth was registered though - the reg number is 6755, but for 1918, the district keys go as high as 6631.

The entries on this fiche are typed, and every now and then a handwritten name has been added later, as is the case of Jack GRAY. After the reg number "sect 14" has been added. Maybe someone can help with what this means?

Cheers
Helen

[spades]

And blow me down, the WCTU is still in operation.

http://www.wctu.org.nz/

[Beg Clonrode...]

The entries on this fiche are typed, and every now and then a handwritten name has been added later, as is the case of Jack GRAY. After the reg number "sect 14" has been added. Maybe someone can help with what this means?

Hello...

Twiggy posted the following about Section 14 in an earlier thread...

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=555594.msg4084873#msg4084873

As I read it, sometime after 1951 Jack GRAY needed to present a birth certificate, possibly to claim a pension. There was no record of his birth so BDM NZ made an entry in the 1918 Births register under Section 14 of the 1951 Births and Deaths Registration Act.

I don't think that purchasing this birth record will advance the cause as it's not from the time of the event (1918) but from at least thirty-plus years later (1951).

But that's just my opinion. Feel free to purchase a printout of the certificate if you think it's for the correct Jack GRAY and that it will help the search.

Regards
Beg

[suemillie]

Hi

Yes section 14 it was, just means it was a late registration - a very late one in Dad's case.  Yes the WCTU is still around.  I have researched them and have all their history, however they did not keep records of inmates.  He simply did not exist in records until he was registered at school in Palm North. 

I have researched Industrial Schools and yes all Orphanages had to be registered, through either the Hospital or Industrial Schools, however none of this has helped in his birth registration.  I have searched all the birth registrations that are similar and anything that could be him, but just ended up with an awful lot of photocopies of records! 

My research has been exhaustive regarding the orphanage and birth records but to no avail.  I need to know how to research information in Government departments as I am sure he must be on some sort of files somehow!

sue