Public Trust New Zealand

[huriteAO]

My Greatgrandfather, William Charles Gentry (b1870) had three sisters, Mary Martha who died a childless spinster at 21yrs, Rebecca who had two daughters, one who died at 9mths, and who had one daughter. Family history is silent on his third sister Katherine, apart from the fact that her assets were distributed to William's children & grandchildren. I have come across a probate document from 1952 for a woman who I am hoping IS my great aunt. I am going to write to the Public Trust to see if I can get any information to match what little we know of her to help us plan a family reunion. Has anyone had such assistance from the Public Trust Office?

[jaybelnz]

Due to the Privacy Act, I doubt they would be able to give out family information without you being able to provide legal documentation (certs etc) for proof of your identity.

Perhaps you could give your local Public Trust Office a phone call to enquire if such info would be available to you if you are able to prove your identity!  That's what I would do firstly.

[minniehaha]

Hello,

If the lady in question is deceased and you are comfortable about disclosing her name, we may be able to find information which perhaps the Public Trustee does not have or would be unwilling to disclose.


Minniehaha.

[Jamjar]

You can search on Familysearch. William Charles is there and it even includes a copy of his death cert - I haven't seen one included before:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-LHJM

Jamjar

[Jamjar]

I think this may be the one you are referring to:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89QW-V9J5?i=388&cc=1865481

Jamjar

Added: The will of the husband of the above is difficult to read, but It looks to me that they weren't together at the time of his death. He appears - if I'm reading it correctly - to have left all to someone else, just mentioning an allowance for his wife.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-VS2D

He was 64 in 1925, so born in 1861.  She was 74 in 1952, so born 1878.

1876/14465 Gentry Catherine Ann  Rebecca and Charles William

[Lucy2]

Family history is silent on his third sister Katherine, apart from the fact that her assets were distributed to William's children & grandchildren. I have come across a probate document from 1952 for a woman who I am hoping IS my great aunt.

Hi

The NZ Birth Index (online), shows a birth registration for >

1876 - GENTRY - Catherine Ann
Parents :   Rebecca and Charles William     (same parents as for your William Charles)

And in 1896 there is a marriage for a >

Catherine GENTRY to William Andrew MARTIN

(You probably already have that information.  )

Searching the NZ Birth Index (online) I can't really see a birth for the above couple (up to "today's date" 1917) 

Further, there is a probate record for >

William Andrew MARTIN who died in 1925.   
The handwritten Will on the Probate file, I've really only skimmed over (it's not easy to read in a hurry  ) ... but it shows the wife of this man is named as Catherine Ann.

Here's the link >
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9SN-HBWM?i=131&cc=1865481

You may like to look in a little more detail (but it seemed that the couple, did not have any children - or that if they did, then they weren't mentioned. )   

   ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

... oops Jamjar ... hadn't seen your addition to your earlier post.   

[Lucy2]

William Andrew MARTIN :   
[Not necessarily relevant to the search for family of Catherine / Katherine MARTIN.    ]

The beneficiary mentioned in the Will of William Andrew MARTIN (husband of Catherine Ann MARTIN - presumed to be Catherine Ann, nee GENTRY), is named as Apikara LARDELLI, widow of Whangara via Gisborne.

Mrs LARDELLI appears to have been the widow of Victor Strachan LARDELLI a sheep farmer of Whangara, who died in 1915.   She is recorded only as "wife" in her husband's Will.
William Andrew MARTIN was named an executor in the estate of V.S. LARDELLI.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G995-39S8-C?i=89&cc=1865481

   ~  Lu

[huriteAO]

Many thanks jaybelnz, minniehaha, Lucy2 and Jamjar