"Parkhurst Boys" transported to NZ 1842/43

[BAC3]

Hello Colin,

You have just edged me into thanking Koromo for the suggestion....it could be a great way of breaching the "brick wall"!!  Indeed, if the "NZ Herald" is as influential as "The West Australian" I could find myself inundated with replies.   However, I should qualify that by saying I was also interviewed on the Radio Talk Perth 6PR programme "The Way We Were" at the same time as my request for information appeared in the newspaper.

The Biographies so far completed are:

ASTLE, William
BOTTOMLEY, George
BURNAND, Isaac
BURNAND, Thomas
COLEY, James (not to be mistaken for Joseph)
DOWIE, Henry Butler
EDGE, George
EGGERTON, Isaac
HARVEY, Thomas
HOLLIS, William
MAHONEY, John (aka LEE, John)
MINHINNICK, John
PIZEY, James
RAMPLING, James
ROSE, Edwin
SMITH, William (aka HARLINGTON).......he was
      transported on the "St George" and not to be
      confused with William Smith from the "Mandarin".
WOODGATE, William Robert

The importance of NZ is that alongside Western Australia they were the first "colonies" to receive Parkhurst Boys but the differing treatment of them was quite astonishing.  The following is a snippet from "The Times" in 1846:

     "Some time back 50 Parkhurst boys, between
       the ages of 18 and 20, were sent out, but here
       (NZ), as in Western Australia, they turned out
       so badly in point of morals that they were
       injurious to the colony"

This is really a distortion of the truth as far as WA is concerned in that they were so pleased with the Parkhurst Boys, like Oliver Twist, they asked for more!!!
I think the answer may be found in the fact that NZ had more than full employment whereas WA had a labour shortage.

I really am grateful for the offers of help..... any information I can unearth which tells the true story of the Parkhurst Boys in NZ as intimated by Janet Martin on "Pearls" website will be marvellous.

Thank you, Colin, and you too Koromo.  If you need any manuscript etc. please let me know.

Kind regards

Tony

[Colin K]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for clarifying the names of those whom you know about.  Now down to some serious work. I have left a message with my friend who writes for the Herald and will hopefully hear from him shortly.  ( given he's on a break for a week )
In a way I wish I could tie one of the names to my research, seems rather a shame that I can't say "I have a skeleton in the closet!."
Will away for now but be assured I will do my best to get your request into the media somehow.

Regards Colin

[BAC3]

Hello Colin,

I wonder if anything ever developed with your enquiries?

Regards

Tony

[Colin K]

Hi Tony,

No responce from my send in as yet. I did receive a confirmation of receipt so assume they are either researching or have shelved. I will send off a query and see if they can let me know the status and let you know.

Regards

Colin

[Arranroots]

Hi Tony

I know that you feel you have along way to go with this enquiry.

We have new Rootschatters joining all the time and many of them find us because they have used internet search engines.  You have listed the names that you are interested in and presumably have explored the resources that are mentioned on this site.

I hope this reply will serve as a reminder to those with NZ expertise that they might be able to help you.

What progress have you made?  Have you identified any specific resources that rootschatters in NZ could help you with?

If, after a while, you still don;t have much response you could try posting again for a specific name or a specific resource, but please always refer back to this thread so that we avoid duplication of effort.

Good luck with your research!

kind regards, Arranroots 

[BAC3]

Hello Arranroots,

Thank you for your response and words of advice.

I have tried most of the accepted genealogical pathways and there are seemingly few resources left for me to research the "missing" 100 Parkhurst Boys........even several correspondents in NZ who have done some delving on my behalf have had to admit defeat.   It is extremely strange and, sadly too, quite a few enquiries have gone unanswered.    But that is to be expected in a situation where you are dealing with an antecedent who has a chequered past!!!

Interestingly on this point, a member of the State Records Office in Western Australia told me that in that particular State attitudes changed in the 1960s when the then Premier, David Brand, became the first community leader in WA to openly discuss his convict ancestry.   I must admit I have reaped the benefits, because out of 234 Parkhurst Boys transported to the Swan River Colony I have managed to complete 150 Biographies (life histories).

Once again thanks for your help

Best wishes for the coming Season.

Tony

[bearkat]

Not sure if you have this link

http://members.lycos.co.uk/s0uthbury/parklinkspage.htm

[BAC3]

Thanks Bearkat,

Sadly, I think I have visited every "link" imaginable but unearthing descendants of the Parkhurst Boys in NZ is almost impossible.

This thread has been visited over 8,000 times but, for the 123 boys disembarked in Auckland  in 1842 and 1843, there have been only two positive results.    Never mind.

Thank you again for the thought.

BAC

[bearkat]

I have followed this thread with interest.

I wonder if the response you have received is typical for finding the descendants of 123 immigrants to New Zealand in 1840-50.