LEES family from Ardtrea, Tyrone, Ireland to Greymouth, Westland, New Zealand

[TwiggyTree]

If there is no record of Isaac's death on the NZ index, does that mean that he moved elsewhere?

That's what I am picking.  No Isaac deaths, no appropriate David deaths.

Most times Australia is the next thought, back to where they came from, or in your case where other family emigrated to.

[TwiggyTree]

To go back to the beginning...

Do you have records for the three brothers leaving Ireland?

Do you have the shipping record for Samuel arriving in the USA?  Who else was with him?

What evidence was in the obituary to confirm the brother's went to NZ?  Or did Samuel lose contact with his brothers whose intention was that they go to NZ but instead sailed elsewhere?

[shanreagh]

Back in Ireland in 1859 there are two Lees leasing land at Artrea - John & William.  They lease it from a Rev James Jones.  Also in Artrea is Matthew Lees in Donaghenry.  (Info from Griffiths Valuation)

[minniehaha]

Another thought that might exclude the David LEES you found who had died in NZ in 1915, is that he was Scottish.
https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/cemeteries/cemeteries-search?recordid=63090&type=Burial

I think this is the 1915 death: [The one above died in 1903].....


1915/3821   Lees   David   80Y

Funeral notice:

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19150417.2.17.4?end_date=31-12-1915&query=david+lees&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1915

You could contact the council for the cemetery details.

https://www.greydc.govt.nz/our-services/cemeteries/Pages/default.aspx


Minniehaha

[TwiggyTree]

You're right Minniehaha.

I had so many tabs open for inclusion or elimination that I missed seeing that date.

[TunjiLees]

I think this is the 1915 death: [The one above died in 1903].....

1915/3821   Lees   David   80Y

Yes that is correct. I found a headstone transcription on Ancestry for this David who would have been born around 1835. His wife is recorded as a native of Co. Galway, Ireland, but unfortunately it doesn't say where David was originally from. With the circumstantial evidence though I am around 95% sure he is the right guy.

There is someone on Ancestry with a family tree for David Lees which does indeed say he is born Co. Tyrone. Not sure where they got that information from. I may try messaging them to ask. I thought of contacting the cemetery though from the website it seems they don't take genealogical queries.

Not sure how it will help here, but this is the obituary of brother Samuel H Lee from Illinois;

[TunjiLees]

Back in Ireland in 1859 there are two Lees leasing land at Artrea - John & William.  They lease it from a Rev James Jones.  Also in Artrea is Matthew Lees in Donaghenry.  (Info from Griffiths Valuation)

Yes, the William Lees is David and Isaac's father. I have uncovered a lot for those of the family in Ireland and the USA using many different sources, but New Zealand is proving more challenging.

[minniehaha]

If you obtained the death printout for the death of David in 1915 you may find out where he was born.

Data collected:

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/dataCollected/death

Minniehaha.

[TunjiLees]

Thanks I had no idea the NZ records gave so much info. Unfortunately they are not cheap though! Seems a bit steep to pay at this stage, though it's good to know there's that option.

The hunt goes on for Isaac...