John Johnston Taieri/Waiwera

[emsquared]

Hi Wivenhoe

Answers to your questions below.

The children were aged 0 to 12 when their mother died.  She died of uterine hemorrhaging according to the death record.

I agree unlikely that father could not look after them.  From information above William (b1866) was sent to the Caversham Industrial School before the death of his mother. So he was possibly running wild? Or hard to manage locally!

The Parliamentary report of 1882 suggests the youngest (Joan) was in the care of a local lady after the death of John Johnston.  One could guess the same lady was helping before his death. But that is a guess.

A person whose research encroached on the family of Jane (b1864) has indicated she was looked after by the Clifford family.  Can I prove that?  No.  Jane (who became Jane Forno) did name one of her children Clifford which of course could be a coincidence.

The best I can do is assume the eldest two (Elizabeth and Martha) finished their schooling locally with support from local families (Cliffords again?).

Who looked after William, Catherine and Mary is a mystery. I have unsuccessfully chased school records. We now know they were in the Caversham Industrial School shortly after John Johnston's death.

The wedding record I have is a transcription written in one hand so cannot tell whether they were literate.
 
The researcher mentioned above has indicated that

"I believe the children were raised by a Mr Clifford, possibly a post master, which is where the Clifford name comes from.
Other than that -  only John Johnston (Length of Residence for Intention to Marry- 9 years, age 35.)  (Elizabeth Bell L of R for Intention to Marry - 8 months, age 25.)"

Spades has indicated the possibility of confirming that.

I do not have a cause of death or a death cert for John Johnston.

Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

As an additional piece of information, Peter McGill, who was discharged with John Johnston at Port Chalmers seems to be the same person who died at Milton 21 October 1894 aged 68. He was a native of Stonykirk,  Wigtonshire, Scotland according to his gravestone.   

 

[minniehaha]

"The wedding record I have is a transcription written in one hand so cannot tell whether they were literate."

If properly transcribed the document should show signature names or x  mark of John Johnston and/or x mark of Elizabeth Johnston.


Minniehaha.
 

[emsquared]

In respect to John Johnston, his death according to the affidavit of John Bell occurred at Balclutha  10 October 1875. 

If his age is correct on his wedding cert he was born in 1823.  If he is actually the man who left ship in Port Chalmers in 1849 ages 23 he was born c1826.  So that suggests at the time of death he was aged 49 -52.

The nearest to picking him up on BDM NZ is this John Johnston.

1875/5748 Johnston John 42Y

This man seems to have died 04/11/1875 which is different. And the age is also different. Can anyone tell me where this fellow died?

[spades]

Did you see the other 1875 death, for John JOHNSTONE?

Sadly, no age given, but still a possibility.

Spades

[emsquared]

Me again. That John Johnstone seems to have died in the first half of the year.
By way of an update two days ago I received records from Archives on Caversham Industrial School in 1884 and 1885.  The older two William and Catherine would have left before then.  There is a Mary Johnston and a Mary Johnstone.  The latter is the correct age.  Could be her.  Agin the spelling is Johnstone.  Interestingly the court record which records the readmitting of Catherine and Mary in 1881 (Evening Star) spells their surname as Johnstone.  So it could be her but cannot be certain.

Archives advised that they have no records for the school prior to this date.

My guess is that John Johnston and his wife Elizabeth are buried at Popotunoa but the records of that are lost.

Thanks for your help
Murray

[spades]

Hi Murray,

Have you approached the Balclutha branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists? They may hold records not in the public domain.
http://www.balcluthagenealogy.org.nz/

An email explaining your search and asking for help might be worthwhile.

Spades

[emsquared]

Yes I have been in touch with the Balclutha group.
They have been very helpful but were unable to identify a grave site or record.

[minniehaha]

Further to replies #14 & 18 I know you have eliminated this one, but for the record .....

Birth:
1870/32297   Johnston   Mary Wylie   Elizabeth   John

Death:
1871/7560   Johnston   Mary Wylie   10M

Part of a post by emsquared:

"According to BDM NZ records my Mary Johnston has different parents."

Can you explain this please.

Minniehaha.

[emsquared]

Thanks Minniehaha

There is a Mary Bell Johnston recorded on BDM NZ.  She was born on 9 September 1870 to Mary and George.   The Bell middle name is interesting.

My Mary Bell Johnston's  death record and marriage record state her parents are John Johnston and Elizabeth Bell,  A close DNA match between myself and a descendant of Jane (b1864) also supports my Mary Bell Johnston being a child of John and Elizabeth.

I also note the birth date of the Mary Bell Johnston on BDM is only six months before Joan born 25 March 1871.

I have made two of approaches to BDM NZ to see if there is a mistake in the system.  In each case I have been told to expect a reply in 15 days but none has been forthcoming.

All legal documents indicate there were 7 children in this Johnston family. And the commitment of William, Catherine and Mary to the Caversham Industrial School in October 1876 links these three children together as siblings.

I suspect an issue with the BDM NZ records but not proven.  I guess there could be two Mary Bell Johnstons and mine just has not been recorded. But it seems unlikely.