This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: williamhedley5 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.oceania.australia.vic.general/14.1769.1.2.1.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Tim. I have had a look at my Reckleben file for the first time since I compiled it, more than 25 years ago. Unfortunately a lot of the information in it, is unvarified. In my first post I stated that the parents of Maurice Reckleben were Elizabeth Scwerdkfagen & Frederick William Reckleben. I can ind no reference in my file to confirm this. When Maurice married Katherine Hawkswood in 1875 in New Zealand, his parents names were not recorded. He died in 1938 & his death record states he was born at Emerald Hill, Melbourne, Australia. His father was William Rickleben, butcher. His mothers maiden name is unknown. Prior to the marriage of Maurice & Kathleen there is a birth record fora William Hawkesfoot Rickleben born 26 september1873 to Kate Rickleben and Morris Rickleben, Butcher.I have no record of what became of William Hawkesfoot.Though he may be the William Rickleben operating a boarding house at Ngakawa, Nelson NZ, listed in Wises Directory for 1890 & 1896. I do have a New Zealand marriage record for a Frederick William Reckleben, blacksmith, born Madburgh, Prussia, whose parents are listed as William Reckleben, engine fitter and Elizabeth, maiden name, Shwerdkfagen. Frederick aged 43, resident of Charleston, married Minnie Cowley on 10th July 1883 in Westport, Buller. They appear to have had no children. He died 21st November 1913 aged 72 at Waihi, Thames. Both Charleston, on the West Coast of the South Island & Waihi in the north of the North Island were gold mining towns. In Waihi Frederick's occupation is listed as engineer, and his wife Minnie as fruiterer.The first record I have of him in New Zealand is in Wises Directory for 1880-81: William Reckleben, Blacksmith, Charleston. >From the information I have I cannot with any certainty link Frederick William Reckleben with Maurice Rickleben whose daughter, Gladys Alecia, married my great grandfather Loius Herbert Hedley. Maurice Rickleben (who wrote his name a Moritz but had his name spelt variously as Maurice, Morice, Morris, Monty), and Catherine Hawkswood had at least seven children who survived childhood: William Hawkesfoot, Louise Alice, Gladys Alecia, Annie Mirriam, Alan Ernest, Augusta Elizabeth, and Joyce Audrey. The Moog connection is with Louise Alice Rickleben. She married Adolf Moog of Bendigo, Australia. Adolf had been previously married (I have no information as to who). Louise died on 18th October 1955 aged 80 years, in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. In 1875 Maurice Rickleben's surname was recorded as Reckleben. By 1876 that first 'e' was replaced by 'i'.This spelling was maintained by the family in official documents until 1969 when the surname ceased to exist in New Zealand. In various public directories it took several forms: Rickleben, Reckleben, Ricklebin, Reckelben. The surame died with Alan Ernest Rickleben. Bachelor, born 1886, died 13 July 1969, Lower Hutt. Frederick William Reckleben's surname always appears as Reckleben in the official record, but sometime he is referred to as Reckelben in public directories. His surname died with him in 1913. A few references I noted in my file may also be of interest: Wilhelm Reckleber, Nov/1854 Victoria, appears in the Immigration Index Victoria Australia, From Foreign Ports 1852 - 1855 Reckarbown, male, died aged 43 years, Broken Hill. Listed in New South Wales, Australia, Death Index 1890 - 1899 Misses Rickleben (2), Saloon, passengers arrived April 23rd 1898, Sydney from Auckland [New Zealand] aboard 'Elingamite'. The Shipping Masters Office, Sydney, Records. [Possibly about the time Louisa married Adolf Moog. In Australia?] A daughter of Augusta Elizabeth Reckleben (who married Arthur Jones in NZ in 1916) informed me that Maurice Rickleben came to Hokitika (on the West Coast of the South Island) in 1864, from Australia at the age of 15 years and his occupation was butcher. William Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.