I am trying to trace 3 Gt Uncles Alexander, Edward and Benjamin who went to NZ in the 1890s.I have a son John born 1892 in Gisborne to Alexander who also had Rigby 1894 born Waimata Valleyalso born in the same place Malcolm 1896 and Francis 1897. Alexander was married at All Saints Ferndale 1891. Benjamin was married in the dwelling house of Mr F Morice Matawhero 1896. Now I am stuck ! Can anyone help ? Vanessa Cook Tel/Fax: 01904 728506 www.stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk

Hi Vanessa, "...3 Gt Uncles Alexander, Edward and Benjamin who went to NZ in the 1890s.I have a son John born 1892 in Gisborne to Alexander who also had Rigby 1894 born Waimata Valleyalso born in the same place Malcolm 1896 and Francis 1897. Alexander was married at All Saints Ferndale 1891. Benjamin was married in the dwelling house of Mr F Morice Matawhero 1896. Now I am stuck !..." It is an unusual surname, so should not be too difficult to look up in some of the "usual" places... Have you looked at Archway (http://archway.archives.govt.nz/), the online index for Archives New Zealand (http://www.archives.govt.nz/)? That name is mentioned 37 times there. Now, I realise you are overseas, so you probably won't find this terribly convenient, but files held at Archives (that have open access) can be viewed for free at the office that is holding it. So if you're planning a trip here, collect up the references and go to take a look while you're here. Or ask here on this list if someone can view a particular file of interest for you, and report back or take digital photos for you. Or ask Archives to send you a copy, which will cost a fee - some are charged at a flat rate, others by the page; details on the web site. Amongst the files on Archway is a 1944 probate for an Edward, of Auckland, retired. On the NZSG CD "New Zealand Burial Locator" (http://www.genealogy.org.nz/Sales_11.aspx?CategoryId=11), there is a man with the same name, who was 64 years old when he died in 1943 and lived in Hillsborough, Auckland. 1943 minus 64 makes a birth year of roughly 1879 - does that fit your Edward? If you want to pursue this further, you could get a copy of his death registration to see what it contains. If you are a member of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG, http://www.genealogy.org.nz/), make use of their Certificates Collection - if they are holding what you want, it is the cheapest source (and an excellent use of your membership). Otherwise, go to Births, Deaths & Marriages (BDM, http://www.bdm.govt.nz/) and order the printout, not the legal certificate, for family history purposes. The document at http://www.dia.govt.nz/pubforms.nsf/URL/FamilyRecordResearch.pdf/$file/FamilyRecordResearch.pdf will tell you what data is recorded, amongst other things. BTW, this Edward married Ruth Lilian ELLISON in 1942 (folio 03469, from the NZSG CD "New Zealand Marriages 1836-1956") - she died in 1980 and is buried with Edward. I found this on the Auckland City Libraries' cemetery database (http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/getdoc/f7011e5b-93cf-4af8-8e1d-595518987514/cemeteryrecordshillsborough.aspx), along with a transcription of their headstone. Hope this helps. :-) Kind Regards, Wendy Howard **I have no personal interest in the name(s) mentioned here** *** Please reply to the list *** -- Kaiwaka, Northland, New Zealand http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wendyh65/ <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Ewendyh65/>