I am seeking information about the family of my great grandfather, Herbert Renshaw, who came to New Zealand in 1926 from Scotland and since then there has been no contact kept with any relations in Scotland or Ireland. Although we have no documented proof, he is believed to have been born in Portadown, Armagh, Ireland in 1885. His parents are listed on his death certificate here in New Zealand as Mark and Mary Jane Renshaw. As Herbert died before his wife we are hoping that this information has been given by her and is correct. He had one sister, Bella. His parents died when he was a boy and his aunt and uncle, David and Mary (nee McMillen) Renshaw brought him up. I don't know where he was brought up and the family has no idea what happened to Bella. > David and Mary (nee McMillen) Renshaw had a family of four children; sons William (married Agnes Hunter, had a daughter called Chrissie), James (killed 25-3-1918 in France in 1st world war), David, and one daughter, Edith. This is all we know about this family. > > Herbert, my great-grandfather, ended up in Scotland. We don't know whether this was as a boy or as an adult. He married in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1910 to Elizabeth Speirs Lindsay and had three children born in Scotland; David, Elizabeth and Herbert. Another baby son was born, and not long after died, when they arrived in New Zealand. Herbert served in France during the 1st world war with the Scottish Rifles and we have a photo of him taken during this time on leave with "great-aunt Mary from Canada". We have no idea where this was taken or who great-aunt Mary was. She perhaps could have been the same aunt, Mary (nee McMillen) Renshaw who brought him up as a child but unless we can make contact with any living Renshaw relations to verify this I guess we'll never know. > > Any information on this family greatly appreciated. > > Maria Hurrell > > maria.ross@xtra.co.nz