Genealogy Chat

For months I have been trying to find my Grandads aunt moving to New Zealand. I knew it was between 1911 and 1915 when she married. Luckily before he passed away her son-in-law sent me a copy of her marriage cert (although I can hardly read the handwriting!!) Thanks to the findmypast website I have found her on a passenger list sailing from London to Wellington on the Tongariro, on 20th Oct 1911. I am hoping that I might be able to fill in some gaps and learn a little about the journey and her life in New Zealand. Also I want to be able to confirm when she actually died. I have the date of 2 Oct 1993, however that would have made her 109 years old, so I think the year might be wrong. Can anyone advise me where to go from here, or be able to do a New Zealand look up for me. Many Thanks Dawn

Please could some kind people nudge this post for me so that anyone in New Zealand may see it at a more reasonable hour for them. Thank you Dawn

Hi Dawn Have a look on http://archway.archives.govt.nz/CallSimpleSearch.do It leads to the government archives. See if you can find a probate for her will which will give you a year of death - you may then be able to get the death cert whivch will be a mine of information. You will then need to find someone in the city where the will is archived to go and read/transcribe it for you Best of luck Peter

Hi Dawn Do you know where she lived or died? ie the city/town/settlement? If so maybe some one who lives nearby may be able to help. The Auckland City Library has a good genealogy section which you may be able to search. Also the NZ Herald newspaper based in Auckland may be able to help with death notice. Ken

Hi Bro's, I've found her husband's death 1933 in Waipuk. I've PM'd Dawn to see if she remarried. I'm away for a holiday but will check the microfiche in the library (unless someone beats me to it) when I return. Now that's a challenge! Bernie

Hello Ken from Hunua. I live about 10 km away! I was going to look for the death next time I am in Papakura if I have time. DAWN, I have just realised you have not given the name. If you give it to me in full, I could possibly look on electoral rolls next time I am in our Genealogy group rooms in Papakura. They have them for several years. If she or her husband (name please) worked then occupation might help. And of course if you know the area or town/city it would help.

Hello All Thanks for the help so far. I will check the websites when I get in from work tonight. Her full name was Mary Ann Dreaneen (nee Grayson). She was born in York, England on 17/4/1884 and moved to New Zealand in 1911, travelling from London to Wellington on 20 Oct 1911 on the Tongariro. Apparently she worked on a sheep farm when she arrived for the Harding family and married John Dreaneen on 28/4/1915 at St Marys Church of England in Waipukurau. Her Dad (John Thomas Henry Dreaneen) was a coal merchant in Napier and he died in 1933. They had five children and it was their daughter Rose who contacted my family back in 1989. Her husband Digger was the one who was researching and before he passed away on Christmas Eve 2006, he posted me Mary Ann's birth and marriage certs. On the photocopy of his research that Digger sent me Mary Ann's date of death was 2 Oct but the year isn't clear. It looks like 1993 but that would make her 109. Thanks for all your help Dawn

Hi fellow Kiwis, John Thomas Henry Dreaneen was Mary Ann's husband - he was a carrier when he died in Waipuk. NOT her father. Glad that we're on to it and able to repay some of the help that we get from the English Gentlefolk on this site. Keep posting and I'll check when I get home B

Sorry for the confussion. I was thinking about Rose when I was writing that (too early in the morning and rushing to get the kids to school!!). Can anyone tell me what information I will find on a New Zealand death cert please. Looking at Mary Ann and Johns marriage cert (I have a photocopy of the original) it appears he was also born in England although I can't read where. I wonder if they came across from England together? But I can't find him on our BMD records. He was 38 when they married in 1915. Also I have just spotted that the copy of Mary Ann's birth cert I have is dated 12 June 1973. Could that be a clue to the year she died? Would they have needed the birth cert for any insurance or burial reasons?? Just a thought. Thanks again Dawn

I have just found this web site in this months Family Tree magazine.... NZ Genealogy Datebases - http://www.*nzgdb.*co.*nz To quote the magazine.... 'A site for and by the people with New Zealand Ancestors....'

NZ Death cert gives 1.When & Where died 2.Name and surname 3.Rank/profession/occupation (eg widow) 4.Cause of death 5.Duration of last illness 6.Medical attendant by whom certified 7.When he last saw deceased 8.Name and surname of father 9.Name and if known maiden surname of mother 10.Rank/profession of father 11.When and where buried 12.Name/religion of minister 13.Where born 14. How long in NZ 15.Where married 16.At what age married 17.To whom married 18.If children living number,age and sex 19.Signature/description/residence of informant 20. Registrar and date of registration .........always providing the informant knows the answers Peter

I have found her grandaughter who will be delighted to fill you in on the family Check the general board Regards Tania

I can't thank you enough for this Tania. You have been an amazing help. Also thank you to Peter and everyone else for all there help and information. All the best, Dawn

Can any of you kind people please advise me how I apply for a NZ death cert? Can it be done online. I now have Mary Ann's date of death and she was 109 years old when she died!! I only know her name and date of death. Is that enough? Thanks Dawn

Hello All, I have been in contact with Mary Ann's granddaughter which was so exciting for me. She had no idea that she had relatives oversea. Unfortunately she had only met her grandmother once when she was very young, so the search for info is still continuing. Apparently Mary Ann was at the 'Porirua institute' so the plot thickens. Not sure where to go next with that information. Any ideas anyone? Thanks Again to you all Dawn

First thought that came to mind with Porirua Institute was an institution for the mentally unwell. Then I wondered if it could be the Womens Institute. Any Wellington members out there that can help on that one?

Hi Dawn You are very welcme The old porirua institute was a long standing mental institution,although I am surprised it was still in existance when MaryAnne died as most of them were phased out prior to that. Unfortunately as in the uk all sorts of people were admitted to these places including the elderley who had simple dementias which at 109 I imagine the poor old thing probably did. It will be interesting when you get her death cert Regards Tania

At a guess from the conversation with her granddaughter it was probably about 45 years ago that she was in the porirua institute so she'll have been about 75ish at the time. I wonder if she was there for a long time? Do you think there will be any way of tracing any records from there? Do NZ bmd have an index as in the uk? If so, now that I have her date of death is there any kind person out there that would be able to help me find out how to order the certificate because I am really curious now!! Thanks again Dawn

Does anyone know if a death cert in 1933 would have as much detail as Peter listed earlier in this thread? I am trying to find John Dreaneens place of birth which I believe to be in the UK but i'm not sure. Would this be on a NZ death cert in 1933? Thanks as always Dawn

The info was the same as Peter said on my 1926 and 1932 certs. I got the photo copies which are a bit cheaper than the official certs. I think the info is the same, but the photo copies are from the register and the official certs are typed in on a form, with the info coming from the reg, so there could be an error. I know with my grandparents marriage, the official cert has my grandmother born in York, New Zealand (I think that is what it says, cant find it at the moment) whereas the cert photocopy from the church reg has it as York, England. I will try to remember to ask in our gen rooms tomorrow about ordering a NZ cert from England, or I could phone the BDM people to ask later.