Family History Hunt Part 3: Getting Serious

There are many benefits to working in a library, particularly the one I work at: access to information and experts. We have a Family History Librarian, who hosts regular talks, which I have begun to attend, gathering nuggets of information.

There was one about getting organised: one coloured box / folder (real and/or virtual) for each grandparent. So, I've done that.

Not only for organising info, but a useful high ground

I also follow the edict: from the known to the unknown. To make it patently obvious where my gaps of knowledge - provable information - I've utilised the lovely blank walls in my lounge, and a lot of post-it notes.

The traditional family tree

Pedigree chart style

I have a box with index cards it in, so I can keep track of the info as I find it. I could have a word document and all that - but there's something so satisfying about index cards. Old-school librarian sneaking out, I guess.

(And, it all justifies the love of stationery... seriously! Hunting down four different coloured boxes, plastic envelopes, highlighter pens. Bliss!)

I've also downloaded the free version of Legacy - family tree database software. A distant cousin has it, too, so I'm hoping I can get all of the info she has on hers, and add it to mine - so I don't have to redo it all.

Searching genealogy resources has brought up some interesting questions, but all the information will have to be checked and verified, of course.

Thanks to historical Births, Deaths and Marriages online, I have been able to order some documents to aid in my hunt. With each little breadcrumb, my trail grows. I ordered a birth certificate of an Isabella Graydon, the name of my father's father's mother's mother... alas, I didn't pay enough attention, and her birth date was 1898. Quite a trick, when her daughter was married in 1895... and 'her' first grandson was born in 1896... Hmmm. There is no other Isabella Graydon in the database.

But, I mustn't get too excited and run off in too many directions at once. Focus on one person at a time, and follow their trail.

At the moment - it is Aunty Mum - my father's mother's mother. There's a newspaper article saying she was a survivor of the 1886 Tarawera Eruption. She would have been about three. I've put feelers out... now I wait.

Family History Hunt Part 2: Origin stories

There are a few family stories and facts rattling around in my memory banks.

I knew that my dad’s dad’s middle name was his mother’s maiden name. That meant that in 1992, when I saw an entry for Sarah Newdick (1822-1870) in the Book of New Zealand Women, I was sure she had to be related. A quick query to my mother confirmed this suspicion. She is my three-times great-grandmother – or my grandfather’s father’s mother… So, not quite HIS mother’s maiden’s name. But, close I guess. I can now say that at least one big of my family have been in New Zealand since 1840. So, not so shabby for a Paheka, then.

My father was always proud of his Celtic (ie NOT English) blood. (When my English-born maternal grandmother complained about the noise of the massed pipe bands one Highland Games – the massive ones at Waipu, New Year’s Day 2000 – my father muttered to me, ‘what do you expect from a Sassenach’.) Now, I’m sort of glad that he isn’t around to discover that his direct paternal line is English, until at least, the 1740s (thanks to a distant cousin, who has done this research all ready and shared it). Poor Dad. On the positive side: Sarah Newdick (nee Mackay) came here from County Donegal. And his grandmother’s mother was born in Ireland (but, oh dear… her father was born in England. And I won’t even mention the Australian! But I will have to investigate – the story goes his family was from Cornwall).

Anyway, my mother’s parents were both born in England. Once upon a time, for a history paper, I followed my maternal line – maternally! – for a few generations. Alas, I have lost all that information – but my aunt has it. Whew. So, I rest assured that my maternal side – well, my grandmother’s side – will be covered.

The worst comes with my mother’s father’s side. Due to circumstances – my grandparents’ divorce – my mother lost contact with that side of her family, and knows very little about it. We’re even struggling to learn her grandma’s real name.

With these stories and facts in mind, I have two goals for my initial hunt: how long have the various strands of my family been in New Zealand? How far down do our roots in this land go? And, what can I find out about my mother’s Grandma – who was such an influential person in her life.

Family History Hunt Part 1: The background

As a librarian, my family assumes – rightly, alas – that I am interested in family history and, therefore, I have been the depository of many a box of memorabilia and photos. Recently, this collection has been augmented by that collected / inherited by my mother, as we now share a house. And there’s a lot! My paternal grandfather was into Family History AND pack-ratting documents.


The re-purposed linen cupboard

As is the case for many, I’m sure, you know bits of your family’s stories and history – the official and the passed-down / not verified.
There are things I’ve known for years: my family is complicated and relatively large. There are multiple marriages; children adopted out and in; and lots of children.
In primary school, I remember doing family trees for a couple of years, and coming home distressed. Just how much of our complicated history did I share?

I’ve dabbled in family history research over the years – more off than on, admittedly. I even, many, many years ago, bought family tree software (on a floppy disc!) and despaired! I’d paid money for this product which limited the information I could input – only three marriages a person allowed! I have a couple of nieces interested in our shared history. I feel obligated to do some serious work. It’s time to put it together; answer some questions; fill-in some gaps. As my progress continues, I’ll be sharing my discoveries and experiences – good and bad.