Great Barrier Island History Queries

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Can you help?  Please contact the webmaster through the  Contact Form  if you have information which will then be passed onto the enquirer.  You may also post your own query through the webmaster.

JOSEPH SILVA, EMMANUEL DE SILVA
I am trying to trace my Great Great Grandfather's brother's resting place and family.  My Great Great Grandfather was Joseph Silva who came to Australia. His brother was Emmanuel De Silva or (Silva).  I believe he jumped ship in or about 1855 and ended up on great barrier island.  I have been in contact with his Great Great Grandson, Russell Silva but the only info he could give me was that some of the Silva family still own land on the island. His death would have been late 1800s to early 1900s and I'd like to know where he is buried.  He married a Tahaitan.
Lyn, NSW Australia

MYRIA EDDISHAW - Buried at Motairehe
I am looking for my mother-in-law's cemetery plot. Her name at birth was Myria Eddishaw (probably named Myria Olsen after marriage), and she was born on April 17th 1949 in Epsom, Auckland. She died in Sweden or Denmark after which she was brought to Motairehe on Great Barrier Island, and buried on July 1st 1980.
I have tried searching for grave sites in Motairehe on the internet, but was unfortunately unable to find any. Can you please tell me the names, or locations, of the grave sites near Motairehe so we can locate her cemetery plot? I would really appreciate any help you can provide me. 
Karina, Denmark

WILLIAM COOPER
I was hoping to make contact with someone regards to any more information on William Cooper and his family. I live in Australia and am thinking that amongst the heap of NZ Cooper's I have researched, that this line of Cooper's may prove to be my ancestors...cross fingers. The earliest contact I have had is my Great Grandfather's grave George Cooper, who had a son Bert (My Grandfather). Bert searched and found his father George and was buried next to him in Sandgate Cemetary in NSW. The story that surrounds George was that he was born in Papanui in NZ, and came to Australia when he was an infant, with his parents chasing an older brother that had runaway her to go to war underage.
Georgie, NSW, Australia

DOMINIKOVICH & JACK MURRAY
My father and Uncle worked on the Barrier roads in the depression days for the Ministry of Works. They also worked on the construction of the airfield at Claris. My Uncle Jack Murray was on the first flight from Claris. Do you have any dates, photos or information on this.
Ivan

NEILL & EMILIE MALCOLM
I am a great granddaughter of Neill & Emilie Malcolm who farmed on Great Barrier from 1854. My grandfather being their 12th child, Kenneth Gordon, who was born on the Island in 1867.  At the moment I am in the process of writing up my family history and was interested to read about the history of the island on your site. I thought the article,  "The Malcolm's Lonely Life....." was well written and summed up the problems clearly. Do you know if there is any trace from their time there which has survived? I have a copy of the booklet that Emilie wrote and some photos of their house at Rosalie Bay also a book of their daughter, Fanny Osborne, paintings so I guess I am lucky to have these.
Sandra, Waikanae

JAMES PALMER
I am researching my ancestors who had settled on Aotea. James Palmer apparently was a ship builder in the mid 1800s who had a son John Palmer who later moved to Whananaki and became a farmer. I would be interested if there was any information in addition to the above? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.
Roimata

 


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