Great Barrier Island History Queries

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The Great Barrier Island History Group on Facebook has a great collection of old photographs.

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.

 

ARTHUR DUNN (or Docherty)
Brought out from Scotland as an 18 year old, under a Farm Labour Scheme, sponsored by Medlands, Great Barrier Island in about 1921-2.  Especially interested to know what Ship they came on and where they landed.  Any information please.

Vicki

 

COOPER FAMILY HISTORY
"I have been reading your 'Great Barrier History' as entered on the net, concerning the Cooper family with great interest.  I am a relative of William (younger brother of Elizabeth & Joseph)  and Phoebe (Nee Bailey) Cooper. In your history you have that they arrived on the 'Blue Jacket'.  I and my side respectfully contend that they actually arrived a little later, 21 Dec 1864 in Auckland via the 'Talbot' from London. They arrived with three children. Locating the Talbots passenger list is difficult as it is not listed on most of the shipping lists available. Where it is found , like so many of them it is lacking in some Christian names and other detail. 'Papers Past' has a list under Daily Southern Cross  newspaper  dated 22 Dec 1864. The family is also listed on the Auckland Council computer site list of 'Passenger Arrivals 1838-1888'."
and subsequently .......
"William and Phoebe did migrate here from Staffordshire with three children but not in 1860 as suggested, nor on the ‘Blue Jacket’. The family was still present in Staffordshire for the 1861 UK census. A Mr William Cooper, his wife and 3 children arrived in Auckland on the ‘Talbot’ from London on 21 Dec 1864. The family lived on and off the Barrier for some years before moving to back to Auckland permanently after the 1893 death of their son William on the island. Five other children were raised after their arrival in NZ, both on the island and in Auckland where they owned property.
Although we know of the arrival of Elizabeth and her three children, I cannot be sure of when Joseph Cooper arrived. There are many possibilities where several ‘Mr Cooper’s’ arrived alone on various ships in the years preceding his wife Elizabeth’s arrival."    
Ray Cooper, Te Aroha, New Zealand

 

PADDISON FAMILY
Mary Jane Paddison, Married Harry Allen.
During my tracing I found a Norfolk Island Hansard entry that is now confusing:
Norfolk Island Hansard - 18 October 2000 - Page 462
"It is with regret that this House records the passing of Avid (Misspelling in Hansard) Dunning.  Avis epitomised the wonderful life style that Norfolk has offered throughout the years - the kindness, gentleness, courtesy and help with a faith that never wavered in her 95 years.  Avis was born on Norfolk Island in 1905.  Her mother Mary Allen came from Great Barrier Island in New Zealand and her father Augustus Allen was born in Norfolk Island in 1872, son of Dwight and Esther Allen.  Avis spoke with pride of her grandfather Dwight who was born on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts USA and who had come to Norfolk because of his skills as a navigator and shipwright when Norfolk sought to establish a whaling industry. She also spoke proudly of her great grandmother who was the adopted daughter of the paramount chief and the first Maori Chief to sign the Treaty of Waitangi in 1841".
Harry was the second born and (Frank) Augustus Allen the 6th born of Dwight Allen & Esther Cook. I have not been able to find birth records.
Can anyone provide more information? to Fred Olsen, Edens Landing, Qld, Australia

 

 

ELLEN LOCKIE
We are trying to track down a family member born on Great Barrier Island November 1882, a girl, with the name Ellen.  We believed for a long time that her maiden name was Lockie, but discovered that this was her first married name.  She lists  Alexander Fuller Lockie as her father, on her death certificate and Janet Jales/Lockie as her mother.  There is no record on the NZBDM register of an Ellen Lockie being born in 1882.  I was wondering if there is a list of all the early births on Great Barrier, or if the name Ellen appears on a school register. This is a little like looking for a needle in a haystack but if anyone can help in anyway we would be grateful.  Janet Moore, Masterton, NZ.

SAMUEL COOPER
In the course of doing a history of the Cooper family, we have established that my great-grandfather Samuel Cooper was born at Shropshire in UK and, after falling foul of the law was transported to Australia as a convict. He served his time and then purchased a farm and started a dynasty. He became a successful farmer and a respected citizen.  We have not been able to find anything about Samuel's parents or siblings. The Cooper family is a large one in Australia and we would love to extend our search backwards into Shropshire. Any help would be appreciated. Maurie Cooper, Australia

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 Tahitian.
Lyn, NSW Australia

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

 

C

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