John SMITH married Mary SUISTED

[Beg Clonrode...]

Hi again...

The 1930 death certificate for John SMITH says he was a labourer from Wyndham.

Have you viewed the 1930 probate file for John SMITH, labourer of Menzies Ferry.

As Menzies Ferry is only three miles from Wyndham it's possible that this probate file relates to your John SMITH

Ideally you could start a Dunedin Archives look-up thread but Rootschatters visiting Dunedin are few.

Plan B could be to ask for a look-up on your TradeMe thread as TradeMe has a Dunedin-based volunteer.

If you do ask for a look-up include the following info...

SMITH John - Menzies Ferry - Labourer   1930 - 1930
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22054448

Regards
Beg

[Debsss]

Thank you kindly Beg for unearthing that possible connection, and providing the link. It looks promising!

We have planned a trip to Waikouaiti and Dunedin specifically to unearth ancestry info - visiting the Heritage Centre, Otago Settlers Museum, grave sites etc. This won't be til Feb 2015 but I would especially like to do this particular search myself, and have started the process to access those records. Whether I can wait that long tho remains to be seen! Thanks Beg

[jamcat95]

Hi Ian

I've attached a copy of the original marriage cert just received, which has a little more info and is a clearer image.

Thanks. It's nice to see the original. We just have to find this Mary Suisted.

Ian

[Beg Clonrode...]

Hi again...

From a genealogical point of view I wouldn't get too excited about the probate file. The very best you could hope for is an affidavit mentioning the deceased's place of birth. Fingers crossed but don't hold your breath.

You might also want to keep an eye on FamilySearch. They recently started uploading Dunedin Court probate files so maybe they'll add a few Invercargill Court files too.

Family Search - New Zealand Archives, Probate Records, 1848-1991
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0132t/

Regards
Beg

[Debsss]

You might also want to keep an eye on FamilySearch. They recently started uploading Dunedin Court probate files so maybe they'll add a few Invercargill Court files too.

Family Search - New Zealand Archives, Probate Records, 1848-1991
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0132t/

Thank you Beg for this headsup about familysearch.org. I had a major find for a  g.grandfather's probate on that site recently and will continue to visit. 

No luck with any SUISTED connections to my Mary yet, but always on the lookout...

[Debsss]

In the book "Svenskarna Inya Zeeland" (Akl Library Research Centre) a John Smith is shown as having married in Sweden and came to New Zealand 1857 . see attached photo with Father named. wondering if this has anything to do with my Mary and John?

[Beg Clonrode...]

Hi Debs...

Here's the newspaper report of this John's death.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/019s3/

---

Here's the associated entry from the Napier Courthouse Death Register

Napier Courthouse Death Register
Entry no.1794 - 13 Dec 1881

Died and buried in Napier

John SMITH, labourer
54 years old
Son of Eric ERICKSON
Born in Sweden
Married in Sweden aged 27 years
In NZ four years

Note how the time in NZ is only four years, so arrival in 1877. I'd go with this date and not the 1857 that Aminoff says. I'd say 1857 is a transcription error by Aminoff as he would only have had access to the same records we have.

Also need to remember that the "four years in NZ" doesn't necessarily mean that this John SMITH left Sweden four years previously. He may have left Sweden twenty years previously and spent the intervening years who knows where. So Emibas isn't really any help either. Maybe try and find a record of their arrival in NZ.

Even though the above Death Register entry gives a year of marriage (1854-ish) it's still not enough to narrow down the search. Without a location there would be hundreds of Swedish marriage registers to look through. Knowing his father's name is helpful but knowing his wife's name would be even more helpful.

FamilySearch gives pages of Johan/Jan ERICSSON/ERRSON/ERICKSON's born in Sweden in 1827. Really frustrating

Regards
Beg

[Beg Clonrode...]

Hi again...

Just a quick follow-on from my previous post...

I've checked the female SMITHs listed on the Napier Courthouse Death Register fiche.

None of them mention Sweden.

Bit of a nuisance.

Regards
Beg

[Debsss]

Hi Beg

Thanks for your search results and response. I continue to beaver away in the background on this and consider the points you raise.  I had to order this death cert just in case there were any further clues to at least try and eliminate this J.S....