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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Ryan1 on Monday 09 October 17 04:04 BST (UK)
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Hi all,
Trying to find the arrival of the Mercer family in New Zealand between 1869 and 1876. Sarah Mercer (nee Proctor) b. 1840, Jane Proctor Mercer b. 1864, Richard Mercer b. 1866 and Henry Mercer b. 1869. Family were from Derrycaw, Tartaraghan, County Armagh. Thanks.
Daniel Ryan.
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Hi Daniel,
Can you provide any more information about this family in New Zealand, please?
What port they might have arrived in or earliest residence in the country?
Was Sarah MERCER nee PROCTOR a widow when the family arrived here?
Occupations, interests?
Places of marriage and death of Sarah and her children?
Answers to these questions will help a great deal.
Spades
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These look like the boys' deaths:
Richard MERCER age 79 1945/31760
Death notice here:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19451114.2.4?query=richard%20mercer
(at Waiau, husband of Martha Jane)
Henry Proctor MERCER age 76 1946/25178
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Henry Proctor MERCER married Lilian Margaret McHARG 1899/4964
Can't see a marriage for the Richard above, though their children are registered:
Florence Jane MERCER 1891/5787
William Henry MERCER 1892/16192
Albert Richard MERCER 1894/14074
Eric Francis Proctor MERCER 1901/5263
Dorothy Edna MERCER 1913/851
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Trying to find the arrival of the Mercer family in New Zealand between 1869 and 1876.
"....all the passenger lists held at Archives New Zealand have been digitised and are available through the Family Search web-site."
http://archives.govt.nz/resources/research-resources/searching-passenger-lists
Have you checked the shipping items on Paperspast?
Debra :)
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There is an obit for Albert Richard MERCER, son of Richard in 1932 - also of Waiau.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19320516.2.122?query=richard%20mercer
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Death notice for Martha Jane, wife of Richard.......
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19360815.2.4?query=martha%20jane%20mercer
Minniehaha.
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Ok, here is a loooooong shot.
BDMH has a marriage for a Sarah Mercer to a Joseph HENDERSON on 16 May 1876.
Plugging in Joseph HENDERSON into the shipping records mentioned above, there is a family of:
Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Henry and son born aboard, from Armagh on 29 April 1876.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kup/
Not quite the right names but thought I'd throw it in for consideration or elimination.
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The connection to Waiau would suggest an arrival at Lyttelton but a focused search of Papers Past doesn't provide any firm candidates, nor does Family Search, although a single female named Sarah MERCER arrived per the Berar within the search period given.
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973
https://beta.familysearch.org/search/collection/1609792
Spades
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Wedding of Albert R….
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNCH19190103.2.7?query=%20mercer%20waiau
Minniehaha.
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Hello Daniel
Jane Proctor MERCER married Joseph William LEGGETT in 1892.
Jane Proctor LEGGETT died at Clinton, Otago, (South Island), on 11 August 1946.
In the Burial book for Clinton Cemetery, a note for Jane LEGGETT states - that she was 85 years - a native of Ireland - 70 years in New Zealand - the widow of William J. LEGGETT - and was buried on 14 August 1946.
So it may be that Jane and family arrived here, nearer to 1876 ??
[Just a note about "Years in New Zealand" : This was information collected for a death recorded in NZ, but as it was likely supplied by the informant to death, then it cannot always be guaranteed to be strictly correct. ]
Will continue to look for MERCER family arrival.
~ Lu
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The connection to Waiau would suggest an arrival at Lyttelton but a focused search of Papers Past doesn't provide any firm candidates, nor does Family Search, although a single female named Sarah MERCER arrived per the Berar within the search period given.
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973
https://beta.familysearch.org/search/collection/1609792
Spades
Maybe not she is a child of 7 with her family from Kent
Name Sarah A Mercer
Event Type Immigration
Event Date 22 Jan 1875
Event Place Wellington, New Zealand
Gender Female
Marital Status Single
Nationality Kent
Departure Date 1874
Arrival Port Wellington
Ship Name Berar
Arrival Place Wellington
Cheers Janette
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Ok, here is a loooooong shot.
BDMH has a marriage for a Sarah Mercer to a Joseph HENDERSON on 16 May 1876.
Plugging in Joseph HENDERSON into the shipping records mentioned above, there is a family of:
Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Henry and son born aboard, from Armagh on 29 April 1876.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kup/
Not quite the right names but thought I'd throw it in for consideration or elimination.
It does seem that there is a connection with some of TwiggyTree's information, above ... at least in respect of the 1876 New Zealand marriage for Sarah MERCER and Joseph HENDERSON. ;)
The following is notice of the marriage in 1892 (given earlier in thread), for Jeannie Proctor MERCER ... eldest daughter of Mrs HENDERSON, (of) Sydenham.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18920811.2.7
~ Lu
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Hi Daniel
... I'm mindful that it was the MERCER family's arrival in New Zealand that you were wanting, however the additional information I'm placing in this thread, may help to confirm whether or not the Sarah HENDERSON who arrived by the "Countess of Kintore" (with Joseph HENDERSON and children named Mary (10 yrs) and Henry aged 6) is in fact the Sarah you seek. ;)
Even though it seems odd that a Joseph and Sarah HENDERSON arrived in Canterbury, NZ, in early May 1876 - and were maybe ?? the same couple who married some 10 days later at the same location, these "mysterious happenings" did occur. ;D And it wasn't altogether unusual for prospective immigrants to alter their ages ... travel under assumed names ... etc.
So we need to do some further work on confirming or eliminating the Sarah HENDERSON, spouse and family who arrived in May 1876.
~ Lu
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This is the very sad death in 1888 of Joseph, the husband of Sarah HENDERSON.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18881116.2.18
~ Lu
PS : More to follow >
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This is the death of Sarah HENDERSON (who is assumed to be, Sarah formerly MERCER. Her burial record shows that she died in 1934 aged 94 years = born circa 1840. )
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19340807.2.4
Here is a link to burial records for Christchurch.
http://heritage.christchurchcitylibraries.com/Cemeteries/index.asp
Addington Cemetery - Christchurch
Block 0 - Plot 62B
Sarah HENDERSON - died August 1934 - 94 Years
In the adjacent plot - No. 62A - is Joseph HENDERSON - died November 1888 - aged 33 years *
[* It's unknown if that is the correct age for Joseph ?? ... and also it some six or so years different to the Joseph HENDERSON (per "Countess of Kintore" - 1876) ??. ]
I haven't as yet figured out which Sarah's sons lived at the addresses where she died ?
[She did have two children with Joseph HENDERSON. ]
~ Lu
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NZ Birth Index
1879 - HENDERSON - Hugh
1883 - HENDERSON - Joseph
Parents for both = Sarah and Joseph HENDERSON
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I was able to find a "family tree" (at ancestry.com) for Hugh HENDERSON born at Springston (Canterbury) c. 1879.
Helpfully it had transcribed information which read as if it had been taken directly from a copy of a New Zealand marriage record for Hugh.
"Hugh HENDERSON - aged 34 - bachelor - engine driver - born Springston - residing at Lincoln (at time of marriage) - Parents : Joseph HENDERSON / Sarah PROCTOR .
Married : 27 August 1913 at St Stephen's Church, Lincoln
to - Mary PALMER - 33 - spinster - d/o Henry PALMER and Mary Ann AXFORD
Witnesses to Marriage : Joseph HENDERSON [presumably Hugh's brother ?] and John PALMER "
[Notes in square brackets are mine. ]
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Unfortunately there was no further information in "tree" for parents or siblings of Hugh.
~ Lu
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The following marriage is for a Mary Letitia MERCER in 1883 at Sydenham (Christchurch). Although parental details are not given in the marriage notice, there is a lot that follows which tends to suggest this is probably another daughter of Sarah MERCER (and very possibly the child > Mary aged 10 years > who arrived in Canterbury in 1876 with Joseph and Sarah HENDERSON ? )
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18831015.2.8
NZ Marriage Index
Mary Letitia MERCER - Edgar James ANDREWS -- Year 1883
~ Lu see next >
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NZ Birth Index
Children born to Mary Letitia and Edgar James ANDREWS :
ANDREWS
1884 - Edgar William
1887 - Charles Herbert
1891 - Violet Mercer
1895 - Harold Leslie
1897 - Kathleen Mildred
1899 - Henry Gordon
1906 - Eileen Proctor
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Mary Letitia ANDREWS :
I've looked at a good number of records to try and find some indication that this Mary Letitia (nee MERCER) was born in Ireland. But all (so far) to no avail. :(
Amongst records searched ... the WW1 Army records for her sons, but they enlisted at a time when parental details were not recorded on their attestation forms. [Where parents names are recorded, their birthplaces and time in NZ is also noted.]
Mary died at Wellington (North island) in 1935.
Her headstone at Taita Cemetery ( Section J - row 14 - 3509 ) reads >
"Mary Letitia ANDREWS d. 20 October 1935 - 69 years Also - Violet Mercer ANDREWS d. 24 April 1933 - 42 years. Also Edgar James ANDREWS d. 31 August 1907 aged 45.
Also Harold Leslie ANDREWS - K.i.A. Messines, France, 15 June 1917 aged 22 years. "
There was a Probate record for Mary >
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9T3-G4MD-Z?i=569&cc=1865481
Her estate was taken care of by the Public Trustee and there doesn't seem to be anything on file which states where she was born.
Mary's husband Edgar had died in 1907. There is a Probate file for him also (Year: 1909) ... includes a copy of his death registration. Another Public Trustee-administered estate - and although Mary Letitia was named as executrix, there is a again no statement which might have verified her birth place.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9K9-K922?i=246&cc=1865481
So this Mary Letitia has the same year of birth (c. 1866) as the Mary (10 years) travelling to NZ in 1876 with Joseph and Sarah HENDERSON. ??
The child > Henry aged 6 > is a good match for Henry Proctor MERCER. But where were the other two children > Jane Proctor and brother Richard ??? Did they travel to NZ at another time ?
[I couldn't find them on a passenger list. ? ]
~ Lu
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I think there is a need perhaps to check on some details of the 1876 marriage of Sarah MERCER and Joseph HENDERSON.
I'm not suggesting you purchase an expensive marriage certificate, but there was at the time, a requirement in NZ for parties intending to wed, to complete a notice of "Intention to Marry".
It recorded details of names of bride and groom, sometimes their ages, their occupations, their status (bachelor / spinster/ widowed ), how long they had resided in the locality in which the were to marry, their usual addresses etc.
The Intention to Marry notices (ITM's) are held at Archives New Zealand in Wellington, but you could post a separate look-up request in this forum and a kind soul visiting the Archives, may be able to obtain the record for you.
~ Lu
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Hi Daniel
As earlier suspected, Jane Proctor MERCER and her brother Richard, arrived in New Zealand separately and at different times to their mother.
Here is Jane arriving as an assisted immigrant into Canterbury in 1882.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1WQ-MNG
Vessel : "Rakaia" - Sailed from UK on 28 May 1882 / Arrived NZ on 3 September 1882
MERCER - Jane - 19 years [bc 1863 ] - ex Armagh - general servant
In the last column on the list in respect of Jane's entry, you'll see ( under Remarks), "Canterbury 71". This refers to "an account" into which a person or persons sponsoring Jane's passage to New Zealand, has paid fare money in advance of her arrival. The Provincial government of the Canterbury Province had paid a portion, and it was probably (although, not necessarily) a member of Jane's family already residing in NZ, who paid the remainder.
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In an earlier post here, I mentioned that on Jane Proctor LEGGETT's death (1946), the cemetery burial book had noted she had been in NZ for 70 years (arrival c. 1876). [Would seem there was some confusion, with 1876 being the arrival date of her mother and younger siblings ?? ]
~ Lu
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Richard MERCER :
Richard was also an assisted emigrant to Canterbury, arriving in 1887, and part of his passage money had also been paid by a relative, friend or prospective employer.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D133-GDD?i=13&cc=1609792
Vessel : "Ruapehu" - Departed Plymouth UK, 7 May 1887
Arrived ? -- called at various NZ ports.
Richard MERCER - 21 Years [ bc 1866 ] - single - Irish - occupation: Farmer
The following lists simply show Richard's name along with other passengers. No additional info.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XH53-Y9M?cc=1609792
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XH53-TW3?i=204&cc=1609792
~ Lu
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Richard MERCER :
Vessel : "Ruapehu" - Departed Plymouth UK, 7 May 1887
Arrived ? -- called at various NZ ports.
Richard MERCER - 21 Years [ bc 1866 ] - single - Irish - occupation: Farmer
Just in case you're interested, Daniel. ;)
The "Ruapehu" arrived at Lyttelton (the port serving Canterbury), on 25 June 1887 - having previously called at Wellington. Some passengers for Canterbury had already been transhipped from Wellington via the steamship "Rotomahana". The "Ruapehu's" journey had been via the Cape (Africa) and Hobart (Tasmania, Australia). Reports of the voyage state it was "uneventful".
Quite a trip though for a young lad ? ;D
~ Lu
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Dear Lu, Minniehaha, Janette, Spades, Maddys52, Dundee and Twiggy Tree. I am really quite overwhelmed by your responses to my post. THANK YOU all for your brilliant detective work, guidance and generosity of time and for solving a very mysterious part of my families past.
Lu as per your advice in Reply 20 I will certainly put up a request for the Intention to Marry information as this may yield a clue to mystery number 2 as to whatever happened to Sarah’s first husband William Mercer as he does not appear to have passed away in Armagh.
Again, THANK YOU all.
Kindest regards.
Daniel Ryan.
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Well done Lu, (and all), that was a great idea that Jane and Richard may have arrived separately.
Ok, here is a loooooong shot.
Plugging in Joseph HENDERSON into the shipping records mentioned above, there is a family of:
Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Henry and son born aboard, from Armagh on 29 April 1876.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kup/
Just wondering now who this son is?
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Dear Maddys52,
Sorry to say that I don't know who that son is!! I've only had a very quick look at the BDM indexes since seeing all the posts to see if a name stood out, but nothing thus far.
Kindest regards,
Daniel Ryan.
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Might the electoral rolls show a son living with parents when he came of age?
Or school records for siblings reveal another brother?
Or cemetery records in the area the family resided?
Has Paperspast been exhausted for leads?
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Dear Maddys52,
Sorry to say that I don't know who that son is!! I've only had a very quick look at the BDM indexes since seeing all the posts to see if a name stood out, but nothing thus far.
Kindest regards,
Daniel Ryan.
Didn't mean to imply anyone knew who he was :).
Good suggestions Twiggy Tree, I had a look at deaths on BMD but couldn't see anything that stood out, and had a look at Papers past yesterday, but couldn't find anything. Others might have better luck. Have to go out now, but will try to have another look tonight. :)
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Dear Everyone,
Just thought that I would post a follow up on my original request. Spades very kindly obtained the Intention to Marry information as previously suggested. The Intention to Marry Register reveals the following: Date of Notice: 15 May 1876, Sarah Mercer age 27, a Widow, occupation of Servant, residence Waltham and Joseph Henderson age 22, a Bachelor, occupation Labourer, residence Waltham. Length of residence was recorded as 3 days by both parties.
Spades has also provided me with valuable advice in understanding information recorded on the ITM Register.
Just like to say thank you again to everyone for your help.
Kindest regards to all.
Daniel Ryan
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If interested in the family:
I am related to the Joseph Henderson that arrived with Sarah Mercer on the Kintore 1876:
Sarah Mercer was Married to william Mercer in Ireland 1860, they had the following Children
Jane Proctor Mercer 1861 - 1946
Mary Letitia Mercer 1865 - 1935
Henry Proctor Mercer 1866 - 1946
Richard Mercer 1869 - 1945
Joseph Henderson put his age down as 28, on shipping Manifest, he Married sarah Mercer (Nee Proctor) May 1876 and Died 1888 possibility due to heart failure whilst working on the railways, if you do your arithmetic :
1888 (death Year) Minus 33 equals 1855 Birth
1876 (Marriage) Means he would have been 21
Shipping Manifest
1876 - 28 Puts birth 1848
1888 - would put death at 40
If he was Born 1848, it would fit in with my GRT GRt Grandfather having a Brother
*** Also on the Kintore was a Thomas Henderson aged 21 (His Birth works out to be 1855)
*** also
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Hello Deadhunter and welcome to RootsChat.
Daniel Ryan (Ryan 1) hasn't been active on here since March 2021, but will hopefully still have the same email address and will receive notification of your post. I'm sure he will be very interested to hear from you. :)