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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Ashnz on Tuesday 07 November 17 21:41 GMT (UK)

Title: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Ashnz on Tuesday 07 November 17 21:41 GMT (UK)
Hi there,

I have recently made the discovery that my great great Uncle Hans Prebensen was last recorded in Taihape in May 1918 - the article here https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAIDT19180518.2.15.12?query=Prebensen (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAIDT19180518.2.15.12?query=Prebensen)

He was last listed in the Wise's directory in 1917 in Aria and was not registered for the 1919 NZ election - so I am wondering if he died in the great flu pandemic of 1918?

My question is did the New Zealand Government record the names of those who died of the flu? Or did it just record the numbers of those who died?

Warmest regards,

Ashley
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 07 November 17 21:59 GMT (UK)
Hi Ashley,

What was his year of birth? there is this death register for 1918

1918/11125   Prebensen    John    26Y

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 07 November 17 22:02 GMT (UK)
Here is the death notice from PapersPast

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19181120.2.2?query=prebensen

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 07 November 17 22:08 GMT (UK)
Buried in Terrace End cemetery in Palmerston North

Surname    PREBENSEN
Firstname    JOHN
Gender    Male
Occupation    FLAXHAND
Address    
Denomination    Anglican
Age at Death    26Y
Date of Death    19/11/1918
Place of Death    UN-KNOWN
Date of Interment    20/11/1918
Warrant Type    BURIAL
Cemetery    Terrace End Cemetery
Area in Cemetery    
Cemetery Block    031
Plot Location    060
Plot Depth    
Funeral Director    THOMAS GRIGGS & SON LTD
Book of Memories    NO

The funeral directors are still in business under the name of The Lychway try emailing them as they may still have the records

http://thelychway.co.nz/contacts/

Use the email address not the contact form,

Cheers Janette

Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Ashnz on Tuesday 07 November 17 22:10 GMT (UK)
Hi Janette,

Many thanks for that, very interesting :). Hans was born in Denmark in May, 1871. John Prebensen was Han's half brother.
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Ashnz on Tuesday 07 November 17 22:13 GMT (UK)
I just found this:https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAIDT19190528.2.2.4?query=Prebenson (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAIDT19190528.2.2.4?query=Prebenson)
So I can rule out the flu epidemic.
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 07 November 17 22:46 GMT (UK)
I see Hans married in 1895 have you managed to track Jane his wife?

1895/2846   Jane    Banfield    Hans    Prebensen

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 07 November 17 22:55 GMT (UK)
A daughter

1897/10163   Prebensen    Florrie Jane to Janie and Hans

poor little thing 

1897/5919   Prebensen    Flora Jane    3M

Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Ashnz on Wednesday 08 November 17 00:11 GMT (UK)
Hi Janette,
I have tracked them. The whole Prebensen family history is quite a tragic story and very sad. Han's wife Jane died in May, 1917 in Hamilton Hospital - she is buried at the Hamilton West Cemetery. Florrie was their only daughter. Han's father Jens and his sister Ciliane also died in 1897. By 1919 Hans had a stepmother, half sister Annie, half brother Thomas and a brother (my great grandfather) Peter left alive. It's been a mystery of exactly when Hans died.

Do you know if NZ general elections back then - was it compulsory to register to vote?
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Johnf04 on Wednesday 08 November 17 03:59 GMT (UK)
There is a burial - with no details, for Hans PREBERSON in Hamilton West cemetery.

http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/do-it-online/cemetery-search/Pages/default.aspx?surname=Preberson
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Lucy2 on Wednesday 08 November 17 08:52 GMT (UK)
Jane, wife of Hans PREBENSON, is recorded on NZ Death index as >

1917 - PREVERSEN - Jane - 43 years

Still looking for date of death for Hans (under a variety of spellings of surname  ::) ).

   ~  Lu
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Lucy2 on Wednesday 08 November 17 09:16 GMT (UK)
Jane's death notice > under PREBENSON > seems to indicate her husband is still alive.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19170528.2.14

In the year following, there was an In Memoriam notice placed in a local newspaper by Jane's parents and siblings (no mention though of Hans).

    ~  Lu
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Johnf04 on Wednesday 08 November 17 20:42 GMT (UK)
I wonder if the "burial" I found for Hans, above, is in fact a plot reservation.
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Ashnz on Wednesday 08 November 17 20:58 GMT (UK)
I have always wondered that too... It is very unusual that the record for Hans' plot has no details listed. After his wife died he moved back to Taihape.
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Lucy2 on Wednesday 08 November 17 22:31 GMT (UK)
Hi Ashnz and John ... was about to also say I thought it may be a plot purchase at the time of Jane's death.

Ashnz .... wonder if an email to the cemetery might clarify the situation ?  I know the online record doesn't carry much info ... but they may be able to tell you about the purchase of both plots and the  date(s) ?

I've searched the NZ Death Index (@ ancestry) up to 1930 and can't see a death for a Hans (Johan / Johannes / etc) which might be applicable.

Might he have returned to his homeland ?    (Or perhaps skipped across the Ditch, to Aus ?? )

    ~  Lu
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Johnf04 on Wednesday 08 November 17 23:05 GMT (UK)
I've had a quick look at the Danish records on Family Search...they have census information up to 1930. This Hans doesn't seem to be there (There is a person of the same name, but he was married in Denmark in 1903).
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: minniehaha on Wednesday 08 November 17 23:42 GMT (UK)
See also coverage of this topic here.........

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=604769.0


Minniehaha.


Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Ashnz on Thursday 09 November 17 00:15 GMT (UK)
As Hans was not listed on the 1919 NZ electrol roll (or the subsequent following elections) - I tried to find out whether it was compulsery back then to enroll to vote. Maybe he had died?

If he did die then it's place his death between May and December of 1919.

Strange he had no death certificate - I get the feeling his late wife's family (the Banfield family) - who was living in Taihape at the time - may have just taken him to Hamilton and buried next to his wife. I looked at the original burial record and in pen it is just written "buried"
Title: Re: Hans Prebensen
Post by: Fresh Fields on Thursday 09 November 17 20:18 GMT (UK)
Jane's death notice > under PREBENSON > seems to indicate her husband is still alive.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19170528.2.14

In the year following, there was an In Memoriam notice placed in a local newspaper by Jane's parents and siblings (no mention though of Hans).

    ~  Lu

Hello.

Unfortunately it is my understanding that the Walter BURROW Undertaking records did not survive, but those of SCRIMSHAW did.

In the King Country, like my own here in the Waikato, there are families who have owned land for over 100 years. A look on line for social media in the area, and a request, may get answered with local information. Each area tends to have it's own 'go to' for being the local historian.

- Alan.