Hi JAP
Thanks, (your post #27) .... unfortunately, no clues - death informant for Annie was (third party) funeral director (as seems to be the case on so many NZ certs). Death cert. for Thomas (1958) I don't have - but unlikely to be of help if rest of family have pre-deceased him - (and his only remaining child - Rachel - died 1961). Marriage witnesses for Thomas were - "Lily RICHINGS and a "John WILLIAMS, Labourer of Opawa, Christchurch" : for Lily's marriage, witnesses were "Margaret RICHINGS (this was wife of Thomas, they divorced in 1911), and an "Albert NICHOLLS, watchmaker", both of Christchurch. But, yes, witnesses are always worth "checking out".
Just a question ... (hopeful you may have encountered this before) ? .... and it applies to divorce records particularly ... affidavits / declarations, where someone has sworn, "I am informed and believe I was born at .... blah, blah, blah ."
An indication perhaps, that they're unable to produce their birth certificate ? (This appears on divorce record for Thomas RICHINGS).
Amelia MORININI (b. SAND - 1864) ~ alas, NO record of her death in NZ index (1864 - 1932 searched): Thanks for the explanation re: "SAND" ... hadn't realised this was the former name of Bendigo .... mmm ... I was thinking Mr MORININI, gold prospector ?
Yes, you're most likely right with the scenario of Mr. M. following Annie to NZ .... and (silly me), yes, the route was easterly, around the tail end of NZ , with a probable stopover there. I wondered why I'd mentioned "Mr. M. "skyvving off to London" (naughty ... I'm always jumping the gun) ! However, re-visiting the passenger list for the "G/Grant" at PRO-VIC turned up something of interest.
Now the "G/Grant" reportedly had around 89 passengers (and crew) aboard ? PRO-VIC lists approx. 156 souls ?
There appears to be duplications of a great many of the passengers names - e.g. an initial entry, followed by another, to which "age and destination" have been added?
ODD ? As well as the "MORININI, A. and MORININI, Mr. Emile", there is also a listing for "MOURINI, A. (25) (2 actually - one appears on next page) and MOURINI, Emile, aged 1 - destination, London"
Same people ? I'm probably reading way too much into this, .... "Emile" (yes, a boys' name), BUT ... Emile ("Em-eel") aged 1, and Amelia ("Emelia" ?) b. 1864 (and in May 1866, might not have yet reached her 2nd birthday) ? Had Mr. M., per chance, been left holding the baby
[I ain't thinking too charitably, at present, in terms of Annie ~ she's caused me too many sleepness nights] !
Anymore thoughts most welcome.
Thanks again
Kind regards
Lu