Emigrant to New Zealand - James Mead

[2shea]

Trying to find James Mead born Brentwood Essex 1841 to parents James and Susan Mead. Emigrated when he was about 18, so about 1858/59 onwards, to NZ.  The gold rush in Otago was on then. Have perused the ships listing on the net but do not know the ships names which I know would have been helpful.
If someone has his name on a BMD, that might help location and then could target ships going in that direction.
Not a lot of information, I know but trying to make a start with what I have.

Thanks

[spades]

I checked Varcoes Marriage Index on-line up to 1862, but couldn't find a marriage of James MEAD. To search after this date you need folio numbers, so I'll have to go to the library.
http://marvin.otago.ac.nz/marriages/marriages.php

I did find one single reference to a James Mead in Otago in the 'Otago Nominal Index to 1876'. http://marvin.otago.ac.nz/oni/default.html
If Otago was a guess you might have struck gold (sorry, couldn't resist it :-))

SURNAME:  MEAD
FORENAMES:  James
ADDRESS:  St Andrew st
AGE:   
SEX:   
OCCUPATION:   
EVENT DESCRIPTION:  Alphabetical Directory
EVENT PLACE:  Dunedin & Suburbs & Districts
EVENT SORT DATE:  01/01/1871
SOURCE TITLE:  Wises Dunedin Directory
PAGE NO:  108
PUBLICATION DATE:  1871-72
COMMENTS:   

I'll look to see if this person appears there after 1872.

Regards, Tor

[2shea]

Thanks for your reply. I know it is vague but the information I have is rather slim and this may be the best I can do. If he is in Otago, then I will look through all the Port Chalmers entries first, then Lyttleton and Bluff as often they did travel.

Thanks
Again

[spades]

I checked Passenger Lists VIC AUS to NZ Ports 1852-1870. No James MEAD, but these names could be familiar to you:

Mead Christina, age 20, ship 'Spencer' to Auckland 1853
Mead Daniel, 40, occ. smith, ship 'Spencer'to Auckland 1853.
Mead John, 30, to Otago 1861. (Blast, I forgot the ship!)

There were several other Mead's between 1861-65, but none likely. This suggests that James's ship was one of the many that went straight to NZ.

Have a look at the NZ Bound website for shipping. It includes newspaper transcriptions mentioning passengers as well.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nzbound/siteindex.htm

I couldn't find a James MEAD marriage up to 1870. Likewise no mention of James Mead in Dunedin electoral rolls after 1872.

I'll keep an eye out for him.

Tor

[2shea]

Thanks for your help. Will go  on the website you recommend . Thanks again

[spades]

Looking through the NZ marriages fiche I've discovered that a James MEAD married a Kathleen Mona CASSIN in 1898, folio number 3565. Unlike NZ births and deaths, folio numbers for NZ marriages aren't location-based, so I can't tell you where they married, but the high number would suggest that they married in a large city, so he might be yours.

Tor

[2shea]

Thanks for checking the fiches -I know it is a big job. There don't seem to be that many Meads around so it is likely it could be him. I am seeking this information for a friend so will pass this on and see if it matches other information they might have.

Thanks again

[Kate NZ]

Hi i live in Rakaia  Mid Canterbury NZ the the name Mead is very well known in this town i also found a James Joseph Mead married a Charlotte Behrns 1892 also a will was filed dated June 29th 1927 of James Joseph Mead Labourer Rakaia the will was filed at Christchurch for further info on this will contact the Archives at Christchurch Library as they are very helpfull.Good Luck Harriet

[2shea]

Thanks Harriet,
What a small world - I live in Timaru but looking for James Mead for a friend in England. He disappeared from their family circle to NZ in 1860 and I was trying to track him down.
Let me know how you get on.

Cheers

2shea