Bulolo Gold Dredging Company *COMPLETED*

[2Harriet]

Hi,
My relative John Murray was born abt 1912 Scotland uk, and is rumoured to have worked for Bulolo Gold Dredging Company. Anyone any ideas how I can expand my knowledge  of him please? He died abroad- presumably NZ.

Thanks
June

[Janette]

Hi June,

The Bulolo Gold Dredging Company is in New Guinea,what makes you think John died in NZ,do you have any more info,did he have a middle name and did he marry?

Cheers Janette

[Lucy2]

Hi June

There is quite a lot of information to be had via "Google" re: the Bulolo Gold Dredging Co. and its operations in Papua New Guinea.     I note there is mention too of many company employees being evacuated to Australia during WW2.

Unless of course you have some firm evidence that he was in New Zealand, then Australia might be a better place to search ?

If you have the names of your John MURRAY's parents, then I would suggest you place a query on the Australian board, to see if a death can be located there for him.

~  Lu

[2Harriet]

Hi,
Thanks for prompt reply. Apparently a late aunt used to get communicatons from him from New Zealand so will probably have to start there. He lived in an Hotel as a guest in his retirement. Where to go from here hmmmm ?

[Canterburynorth]

Hi June,

There are many many John Murrays that have died in New Zealand, just a tiny bit more info as suggested by Janette will give us something to look for, especially a middle name, any idea when he might have died.

Kind regards
Leandra

[2Harriet]

Hi again,
Yes, John Murray is common here in Scotland Uk too and I have narrowed him down to being born in Wigtownshire , has no middle name and did not marry. His parents were Samuel Murray and Margaret Drinnan Murchie. Thats the sum total  now of what I know.  Sorry this is a bit of a head nipper!   

[Lucy2]

Hi 2Harriet

I initially pointed you in another direction, mainly because the title of this thread "Bulolo ... etc. " relates to Papua New Guinea which is more closely aligned with Australia ... and there seemed some uncertainty as to John MURRAY's place of death (with no prior mention that he'd actually lived in New Zealand).   

Unfortunately the NZ Death Index, does not list the names of "parents of the deceased", and we can only work with the "age or date of birth" the index gives (and sometimes these can be incorrect - given they are supplied by an informant.)

Whilst there are numerous "John MURRAY" deaths recorded in New Zealand, many can be eliminated as they have second christian names.

Searching deaths from 1960 (and we can't be certain of when he might have "retired"), I can only see 2 "possibilities" - 1974 (b. 1911) or 1970 (b. 1909) ??

Here is the link to NZ BDM (online) indexes >>

http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Home/

~   Lu

[Lucy2]

John MURRAY - Death

1974 / 37731
MURRAY - John - d.o.b.  1 September 1911   

This John MURRAY died on 8 June 1974 and is buried under the name of "Jack MURRAY" at the Hukerenui Cemetery (Whangarei area).

Link to Whangarei District Council cemeteries database.

http://www.wdc.govt.nz/

[Lucy2]

NOTE:    It's possible the burial in Whangarei is NOT the John MURRAY you're seeking.

Have noticed that there is a probate file held by Archives New Zealand which likely relates to this 1974 death ?
[MURRAY - John - Whangarei - occupation: Storeman - 1974]

~   Lu