o'neills in Rakaia NZ

[jck1103]

looking for information on o'neill family Rakaia NZ 1900 - 1920 ?

My O'neill -  Leslie Benjamin fought in WW1 was injured and came to a hospital in the UK got married and had a family. Went back to NZ with wife who didn't want to stay so they returned to the UK.
Leslie was one of thirteen children possibly brother Albert who died WW1 and sister Lily who married G. H. Edgerton 1913 NZ. Unable to pinpoint other siblings.

Unable to find a birth for Leslie Benjamin O'neill in England/Wales. 

Looking for country of origin.

Any help appreciated 

J

[Lucy2]

Hello J

.... and welcome to RootsChat.   

Mmm ... I see his war service for NZ was under the name of "Leslie Benjamin".   [Service details on index at Auckland Museum cenotaph database, show that his N.o.K. was "Benjamin O'NEILL (father) of Rakaia". ]

Can't see a New Zealand registered birth in that particular name, but there is this one (which may be a spelling error on the birth index) ??

1891 - O'NEILL - Benjamin Leeson

Parents:     Elizabeth and Benjamin O'NEILL

~  Lu

[Lucy2]

I'm guessing you may have already seen this, but here is the link to Cenotaph database - with details for Leslie Benjamin and Albert James O'NEILL :

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/general/basicsearch.aspx?Dataset=cenotaph

More info on O'NEILL siblings to follow. 

[Lucy2]

Yes, can see at least 13 O'NEILL children with father named as "Benjamin" on NZ birth index.   

Mothers are shown as Mary and Elizabeth (also Hannah Elizabeth) ... appears that Benjamin was married twice.

O'NEILL - children of Elizabeth and Benjamin

1888 - Lily

1889  - Ruby May

1891  - Benjamin Leeson

1892  - George Joseph

1894  - Albert

1895  - Walter

1897  - Catherine

1899  - Annie Maria
also  ...   

1893 - Rebecca -- parents - Hannah Elizabeth & Benjamin

                                                         see next    >>

[Lucy2]

NZ BDM link   >>

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

Probable marriage :

O'NEILL - Benjamin ---  Elizabeth CUNNINGHAM - 1887

Just re-checking the other births with father named as Benjamin ... will add in moment.

~  Lu

[Lucy2]

O'NEILL - children of Elizabeth and Benjamin

1888 - Lily

1889  - Ruby May

1891  - Benjamin Leeson

1892  - George Joseph

1894  - Albert

1895  - Walter

1897  - Catherine

1899  - Annie Maria[/b]
also  ...   

1893 - Rebecca -- parents - Hannah Elizabeth & Benjamin   ?? 
                                                         

Hmm ... can see now that I was wrong in thinking that Benjamin O'NEILL was twice married  . 

There were these further children born after 1899 to Elizabeth and Benjamin  - which brings the total to 12 (or 13 if Rebecca 1893 is included ?) :

O'NEILL

1900 - Frederick Roberts

1902  - Alfred Ernest 

1903  -  William Selwyn

1905  -  Harold John

[Lucy2]

Hi J

Do you have a copy of Leslie Benjamin's service record ?

If not, then you can contact Archives New Zealand (Wellington office) who now "digitise" the files and make them available for viewing via their website.

See link for further details :

http://archway.archives.govt.nz/

[I notice Archives now have an added note, that you can use their "remote service" facility to make a request for digitisation.   There shouldn't be a charge for this (but get back to us if there is). ]

~  Lu

[Lucy2]

....   and sister Lily who married G. H. Edgerton 1913 NZ.

Marriage for Lily :

Lily O'NEILL -- George Henry EDGINTON - 1913

[Lucy2]

1892  - George Joseph
 

This sibling also served in WW1.

You can see his listing at the Cenotaph website - he's entered as "Joseph George O'NEILL" [ NoK is given as Harold John O'NEILL (brother) of Papanui, Christchurch." ]