Thomas Driffill b1841 Brigg,lincs. d1920 Grey Lynn NZ.

[debs14]

Hi can anyone help me find how and when my relative above went to New Zealand, i have been unable to find any record of him leaving the uk or landing in NZ,he was living in London with his 1st wife as below.
Marriage to Harriet Jones
    1864 7 Jul Age: 23
    St Alfege Church, Greenwich, London, England
    Occupation: Butcher.

 I think at least up till 1870 when unfortunately their daughter died aged 4yrs, in 1871 census his wife as below, and Thomas no where to be found in any census for uk, but she states hes gone abroad,in later census she states shes widowed ,she has another child in 1878, but she clearly isent widowed,(im wondering if they ever divorced), has Thomas is making a new life down under.
Residence
    1871 Age: 33
    Lewisham, Kent, England
    Relation to Head of House: Wife, Her Husband has gone abroad.


Thomas next appears in New Zealand see below.

Marriage to Elizabeth Hotham
    1880 Jun Age: 39
    Auckland, New Zealand.
He subsequently had a 3rd marriage


Marriage to Ruth Mills
    1909 8 Nov Age: 68
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Registry Office

and then I have him dying and been buried


Death
    1920 18 May Age: 79
    Grey Lynn, Waitakere, Auckland, New Zealand


Any help untangling this will be great fully received
many thanks
Debbie xxx

 

[crisane]

There is a notice in New Zealand Herald, 2 August 1900 where his brother William is asking as to his whereabouts. It says he 'left England 35 years back"  so that would mean he left in 1865-1 year after his marriage.

[jorose]

In some records he seems to be "Driffell"

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19200519.2.13&srpos=3&e=-------10--1----0Driffell--
 - if this is the same man, names his ship of arrival as the "Maori" in 1864.

I can't find any record of the 1880 marriage. Did he actually marry Elizabeth Hotham, or was this possibly a common-law relationship?

[giblet]

Marriage to Ruth Mills
    1909 8 Nov Age: 68
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Registry Office

Found this marriage

NZ marriage index
1909/4371   
Ruth   Glover   
Thomas   Driffill

Ruth died 1929 aged 84 years

[giblet]

DRIFFILL.—In loving and affectionate memory of our dear father. Thomas Driffill, who departed this life on May 18, 19"20. We miss you from the old home, dear father; But we know you are happy with Jesus. Inserted by his loving sons, Arthur and clem.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19210518.2.2.5&srpos=88&e=-------10--81-byDA---2Driffill--

Arthur and Clem appear to have been born to Elizabeth and Thomas but i cant find a marriage for Thomas and Elizabeth nor a birth for Clem.

1884/581   Driffill   Arthur Thomas   Mother  Elizabeth   Father Thomas
1970/46354   Driffill   Arthur Thomas      85Y

Possibly a marriage for Clem tho??

1915/5612
Lottie Clarence   Jordan   
Charles Clement   Driffill

[giblet]

Cant find a death index but
Probate

DRIFFILL Charles Clement - Red Beach - Retired 1952

[giblet]

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=720010.0

[Janette]

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=720403.new#new

Cheers Janette

[debs14]

HI all,
many thanks for all your information,I will work my way through it all.So far i have the following:

I do have the death Thomas-

I also have a birth of Charles Clement Driffill-
Birth
    1884 30 Dec
    Slipper Island, New Zealand
    New Zealand, Birth Index, 1840-1950 Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish Name Charles Clement Trott Driffill Birth Jan 1885 - Auckland[Mar 1885]
and i do have a marriage for Charles and Lottie:
Marriage to Lottie Clarence Jordan
    1915 Age: 31
    Registration Number Bride's Given Name(s) Bride's Family Name Groom's Given Name(s) Groom's Family Name 1915/5612 Lottie Clarence Jordan Charles Clement Driffill . New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1934 Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parents.

I have been in touch with a relative who i have found while researching my tree,she lives in Australia ans she has confirmed that Thomas did leave his first wife in uk who was pregnant with their only child who unfortunately died aged 4yrs old,
And that there was no actual marriage for Thomas and Elizabeth Hotham,and that Thomas did arrive aboard the "Moari" in 1864.
But i did find his other marriage in NZ to Ruth Glover,(not mills as i previously stated,i had been given the wrong name).
So thanks you all for your input in this search
Many thanks
Debbie xxxx