John William gray

[rainy]

Helping a friend find family of his grandfather he didn't know anything of.

John William Gray son of John and Frances Mary/Mary Frances GRAY nee SATCHELL.
Westland area.  Born 1880.
His WW1 Attestation Service says he born Wanganui, which I do wonder at.
But is there a Wanganui in Westland??

Haven't got a definite marriage as several men with same name.
But he was single in 1917 on his Army record.

Also in his Army records there is a death record 23.9.1968 Hamilton.
Have looked re cemeteries but did not find him.

Looked at Archives and wonder he is the one re Maori Hamilton files 1968.
He would not be a Maori.
But maybe his wife could be.

Just need some help trying to finish off this man family sheet.
His great nephew knows nothing at all of him.

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
rainy

[Lucy2]

His WW1 Attestation Service says he born Wanganui, which I do wonder at.
But is there a Wanganui in Westland??

Hi  ... there is a place "Little Wanganui" in Westland (or West Coast).

Will look to see what else I can find for this man.

   ~ Lu

[spades]

Hi Rainy,

A John William GRAY was a pupil at Arahura Road School on the West Coast in January 1885. Contact the Westland Genealogy Group for (hopefully) more information.

Could the date of death in his Army Personnel file be '1963' rather than '1968'? There is a probate (including a Will) for a John William R. GRAY, a Company Manager who died at Hamilton.

I suggest you check NZBDM online for a matching death record which might provide an exact date of birth.
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/

Spades

[minniehaha]

This may his death registration.....

1968/46256   Gray   John William   87Y


Minniehaha.

[Lucy2]

Hi rainy

The John William R. GRAY is not your man. 

[John William Rangitauwaru GRAY - d. 14 June 1963 - aged 53 years (bc 1910) at Newstead, Waikato
Reg. #  26469  -  2nd Lieut. 18th Battn. Armed Regiment - 2nd NZEF
Buried :  Hamilton Lawn Cemetery, Waikato :]

  ~  Lu

[rainy]

Thank you Lu.
 I did think that maybe the case.

I also found a John William GRAY d.1977 Retired Laborer at Te Kawa.

Now I did look where that was in the North Island.

But wondered whether what newspaper would be for that area.

I also found a John William Gray in Oamaru Cemetery RSA but 11 July 1968 at 89 years which is a maybe  also???

It was by reading the Probate for their father John Gray of Hokitika 1908 that names of the John William Gray and Frances Gray came up that he knew nothing of.

Appreciate your help. Thank you.
rainy.

[minniehaha]

His birth.......

1880/1082   Gray   John William   Frances Mary   John


Exact date:31.1.1880


Minniehaha.

[minniehaha]

Two snippets from West Coast newspapers about a John William Gray..........

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19320305.2.23?query=john%20william%20%20gray

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19241227.2.105?query=john%20william%20%20gray


Minniehaha.

[rainy]

Thank you , that's great.

Now can you find his sister's birth date.
I have looked and looked. Must be not doing something correctly.
Frances Gray.
Married 1900 to Patrick James Monahan.
Maybe died Nelson 1954.

Appreciate your help.
Thank you.
rainy

Now that's interesting. No wonder the family didn't know perhaps.

Thank you had looked at paperspast re funeral for their father.

Just shows how easy it is to miss something.

Thank you appreciate your help.
rainy