JOHN SANDFORD (1838-ish - Auckland NZ 1883)

[Carolynn]

I’m hoping you can help: Here's the first of my Mystery Men    This one is John Sandford (1838-1883)
John Sandford's place of birth is given as Bridport, Dorset according to a letter from The Deputy Keeper of the Records dated November 1953. The Deputy Keeper says that in the 1851 census there was a Joseph and Ann Sandford (flax dresser) in Bridport with a son named John aged 13 and a record of Joseph and Ann’s son named John Sandford being baptised on 12 Mar 1839. But more than that he couldn’t help, there are lots of families with the same surname in that area and of course the surname could be spelt ‘Sanford’.
This part makes sense though: According to WO12/7424-7446 Musters of the 65th Regiment John Sandford enlisted at Weymouth UK in June 1854 aged 17 10/12 years.  Regimental number 3329. He sailed to NZ in April 1856 and was discharged in Otahuhu in Sept 1865.  John Sandford died in Newton, Auckland in 1883 aged 51.  My problem is that I can find no link between the John Sandford in Dorset or possibly Somerset and the John Sandford who joined the 65th and went out to NZ.  Would the Regiment hold any records about where he came from and who his parents  were?  Did he come from Bridport? Just subtracting the years seems to tell me nothing as people have always lied about their age!  Just as an aside, John Sandford never left NZ again, married Esther Ryan in 1863 and they had seven children including my great grandfather who was born in Thames NZ but who’s birth was never registered.
My mother remembers visiting Chard in Somerset “…because that’s where the Sandford’s came from….” but unfortunately she doesn’t remember anything else about the visit.
Hoping someone can help point me in the right direction.

[minniehaha]

Hello Carolyn,

Would you consider the purchase of a death printout?** [Cheaper than a certificate, may contain more information and can be e-mailed.]

Data collected for such a document:

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/dataCollected/death

**Note price increases from 22.5.2017.

https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/BDM/BDM-2017-Fees-Change-List.pdf

You may have these items?

Leaves a wife and 9 children……..

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18831015.2.19?query=john%20sandford

Coroner's inquest………

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18831017.2.31?query=john%20sandford

If any children were born and registered after October 1875 the parents' birthplace would be recorded.

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/dataCollected/birth


Minniehaha.

[minniehaha]

Side tracking again  . This doesn't help with the finding of John.. You probably have these snippets about Esther?

In memoriam notices [Esther Sandford]…..

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19320624.2.4?query=esther%20sandford

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19290624.2.5?query=esther%20sandford

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19310624.2.5?query=esther%20sandford

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19290624.2.4?query=esther%20sandford

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19300624.2.4?query=esther%20sandford

Her obituaries……….

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19280626.2.105?query=esther%20sandford

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19280705.2.145?query=esther%20sandford



Minniehaha.

[Carolynn]

Thanks Minniehaha I have all the items from the press regarding the death of Esther Ryan Sandford.

[minniehaha]

Again not part of the brief.......

Burial details for husband & wife:

Cemetery Records - Symonds Street and St Stephens

Abstract:   The Anglican Sexton's list has John Sandford at Block A 576. The St Paul's register has John Sandford buried 16 October 1883 aged 51 years of West Street. The Suffrage Centennial Women's register has Esther Sandford (nee Ryan), wife of John Sandford, possibly buried in the Catholic section of Symonds Street Cemetery. The Little's funeral records at Auckland City Libraries have Esther Sandford died 24 June 1928 aged 88 years and buried 26 June 1928 in Symonds Street Cemetery.
Subjects   Sandford, Esther, (nee Ryan), 1841 - 1928; Sandford, John, d.1883
Symonds Street Cemetery
     


Minniehaha.

[kiwihalfpint]

Would the Regiment hold any records about where he came from and who his parents  were?  Did he come from Bridport? Hoping someone can help point me in the right direction.

No parents are mentioned, but birth place was Bridport, Dorset.   No occupation was given.

Cheers
KHP

[Eyesee]

The Dorset PRs are on Ancestry. As well as John baptised at Bridport in 1839 there were a number of other children. Do any of these names repeat in John and Esther's children. Joseph Sanford married Ann Squires at Bridport in 1836.

Benjamin 1836
James 1837
John 1839
Ellen 1840
James 1843
George 1845
Thomas 1847

Ian C

[trish1120]

A John Sandford born c 1838 Bridport, Dorset in still in England in 1861.
He is a Ordinary Seaman in the Mediterranean with the Royal Navy.
By 1871 he is Married and living in Hampshire.

[trish1120]

I have tried to follow every John Sanford/Sandford born c 1832-1840 Dorset.

There is only 1 who seems to be an enigma.

1851 Census has a John SANFORD born c 1834 Hawkchurch, Dorset and Lodging there
He seems to disappear after that.

Will do a little more digging and if I find anything will be back later.