Elsie May Bradley born 1909 (Orphanages)

[fidotflo]

Does anyone have any ideas how to research orphanages in NZ?
Family rumour has that Elsie May grew up in a orphanage as her parents George and Mary both died young.Any guidance much appreciated.

[Lucy2]

Hello Fiona ... welcome to RootsChat.   

[I got an alert to the thread on which you first posted your query, hence my arriving at your new thread.     ]

Just before we get to orphanages, it's best we get some further information.

Originally you'd said that Elsie May was born at Whangarei.

Although I haven't located a burial record, I am assuming that Elsie May's mother is the
Mary BRADLEY who died in 1912 - aged 38 years - the death was registerd at Hikurangi.
[I haven't as yet found a suitable death registration for George BRADLEY.]

*  Do you have further information about Mary and George BRADLEY ??

*  Can you tell us please, where Elsie May BRADLEY grew up (Northland area or elsewhere) ?

   ~  Lu

[fidotflo]

Elsie May I think grew up round Hamilton.She was born in Hikurangi so that sounds about right for Mary.
Mary married George Arthur Bradley in 1900 in Hamilton but I know nothing else about them.
Mary was Mary Hamilton I think.
Elsie May married Alfred Leo Smith in 1930.
Thanks that was a very quick reply!

[Lucy2]

I'm guessing this is the marriage of Mary and George ?

NZ Marriage
Mary HAMILTON - George BRADLEY -- Year:  1900

And it seems they had a large family in a short time span.

BRADLEY    [- Parents:  Mary and George. ]

1902 - Alice Maude (or Maud)
1903 - John
1905 - Harold James
1906 - Robert William
1907 - Arthur George
1908 - Frederick
1909 - Elsie May
1910 - Dorothy Mabel

*  Do you know if any of the siblings of Elsie May, were also sent to an orphanage ... or fostered out to other families ??

[The youngest child Dorothy Mabel, when first married, was living at Hikurangi ?? ]

   ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

... oops ... my last posting was made before I'd read your reply. 

    ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

Mary married George Arthur Bradley in 1900 in Hamilton but I know nothing else about them.

Mmm ... the marriage record (index listing) I gave you earlier, showed only the christian name of "George". 

But as you've mentioned "George Arthur", then I should draw your attention to the following newspaper article.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19130808.2.84

There are quite a number of other reports also at the PapersPast website.

   ~  Lu

[fidotflo]

Wow that's a bit shocking.Could be the reason why they were all split up.
Was there a industrial school in Whangarei?

[Janette]

Hi Fiona,

It looks like Mary may have died 3 days after the birth of her last child

birth
1912/27524   Bradley    Ida    to    Mary   and George  born 4/8/1912
Death
1912/5730   Bradley Mary    38Y died 7/8/1912

Cheers Janette
 

[Lucy2]

... the child Ida, died 12 days after her birth.