Author Topic: How did the LAWLESS family get to NZ in 1884 from Liverpool.  (Read 1539 times)

Offline Lucy2

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Re: How did the LAWLESS family get to NZ in 1884 from Liverpool.
« Reply #9 on: Saturday 16 September 17 16:30 BST (UK) »
If it were me, I'd be fairly happy with the records which indicate (independently) that Thomas (Snr) LAWLESS and Catherine, his wife, (obit. 1922) arrived in 1884.  [That's "two outta three", isn't it ?   ;)]

Just to explain (briefly) about NZ immigration, 1880's.

Your people appear to have arrived here at a time when the immigration scheme earlier in place (Vogel scheme), had broken down (due to the cost of subsidising passage fares for immigrants).
In 1882 the Government of the day re-instated the funding of the scheme for supposedly another 3 years.    However, by 1884, most of the "immigrants" were of the "nominated" variety (rather than being of the "subsidised" kind.)   And this factor ("nominated"), would explain why there probably isn't a passenger list record - given that most lists that exist, relate to those who arrived here having been wholly or partially subsidised under a government or other, immigration scheme.

*  Do you know if the LAWLESS family had relatives who may have arrived in New Zealand ahead of them ??

Of course it needn't have necessarily been a relative who nominated someone - friends ... and even prospective employers could do so.  [For some years there are "Nomination records" held by Archives New Zealand  - haven't checked for the 1880's. ]

Thomas LAWLESS (bc 1840) born Co. Meath, Ireland, appears from the 1871 and 1881 UK census returns, to have operated as a "beer and wine retailer" and (1881) "a wholesale and retail beer* dealer".  [One transcription has "bar" dealer ?  ;D ... think it should be "beer: though.]
There were servants in his household too.  That suggests he probably had a few "spondoolicks" to his name and could afford to transport his family to the other side of the world ??  [He may have arrived here simply as a "fare- paying" passenger ... and there's probably no passenger list for that mode of arrival, either. ]  ::)

   ~   Lu









Offline Lucy2

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Re: How did the LAWLESS family get to NZ in 1884 from Liverpool.
« Reply #10 on: Saturday 16 September 17 16:45 BST (UK) »
Just a few snippets (in case you don't have them ? )  relating to Thomas LAWLESS (at Wellington).


http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18850706.2.36.1

Thomas LAWLESS - Lessee of property in Wellington city... seeking erection of boundary fence.
  July 1885


http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18851207.2.30.5

... On Saturday last ... a lunatic named LAWLESS ...

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18851207.2.7

  ... Thomas LAWLESS ...

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18851208.2.7

... committal of Thomas LAWLESS ... suffering from "religious mania" ...

   ~  Lu







Offline hettyhen

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Re: How did the LAWLESS family get to NZ in 1884 from Liverpool.
« Reply #11 on: Sunday 17 September 17 02:29 BST (UK) »
Minniehaha, thanks for the link, just couldn't get it to work, kept ending up on an ordinary google type search page.
Lu, yes that list for the "Ruapehu" seems to fit the family, (Meatloaf wasn't it?) so far can't think of anyone already here, but will have a poke around and see if anything pops up. After Thomas heads off to Porirua, Catherine, in 1887, was letting out rooms in Taranaki Street, then had a house to let there. In the early 1890's became a shopkeeper in Nairn St.  There was an unmarried daughter of William & Catherine RIDLER still living in Nairn St. until her death in 1984.
So thank you for your help, will keep searching for the shipping record, will try the Hobart stop and see if anything turns up.
Have requested the Coroners report on the death of Thomas in 1914 which may hold some more clues, not sure what they normally cover.
HeatherR
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