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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: ChrisUK2 on Wednesday 06 April 22 15:20 BST (UK)
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I'm in the UK and I go to lots of auctions - A few years ago I have acquired a family bible from the 1850's.
In the Bible, there is a handwritten entry about a Thomas McCreath who went to NZ on board the "Sir William Eyre" in early 1860s, arriving at Dunedin I believe. He may have been born in 1840.
It was a very rough voyage apparently, and I was interested in knowing if he made it OK. I'd also be happy to reunite the bible (two heavy volumes) with its family, if indeed he started a new family tree there.
I have found some info recently, that he may have married someone called Jane and may have lived in Invercargill.
Can anyone help me trace his descendants?
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Hello ChrisUK2 ... welcome to RootsChat. :)
A quick glance here at New Zealand records, shows a Thomas McCREATH died in 1905 aged 65 years, so born c. 1840.
The Invercargill Cemetery in Southland, NZ, has a record of his burial in July 1905, but there appears to be no headstone ... and I was unable to locate a Probate or similar file, any of which might have confirmed his origins. There was no newspaper death notice to be found either.
Yes, he seems to have been the man who wed a Jane DRYBURGH in 1865 (NZ) and they had a large family of at least nine, perhaps more, children.
A death notice for Jane McCREATH in 1916 names her husband as Thomas George McCREATH. I'm not sure that that is correct as both marriage and death records name him as simply, "Thomas". (They did have a son named Thomas George, so perhaps that's where the confusion arose ? )
I'll look further as there must surely be researchers of this large family.
~ Lu
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For starters there is this entry (though not sure if the "researcher" is contactable ?? ) >
https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-McCreath/6000000015986605831
It does give names of the parents of Thomas - plus his birthplace.
* Do those match with any entry in the family bible ??
~ Lu
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And mention at this site, also. >
https://www.myheritage.com/names/thomas_mccreath
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In the Bible, there is a handwritten entry about a Thomas McCreath who went to NZ on board the "Sir William Eyre" in early 1860s, arriving at Dunedin I believe. He may have been born in 1840.
.. haven't as yet found the name of Thomas McCREATH (nor indeed anyone named "Thomas") amongst passengers listed for the voyage you mention. That is not of course to say that Thos. McCREATH did not travel on this particular ship. ;)
But of course the presence of a "Thomas McCREATH" in the area of Southland NZ (including his death in that location, a marriage in 1865, etc. and perhaps his unusual surname ), certainly suggests he is the same man you mention.
The "Sir William Eyre" (yes, it was an horrendous journey), turned back in December 1862 to Rothesay with its large group of emigrants who'd been destined for Southland province in New Zealand. When later the voyage resumed, the ship was forced to put into Cape of Good Hope for some time. She finally arrived at the Port of Bluff (at the bottom of the South Island, NZ) around 8 April 1863 - a journey of some four and a half months.
Of the passenger lists I've located to date, all seem to have been compiled from resources other than an actual passenger list. i.e. Newspaper reports, old settler's records, jubilee lists.
That I haven't found the name of Thomas McCREATH (or variant or misspelling of name) might mean that he was not perhaps "an actual immigrant" to Southland" (persons who had all or a portion of fare paid to the Colony under an official Immigration scheme). Could he have been a member of crew of this ship ? Or a passenger paying full fare ? (Names of full-fare passengers - or persons having their fare paid by someone already living in NZ, were sometimes not always recorded along with the names of "official immigrants".)
I'll keep looking for additional information.
~ Lu
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Adding - for anyone who is able to assist in finding descendants - names of (some) children born to
Thomas McCREATH and Jane nee DRYBURGH :
1868 - Margaret
1870 - James
1871 - Mary Jane
1874 - Thomas George
1876 - George
1877 - Anne Isabella
1879 - Charles Edward
1882 - Robert William
1884 - Ella Barlow [ Added: This appears to be Ella Barbara McCREATH* ]
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[Added note: *Ella Barbara McCREATH (later Mrs FEIL) is the daughter named in the Will of Jane McCREATH - died 1916) https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE60125840
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James. Died. 1902. Don’t think he married.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SOCR19020405.2.25?items_per_page=10&page=9&query=Mccreath+&snippet=true
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James. Died. 1902. Don’t think he married.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SOCR19020405.2.25?items_per_page=10&page=9&query=Mccreath+&snippet=true
NZ Marriage >
James McCREATH -- Angelina Grigg PEDLAR -- 1895
[source : NZSG Marriages CD ]
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There is a public tree on Ancestry “Frost Family Tree” owned by a person in Canterbury that has whole family
I cannot quite figure out his connection to them.
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Hello again Chris
There are a good many Family trees for this Thomas McCREATH and family, published on the ancestry.com website. [I'm not sure if you are familiar with the site or even if you have access to it ?? ]
The are approximately 29 trees. I have only quickly, browsed a few of them.
Some have very large numbers of "people" added to them - usually this could be seen as a sign where say, a family searcher has simply collected "names" without necessarily researching whether these "people" belong in a particular tree - or they may only be indirectly "related" to them. Often sources of these finds are not given by a tree owner ... and to boot, other searchers also copy this information to their trees with the thought that because it's published online, it must be correct.
[What I'm trying to say, in the most polite way possible, ;D is that, because of a lack of sources being quoted also, it's difficult to know sometimes if a tree owner is a genuine descendant of a family for which they have published a "names" collection. ] I'm not really keen to tackle these 29 trees > maybe someone else who reads this thread might do so ?
There are a couple of other means to try which might flush out genuine McCREATH descendants ... I'll find their addresses and post them here.
~ Lu
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Hi mckha ... and sorry. :) [You know I never pay attention to those red alerts when I'm busy typing a reply]. ;D ;D
Yes, the Frost one I'd looked at in more depth earlier - it seemed well put together (at first).
But like you, I can't figure out a connection either ! [Hence my long-winded prattle in previous post].
~ Lu
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I knew I could rely on you to write the long winded post :)
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I had some difficulty with composing that too !
I never like to rubbish the efforts of people searching for their families ... but ... ;D ;D
Say no more.
~ Lu
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Hi Chris
I'm adding this link with contact details for the Southland Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.
It may be that they have someone in their membership who has a McCREATH connection.
https://genealogy.org.nz/Branch-details/11084-s1100069/
Certainly worth an email asking them if they can assist you in any way. :)
~ Lu
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Secondly ... this address for the National body of NZ Society of Genealogists.
https://genealogy.org.nz/Contact-us/10940/
I think you just fill in the form at bottom of page.
[They have a new website which I'm not familiar with, but on their former site had a "Members Interests" (names being researched) section which anyone could access. They seem to have done away with it now ... so just fill in the form. ] ;)
~ Lu
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http://mccreathfamily.scot/genealogy/genealogy-mccreath/fourth-generation-family-groups/the-descendants-of-david-mccreath-c-1685-
Not certain if this link will work properly (it came up as "not secure") ??
Added: Yes it comes up as "page not found" but you can still access info by clicking on the various links at top of page - eg Family Tree
It does though include "Thomas McCREATH - 1840-1905" .
> click on "Family Tree" to get to name index
Haven't explored it at all, but maybe it'll be helpful ?
~ Lu
Edited to add further info.
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Hi Lu - many many thanks for your research work on this ! I went back to check the Bible front pages and found there was a bit more information - I cannot attach the picture as it is too big (I guess because I'm a newbie to this site).
Anyway the GENI entry you mentioned refers to the exact same Thomas as the Bible wording. Same birthdate and parents' names. Other notes on the page are that Thomas had siblings Isabella and John. His sailing date was 17th December 1862.
Chris
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A snippet about the death of Thomas McCreath:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SOCR19050708.2.18?end_date=31-12-1905&items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=t.+mccreath&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1905
An account of the voyage of the 'Sir William Eyre':
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18630425.2.6?end_date=31-12-1863&items_per_page=10&page=2&phrase=2&query=sir+william+eyre&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1863
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LWM18630502.2.5?end_date=31-12-1863&items_per_page=10&page=4&phrase=2&query=sir+william+eyre&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1863
Minniehaha.
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Jane McCreath's death notice:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19160608.2.26?end_date=31-12-1916&items_per_page=10&query=jane+mccreath&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1916
Death of eldest surviving son:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19060514.2.7?end_date=31-12-1906&items_per_page=10&query=thomas+mccreath&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1904
Minniehaha.
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Just adding links for these lists - in case they're of use to other researchers:
Emigrant / Passenger lists for "Sir William Eyre" - Ship to Port of Bluff - 1863 :
It is believed these lists have been compiled from a variety of sources. It appears that an actual passenger list (containing names of all who were onboard) has not been located :
https://www.angelfire.com/ok2/cbluff/sirwilliameyre1863.html
http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlists/sirwilliameyre.html
.... sources used in the compilation of this list, appear at foot of list.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18630306.2.18.7
.... this is headed "Sir Wm. Eyre - List of Emigrants" and was published in a local newspapers in advance of the delayed ships' arrival. [It is not a full list of all those who were aboard. ] Christchurch City Libraries also notes the existence of a list of those persons who died on this 1863 voyage.
~ Lu
Added: The following names are of persons said to be passengers on the "Sir William Eyre" 1863, who gave evidence during the enquiry examining numerous complaints concerning the voyage and the actions of the captain.
Robert SYME (found : on one list as SIME) / J. (James) SHAW(now found) / Andrew CRAIG (on yesteryears list) : A James FERGUSON said he was a steerage passenger and William LIND, a passenger (neither of these two found on passenger lists.
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Hi all - I've not been able to find any living descendants of Thomas McCreath... we are moving house soon, so I may have to donate these Bibles to charity, or send them to auction. I was happy to send them to a descendant for the cost of postage, but that looks like it won't be happening.
Thanks everyone for your help / assistance.
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Hi Chris,
I understand that you’re in the UK.
Another potential solution would be to submit the bible to your local county archive. I’ve used two of these county archives in the past and their resources were easy to search online (either their own website or through A2A).
The great advantage for any future researchers is the bible will be preserved and protected and can be found. And doing so won’t inconvenience you too much.
I admire the efforts you’ve gone to to try and repatriate the bible to descendants.
Regards,
Spades
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Hello Chris, I am so happy to find this. Thomas is my 3rd Great grandfather. Just discovered this from my nana.