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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: nortybaby on Saturday 08 November 14 03:34 GMT (UK)
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Good afternoon!
I am trying to find more info about this man, and his life in New Zealand.
His parents were James BLAKENEY and Rhoda HAMILTON (married Sydney in 1872). Percy was born in Tumut NSW in 1881.
I have his birth details, and immediate family (ie brothers & sisters - he was 1 of 10 or 11) in Australia but no idea when he arrived in NZ. I believe he married a Selena Morris in 1920 (this from NZ BDM historical records) but can't see any children. Obviously possible they didn't have any!
I am not familiar with NZ sources (still trying to talk my husband into looking into his family) so would appreciate any advice/ suggestions as to other places I could look.
Cheers,
Julie
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Hi Julie
He first appears on electoral rolls at Wellington in 1905-06 residing at 23 Boulcott Street, occupation, tailor.
Will look further for you.
~ Lu
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Hi
As they married in 1920, then any children they may have had, won's show up on NZ BMD's birth index search. [Cut-off is "today's date", 1914. ]
The next place to look for any children is the electoral rolls (sometimes they can be found residing at their parent's address). I've checked those and there was nothing obvious I'm afraid.
Alas, there doesn't appear to be Probate files for them either.
~ Lu
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Hello Julie
familysearch.org
Have his will and probate available for a free download.
Names son and married daughter's name.
Haven't put their names as they may still be alive.
Regards Crowsfeet.
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The BLAKENEY's did reside in Levin in their later years but I didn't find their burial records in that location.
It appears both were cremated at Karori Cemetery in Wellington.
If you go to following link and click on the "Cemeteries Search" facility, you'll be able to see a headstone photo for Selina BLAKENEY who died in 1968. Sorry, I wasn't able to read what it said.
There's a cremation record for Percy, too.
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/
~ Lu
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Probate ... ooh ... well done crowsfeet (I'd only checked Archives NZ's Archway site and didn't find them there) . :)
~ Lu
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Hi Julie
The funeral directors for Selina BLAKENEY, were Gee and Hickton Ltd in Lower Hutt (near to Wellington).
You could make an enquiry to them to see if they hold information for Selina's next of kin.
http://www.geeandhickton.co.nz
~ Lu
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Hi Lu,
family search are progressively digitising probates in NZ at least up to 1950 so always worth a look to see if your area has been digitised.
Regards Crowsfeet
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Hi crowsfeet ... yes, thanks I usually also check FamSearch.
[Some Probates too, and especially those which were processed in Courts which came under the general Wellington region, do not appear on Archives NZ's Archway site, though before digitisation commenced, Archives had an in-house database of them. Wonderful that we now have so many available on FamSearch. ]
Cheers :)
~ Lu
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Hi Julie
Now having read just a little of Percy's will (to ascertain names of his children), and after checking for their possible deaths, (the son also has a cremation record at Karori Cemetery), I turned to the online NZ Birth index which reveals something of a surprise. ;)
I'd been getting ahead of myself earlier when I suggested that because the couple married in 1920, then any children were likely to have been born after that year. ;D
So if you look again at NZ Births (online) > under BLAKENEY > you'll see a son (1906) and daughter (birth registered in 1968) were born to a Lena and Edward BLAKENEY. [These children have the same christian names as those mentioned in Percy's will. ]
I guess the question is now, is "Lena" Selina ..... and is "Edward" actually, Percy ??
~ Lu
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Here are the deaths of the children named in Percy's will (both in 1982).
1982 - BLAKENEY - Jack Morris - date of birth: 3 November 1906
1982 - BUCKNELL - Phyllis - d.o.b. 16 June 1905*
[*Note: This is the same date of birth as for the child born to "Lena and Edward" BLAKENEY and whose birth was "officially" registered in 1968. ]
~ Lu
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Hi Julie
On PapersPast it seems as though both Percy and Jack were into swimming and lifesaving in NZ
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=q&q=&e=-------10--1----0--
I entered P M BLAKENEY in the search
Cheers Janette
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Julie
Here are the cemetery records for Phyllis (a.k.a. Phyllis Irene BUCKNELL) and her husband Ralph Amyas BUCKNELL (d. 1980).
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/cemeteries/cemetery.html
~ Lu
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Cremated at Purewa
Surname BUCKNELL
First Names Phyllis
Age 76 Years
Gender Female
Date of Death 11 Jan 1982
Religion Anglican
Serial No 42240
Date of Service and/or Interment 14 Jan 1982
Type Of Service
Funeral Director C Little & Sons, P O Box 26-003, Epsom, AUCKLAND
Ashes Disposal Interred
Book Of Remembrance No
Surname BUCKNELL
First Names Ralph Amyas
Age 77 Years
Gender Male
Date of Death 13 May 1980
Religion Church Of England
Serial No 37978
Date of Service and/or Interment 15 May 1980
Type Of Service
Funeral Director C Little & Sons, P O Box 26-003, Epsom, AUCKLAND
Ashes Disposal Interred
Book Of Remembrance No
Interesting that Purewa also has an interment of Ralph and Phyllis' ashes
Surname BUCKNELL
First Names Ralph Amyas
Age 77 Years
Gender Male
Date of Death 13 May 1980
Religion
Serial No 35031
Date of Service and/or Interment 15 Aug 1983
Funeral Director C Little & Sons, P O Box 26-003, Epsom, AUCKLAND
What Buried? Ashes
Casket Size
Casket Depth
Cemetery Purewa Cemetery
Location Block X Row 40 Plot 21
Surname BUCKNELL
First Names Phyllis Signal
Age 76 Years
Gender Female
Date of Death 11 Jan 1982
Religion
Serial No 35030
Date of Service and/or Interment 15 Aug 1983
Funeral Director C Little & Sons, P O Box 26-003, Epsom, AUCKLAND
What Buried? Ashes
Casket Size
Casket Depth
Cemetery Purewa Cemetery
Location Block X Row 40 Plot 21
Cheers Janette
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The funeral directors for the Bucknell's are very helpful at giving information,they are first on the list here
http://www.funeralsnewzealand.co.nz/about-fdanz/fdanz-funeral-directors/auckland.aspx
Cheers Janette
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Wow....just wow!!!
Thank you all for your help with this. It's really giving me something to go on. I had to go out so apologise for not replying sooner.
FYI, the reason I am now looking for Percy is that I've just finished re-reading The Scarlet Pimpernel and the name struck me (finally!!!!!). ;D
I would guess that Selina is Lena but Edward is a poser. Percy had a cousin named Edward Mansfield Blakeney, and an uncle Peter Mansfield Blakeney. For the life of me I can't figure where the "Mansfield" name comes from, but Mansfield is a question for another time.
I'll go look now and let you know how I go.
Cheers
Julie
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Hi Julie
* Is it possible that Percy had an earlier marriage ?
~ Lu
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Just spotted this on TROVE site.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home
"The Tumut and Adelong Times" (NSW) - 30 May 1950 - page 2
Obituary : Percy BLAKENEY
[His children are actually named in it. ]
~ Lu
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Mmm ... Obit. says at end, also two daughters (named as Ada and Lillian) ???
So are they daughters of Percy ... or have I read that wrongly ? ::)
~ Lu
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That Obit is written oddly ? ;D
I think what is meant is that the "two daughters" are "the daughters" of his brothers (who are named previously). ? So, Percy's nieces ?
The one named as Ada (Mrs HASTINGS of Manly) appears to be Ada V. BLAKENEY who married Thomas G. HASTINGS - 1906 - at Tumut. ??
~ Lu
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That Obit is written oddly ? ;D
I think what is meant is that the "two daughters" are "the daughters" of his brothers (who are named previously). ? So, Percy's nieces ?
The one named as Ada (Mrs HASTINGS of Manly) appears to be Ada V. BLAKENEY who married Thomas G. HASTINGS - 1906 - at Tumut. ??
~ Lu
I wonder if Ada and Lillian are sisters of Percy
Cheers Janette
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Hi there,
You're right, the obit does seem a bit odd. According to my records, Ada (Vine Hastings) and Lillian (Lilly M Miller) were Percy's sisters. The brothers would have done the obit as they were the 2 oldest of the surviving siblings. Most of the family stayed in and around Tumut once James settled there in the 1870's.
I'd love to know why Percy went to NZ, he would have been about 22/23yo at the time (according to the obit he was there about 46 years).
I'm going to download the probate packet and do some more digging.
Cheers,
Julie
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I'd love to know why Percy went to NZ, he would have been about 22/23yo at the time (according to the obit he was there about 46 years).
Hi Julie
It transpires that Selina MORRIS was a Tumut girl ;) (more on her in a moment).
A few things to consider about Percy's move to NZ circa 1904.
- he'd completed his tailoring apprenticeship in AUS, presumably in Tumut ... so was there sufficient work for him there ? [His "master" A.J. JENKINS (Tailor) d. October 1922 - see his obit at TROVE.]
- was there some opposition to his relationship with Selina MORRIS which precluded them from marrying before 1920 ?
- did Selina and Percy make the move to NZ around 1904 because there was a baby on the way ?
[Their daughter was born June 1905. ]
[Note: Whilst I can't pinpoint Percy arriving in NZ, there is a "Miss MORRIS - 22 yrs (bc 1882) "
arriving in Wellington on the "Westralia" 1 December 1904 from Sydney. ?? A possibility ? ]
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Still puzzled by the NZ birth registration info. More particularly that the daughter, who would presumably have registered her own birth (belatedly) in 1968 - after death of her mother ??? ), elected to use "Edward" as her father's name ?? I wonder what info the daughter put on her marriage cert. in respect of her father's name ??
~ Lu
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AUS - BIRTH
1882
Selina MORRIS
Father: John MORRIS
Mother: Elizabeth
Reg: Tumut, NSW
Year: 1882
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I'd found Selina journeying to and from AUS in various years (sometimes with her daughter).
[See Passenger Lists to NZ at FamilySearch. ]
On one voyage, Selina's birthplace was shown as AUS (her daughter's as NZ) which in turn lead me to her NSW birth.
In the 1923 obituary for her father, John MORRIS, Selina is recorded as "Mrs P. BLAKENEY, New Zealand".
[See TROVE - "The Tumut Advocate ... - 6 November 1923 - page 3 (Obit. John MORRIS) Gives Selina's mother's name as Elizabeth, nee PACKETT. ]
~ Lu
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Percy had a cousin named Edward Mansfield Blakeney, and an uncle Peter Mansfield Blakeney. For the life of me I can't figure where the "Mansfield" name comes from, but Mansfield is a question for another time.
Hi Julie
... Mansfield ... there's a clue here > (@ TROVE) ;)
"Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express" (VIC)
31 January 1908 - page 2 -- Death of Mrs J. BLAKENEY
... it's the place she lived and was married at ...
~ Lu
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Hi Lu,
Gotta love Trove! Thanks for the tip. I had a look, and it's also given me leads for other members of that branch.....yay!
Also, thanks for the tips on Selina's arrival in NZ.I shoudn't be surprised that they maybe preempted things. I have a nunber of rellies from back then that this happened with/to (I think that's what I mean)!
Anyhow, Mansfield! I have to admit that this particular name has been bothering me for some years, what with it being through 2 generations but can't see anymore than those three chaps, Uncle Peter, Cousin Edward, and our boy Percy.
I've had little desire to research in the last 12 months and just put my post up yesterday on the off chance. This has really given me motivation to get right back into it. So, many thanks for the push!!!!!
I'll keep going, and let you know what happens.
Cheers,
Julie
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Hi Julie
Gotta love all historic newspapers (not only TROVE). ;)
Yes, "the children before marriage" thing, happened way back then too (and was frowned upon in those days of course.) And who knows just why this couple chose to do things the way they did ?
We can only speculate. ;)
It does seem though that the children of Selina and Percy received good educations.
PapersPast (NZ) http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
gives details of son Jack graduating B.A. (Bach. of Arts) 1926 from Wellington's Victoria University College. He is probably the same J. Blakeney who attended Wellesley College (a very good school even today). His sister appears to have sat the Trinity Music exams.
["Evening Post" (Wellington) -- search on BLAKENEY . ]
Good luck with your continuing search. :)
~ Lu
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Hi Julie,
Death notices for Phyllis & Ralph Amyas BUCKNELL sent by PM...........
Minniehaha.