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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Valsgirl on Friday 14 September 18 21:03 BST (UK)
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According to online Christchurch newspaper articles, January 1895, 11 year old Richard John Davis was commited to the Burnham Industrial School, when found neglected & homeless. In the same month, an application was being made to send Richard's younger siblings Emma & Percy Davis to the same school.
While I've found some earlier inmate / student records online, I can't find any 1895 intake records.
Are there any online records? If not, where might the information be found?
With thanks,
Valsgirl
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Percy was admitted to Burham Boys on 5 Jan 1895 when he was 8 years old. Archives Reference: CW 14/12. Emma was admitted on the same day to Burham Girls when she was 10 years old.
I believe these are held at Wellington Archives.
Cheers
KHP
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Many thanks KHP,
That info ties in with the newspaper article. Where did you find that information? I searched Archway, but missed this. Any "exit dates" given, please.
I appreciate your interest,
Valsgirl
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Where did you find that information? I searched Archway, but missed this. Any "exit dates" given, please.
Valsgirl
On one of my resources that has been transcribed by the NZSG. No exit dates given, License for Emma expired Jan 1897, probably that is when she left, but having no family attending Industrial Schools, it is only a guess. Both were Anglicans. I don't know if the Archives file will give you more information.
Hopefully, Spades will see the title and jump on board, as he has looked up Industrial School files at Archives before.
Cheers
KHP
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Thanks again KHP,
Valsgirl
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Hello,
You may be interested in a photo album held by NZarchives that had several photos
of Burnham Industrial School, which would give you an idea of the scale of the place. It was a working farm as well as care of the children.
At the time I found it on Archway, it was free to download. I was very pleased as my grandmother had been admitted there when orphaned in 1881. It helped me with the perspective of the place.
Another point was children were often boarded out to families, and attended school wherever the boarding family lived. In my granmother's case it was Woodend, North of Chriostchurch, and Burnham is a few miles south of Christchurch.
Hope this is helpful for you.
Regards
Crowsfeet
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Thank you Crowsfeet,
I've found lots of information & photos online, in various places including keteselwyn.peoplesnetwork.nz
The Davis children's widowed Father obviously couldn't care for his younger children, so hopefully their detention at Burnham Industrial School, made for a better life.
I'm trying to piece together a family timeline, so keen to know the entry (believe Jan 1895) and exit dates for young Richard John, Emma, and Percy Davis.
Thanks for taking time to respond to this query,
Valsgirl
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Hi,
This item mentions four children as having been in the house at first.......
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18950101.2.7?end_date=31-12-1895&phrase=2&query=percy++davis&start_date=01-01-1892&title=LT%2CCHP
Minniehaha.
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That newspaper report would most likely be correct, Minniehaha.
Actually the family consisted of 10 children. By 1895 three had died, and some of the elder children would have been employed and working away from home.
I have quite extensive records for the Davis clan. Really keen to fill in "the gap" re Burnham Industrial School dates, though.
Thanks for your interest,
Valsgirl
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Any "exit dates" given, please.
Hello...
Here is a link to the CW14/12 file mentioned by KHP...
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Industrial Schools - Nominal Rolls - 1895
The rolls in this series record the following information:
· Name of child
· Age of child
· Date of admission
· Arrangements made for each child
https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=12026620 (https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=12026620)
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Sometimes the "Arrangements" mention what happened to the child...
e.g "Taken on by Mrs Jones. 5 May 1895"
Hopefully a look-up will find something of interest.
Regards
Beg
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Thank you for that link, Beg.
I'm in Australia, so it's a bit hard to pop into the Archives, myself. Any offers of help would be gratefully accepted.
I was hoping to find the appropiate records had been transcribed & available online.
Cheers,
Valsgirl
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Hi Valsgirl,
I can look up the file for you on my next visit.
Thanks to KHP for the heads-up :) 8)
Spades
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You're an Angel, KHP!
Considering there were a couple of reasonably well off family members - one having shares in a Coal Mining company & building a hotel in the Springfield, Canterbury area, and another a farmer at Little River, I can't understand how these children were allowed to be neglected and homeless. I understand their Father couldn't look after them, possibly because of alcohol adiction. I know they finally end up living with an older married sister in the North Island, probably about 1906, but I'm keen to know when they left Burnham & maybe learn what arrangements were made for them.
This hobby isn't just about names and dates, especially when one is a curious old bird!
A big thanks,
Valsgirl
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Well you are an Angel, KHP, for drawing Spades attention to my plea, but I did mean to say a Big Thanks to Spades for the offer to check the file when next at the Archives.
Thank you Spades.
Valsgirl
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Hi Valsgirl,
I have images of the file for you. Can you please PM me with your email address.
Spades
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Thanks so much, Spades.
I've sent you a PM.
Valsgirl
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Images sent.
Spades
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Thanks Spades.
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You're very welcome, Valsgirl. ;)