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I'm trying to get to the bottom of a possible mystery regarding my great grandfather, Lawrence Scott. He was born 22 Jan 1882 in Little Rakaia, and registered as the son of Samuel Francis Scott (abt 1830 - 1916) and Ann Cryer (1839 - 1925). He married Emma Catherine Kemp in 1909. As far as I know he was raised by Samuel and Ann, as they are listed as his parents on his birth and marriage certificates.

I had no reason to question this until few years ago, when I found a family tree that had Lawrence Scott STRANGE, born 22 Jan 1882, married to Emma Catherine Kemp, and it said his parents were Frederick Strange and Mary Bell Marychurch. It appears to be the same Lawrence, with two different sets of parents. I have found no evidence to back up that the Stranges were his parents, but there must be some reason the two families would "claim" him.

The Scotts were definitely connected to the Strange family - Samuel and Ann Scott's eldest son Samuel Francis Scott (b. 1856) married Mary Bell Strange (b. abt 1870, daughter of Frederick and Mary Bell Strange) in 1890. Is it possible that this couple, very young (and unmarried in 1882),  had Lawrence, and he was raised by one or both sets of grandparents? Or is the family tree I saw simply mistaken?

I'm hoping someone might be able to help me find out about the life (and death) of my great great grandfather, William Kemp, who lived in Southbridge. He was from Cornwall, and was married to Elizabeth Bryant. I'm reasonably sure they were the Kemp(e) family that arrived on the Rangitiki in 1877. I have seen William listed as a labourer in Southbridge the 1882-4 directories, but I have found no other definite mentions of him, and Elizabeth is listed by herself in the 1894-5 directory. Ellesmere cemetery, where she is buried, lists her as a widow when she died in 1908, but it doesn't appear that William is buried with her. I used the information on her death certificate to trace both her and William's families in Cornwall, and I'm fairly sure they were both born around 1845, she in Lelant, he in Probus, married in 1874 St Erme.

If Elizabeth was a widow, then it would appear William died between 1883 (when last child was born) and 1908, but probably before 1894. The only William Kemp I could find to match that time-frame was one who died in 1886 in Christchurch. Age (40) and place of birth (England), and time in NZ (13 years) would roughly match my William, but parents and wife are different (he married Ellen Gallagher in 1883 age 37). I found another William buried in 1926 in Ashburton age 76 - the dates are even rougher than the first one, and no wife or children are listed on his death certificate, BUT the place of birth (Cornwall), and the parents names, match with my previous research. So - I have two deaths, both of which partially match what I know, but also contain things that seem wrong, which means (a) my Cornwall research was wrong, (b)William left his family (and possibly re-married), or (c) there is another William Kemp death I have missed. I don't want to get any more certificates unless I can be reasonably sure I'm on the right track. Can anybody find any further information about William Kemp of Southbridge, that might shed light on what happened to him?

I've been searching for many years for a birth record for my great great grandfather John Loughlin (or Laughlin). I have enquired about this previously, but to date no likely record has shown up, so I'm hoping for better luck this time.

He died in NZ in 1892, aged 68, so he would have been born around 1824. I have no real clue where he would have been born, but it is likely to be in Down, possibly the Comber or Tullynakill area. He lived with his wife and family in Comber before coming to NZ in 1864-66, and he was married in Ballyboley in 1846 to Eliza Jane Adams (her father David Adams farmed at Greyabbey)- could someone find the marriage record? Or other family records from the area? Perhaps there might be some clues to John's family there.

There must be some reason researchers have had so much difficulty tracing his birth. Some believe his name may have been David John Loughlin (this is also the name of one of his sons), and that he may have been the child of a second marriage. The surname was often spelled Laughlin, but perhaps there was another variation I'm not aware of. Any suggestions?

I am looking for information about the Probert family who came to New Zealand from Manchester in 1865 on the "Ida Ziegler". I am not sure about other family members, but I know that William Gadsby Probert and Elizabeth Bagshaw, who were married in Manchester in 1844, were on the ship, as was their daughter Ada Jane, who was born in 1863. She married Joseph Clark in 1886 in Auckland, and they went on to live in Puriri, near Thames.

I would like more information about the family in Auckland - who were they, what did they do? The only story I have heard was about William killing himself over an inheritance, quite a scandal apparently. Any more information would be great.

Just wondering if anyone can find any information about a James Wells and Isabella Webster who were married in Cape Town in 1862? They were both from Scotland, he was from Dumfries, born 1840, and she was from Inverkip, born also about 1840. I don't know how long either of them were in South Africa, how they got there, or whether they knew each other prior to leaving Scotland.

About two years after marrying they went to New Zealand on the "Steinwarden", where they settled. I would be interested in any details about their time in Cape Town, including how they got there, and their marriage, my information just says "Scottish Church" Feb 14 1862. I think they may have had children there but I am not sure about that.