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The Campbell College, Belfast Campbellian Register includes the listing 363. Barker, Ernest Lindsay Bucknall, b. 20th August 1887, son of L.B. Barker, Ardenza, Donegall Park Avenue, Belfast. My Great Grandfather Charles Joseph Barker b. 21 March 1844 in Dublin, was the immediate older brother of Samuel Lindsay Bucknall Barker b. 27 September 1846 in Dublin. The father of both the aforementioned, the Reverend Joseph Barker, subsequent to their respective births, was Rector of Achill from 1852 to 1871, and involved with the controversial Achill Mission Colony in Co. Mayo. Ernest Lindsay Bucknall Barker is noted in part on the Register "...Professor of Pastoral Theology, T.C.D., 1934-40 and 1944-48. Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, 1939, and Treasurer of the Cathedral,1952. Rector of Holy Trinity, Killiney,Co. Dublin." I am seeking any information relating to the Barker Family dead or living, and should there be any living descendants of same I would very much welcome and invite contact...Best Regards from Havelock North, Aotearoa, New Zealand

My maternal Great Grandmother was the younger sister of Mary Eliza Dunscomb O'Shea - having previously had a business as a Merchant in Algoa Bay, South Africa, James O'Shea emigrated to New Zealand in early 1865, where he and Mary married in Wellington, New Zealand on 25 February, 1868.

A possibility has emerged that James O'Shea may have been previously married and had a son Nicholas O'Shea from that earlier union - it is known that Nicholas O'Shea died in Lower Hutt, New Zealand on 24 September, 1885 aged 27/28 years (location of birth 1857/1858 not known) and was a son of "...Mr James O'Shea, a merchant of Old Customhouse Street, Wellington, New Zealand." (as was written in article relating to the death of a grandaughter of Mr. James O'Shea, which appeared in the Hutt News of 30 March, 1938).

An article in the Star Newspaper of 12 October, 1896 under the Headline 'Death of an Ex-New Zealander' recorded "...the death of Mr James O'Shea, an old and much-esteemed erstwhile Wellington resident, which took place at Port Elizabeth (South Africa) on August 25..." - the article further reads "...about seven years ago he left with his family for Buenos Ayres to commence life anew in the Argentine. He was but a very short time there when the revolution broke out...Soon after the cessation of actual hostilities, Mr O'Shea, not being familiar with or relishing these interruptions to business, left the Argentine for Port Elizabeth, where he had, prior to his settlement in New Zealand, carried on an extensive business as a wool merchant..."

A daughter Marie Marguerita O'Shea born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1873 passed away in Pretoria, South Africa on 9 March, 1922 - it seems likely she had been twice married to Frederick Arthur Allen firstly, then latterly to Henry Gray.

What is presently unknown by the writer is the location or date of the passing of Mary Eliza Dunscombe O'Shea, and enlightenment accordingly would be appreciated...

Similarly any information relating to the aforementioned O'Shea family members, or contact with living relatives of same would be very much welcomed...

Kind Regards           

By paternal bloodlines David McLean and Elizabeth Johanna McLean (nee May) are my Grandparents - they were married at St Paul's Church in the Parish of Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex, London, on 13 August, 1905...

David and Elizabeth emigrated to New Zealand, I understand arriving in Lyttelton late 1907 or early 1908 where David was subsequently employed as a Diver by the Lyttelton Harbour Board - my advice from a Family source is that Elizabeth was pregnant whilst on board ship with May Evelyn born 1908 following their arrival in New Zealand; subsequent children were John David (born 1909), my Father Alan (born 1911) and Robert (born 1914), all of whom are by now deceased...

What is as yet undiscovered by me is the name of the Ship that David and Elizabeth Johanna McLean sailed to New Zealand on, and any information accordingly or guidance otherwise as to where I might search would be very much appreciated...           

By paternal bloodlines my Grandfather was David McLean apparently born in County Tyrone and aged 33 years when my Father Alan McLean was born in Lyttelton, New Zealand on 26 September, 1911...

David McLean married Elizabeth Johanna May at St Paul's in the Parish of Whitechapel, Middlesex on 13 August, 1905 - David's Father is named as 'Robert McLean - Platelayer' on the certified copy of the Marriage Certificate I have to hand...

David and Elizabeth emigrated to New Zealand on a Ship which as yet goes unidentified by the writer arriving in Lyttelton New Zealand in 1908 - their first child of four May Evelyn McLean was born in 1908...

It is appreciated I am likely 'looking for a needle in a haystack' but any information relating to Robert and David McLean in or about County Tyrone 1877/78 would be most appreciated; similarly information on the Ship the McLeans emigrated to New Zealand on (I am told Elizabeth was pregnant with their first born at the time) would be most appreciated, or otherwise advice as to where I may search seeking any available historical information...

David, Elizabeth Johanna and May Evelyn McLean are buried in a common grave at Karori Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand...

Regards to All