RootsChat.Com

thanks for the info Luc.  I had noticed the Harriet Mason as well and now that you say she was registered in Wellington but as you say the child may NOT have been hers no way of knowing.  I asked on the Derybshire list for some sight of mary Ann Marshall b c1832 and had a reply from a guy that found the same census ref I did - daughter of a JOHN Marshall.  there is no other that fits anywhere close .  Kilbourne which is only a hope skip and a jump from Alfreton as well where she married. Trying to find her baptism as wel. 1851 census is a bit more difficult as the only Mary ANn Marshall there is aservant aged 18 and personally I think the age descrepancy is a bit much. 1841 they usually rounded up or down and in 1841 they noted her as age 12 (doesnt sound rounded up OR down to me) so at 18 in 1851 a 6 year 'gap' seems a bit much.   So working on it     thanks again for your help and I am thinking that the John Middleton Legget connection is a bit far out as I cant see mary Ann being in Wanganui- but you never know. cheers again

Hi agin Luc found Ruth Lindner death and burial so have sent for her death reg and hope that it gives some more information.  cheers

Hi Luc - yippee, bingo, yay and all that jazz
Yes it is my Mary Ann. Nothing in the card index but we local genealogists have of course noted all the local headstones for all public and church cemeteries.  So got out the big book for Linwood and the first Mason was Marshall John who died aged 2 as you correctly found. Next one not her but the next one was and here is what is said.  Mary Ann Mason wife of John Mason late of Wellington !!! (hows that for confirmation??) d 7 Feb 1897 age 66 also her grandson William Alfred son of William and Ruth Douglas died 30 Jul 1915 age 39.  Believe it or not I had this death noted in my notebook from way back and got sidetracked.  I had also noted Marshall John Mason because of the name so had him definitely.  Yes William and Ellen  must have been here in Christchurch because Marshall was born here 21 May 1894/ They sure got around they were married in Napier in 1884 and they were in Auckland in 1918 as that is their address when notified that their eldest son William was killed in WWI.  I have for sure only a further 2 daughters Ada and Lavinia.  I havent actually looked for their deaths yet.   Then went across the road to Archives and read the Will for James Lindner.  He left all to "my dear wife" Ruth Lindner for her use absolutely though she to take care of buildings and property in her lifetime. Then he left it all to his nephew Percy Watts of Auckland (Percy was also his executor) so he obviously didnt have any children of his own and I presume it is our Ruth Mason he is referring too?  All in all a VERY successful morning, then went and had lunch with a friend for his birthday so full to the brim as well       I have already sent away for Mary Ann's death reg I really hope her parents and place of birth are noted.  I will digest the other bits you have sent me and try and get them into a timeline for fitting in and see what becomes of that.  Again you have been marvellous and I cant thank you enough for your help. cheers from a horrendously wet North Canterbury (forecast said showers and sunshie !!) another Tui ad 

Hi Luc, yes she really must have had an awful time but do you think it is her that they talk about as having a house of ill repute? I have a sneaky suspicion that it just might be.  I wonder if she lost all the children mind you by 1877 the older ones were getting old enough and maybe that is why our Helena ended up in Napier??? she may have gone to her older brother William who was married and living in Napier. Wm and his wife were witneses at Helena's marriage. There is also a son Robert (the youngest) but dont know what happened to him as yet. 
Okay maybe this time we have sorted them out.  Its a bit of a giggle really because when I first started researching this family Mary Ann MASON's burial was one of the first I looked at because all the rest of the family seemed to come from ChCh (they were VERY early arrivals here) so thought that she might be in the family then of course found the Wellington connection and low and behold she just might be a connection after all?? full circle maybe??  I follow you on the James Donnelly/Mary ANn thing and like you say why didnt he marry someone called Stephanie or something  would have made it so much easier to unravel it all.  I cant thank you enough for your help there is no way I could have done this without your assistance. I will let you know what I find at the Library and Archives - cheers

See my previous post and yes you could be right I will certainly be checking it out next week the Ruth is very interesting.  Hopefully the cards will have th einformation we are looking for keep your fingers crossed.