Thomas Johnson, New Zealand

[tedbob]

Trying to locate information on my GGGGrandfather Thomas Johnson.
He married Kristiania Krisjohnston in Christchurch, New Zealand on 23rd June 1873, both were 21 years of age.
Believe they both migrated to Australia, when unknown, but Kristiania became a Naturalized Australian on 2nd August 1909, she was origionally Norwegian and would have arrived in N>Z around 1868 after being denied landing in Australia at which time she was believed to have been 16 yrs of age,  worked in N.Z as a domestic according to Marriage Certificate.
He may have even been an English migrant to N.Z?
Have many pictures of her and other information but only one possible photograph I believe to be Thomas Johnson.
Hopefully there is someone out there who can help me with this family puzzle, cannot find any obvious Death records in Australia for him but his name being so common makes it very difficult.
Here's hoping,
Ed Munro

[AMBLY]

Hi Ed
Re: Thomas JOHNSON
Where is Australia were he & Kristiana last known to be -  do you have a death for her? What were names of some of their children?

On the NZ marriage record, does it give any indication of his background/parentage? What was his occupation at marriage?

The JOHNSON part of your post should be on the Emigrants board I think, and probably Australia to start with

Cheers
AMBLY

[tedbob]

Hi Ambly,
               Thomas Johnson I cannot find on Australian records (death) anywhere no matter how I look.
The only thing on the Marriage Cert is that it was Registered in Christchurch and that he was a labourer.
Christiania Krisjonhston, his wife died in Geelong, Victoria in 1943, was born in Christiania (Oslo) in 1853, they had one known child, my Great Grandmother Sarah Ann Elizabeth Johnson who was born in N.Z and thats as much as I know to date.
Unfortunatly Thomas Johnson is such a common name it makes it difficult, he may have even been English and migrated to N.Z, who knowns at this stage.
Regards Ed Munro

[tedbob]

Hi again Ambly,
                           Just thought I better mention that in the first post I put Christiania as Kristiania but it is with a "C"
Thanks Ed

[Infobunny]

Hi Ed,

Okay, how's this.  Your Christiana Johnston is buried in Geelong Eastern Cemetery as Christiana Johnson (subtle but important difference) on 28 July 1943.  In the Geelong Cemetery Trust website clicking on either Christiana's name or her register number 19664 brings up the map of her gravesite and at the bottom of the screen lists who else is in the grave.

Lo and behold there is a Thomas Johnson (the misspelling maybe why he has been so hard to find).  He was 47 when he died and was buried (or died) on 15 December 1899.  His register number is 5202.  Both of them are buried in the Church of England section of the cemetery.

If you need more you would be best served to contact the Geelong Cemetery Trust directly or apply to the relevant Victorian State government agency for the death certificate.

Sweet as.

Bunny 

[tedbob]

Bunny, you are a champion. I knew Christiana was in Geelong
 Eastern Cemetery but couldn't get it up on the net, could be wrong but by memory thought it said they were'nt online but seems they are, cannot thank you enough as I could not find anything on dear old Tommy
Regards Ed

[Infobunny]

No worries Ed,

You'll find them on www.gct.net.au.  Choose the 'Research' tab and then go to 'Deceased Search'.  The instructions are vital!  You should download the software that the site uses to give you the cemetery maps as this could be the key to your proof (that's instruction number 1).

After you have done that and go to do your search (at the top of the page of instructions) make sure you have read instruction number 3 first - tells you how to search.  Stops you wasting time.

You can choose Geelong Eastern Cemetery (or not) but the key is in the name.  To find Christiana I used 'Johns%' in the surname and 'Chris%' in the given names to allow for all options within reason.  This will bring up Christiana.  Click on her surname or register number and if you have downloaded the software you will see the map showing two 'Johnson's' in the gravesite.  On the bottom right of the screen you will see the names.  However you will have to completely reperform the search to pull up Thomas' details.  The map screen tells you he was 47 but doesn't give you the date which will appear on the previous screen when you get your search results.

Phew!!!  With any luck you will be able to see it for yourself.

Cheers

Bunny

[tedbob]

Thanks Bunny, Have been trying to get in but getting knowhere, will give it another go now
Regards Ed

[tedbob]

Hi Bunny, Got the same again their site must be done just keeps telling me page cannot be displayed, will try again shortly.
You seem quite in touch with the rootschat siteI'm still having a bit of trouble finding my way around.
Where abouts are you located, just facinated where these messages come from, we are just out of Melbourne
Regards Ed