Brick Wall Smith

[Possum 26]

Hi not sure where to post this But I have a mighty brick wall I hope someone can help me and id be so grateful
Nicholas SMITH on  his death cert. states born Italy nothing else except parents Nicholas and Louisa nee Jones  He died in 1894 in NZealand I found ship from Victoria he had arrived in 1864 to NZealand I contacted the genealogical society in Italy and they could not help me ... Smith is not an Italian name [I know this] I thought they might have registered Nicholas as Nicholas [sr] was a seaman I tried looking at shipping in England but did not know where to start..... [the same as victorian records] I been unable to find an arrival into Victoria for any of the above where do i go next ?i feel I'm banging my head as I just don't know where to look now
thanks sandee

[sillgen]

Did he marry?    Marriage certificates often have useful information on.  Who registered his death?   Children's names are often a clue.  When was he born?  How did he get to Victoria?
The records for seamen are at Kew - the main record office in England - but a name like Nicholas Smith with no place is going to be very hard. 
Have you tried searching the marriages for Nicholas and Louisa?  They are free on www.ancestry.com but again the common names will not help.
Good luck!
Andrea

[meles]

Born in Italy? Not on the way to New Zealand, I assume, as the canal was not built. Were there ships that went a very long way round?

Well, unless the parents were wealthy, not on holiday.

Perhaps it was work. Maybe he was a sailor. I wonder what else he could have been doing there?

Her parents were Italian maybe? Visiting them before going to NZ?

First born, therefore born within a year or two of the marriage.

Just some ideas that might help.

meles

[Rena]

There's a seaman, SMITH James N. - 1854 shown on www.nationalarchives.gov.uk  if that's any use to you.

Rena

[Possum 26]

thanks for some leads
I cannot see who registered the death in 1894 ..it look like the local undertaker
I don't know how he got to Victoria??
There is no information on the wedding cert.. [Jan 30 1864 Dunedin] .... he signed with an X under Nichol.
I asked if her parents could be Italian but the soc. I wrote to said Impossible Jones is not Italian ... they were not very helpful i must say!
The first female child was named after the mother Louisa the first male is John [perhaps names after the grandfather?]
any more leads ill look up the marriages at ancestry anything is worth a go thanks guys Sandee

[meles]

Good luck! Do let us know if you get any more clues - we'd be happy to help.

meles

[Possum 26]

i just spent ages going in circles round ancestry.com i found one lady who had a Nicholas smith in Italy, Marietta from Georgia USA but cannot contact as I'm not a member alas. i don't think we are the same line but she may have helped ..... Sandee

[liverpool annie]

I know how it feels Sandee ...........

I have a Sicilian sailor who anglescised his name !!  but the English name is not an exact translation !!

I would keep digging into the New Zealand records .... post this on the New Zealand board also .... somebody may be able to give you a different direction to go !!

You might try here ...........

The NZ National Archives site http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/SimpleSearch.

Don't give up ..... miracles happen !! 

[nanny jan]

Going back to square 1; how clear is "Italy" on the death cert? Wonder if someone mis-heard?

Nanny Jan