Early NZ? birth help please Cooke/Cook

[mare]

Hi all

I am hoping one of you kind folk would be able to assist in my search for William Robert Cooke. I have been working back through certificates ordered from BDM Wellington but after a second lot of searching unable to locate.

I discovered a site where someone* (*sorry unable to acknowledge, beginner mistake, didn't take enough jottings)    had posted a microfiche search listing for NZ BDM for Cooke. I was unable to open the marriage list but was able to search both the births and deaths. I was able to find William's son ( born later than expected) in 1901 which was helpful as there was no-one to ask and I didn't really know where to start as no family records.

 When I ordered the birth printout it led me to the father William Robert Cooke aged 35 years at son's birth July 1901 and very pleased to find the Marriage date NZ and his birth stated as Brighton New Zealand. I asked for birth search for 1866  and a year each side. Helpful to have a correct name as he was only referred to as Charlie. Ordered one for William's wife stated age 34 at son's birth and also born in NZ and happily that worked out for 1867. Couldn't find William"s birth 1865-1867.

On William and Emma's marriage printout also ordered he has gained an extra forename, William Robert Martin Cooke marriage 29 June 1895, but curiously has lost some years as has Emma, now both aged 26 years. They may have assumed they were the same age (and lost track of time) I asked for a search for 1868 - 1870 but still not located.

BDM suggests that possibly his birth was not registered at the time. Brighton NZ clearly on son's printout but just Brighton on marriage, so perhaps not Brighton NZ.

Hopefully I've posted enough clues, unable to pad it out much more actually.

Any help greatly appreciated thanks, due to work constraints I am unable to search any public records at this time. Appreciate it is a stressful time of year so the Cooke hunt can wait until the Christmas cooking is done

[mare]

Hi again
 
Besides forgetting to sign my name I didn't put in William's parents names as on marriage printout.
Father was Aner Cooke ( unusual name which William also gave his son )
Mother Char.....? Cooke ( modified on printout maiden name Smart)
Can't read mother's first name loose and faint letters

Thanks again

Mare

[Lucy2]

Hi Mare   ...   and Welcome     

Mmmm ... lots of information, but am I correct in thinking, you're just trying to find the birth of William Robert COOK / COOKE  ?

Yes, Brighton could be Brighton "anywhere" ?

OK  ... some more details needed.

*   1895 marriage of William and Emma - where did this take place ?     (Marriage witnesses  ....  ? COOK/COOKE )

*   1901 - the son was born where ?

*   Any idea where William and Emma lived ?

*   Have you got a death date / death place for William or Emma ?

Lu

[Infobunny]

Hi Mare,

I think this is what you're looking for.  Took less than three mins to fine on google.  I can't make it work as our computer is a bit bung but you should have hours of fun.

http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/gretasplace/Resources/NZBDMs.html

Just call it an early Christmas present 

Cheers
Bunny

[mare]

Quite right Bunny

  That's exactly the site I was on Thanks

Mare

[mare]

Hi Lu

I watched my reply to you post off but it seems to have disappeared

Mare

[mare]

Hello Lu
How lovely to come home from a long work day to a reply and a welcome.  

Sorry my first request sketchy on the detail you have requested, I thought it was already a bit wordy

To fill you in on a little detail and circumstance.

Aner Charles Cooke born New plymouth  NZ 28.7.1901 (recent information gathered) I had very little knowledge of Aner, for nearly 40 years wondered about the first name and where it may have come from, he wasn't a household name though due to marriage breakup. I married his oldest grandchild and regrettably we didn't make an effort to find him before his death 1.10.1976. Discovered that death info recently on Purewa cemetery site, age unknown.

Aner had 3 daughters ( one still living but scant info ) eldest daughter died this year, 1923-2007. We have uncovered a couple of treasures in the form of war photo and letter and a good civilian photo. Really wanting some background of him for his descendants and not offending anyone doing it now.

So gathered Aner birth record New Plymouth NZ 1091 death Auckland NZ and his marriage record 28 Feb 1923 Auckland NZ dissolved 11.8.1953. There is a witness to his marriage Madge Cooke, Takapuna Auckland NZ probable sister  had only heard of a brother with 'no name' as yet!

William Robert Martin Cooke/Cook? and Emma  Allen/Allan marriage New Plymouth New Zealand 29.6.1895 Henui Church,witnesses appear to be her parents.

William and Emma must have been living in New Plymouth from their marriage in 1895 to son Aner's birth there in 1901 but anymore than that unknown at present.

Without a chance to go out searching and relying on cert. info. I was hoping someone with more research knowledge than myself might give me a helpful lead or have resources to explore. I have a little credit with BDM Wellington and happy to go there again if I can narrow down a search area. My options there at the moment are to try  1864 and 1871. Any suggestions most welcome. I did hear that William became Superintendent at Napier Prison, don't know years (prison now a hostel I believe) his occupation on Aner's birth is stated as Chief Warden.

I haven't found any deaths other than Aner, all dates are new and interesting, and for New Zealand 1860's fairly 'early'.  I do have an 1842 arrival on my own tree. Have found no shipping lists to match Cooke/cook and have trawled through a lot of on line lists.

Thanks
Mare

[mare]

Sorry about that Lu

All new to me

"found" it sitting in preview

Was going to blame blimmin' Christmas post

Mare

[mare]

Hello

All google eyed Only another quick scan on BDM index Bunny highlighted.

I have great difficulty opening them up. We 'sent' the Cooke ones to the 3rd computer and able to look at births and deaths after heaps of attempts but not the marriage one. Sorry  still to go through Cook, may find 'moment' to do that tonight though will be much later home.

Was hoping to find William's father Aner on death index, at least the name stands out.. but it didn't to me.. only the son Aner. If I can find William born here then that will help find more info for census lookups for his parents. William's dad Aner occupation stated as Veterinary surgeon at William's marriage.

Secretly hoping by some miracle there may be another branch of this early NZ family if William had siblings born here.   Calling all Cookes (Cooks?) 

Mare
Should be getting more organised for busy day