The place and year of birth came from her daughter and this was information that her mother gave her. My evidence is from information from National Archives, Auckland, namely the Auckland Industrial School Records, Mt Albert where they list the five Growden children, date of admittance 8 July 1916; they mention the children living with the mother Maud Growden of Papakura before admission into the Industrial School. Maud's circumstances are considered "poor and destitute". The father Ernest Edward Haskell alias Ernest Edward Reade, character bad, basically he was up before the Court for deserting Maud and children leaving them totally unprovided for. At the insistence of the Charitable Aid Board the four eldest, boys, were sent to the Mt Albert Industrial School and later 'fostered' out. The surname of Growden was to be adopted by the children. Doris Reta (sp?) Growden was only mentioned once in the documents as eight months old and sister to the boys.
On 14 July 1923, Ernest, Maud and Doris left NZ bound for Melbourne on board the SS Moeraki. They travelled under the surname of Reynolds, Ernest adopting the name William Edward Reynolds, one of the names he continued to use in NSW and Victoria. As far as we are aware they never returned to NZ although a couple of the sons did go over to visit.
Doris married and died in Australia.
This is the 'shortened' version of the story.
Regards
Yvonne
Hi Yvonne,
No birth records are held at Pukekohe, only the Birth Microfiche. Unfortunately with the 100 year rule the birth can't be checked on line. Have you looked two/three years after the birth year? Some births were never registered.
What evidence have you that she was supposed to have been born in the Pukekohe area.?
Was the court case to do with an adoption or divorce.? We just need a bit more information to be able to help you locating the birth.
Cheers
KHP
