Town Clerk of Milton Clutha circa 1866 to 1886

[dragonlady403]

Hi my 3rd gr grandfather was the Town Clerk for Milton.  He held the position until he died in 1886, when it was taken over by one of his sons.

Given that Thomas Brookes (sometimes spelled Brooks) was a fairly prominent person in the area I am wondering if there is a likelihood of the town or a local museum having photos of him and or his family?  His wife was Isabella Johnston. 

Could anyone point me in the right direction to find out more about this possibility?

Thanks in advance (as always!)
Regards, Carol

[AbbyKatNZ]

http://www.balcluthagenealogy.org.nz/
The Balclutha group are very helpful so may be able to assist with your query.

[Glenda46]

Hi again. I have the phone number of a VERY knowledgable man in Clutha will give it to you when I email the other information... think he is the curator of the museum...

[alamar]

Carol, I found this on our PapersPast site and the Nat Library. It is of a Thomas Brooks dated 30 Mar 1898. Comes from the Otago Witness and is your man. It's quite grainy as early press photos were

http://natlib.govt.nz/items?il%5Bcategory%5D=Images&page=1&text=thomas+brookes&utf8=%E2%9C%93

The photo appears on page 15 but the paragraph about him is on page 11

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18980331.1.77&e=-------10--1----0--

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18980331.1.81&e=-------10--1----0--

Contains a potted history of his arrival and his activities and family.

Alan

[alamar]

A further suggestion Carol. According to the above article Mr Brookes was in Dunedin in 1848 and that is the year of Dunedin's founding. I recalled that the Otago Early Settlers Museum literally has walls dedicated to photos of its earliest inhabitants. Take a look.

http://www.toituosm.com/collections/smith-gallery

They might be in a position to help you.

Alan

[dragonlady403]

Thanks everyone.. I really appreciate the help.

AbbyKatz - I will check out that Balclutha group. Something new may turn up.

Glenda I look forward to seeing the new info!

Alan that's fantastic!  Thanks for those links and yes I will follow up with the Settlers Museum. It will also be interesting to see what I can find on his wife Isabella Johnston's family as well

Regards Carol

[SignalHill]

Obituary of Isabella    Papers Past > Bruce Herald > 2 July 1917

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=BH19170702.2.27&cl=search&srpos=123&e=-------100-BH%2CCL%2CESD%2CME%2CMTBM%2CODT%2COW-101-byDA-on--0Isabella+Brookes--

Signal

[alamar]

Now that is a cracker of an obituary. Wish I coul find the same for some of mine. Well done Signal.

Alan

[SignalHill]

Maybe you should shift to Milton where your true worth would be instantly recognised along with all your family and connections !