65th Regiment of foot

[spades]

Hi Vern,

The only medal I can think of would be the New Zealand Medal for service in this country.

Might 'James' have been John CONWAY of the 65th?

Did they marry in New Zealand?

Spades

[spades]

Interesting 

In Reply#10 above you mention the marriage of Mary Jane SWEENEY to James CONWAY in 1867.

I can see an 1870 marriage of a Mary Jane BROOKS to John CONWAY.

The latter seems to solve your mystery.

Spades

[spades]

Were you referring to this article noting the death of James CONWAY of the 65th?
Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1916, Page 11
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pqk/

I'm wondering if they got his name wrong.

NZBDM have him as James, though. Age 76 at death, therefore born c'1840.

Spades

[Vern Lack]

Hi Spades
My article was in the Evening Post of 11 Aug 1916.
I could only find a John Conway of the three Conway’s  in the 65’s medal list. No James.
I had already discounted the MJ Brooks marriage to John Conway of 1870 as Mary and James 1st child was born 1868 the year following the marriage of  Sweeney & Brooks.
Sweeney & Brooks marriage NZBMD 1867/5749
 Interesting about his death  as Te Henui burials have Conway’s age at 79 death 8/8/1916
One of the problems of research unfortunately. Which authority do you believe?

Vern

[spades]

Hi Vern,

Neither! Do you have facsimiles of the 1867 marriage certificate (I appreciate that the details are sparse in these early ones), the birth certificate of one or both of the known children to the couple, or CONWAY's death certificate? One or all should help a great deal.

If you do have them could you please post transcriptions here.

Spades

[Vern Lack]

Hi Spades
Unsure what happened to my previous reply but it appears to have disappeared.
First I don't have the certificates you asked about but will transcribe details as soon as I get them.

The baptism record listed on ancestry.com has an error for Thomas Brooks. It was entered as Tom but is actually for a Timothy Brooks. The entry is a little fuzzy at the beginning of the line but is more Tim  than Tom. and at the end of the entry it is clearly Timothy Brooks.It was confirmed by Irish Genealogy.ie.

Having just received the death certificate of Sarah Ann Bailey nee Brooks I now have confirmed her parents names. It's funny but all Mary Jane Sweeney (Brooks) children's baptism records from Ireland  show the mother as Mary only. The same as her wedding records. No mention of Mary Jane.

Is there anywhere the details of  the family that was shipped with each soldier of the 65th and of the birth of any children whilst serving in NZ are listed.

Vern

[spades]

Hi Vern,

RootsChat has been experiencing technical issues for the past few days so your earlier reply might have been a victim.

I can't see any records on NZ BDM online, suggesting that the parents didn't register the births of the children. That could be for several reasons; money,too busy, isolation and distance from a registrar, etc. That would leave church records but most aren't online. Unlikely to be reported in contemporary newspapers as BDM notices for that period are not common, unlike today.

Spades

[spades]

Hi Vern,

On a recent visit to Puke Ariki I came across a resource which mentions both Thomas BROOKS and a James CONWAY, both of the 65th.

I’ll post the information later this evening.

Spades

[spades]

Hi Vern,

Here are the records. I hope they help.

Source: Imperial Regiment Army Discharges
Title: Arc 2002-199: Great Britain Army, Imperial Regiments, Discharges.
Original documents and transcript held by Puke Ariki, New Plymouth.
From typed  transcript:
Surname: BROOKS
Other Name: Thomas
Reg. No.: -
Rank: Private
Unit: 65th Regt
Discharge Date: 17-Jan-63
Engagement: Limited engagement term
Town discharged: New Plymouth
Reason Discharged: Intends settling in Taranaki
Character: Good
Certificate date: 07-Feb-63
Certificate: Captain GRESSON
Application Date: 09-FEB-63
Notes: Two Good Conduct Badges. Died 25 Dec 1865. Deceased left a will, all to his wife.

Source: Imperial Regiment Army Discharges
Title: Arc 2002-199: Great Britain Army, Imperial Regiments, Discharges.
Original documents and transcript held by Puke Ariki, New Plymouth.
From typed  transcript:
Surname: CONWAY
Other Name: James
Reg. No.: -
Rank: Private
Unit: 65th Regt
Discharge Date: 16-Sep-64
Engagement: -
Town discharged: -
Reason Discharged: -
Character: Good
Certificate date:
Certificate: Lt A.H. LEWIS
Application Date: 13-Oct-64
Notes: Retired on furlough, dated 16 Sep 1864, pending the arrival of his certificate of Discharge.