Thread: New Zealand archives look ups

I work very close to the New Zealand Archives in Wellington.



I'm happy to do look ups for people who think their relatives emigrated in New Zealand from the early colony days to c1920 to find out shipping information, and some limited marriage searches.



Also, if you do a search at www.archway.archives.govt.nz and find a archived item relating to your relative, such as a war record, I can request it and provide you with the details if it is held at the Wellington Archive.



Karin

Hi Karin, Are you still able to Wellington Archives look ups? If you are, I have found a pioneer ancestor's Will noted on the Archway site and was wondering if you would be able to kindly look it up if I give you the details.



The information is as follows:



Title: Frederick BRIGHT .....years 1900 - 1900

Agency: AAOM

Series: 6029

Box/Item: 123

Record: 6847



Record Location:

Archives New Zealand, National Office, Wellington

P.O. Box 12-050

10 Mulgrave Street, Wellington



Frederick was born 1833 Roxwell, Essex and emigrated to N.Z. in 1857 on the 'Indian Queen' with his family. He died 11 February 1900 in Otaki, New Zealand.



If you are able to do a look up for me, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the kind offer!!



Kind regards,



Jill

Calgary, Canada

The will was rather long and I had limited time so I haven't transcribed the content, rather drawn out key information and any information that may give you clues about the rest of the family, in case you don't already have full information about them.



The will was signed on 17 May 1899 and witnessed by two solicitors. His wife, Mary Ann Bright, and son Frederick Horton Bright were the designated executors and trustees of the estate. His son, Frederic's, name was mis-spelt Frederick throughout the will which is noted on accompanying probate records.



He leaves all money in cash and current accounts to his wife, from which debts and funeral and testamentary expenses should be paid, and then the remainder given to his wife for her own use. He also left her all the furniture, books, plate, linen, glass, china and other household effects and chattels.



His wife is permitted to reside in and occupy his dwelling house situate upon his Kaingaraki property until her death.



100 hundred pounds went to his son Frederick and 200 pounds to Mary Ann Clara Daniel, wife of Edwin Thomas Daniel of the city of Wellington, NZ, tobaconist.



His son Arthur Allen Bright receives all the Kaingaraki property and Frederick receives land in the Waitohu Flat. Fredrick and Arthur are made tenants in common for other Waitohu and Rekereke property. The sheep on all properties are to be split equally between them.



All other property is left to the trustees to sell for investment or rent for periods between 1 and 21 years. They are entrusted to manage it as they wish, but the investments need to be arranged as a trust that pays his wife an annual income during her life.



Any left over money after his wife's death is to be split between his children, Frederick, Arthur, Mrs Mary Ann Clara Daniel, Mrs Frances Maud Ferguson and Mrs Susannah Brown - or in the event of his children's deaths to their children as if they had been alive.



I hope this is of interest.

Hello Karin,



Thank you so much for taking the time to look up the Will for me and the information that you took from it has helped a lot in building up the picture of his life! Also, it has answered a question, confirming who his children were. I had an 'extra' female child with the family when she in fact belonged to James Bright, Frederic's brother instead.



Thank you again for offering to help!



Very best wishes,



Jill

Hello Karin,

If you are still able to do look-ups at Wellington Archives would you please be so kind to look-up 2 World War 1 records for me?



Title: George Belcher - WW1 28655 - Army - Years: 1914-1918

Agency: AABK

Series: 18805

Accession: W5520

Box/Item: 69

Record: 0013377



Title: John Belcher - WW1 32116 - Army - Years: 1914-1916

Agency: AABK

Series: 18805

Accession: W5520

Box/Item: 69

Record: 0013380



Many thanks

Notebook

Notebook



I'll order these records next time I visit The Archives - probably this week - but note that military records can take around 3 weeks. I'll get back to you when I've got information for you.



Karin

Hello Karin,



Thank you so much, but there's no rush as I've had the info off the web site for some time now and then you "pop up" and very kindly offer to do look-ups which is absolutely great.



Many thanks

Notebook

Hi Karin and thanks for your generous offer.



I would be very grateful if you could look up and pass on details from the following record held at Wellington:



Maori War Series files

Title: Atcherley, Henry Mount L

Years: no date - no date

Agency: AD

Series: 32

Box/item: 43

Record: 2116



Many thanks,



Steve

"I'm happy to do look ups for people who think their relatives emigrated in New Zealand from the early colony days to c1920 to find out shipping information, and some limited marriage searches.

"

Hi Karin, I'm looking for shipping information on John William Lawson & his daughter Jane ,who came to live in NZ, from England, c1913.

Thanks, Tom

Atcherley



I've viewed Henry Mount Langton Atcherley's Maori War Record. All forms and letters in the file refer to the application for a war medal, but some information can be gleaned from them.



The first record was a New Zealand Colonial Forces form of application for a NZ War Medal. The form was completed on 8 June 1870 and Henry Atcherley's address at the time was Opitika, Bay of Plenty. He was a sargeant in the Opitika Volunteer Players at this time.



The application asked for the period of services in the field, place and date when the claimant ws actually under fire or conspiciously distinguished himself. The completed information as follows: 18 August 1863 to 18 December 1866 at Te Ranga, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. 21st June 1864 plus 13 skirmishes. 14 times under fire.



The application was signed by Phillip Harrington, Lt Colonel, Waikato Regiment.



After this there was a letter written by Atcherly on 14/4/1871 asking for confirmation that the application for the war medal had been submitted by his Lt Colonel.



A later letter from Atcherly on 14 June 1872 was also in the file. This letter is enquiring as to the status of the medal being awarded and informing them that the medal should be sent to Napier.



He must have received his medal eventually as there is no subsequent correspondence until 27 Dec 1894. He applied for a replacement war medal. At this time his address is (I think): Kilministers Cottages, Tinakori Road, Wellington. This form confirms that he was with the 1st Waikato Regiment from 1863 to 1867 and then afterwards with the Volunteer Service. He was a Color Sergeant in the No 2 Company and then later in No 8 Company. A receipt indicated that he did not recieve the medal until 2 April 1897 and he had to pay for the replacement.



I hope this is interesting for you.



Karin