New Zealand Bound Passenger Ship Queries

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NZ Bound Queries 1999

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Why did your ancestors decide to immigrate to NZ? Year? Arrival port in NZ?

Did they return to the Old Country? Or for return for a visit?

Have you succeeded in locating the passenger list? How? Where?

Why? When? Where? If you are inserting remarks regarding ancestors arrival include some details e.g. name, origin, details of arrival and where family first settled in New Zealand. Comments:

Timaru Herald Tuesday March 1889
The s.s. Arawa, which sails for England from Lyttelton, on the 4th prox., already has every berth on the first and second saloon booked by intending passengers. Some may be globe trotters returning Home, but many are colonists who are able to afford "a run Home." We hope they will enjoy themselves, yet be glad to get back again.

No longer posting queries. Use guest book please.

Passenger Ship Queries 2000

Has anyone found the ship Findon or Snow Findon built in 1853?

Marjorie Hall
I have search for my John Dudley who married in Dunedin in January 1881 for many years. He came from London, but I have no idea when he came to New Zealand. He was a carpenter who worked in Dunedin in the 1880's and lived also late 1880's in the Owaka area. He married an Ashmore, related also to Anderton's, Lockharts, Shutts. I would love to find the date and ship of arrival to New Zealand. Any advice.

CELESTIAL QUEEN Stu Davidson NZ 20 June 2000
Looking for info on obtaining a photo, print or any info on this ship. It would be appreciated.

IONIC Corrinne Ryan NZ 2 May 2000
1. Where would I find the shipping list for the 'Ionic' which left Southampton 28 April 1883 and arrived at Lyttelton16 June 1883? I am trying to confirm the arrival of Patrick (and Charles) O'MALLEY.

Newspapers of the day. The Star 16th June 1883 shows the O'Malley men.
Probably Archives New Zealand in Wellington. The Canterbury Library does not have it. Canterbury Museum's Manuscripts Department has indexed the Lyttelton Times passenger lists. Researchers who know a Canterbury passenger's name but not their ship should make first enquiry at the Canterbury Museum.

2. Did the 'Lady Jocelyn' arrive in Lyttelton at any time during 1880? I am trying to confirm the arrival of Eileen (Maryanne and Winifred) SHERIDAN.

The 'Lady Jocelyn' made four voyages to Lyttelton arriving:
Nov 11, 1872
Jan. 21, 1875
Dec. 8, 1879
Dec. 9, 1881

1900s ? vessel Alison Hill NZ 24 March 2000
I am trying to find the ship that my Grandfather came to NZ on from Australia in the early 1900's. His name was Frank G ELLIS but changed his name to HILL we think when arriving here. He would have been abt 18yrs old. He was born in Scotland in 1884 and went to Australia with his parents when he was abt 3 mnths old. He enlisted in the army in 1916 and married Elsie Cole in 1940 and lived in Palmerston North till he died in 1958.

? ss Helen Roy 22 March 2000
I am trying to find Charles and Sarah Hambling nee Prattley and her Family who travelled to N Z on, or if not one of the first steam carrying passenger ships to arrive here around 1884 to 1886 Does any one have a list of passengers for them or can advise where I might find one.

1879 BEBINGTON Kay Bastin UK 21 March 2000
Arrived Wellington December 1879. I'm looking for more information on this ship's passenger list which I believe contains Mary WILSON and Mr WILSON. These could be James and his daughter returning to NZ after his wife died.

1875-1880 ? vessel Paul Stretton AUS 16 March 2000
Trying to find the ship that John Ferguson, his wife Ann and family came to New Zealand on. John Ferguson and Ann Cumming were married in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland 1-10-1858. They had 7 children born in Scotland: George b.1859 Maybole, the eldest child, was married in 1880 in Dunedin in his father's house in Kaikorai. George's sister Agnes was witness. Jeanie Wilson b. 1875 Scotland. Therefore the family must have came to New Zealand, and between 1875--1880. John and Ann would've been in their 30's. They both died in Dunedin: John 1920 aged 80 Ann 1913 aged 76

Paul wrote 24 March: I have discovered that the Ferguson family arrived on 10th December 1879. A relative e-mailed me with the information: Oamaru sailed from Clyde for Otago 10th Dec.1879 arrived 29th March 1880 Port Chalmers. The eldest son George Ferguson and his younger sister Jessie are not in her information.

The Judge family from Dalry Ayrshire were on that boat, and the mother was Rachel nee Ferguson. wrote Merv Judge 2004-11-16

Write to Archives New Zealand in Wellington asking them to check the Passenger Index and also copy of Intention of Marriage Notice for their son George who married in 1880 which would give length of residence. (Each person is allowed one free query each year).

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin. Burial Register
11622 Ann Ferguson, Died 28 April 1913, Age 76 years, Wife,
Resident of Rose Street Roslyn, Born Ayrshire Scotland.
Last came from Scotland. Lived 33 years in NZ.
Buried 30 April 1913. Lot 20-21 Block 84

(This makes arrival about 1880)

12942 John Thomas Ferguson, Died 24 Feb 1920. Aged 80 years. A settler,
Resident of 10 Rose Street, Born Scotland. Lived 40 years in NZ.
Buried 25 Feb 1920. Lot 20-21 Block 84.

(Again this makes arrival about 1880)

The Reference Section of Archives New Zealand accepts reference requests by electronic mail. It would give Length of Residence in Dunedin. Death Certificates states: How long in NZ? (It would only be an approx date).

This is all we could find at the Archives New Zealand in Dunedin.

Ship 'Timaru' Sailed Glasgow 26 July 1876
                          Arrived Port Chalmers 20 Oct 1876

John Ferguson                 27 years Brickmaker Ayrshire
Mrs Agnes Ferguson     23 years
Jessie Ferguson                 5 years
Annie Ferguson                3 years
James Ferguson                1 year

This was only an Index. Passenger List is held at Archives New Zealand in Wellington and it is available through the LDS on Microfilm.

1876 WELLINGTON Rowena Salter AUS 7 March 2000
My grandfather's name was David Cowan Wellington McColl, he was named for the captain (Cowan) and the ship. The only info I've been told is he was born a few days prior to the ship arriving in NZ. I've found the trips the Wellington made, I think the arrival 12/03/1883 into Port Chalmers, would be the closest, as he was born 1st March, year unknown. I have no further info on names, dates,or even when they travelled to Aust. Where would I find that sort of detail? I don't even know if there were other siblings, or his parents trades. DOB 29/01/1876

The voyage is the one which arrived Port Chalmers on 17 March 1876. From the Otago Daily Times the voyage account mentions Mrs McColl giving birth to a son. Also David Cowan Wellington McColl has been registered in the New Zealand Birth Index. 1876 RGO no 779 at Dunedin.

From 1876 NZ Births includes parents Age, Birthplace, father's occupation and mother's maiden name. There could be a surgeon journal for the voyage. It would be worth looking for especially at the Otago Early Settlers Museum for more info.

The Wellington sailed Dec. 18 1875 and arrived Port Chalmers March 17 1876. 88 days port to port. She was a ship of 1250 tons, and she was built by Robert Duncan at Port Glasgow in 1874 for Patrick Henderson, who later amalgamated with the Shaw Savill Company, and it was under the house flag of the company that she made most of her voyages to New Zealand. She made about 19 voyages to New Zealand mainly Port Chalmers and some to Lyttelton during 1875-1893. There is a very good article in White Wings including a photo of Captain Cowan and two photos of the vessel.

White Wings Vol. 1 by Henry Brett page 47
During the 32 years she sailed the ocean, between the day she took the water on the River Clyde and the day she foundered when being towed down to an Argentine port, the ship Wellington had a most adventurous career. In 1904 she was sold by the Shaw Savill co. to S.O. Stray, of Norway, for the low sum of �3150. It was on Dec. 3, 1906 that this craft met her doom. She was being towed from Gulfport, USA to Rosario, Argentine, and had to be abandoned on her beams ends, and afterwards foundered.

?1874 vessel? Denise AUS 7 March 2000
I am looking for information on my g/g/grandparents who would have arrived on South Island approx. 1874. Peter McLean and his wife Agnes (Jamieson) lived around the Timaru area. Had a son John born 1874. Do not know which ship they travelled. Any suggestions on where to look.

Anyone listed on my South Canterbury lookups page will be glad to assist.

1875 LAMMERSHAGEN Corinne Peters 27 Feb. 2000
The LAMMERSHAGEN arrived in Wellington, New Zealand 11 July 1875. My gg grandfather, Peter Hinrich PETERS was a crewman on the ship. He married Auguste SCHRECK (also a passenger on the Lammershagen) in 1876 and they settled in New Plymouth. They had six children. Peter Hinrich PETERS was born 28 April 1852 in Cleve, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Auguste SCHRECK was born 1858? in Dirschau (Prussia?). I am unable to locate Peter Hinrich's parents or siblings. If anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate it.

1875 LAMMERSHAGEN Kathy Cookson NZ 5 Oct 1999
The Lammershagen arrived in Wellington on 11 July 1875. Looking for any information on August and Marie ROSANOWSKY.

another family German migration

1867 vessel? Carolyn CAN 27 Feb. 2000
I'm looking for the ship name arriving N.Z. 1867 from Ireland with passengers Mary Ann Kirk and William Wilkins Ebbett and any related information.

1874 DUNEDIN Val Cameron NZ 3 Feb. 2000
Looking for any info. on the ship DUNEDIN arrived April 1874 in Lyttelton. I am wondering if their is a list of passengers. My family of NIMMO's were on board and I believe several of the children died on the way.

The full rigged clipper ship "Dunedin", 1250 tons, was built in 1874. On her maiden voyage under the command of Capt. Whitson she left England 6 March 1874 and arrived Lyttelton 3 July 1874. A photograph (same photo) in Logs of Log Vol. 2. and White Wings. The Canterbury Public Library does not have the passenger list. Try Archives New Zealand.

This page was last updated on 30 June 2008

Hitting a Brick Wall

So many of our elusive ancestors are hidden under the Brick Wall and do occasionally appear from behind or under. Many of us have met the Brick Wall with our mother then hit a Brick Wall again with our grandmother. We need to know when an ancestor purchased his bit of dirt that the brick wall is sitting on which might lead to a Brick Wall that can be breached. Whenever I get a Brick Wall being knocked down...or even a little crack... I get so excited!!!