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Does anybody know how or where to look up records for NZ? I am trying to trace the family of my great-uncle Harold Nicholson. I know he sailed to Sydney in 1902, aged 21. From a photo in the family collection he went to NZ to farm and married a Joan. He was single when he left UK. I am trying to find records to find out where in NZ he went. There are too many Nicholsons to write to, to find out!!
Many thanks
Daphne

This site may be able to help you:

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search/Search.aspx?Path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dbirths

NZ BMD online
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Home/

NZ newspapers online
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast

Thanks very much both of you. I'll give them a go.

I have the NZ marriage records through to 1956 on disc and there is no Harold Nicholson married to a Joan.

There is a Harold Nicholson that died in 1959 aged 78 giving his birth year about 1881 which would be about right.

There are no children born with a father named Harold Nicholson - checked up to today's date 1910 - we can only check from 100 years ago back.

Persey

Thanks Persephone. The death record sounds about right. Does it say where he died as I have no idea what area they were in. Have had another look at the photo of his wife and it says Judy (Judith?) not Joan!! I'm surprised there are no children. I have a photo of a girl written to her Aunt (my great grandmother) saying from the Nicholsons. Harold's siblings didn't have any children...apart from my great grandfather of course!!
Any help on tracking Harold's whereabouts would be hugely appreciated. His father was Thomas Dickinson Nicholson if that is of any help.

Our BMD does not give the area died - you have to buy a certificate for that.

I will search through the cemetery records but we cannot access them all. I spend a lot of time at grave sites looking for the departed.

Can't find a Judith or Judy married to Harold either.

Persey

Cemetery and Cremation Result

Surname NICHOLSON
First Names HAROLD
Gender Male
Occupation FARMER
Address 50 QUEEN STREET LEVIN
Denomination Not Known
Age at Death 78Y
Date of Death 19/04/1959
Place of Death Palmerston NorthPUBLIC HOSP
Date of Cremation 21/04/1959
Warrant Type CREMATION
Cemetery Kelvin Grove Cemetery & Crem

I think he married Hilda, take a look at this.

Surname NICHOLSON
First Names HILDA
Gender Female
Occupation WIDOW
Address 50 QUEEN STREET LEVIN
Denomination Not Known
Age at Death 76Y
Date of Death 13/03/1961
Place of Death AMARA HOSPITAL LEVIN
Date of Cremation 15/03/1961
Warrant Type CREMATION
Cemetery Kelvin Grove Cemetery & Crem


In the marriage records there is a Harold Scott Nicholson married in 1909 to a Hilda Ellen Kelsey

Can't be sure as there are no middle names either in the cemetery records or the death records. I just checked all the women in the same cemetery and she came up with the same address.

There are no Nicholson s listed in the phone directory with that address.

Persey xx

Thank you so much for that. It does sound as if it could be right as he did go to NZ to farm.
Where would I buy the death certificate from? It would show me if there were any children wouldn't it? I have found lots of Nichosons in NZ but didn't know where to start!

Have found a source on the above websites! Which would give more detail about family ...the marriage or death certificates?

I once put that up for someone on here I will see if I can find it. I remember having to go and look at my marriage cert and didn't know where it was. LOL
Had to ask my OH. That will never do.

Persey

Sorry thought I had lost it for a moment put it up last June.

Marriage Certificate: when and where married his and her names and ages both professions though sometimes the women's is blank, then Bachelor or widower, Spinster or widow and I think if widow or widower date of former husband or wife Birthplace then residence - sometimes this lists address but more than likely just place like Onehunga (which is a suburb of Auckland) and then father's name and occupation of both bride and groom and Mothers name and maiden surname. Then either the vicar, or registrar's name and a couple of witnesses.

Deceased - these vary a handwritten one would probably have when and where died, name, occupation, cause of death, and often when Doctor last saw deceased, Name and surname of father and mother and profession of father. Some have when and where buried. Deceased's birthplace and how long in New Zealand. Sometimes signature of informant and registrar and date of registration.
On a lot of the typed ones it will list the ages of the children under M and F at the time of deceased's death.
But remember these do vary and particulars are only as good as whoever completed the register form. Often Parish/church ones are better than the Registry.

Persey

Thank you so much for that.
I think I will try the marriage certificate as it is more likely to list the groom's parents. I can then see if it is the Harold Nicholson I am looking for, but it does sound as if it could be.

Dear Persephone
The above details are for the Harold Nicholson that I was looking for! I received the marriage certificate which confirms things. I have also discovered that Joan is their daughter. I can't find any birth records but have found her on two electoral rolls at the Queen St. address and on passenger lists to the Uk with her parents. It appears that she was born in 1914. I am hoping she is still alive, though that would make her in her 90's. Just in case she is not please could you look up any of your cemetery records and see if she has already passsed away. That would be great thanks.
Daphne

HI Daphne

I have been away so this was good timing, first time I have been back on the Records site for awhile.

I will check out later and let you know.

cheers Persie

Daphne.

1)Does Joan have a middle name and what years did you find her listed on the electoral roll as Nicholson?

2) Could she have married. There is a Joan Nicholson who married 1942
to Andrew Thompson also a couple of other Joans with middle names that married here one in 1943 and one in 1945.

Persie

I'm afraid I don't know if Joan has a middle name, as I have not found an intitial.. I found her on the 1935 and 1938 electoral rolls living at Queen St with her parents. I also found the three of them in the 1934 passenger list going to England when she was 20. It was finding her on the Seattle passenger list with Hilda aged 6 that gave me when she was born.
She may well have married but I have been unable to find any record like that! Her photos show her to be very pretty.
If you could tell me what area the Thompsons lived I could try writing! Who did the others marry?
I am waiting for Harold's death printout to see who the informant was but if it was Hilda I will have to apply for hers too!

Daphne

I will go and check out Joan's birth records on microfiche to see whether there is a middle name. Not sure when I will get into town but will get back to you as soon as I do.

Andrew Thompson's middle name is Clarke and he died in 1949 aged abt 49. The only Joan Thompson without a middle name was born in 1918.

Persie

I am going to have to go back to the library and check further, there were no Nicholson's in Levin in the 1941 electoral roll. I found them in the 1935 - someone must have had the 1938 ones out cause they were not there. I will go back and look around the 1959 - 1961 period when her parents died. Because no middle name is shown in the electoral roll she would not have one - they have to have all their names.

I did find a Joan Nicholson who got married in 1958 to Raymond John Thomson. I went through the microfiches for the years 1911 - 1916 for her birth with no luck.

There are two Joan Thomson deaths - 1) in 1987 she was born 28 Sept 1911 (I will recheck 1911) and 2) in 1994 she was born 6 May 1918.

I will try and get back there sometime later this week - am supposed to be getting rid of a hedge tomorrow.

Persie

Thank you so much. 1938 is the last record that I can find of her. Where is your local town? Do you have to pay to use the microfiche? If you incur any expense on my behalf please let me know and I will pay you back.
Daphne