Genealogy Chat

Hello,
I am looking for some mystery members of my family who have disapeared. My great great Grandmother was called Helen R Archibald, she was born in 1863/64 and had 3 children. In 1924 she went on her own to South Africa and died in New Zealand. As I understand this was fairly unusual in those days for a lady of 60 to travel alone, and I have found the record of her passage to South Africa and I (think) I have ordered her death certificate in New Zealand. Is there any way that I can find records of where in South Africa and New Zealand she lived and why? The New Zealand records so far seem quick difficult to manage - I have had to pay for a copy of the death certificate which will then be posted to me, rather than in the UK where these things are available digitally.
Her son, John Archibald, was the black sheep of the family and served in WW1 but then disappeared in Australia. I have found some records which might point to him being court martialled but does anyone know if it's possible to find the details of this?
I'm having a difficult time knowing which are the better websites in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and would greatly appreciate some help!! Thank you!!

Is this John and his mother? (Guessed it was Scotland, as that is the only part of the UK where BMDs are available digiatally - for the England, Wales and Ireland, Ruth, it is the same as NZ, certs have to be ordered and are posted out):

1901 Scotland Census
about John Archibald
Name: John Archibald
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: Andrew Archibald
Mother's Name: Helen R Archibald
Gender: Male
Where born: Blantyre, Renfrew
Registration Number: 676
Registration district: Cockpen
Civil parish: Cockpen
County: Midlothian
Address: 7 Sherwood
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 4
Household schedule number: 9
Line: 18
Roll: CSSCT1901_360
Household Members: Name Age
Andrew Archibald 45
Helen R Archibald 44
Robert Archibald 18
Helen Archibald 15
John Archibald 8
Peter Archibald 6


I have looked for him in Ancestry's WW1 records, but he doesn't seem to be there.

Hi Ruth and welcome to the boards.

It may be worthwhile clicking on your Edit button and adding the words New Zealand to your title. We have several member who are knowledgable about that part of the world. Cx.

Hi all, thanks so much for the help, we are looking at a different John though - I'm not sure about his year of birth but he was the youngest of 3 brothers and the older two were born in 1890 and 1897 in Innerleithen, Peebleshire. His parents were John Archibald and Helen Robertson Archibald (nee Malcolm). Looking at the dates actually he might not have served in WW1, but my grandfather seemed to think he did, the info I found about a court martial was from 1940. I suppose I'm more asking about the practicalities of finding the information on court martial records in Australia, travel between South Africa and Australia/NZ and censuses in South Africa and NZ.
Thanks so much for all your help!!

Hi Ruth

The 'National Archives of Aus' (on-line) shows a John Archibald b3/9/1898 Peebles enlisted at North Sydney ...his n.o.k Alice.

The 'NSW/BMD' (on-line) shows John Archibald married Alice Elizabeth
McArthur/Macarthur 1937.

Also shows a death for John Archibald 1959 (reg 35122/1959) - (parents John & Helen Robertson).

The 'NSW State Library' (on-line) has an ''Ask a Librarian' service ..they will check electoral rolls and newspaper death notice/s (1959)

There's 'Joy Murrin's Transcription Services' (on-line) ... they will send you a transcribed copy of death cert .... fee abt $19. (The death cert should give names/ages of any off-spring.)

Valerie (WAus)

Ruth .... the 'National Library of NZ' (on-line) also has an 'Ask a Librarian' service ..they will check their records including electoral rolls and newspaper death notices.

Valerie (WAus)

Helen Robertson Archibald is buried at O'neill's Point Cemetery
122 Bayswater Ave, Bayswater, Auckland

She probably lived in or near Devonport on the shore... would have travelled by ferry boat in those days into Auckland, our harbour bridge was built a long time after she died. The ferry boats and fast cat boats still commute to Auckland... lot quicker than going around by road.

Persie

Thank you very much for all the help! I have sent off messages to both of those ask a librarian services so hopefully will hear something back soon

So, in follow up to my previous questions, does anybody know how to find records from South Africa? I found a record in the South African National Archives website for Helen Archibald from 1926, which is pretty intriguing because that was the year that she died and was buried in NZ, in March... But I don't know what this record is! I have emailed and asked for more information, but meanwhile does anyone know how to find out about organisations in South Africa? It seems pretty unlikely she would have gone there alone - she lists her occupation as 'housewife' in the ship's records. I'm wondering if maybe she went with a mission group or something like that? Any help much appreciated!

Hi Ruth, you would how to check the archives in South Africa. If a record appears for her you can contact them by email, and they will advise how much it will cost for them to copy or to supply the information to you..

I had a reply saying that they don't have the staffing to find the records for me in South Africa :( which is pretty frustrating, makes the website fairly pointless since it doesn't have any actual information on it. Dead end I guess!!

The heading "Missing Lady in South africa"caught my attention, I have a story to tell, and will be grateful if there are any helpers out there. Following my father using The Colonial Office Lists 1940 - 1951 in Nyasaland. Sometime between 1940 - 1944 My Mother took me for a Holiday? either to The Cape or to Durban, where I was locked in a Hotel? guest house? I remember a bottle of stale milk and a vinyl tablecloth, Now the following I only surmise as It was never spoken about by family members I aparently scarpered out of a window, Now everything is blocked out;; I was told that I was found living with a native fisherman and his wife, time unknown to me, here in Canberra, Australia, I have scoured the "Cape Times"copies which are held at the National Library of Australia. to no avail for anything about a lost white boy from up-country, my only hope is the Durban papers 1940 -1944 which are not held here. I was in Nyasaland before the war's end, I was born in 1937 in New Zealand, my Parents? married in 1939, in Wellington N.Z. ; from the Wairarapa times Tuesday July 18, 1939;; Mr W.J. Gray Veterinary Surgeon formerly attached to the Agricultural department, with his wife and Family, will leave Wellington on Friday by the "Awatea"to sydney where they will Join the Liner "Ulysses"to take up an appointment in Tanganyika, east Africa;; I have not seen or heard of my Mother Mildred Earl-Stanwix-Gray, since the day she left me, and have not seen my father since 1947, he is deceased now. I believe he re-married 7 years after Mildred's disappearance. I left Africa in 1947 in Company of my Paternal Grandmother
any leads on what happened to Mildred would be gratefully received

Malcolm Gray

Canberra Australia

Hello Malcolm

Welcome to the boards. I think you would get a better response to your enquiry if you delete it from this thread and start a new one of your own, with a suitable heading. (There has been no action on this thread since November).

Sorry I can't help you - the story is fascinating.

Thanks, Andysmum, my greatest problem is "no short term memory" can't remember next day what I did the day before

at least this F/t buisness keeps me off the streets

doun

Here is a free South African site:

www.genopro.com/genealogy-links/?country=ZA&t=South%20Africa

If you type:
genealogy za

into your search engine there are numerous sites.

Generally tracing births pre 1900 can be difficult as these are not State records and you are dependant upon Church records having survived.

Also try the surname followed by za in your search engine as there are many individual family sites often from records which have been handed down the generations.

Her maiden name was Earl in the marriage records. Where does the Stanwix come from? Have you no knowledge whether she had siblings here or do you have any siblings?