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Hi all,

Well, as it's quiet on the boards today, though I would see if any of you could help me with my grandfather's brother please?

William Smith was born in Q1/1890 (reg Ulverston) to father Robert Smith and mother Mary Mawson, but before they married so he was registered as Mawson. In 1891 they were living Broughton Road, Dalton. In 1901 they were at Holly House, Lindale - father Robert was a stone mason. I have the family in Grange in 1911, but no William.

Now, I can trace father, mother and the other siblings through to their deaths, but found out from my mother that William went over to Canada. His mother had a twin (Margaret) who was married to Robert Brocklebank, and Robert went to Ontario, Canada with son Arthur in around 1909 (but haven't managed to find the record) so this may or may not be connected. I have quite a bit of info on Robert & Arthur in Canada, so not looking at them.

Apparently, according to mum, William didn't settle in Canada but came back and then went to New Zealand. After that nothing, other than when my grandmother died in 1937 William wanted wanted my grandfather Robert and his 2 children to move over to NZ.

I've no idea where he married, or even if he did, so any help with him greatly appreciated.

???

Mary Ellen Mawson
England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
birth: 03 Aug 1869
christening: 05 Sep 1869 Burton-?Wood,? Lancashire,? England
residence: 1869 Burton-?Wood,? Lancashire,? England
parents: George Mawson,? Ann


name: Mary Ellen Mawson
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 05 Sep 1869
baptism/christening place: Burton-Wood, Lancashire, England
birth date: 03 Aug 1869
father's name: George Mawson
mother's name: Ann
indexing project (batch) number: C00521-2
system origin: England-EASy
source film number: 1469048

???

William John Smith
England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
christening: 02 Mar 1879 Dalton in Furness,? Lancashire,? England
residence: Dalton In Furness,? Lancashire,? England
parents: Robert Smith,? Mary


name: William John Smith
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 02 Mar 1879
baptism/christening place: Dalton in Furness, Lancashire, England
father's name: Robert Smith
mother's name: Mary
indexing project (batch) number: C00516-4
system origin: England-VR
source film number: 1471899

it may be a long shot but there a william smith ariving back in the uk 24th nov 1911 aged 21 so born 1890 arriving in Liverpool hes a Labourer travelling 3rd class.Hes British coming from Quebec Canada.

Hi Ann, thanks for the input but I'm pretty sure this is his birth,


Births Mar 1890 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mawson William Ulverston 8e 790

His mother Mary Mawson along with twin Margaret was brn in 1870 in Eskdale, Cumberland:

Births Sep 1870 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAWSON Margaret Bootle 10b 579
MAWSON Mary Bootle 10b 579

I've got Mary & Margaret with their mother until 1881, then with their partners to 1911 (although Margarets husband & son was in Canada in 1911, they were crossed out on the 1911 census)

So still looking for William Smith in New Zealand.

Sorry Christine, didn't see your post.

It could be relevant, William didn't show up with Robert or Arthur Brocklebank on the 1911 census of Canada - they were in a boarding house at the time. They ended up staying there (as did the rest of their family) and were silver miners.

Many thanks for this.

Flip

The only other thing I can think of that may be relevant - my grandfather (Robert Smith) was born in 1909 and he knew his brother William - but by 1937 when Robert's wife died (their daughter, my mother was only 3) William was in NZ. So it must be sometime before 1937, but later than 1911 that he emigrated.

Not sure if this will help though, as mum was only a baby when her mother died she doesn't remember much about her ancestry.

Who'd have ancestors called Smith!!!

found a william mawsen smith on the NZ electoral roll 1928 District Thames Region Waikato hes a railway employee, 1935 District Hauraki Region Aukland, Farmer.1946 District Otahuhu Region Aukland ,labourer.As you probably know the mothers maiden name was used as a middle name years ago even if he took on his fathers name some used to still keep their mothers maiden name as a middle name ,does that make sense?Its an unusual name so I think there is a connection dont you,? there are also addresses if you want them regards chris ps its quiet cup final thats why!!

Sorry it was Mawson not Mawsen as I wrote so the name does fit.

DEATH....NZ

1948/30532

Smith: William Mawson

Age: 58Y

BURIAL....


Name: SMITH, WILLIAM MAUSON
Details M: died 15-09-1948: aged 58
Place: Otahuhu
Location: Area B Lot No 147

http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com

Hi Flip,

didn't find any marriage, but it may be worth getting in touch with the cemetery, to see if he is buried with any one?

if we have a name I can look for you....

Helen.

Hi Christine & Helen,

Sorry we had visitors - so couldn't get back to this last night.

I agree this certainly looks like him using Mawson as middle name so it fits - thank you both for this.. I'll check out that burial and come back to this if I find out he had a wife or children.

Thanks again

Just checked local marriages, there's an marriage Q2/1916 reg Ulverston - so the right district if William was living with or near his family in Grange.

Marriages Jun 1916 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shaw Emily J Smith Ulverston 8e 1499
Smith William M Shaw Ulverston 8e 1499

I think Emily was born 1887, middle name Jane. I can't see a local birth for a William M Smith 1880-1900 so although this may not be right, I can't find any children born locally to this couple - so a possibility?

Hi Flip,

you may be right? Emily is in the same grave....


Name: SMITH, EMILY JANE
Details: F: died 03-07-1967: aged 80
Place: Otahuhu
Location: Area B Lot No 147

DEATH...NZ

1967/30178
Smith: Emily Jane
Age: 80Y

Great, thanks cupcakes!

It would be too much of a coincidence not to be them, I'll get to the RO & check the marriage - if it followed family tradition it should be at Lindale church and the records are on film.

Is there any way of checking whether they had any children in NZ as there's none showing up locally - so I'm thinking they may have gone to NZ soon after their marriage?

added - I've ordered William's death record as it should confirm if it is the right person, that link was great and it looks like the NZ death records give far more info than the English ones.

Hi Flip,

the marriage is a bit too late to check for children being born sorry...

if he did have children named on his death certificate with that link you should be able to check for marriages ect...

but if you have trouble you can always come back to this thread and someone may be able to find more information for you...

will be interested in what you find so let us know.

good luck!

Hi Cupcakes,

I'll post up what comes back on the death record. But I've spoken to my mother this afternoon, she confirms William married an Emily (but she didn't know details) - they came back to England at some point but only stayed a few months before going back to NZ, the one thing she did know was they had a daughter when they came back, but she doesn't know her name.

Bit of a strange family, grandfather never spoke to my mother about his family - all her knowledge comes from aunts/uncles. Mum is getting on a bit, so getting the info is a bit like drawing hens teeth!! :-D