Collings, New Zealand
rcollings
Hi, I'm trying to trace my family history from my father Pat born in 1927 in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand, Died 2005 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
His father was William Richard Collings who arrived from the UK in 1923. From what I have managed to glean from the UK Royal Navy records he was born in Devenport, Devon in the UK on the 8th of April 1893.
I don't who his Dad was and anything about him prior to that period.
My name is Raoul Collings, born Christchurch New Zealand in 1953 but now residing in Auckland. My 3 children are Matthew Raoul Patrick (born 1978), Kristen Michelle (born 1980) and Adam Nicholas (born 1984).
Comments
allycat on 2007-03-30 00:22:35Dear Raoul, Hi there. These websites should assist you then. You can pretty much find out everything you need and go back further in your genealogy to find the parents of your grandfather and so on and so forth.
First sign up as a free member of rootschat RootsChat.com - Emigrants to New Zealand have the same username as on here in case someone is looking for you.
RootsChat.com - England - General - Devon
Post a "1901 Census Lookup Request please COLLINGS family Devonport" to find your granddad's family, then go back through the census years 1891, 1881, 1871, 1861, 1851, 1841 and finally 1831. Some earlier records still survive if you are lucky. Then you can get somebody to access parish records for old baptism/wedding and burial records. Shouldn't cost you one red cent either. Enjoy.
Also, read my journals on genealogy in New Zealand. Just click on my username to view my profile. Husband has Maori and English ancestors so I research NZ rellies all the time.
Once you have amassed quite a bit of information, the next step is to store it somewhere on your personal computer, there's lots of software packages available, some free and some not. I use PAF from familysearch.org which is free.
Then you might like to think about having your family tree in cyberspace at one of the host sites, perhaps tribapages (free), genesreunited $, etc.
Good luck,
Alison, QLD Australia.
EDITOR
allycat on 2007-03-30 00:41:36Did a bit of searching but not sure if this is your granddad...COLLINGS being a common and popular surname:-
Archives of New Zealand
William Richard COLLINGS divorced Willamina KENNEDY 1935 New Zealand. They had married in 1927.
agency series accession box / item record part alternative no.
BBAE 4985 Box316 D64/1935
OPEN ACCESS
Anyone can order & view this Record from the following office, please quote the Archives Reference (see above) or print this page.
RECORD LOCATION
(Record must be ordered & viewed in this office)
Archives New Zealand Auckland, Regional Office
PO Box 91220
525 Mt Wellington Highway
Mt Richmond
Auckland
Ph: 09 270 1100
Fax: 09 276 4472
Email: auckland@archives.govt.nz
rcollings on 2007-03-30 01:22:33Thankyou so much guys. You have helped me immensely. It has also put a couple of skeletons to rest as well!!
Cheers
Raoul