Hi, maybe you could try www.bdmonline.dia.govt.nz for births, deaths and marriages, look under historical searches, Good luck

NZ BDM historical searches only reveal Births over 100 years ago, so if you are correct that your grandfather was born in 1914 then his birth record should appear in a historical search sometime this year 2014. Keep checking that site.

There is a John Winstanley in NZ BDM, whose death was registered in 2004. He is shown as born on 22 October 1914 - if this is your grandfather then his birth record (with his parents names) will appear in a historical search after 22 October 2014.

Good luck

It seems that your grandfather was not the above John Winstanley who died c.2004. John James Winstanley died in 1977 and is buried in the Anglican Cemetery in Tauranga, in the same Plot as your grandmother Sophie Millerstone Winstanley - see http://www.tauranga.govt.nz/council-facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search/cemeteries-detail/tabid/2455/tctl/5323_/Default.aspx?plotid=ANGLICAN*B7671

The Cemetery record shows your grandfather was aged 73 at his death, which ties in with the Headstone which states he was born in 1904. (Be aware however that sometimes the person providing such info to the Funeral Director might have got it wrong).

John James Winstanley's death in 1977 doesn't appear in a NZ BDM search, which suggests that either he didn't die in NZ, or his death record has been incorrectly entered in the death register, or that his legal name was different. You may wish to contact the Funeral Directors, Jones and Company Funeral Services of Tauranga, for clarification as to why his death is missing from a search - they may even be able to provide you with a copy of the death certificate.

regards

Archway (Archives NZ) has a reference for his 1977 Probate File in the Rotorua High Court in which he is referred to as "John James Winstanley of Mount Maunganui, Timekeeper" - per this link: http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/BriefDescItemSearch.do

Wow thanks so much for your help. I'm loving family history I feel like a detective! Thanks again for your time and effort.
Kind regards
Erika

Erika, if you search the Papers Past website you will find good info including the engagement of John James, son of Mr & Mrs T.W. Winstanley of Wellington, to Laurie Carruthers, daughter of Mr W.J & Mrs L. Carruthers of Petone (Evening Post, 31/12/1935); John James missing in action during WW2 (Evening Post, 14/1/1942); John James and Laurie's divorce (Evening Post, 20/2/1942).
kind regards

Thank you. I've been scouring the Papers Past site for hours over the last couple of weeks. That's a different John James Winstanley. I thought I had a lead today, found a son born to C.C Winstanley in 1904 but upon further hours of searching found that the son was Archibald. I've taken your advice and have emailed the funeral home. Thanks again for your help. E

Erika, google "J.J. Winstanley". Te Papa have a wedding photo dated 1937. Although you seem to have dismissed the Wellington-based John James as a different person, the photo may be worth looking at.
kind regards

There are two marriages for John James Winstanley in New Zealand, the first is most likely to Laurie Carruthers 1937 and the second to Sophie MacDonald 1946.

It may be worthwhile to get a copy of both marriages and check out the name of John James' father on both and any other matching details. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same.

I also think that RakiuraJohn's idea of looking at the wedding photo is very worthwhile, you just never know. The family may not have been aware of his previous marriage and subsequent divorce from Laura, but it's certainly worth looking into before you dismiss it altogether.

First Marriage

New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1950 about John James Winstanley
Name: John James Winstanley
Gender: Male
Relation: Bridegroom
Marriage Year: 1937
Marriage Place: New Zealand
Folio Number: 3956

Second Marriage

New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1950 about John James Winstanley
Name: John James Winstanley
Gender: Male
Relation: Bridegroom
Marriage Year: 1946
Marriage Place: New Zealand
Folio Number: 11974

I found an early census with a John James Winstanley born 1905, which would roughly match the age of 73 at time of death in 1977.

Parents are Thomas William Winstanley & Margaret Tonge, sister Lily May b 1902 Thomas' occupation listed as Stationary Engine Driver on 1911 Census.

Thomas William Winstanley does not appear on NZ Census until 1914 in Pongaroa, Wellington he and his wife Margaret remain in Wellington until his death, occupation listed as engineer to 1946 and then retired 1949-1963.

John James is with Thomas & Margaret on 1928-1946 then he is listed with Sophie.

I'm sure that Thomas William and Margaret are John James' parents and he was in fact born in Lancashire England and the family went to New Zealand between 1911 England and the 1914 New Zealand Census.

Thomas William Winstanley matches the John James Winstanley missing in action during WW2 (Evening Post, 14/1/1942) whose mother is listed as Mrs T.W. Winstanley and also matches the engagement notice for John James to Laurie with his parents listed as Mr & Mrs T.W. Winstanley.

It may be possible to trace their entry to New Zealand between these dates. I still think getting a copy of the two marriages will give you more and if the father is Thomas William and possible address for John James as 29 Roxburgh Street Wellington, it may be different, then this is the right family.

This is the death for Thomas William Winstanley again a copy may give you more clues. name of informant etc.

New Zealand, Death Index, 1848-1980 about Thomas William Winstanley
Name: Thomas William Winstanley
Death Date: 1970
Death Place: Wellington, New Zealand
Folio Number: 2 4148

and this is the marriage for Lily

New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1950 about Lily May Winstanley
Name: Lily May Winstanley
Gender: Female
Relation: Bride (Wife)
Marriage Year: 1923
Marriage Place: New Zealand
Folio Number: 690

If this is the right family the marriage for Thomas & Margaret is on freebmd.org.uk

Marriages Dec 1903
Tonge Margaret Bolton 8c 554
Winstanley Thomas William Bolton 8c 554

it appears Margaret died between 1949-1954 Rolls.

New Zealand, Death Index, 1848-1980 about Margaret Winstanley
Name: Margaret Winstanley
Death Date: Apr-May-Jun 1953
Death Place: Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Folio Number: 1936

Thank you both so much for all of your help. You're both amazing. I'm so new at this, but am learning fast. I think you both might be right. I pulled out some paperwork that a cousin gave me a few years ago and found that John James was from Wigan, Lancashire, England.

Some interesting facts that add character to the man:

Evening Post, 29/7/1939 pg 16, has a report on the NZ Ice Cream Manufacturers Assn golf tournament wherein JJ Winstanley is mentioned as winning the booby prize for his 158 over the 18 holes which included a 17 on a par 3!

Evening Post, 14/8/1943 pg 8, has an article about Sergeant JJ Winstanley of Wellington, an ice cream maker in his civilian occupation, being in charge of making ice cream in Egypt for the troops!

hey not sure if this is helpful a full ten years later, but I am looking into the murder of a child who was in my mothers class at school, called Marc Bronson Attrill,in 1985. He was killed by his mother who was a Winstanley. Her parents I believe were John James Winstanley (parents Thomas William and Margaret Winstanley) and Sophia Millerstone (parents James and Caroline MacDonald). John James Winstanley is listed as born in October 1905 in Wigan Lancashire and died October 6th 1977.

The mother was 36 when she committed the murder and stabbed her other son, Michael Attrill (who survived), and was assessed at Tokanui psychiatric hospital. The mothers name is not listed anywhere assumedly for confidentiality but considering she was 36 when she committed the murder and there is a 1958 record of a Sanchia Margaret as a standard 3 student at Mount Maunganui primary school (kids are aged 8-9) meaning she was born around 1949/50 .So in 1985 when the murder happened Sanchia would have been 36, meaning her life exactly lines up.

https://www.geni.com/people/Marc-Attrill/6000000076799731894?through=6000000177412614845
(hopefully you can copy the link) if you follow the immediate family section you get to John James Winstanley.

Apologies that its quite a morbid story but I hope this helps!!