What Do You Know About Your Family’s History?

By Prue Scott

The land my granny farmed in Christchurch was given to my great-grandfather for fighting in the Māori Land Wars. Except he had been dead 20 years when those grants were made.

My grandfather was born in Halcombe, near Feilding. His mother was born in New Zealand of German immigrants; his father arrived from Denmark as an eight-year-old with his parents.

…I am sorry to have to tell you your son died this morning at 12.45am…I am sure you will be glad to know he was without pain and died quite peacefully…He will be buried in one of the most peaceful little cemeterys [sic] in France with military honours.

These are examples of what you can find out when you start looking at your family history – wars, exploding myths, secrets and mysteries, and new-found skills in research.

From 2-4 August, you can find out how to begin your search, learn new tips and tricks and listen to world-class speakers at the Family History Fair. The New Zealand Society of Genealogists is hosting the fair at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland. Entry is free to the Exhibition Hall, where there are 70 exhibitor stands offering advice, information and merchandise . There is a charge of $5 for each of the optional seminars.

This year's Fair has a very strong theme around websites, technology and the internet for beginners, those who've dabbled but not taken it further and the expert users. The society will be on hand to offer expert advice and help with those tricky roadblocks and brick walls.

Over three days, there'll be 98 seminars by 26 speakers on topics ranging from the First World War Centenary office, a master class with Ancestry and digitising your family history, to how to be a modern genealogist, English parish registers, a beginner's guide to whakapapa, and Facebook for genealogists.

These sessions will feature five international speakers – Brad Argent and Christine Clement from Ancestry in Australia, Cassie Mercer from Australia's Inside History magazine, Diane Loosle from FamilySearch in the USA, and Jo Appleby from the University of Leicester (UK) on finding Richard III.

The Friday morning session is specially tailored for schools as part of the 2013 Vodafone Events Centre Schools Programme, New Zealand’s largest free schools programme for the performing arts and culture. It will include a poster competition and a huge display of information from around the world as well as displays from Maori and Pacific Island groups.

Why do people search out their family trees?

"They are looking for that lost link in the family, an old story about Uncle George's exploits (could they be true?), they want to leave a legacy for their children, or finding out where their family came from and where it went," says NZ Society of Genealogists member Marion Towers

Some people collect names, dates and documents to prove links, while others turn their research into family history narratives.

"Essentially, you are solving a puzzle and they're very satisfying. You're bringing the past and present together, you're learning new skills across history, geography, writing and, of course, the computer and online resources, that will take you around the world."

It can also provide a few shocks.

"Bigamy was very common in the early days of Australia and New Zealand. Men were transported as convicts, leaving wives behind, and some acquired a new wife here. There wasn't the paperwork we have now, so people really could jump onto a ship and change countries and their lives.

"We know of one chap who left his family in New Zealand one day and simply disappeared, leaving his wife and small children behind. Lo and behold, he turns up in Australia with another family," says NZSG member Ann Hamilton.

Genealogy is also about brick walls and how to get over or around them.

"Not only do people disappear and reappear, they change names and countries, relatives pop up in odd places and a note on an online forum can help unravel a family mystery."

Where do you start?

"New Zealand doesn't keep its census data, so you can't track people as you can in other countries. But, there are ways – land deeds, military records, school registers, PapersPast, the search websites like Find My Past, Ancestry and Family Search, and the expertise of society members who volunteer their time and experience," says NZSG member Ann Hamilton Elaine Bell.

You can also come along to the Family History Fair and discover how to start your tree.