Find Ancestors

Hi LadyKira

Thank you. How sad about Eric. They lost both sons to the services.There seems to have been a mass exodus from Scotland to New Zealand early 1900s. I have yet to follow up on the ancestors of James Melrose - father to Gavin and his sisters. James Melrose was married before he married my great grandmother (Janet McIntosh died) and had two sons John Melrose born 1869 and Robert Melrose 1871. Robert is a witness on the marriage certs of several of the sisters but I can find no reference to John. It is possible they both emigrated as well. From family research given to me it shows James Melrose an the only child but that may have been done to show the line of descendancy. Melrose is a fairly common Melrose name.

Thanks for all of your help

Christine

I thought I said that a few posts ago. But I was intrigued since the wife was called Helen Margaret and I cannot see them else where.

Worth keeping on the back burner.

The last few Eric posts were about one who died 1953.

Christine,
ERIC Melrose son of Gavin and Evelyn died in 1953.
ERIC JACK Melrose living with married Margaret Helen appears on the electoral roll of 1957
That s 3-4yrs AFTER your Eric's death
They cannot be the same person.

Anne

and

Surname MELROSE
Forename AGNES DOUGLAS
Age 94 Years
Gender Not recorded
Date of Death 15 Jul 1901
Last Address
Next of Kin
Funeral Director
Cemetery NORTHERN CEMETERY
Location Block 196. Plot 41
Date of Burial 17 Jul 1901
Type Burial
Notes Original reference:- N19010717
The following burials are also in this Plot
SOMMERVILLE ALEXANDER 54 Years Burial 3 May 1894
SOMMERVILLE ISABELLA 75 Years Burial 26 Sep 1915
SOMMERVILLE JAMES MELROSE 22 Years Burial 10 Nov 1891

Looking at the address I wonder if these are connected.....

Cemetery Details
Surname MELROSE
Forename LEONARD
Age 41 Years
Gender Male
Date of Death 21 Oct 1942
Last Address 215 SOUTH ROAD DUNEDIN
Next of Kin
Funeral Director Thorn, DUNEDIN
Cemetery ANDERSONS BAY CEMETERY
Location Block 147. Plot 105
Date of Burial 23 Oct 1942
Type Burial
Notes Original reference:- A19421029
Occupation:- JANITOR
Native of:- NZ
Place died:- DUNEDIN
The following burials are also in this Plot
MELROSE FREDA 74 Years Burial 22 Apr 1977
SMITH MARGARET FRASER 68 Years Ashes Burial 14 Jun 1995

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzlscant/stanne.htm

Is this your Eric?

NZ1810 04318 Signals trainer. Assembled by De Havilland in the United Kingdom for a cost of 29,195 pounds 19 shillings. Ferried from United Kingdom to New Zealand by RNZAF crew. BOC with RNZAF at Wigram on 30 September 1952. At the conclusion of a formation flypast to commemorate the end of the London-Christchurch Air Race on Thursday 15 October 1953 was involved in a mid air collision with NZ1811 over Wigram. The Devon crashed into a paddock about 200 yards from NZ1811 and was destroyed. Flight Lieutenant Edwin Ebbett, AC1 Brian Keogh and AC1 Eric Melrose killed and the aircraft was destroyed. Written off books on 30 March 1954.

Also the ER is for 1957 which would be after your Eric died?
LK

Eric is the minister of religion and underneath at the same address it states Margaret Helen Melrose and it states she is married. It would be a coincidence if Eric married a Margaret Helen as well as sister Margaret Helen.
LK

Hi LadyKira

i am fairly certain there is a photo of margaret with a young man in a sailor uniform which says on the back Margaret with Jack who she is going to marry.

is it Eric who is the Minister of Religion? I know Melrose is a fairly common name but it does seem a bit of a coincidence

Christine

Further to Stuart's comment regarding photograph Christmas 1946. I have looked at the photo again and it says ....with best wishes for Xmas 25/12/46. Ity was obviously taken before they returned to the UK in November 1946 ( as per Anne) and sent as a gift to my grandparents. Well spotted amd memo to me to not make assumptions!

Christine

I just re read your message. From the dunedin cemetry site it had Eric Melrose as having died aged 21 in 1953 buried in the same plot as his parents. Does it say how old Eric Jack Melrose is? Do you have Margaret's married name?

Thanks LadyKira

Hi Lady Kira

Thank you for that

Christine

Coincidence????

New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 about Eric Jack Melrose
Name: Eric Jack Melrose
Electoral Year: 1957
District: Ashburton
Region or Province: Canterbury
Minister of religion

At the same address is Margeret Helen Melrose married.

New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 about Gavin Melrose
Name: Gavin Melrose
Electoral Year: 1928
District: Dunedin South
Region or Province: Otago

16 David Street

New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 about Gavin Melrose
Name: Gavin Melrose
Electoral Year: 1963
District: Dunedin Central
Region or Province: Otago
20 Parkhill Avenue with Evelyn

New Zealand Army WWII Nominal Rolls, 1939-1948 about Gavin Emslie Melrose
Name: Gavin Emslie Melrose
Embarkation: 1943
Army Number: 450813
Last Residence: Dunedin, New Zealand
Relative Name: Mrs E M Melrose
Relationship: Mother
Nominal Roll: 1 Jul 1943 - 31 Dec 1943
Alexandra st Dunedin

Hi

I will try doing that tonight. I was lucky enough to find my Great Aunt Isabella- sister to Jessie and my grandmother - on someones family tree and they had already done it and let me have a copy.

My Great Uncle Gavin also emigrated to NZ.Younger brother to Jessie (Hendry)isabella (Lightfoot), Helen (Fitzgeral de Ros) ( my grandmother) Jemima (Sumner) and Christina (Macdonald)

If you are up for some more searching I know the following:
Gavin Emslie Melrose born 1895 Aberdeenshire married Evelyn Douglas ironside in Aberdeen Feb 1921. Evelyn was 24 on her marriage cert so was a similar age. They sailed to NZ on the Suffolk in Feb 1925 with their 3 children Helen Margaret melrose (known as Margaret) born abt 1922, Gavin melrose Junior born abt 1922 - must have been twins and Jessie Melrose born abt 1924. They had a 4th child in NZ Eric Melrose born abt 1931/32.

Gavin Jnr was killed in Italy in 1943 during WW2 in NZ Air Force. From Dunedin Cemetries site found Gavin Snr died in 1966 and at the same plot is Eric who died in 1953 aged 21 and his wife Evelynwho appears to have died 16 days after her husband.

i have made contact with 2nd cousin in NZ (descendant Isabella Lightfoot) and they have no knowledge of the Hendrys - obviious now as there are no living Hendry relations in NZ or the descendants of Gavin Melrose.

Assuming Margaret & Jessie Melrose had married they would probably had children

So any information regarding the final part of the NZ family puzzle would be most welcome

Christine

This gives helpful NZ tips.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.page/board/genealogy_chat/thread/1246090

May I suggest you arrange these events in date order. You will find it easier to follow. :-)