Please could someone help me in my search to find what ships my ancestors sailed on to arrive in New Zealand? My great x2 grandfather Archibald Thompson arrived in New Zealand on the ship Gresham '64 in either late 1863 or early 1864 as he joined the 3rd Division Armed Constabulary in January 1864, but I cannot find a record of the ship at all. I also wonder if his brother or cousin ? William Thompson was on the same ship. In 1865 Archibald married Mary Duffin at the residence of her brother John Duffin. John Duffin was a constable in New Plymouth police in the 1860/1870s. I am unable to find when she arrived in New Zealand either. I think both would be from Ireland maybe via Liverpool, England. Sometimes Duffin is written as Wuffin.

mnkool - 2020-01-23 21:23:00

mnkool wrote:

My great x2 grandfather Archibald Thompson arrived in New Zealand on the ship Gresham '64 in either late 1863 or early 1864

How do you know? Family tradition?

If you go to Papers Past. February-March 1864 you will see reports of Col Pitt recruiting volunteers in Melbourne. A batch was sent to Taranaki on the ship Gresham (sometime known as the Thomas Gresham).

The New Zealander, 13 February 1864
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18640213.2.29

has some background on the recruitment drive, but scan the other stories too.

Taranaki Herald, 20 February 1864.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18640220.2.7
reports the arrival of the Gesham on Saturday and the Brilliant on Wednesday with 568 volunteers.

stock - 2020-01-23 21:50:00

Victoria State Archives has some online passenger lists
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/pas
senger-records-and-immigration/outwards-passenger-lists
If you search "Gresham" and refine the results to 1864 you will see passengers on the Gresham; the ship destined for GUAM VIA TARANAKI NZ. The date is given as January. There is a Jno Thompson, not A/Archibald.

stock - 2020-01-23 21:57:00

I am really confused this is from the http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/armedconstab/armedc
onstabulary.html

This is copy and pasted from the 2nd record
NZ Militia, Volunteers and Armed Constabulary of New Zealand 1863-1871

<="" td="" width="20%" valign="top"> [2 of 2]
Armed Constabulary/Militia Militia
Name THOMPSON, Archibald
Place of birth Tallyvallen ?
Tribe/County/Country Armagh
Year of birth 1841
Regiment no. 488
Militia/Volunteers Taranaki Military Settlers.
Service commenced 18.1.1864
Subsequent service 3rd Division Armed Constabulary.
Land grants Taranaki
Joined at Melbourne
Ship of arrival Gresham '64
Record ID 14680

mnkool - 2020-01-23 22:16:00

18.1.1864 is consistent with the period that Pitt was recruiting in Victoria. I note "joined in Melbourne" in the record you have from Auckland.
But the Victoria Archives record has the Thompson as Jno. Could be a transcription error or a different person; or an incorrect entry made by the shipping clerk in a rush.

stock - 2020-01-23 22:36:00

Thanks stock. Any idea about what ship Mary Duffin arrived in?

mnkool - 2020-01-24 06:54:00

Nothing obvious at FamilySearch.
Don't see a useful obituary.
A tree at Ancestry claims Mary Duffin was ½ sister of John Duffin who died in 1911.
A couple of good obituaries for him:
Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1911
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19111218.2.1
0
Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143668, 12 December 1911
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH19111212.2.12

stock - 2020-01-24 10:37:00

mnkool wrote:

Thanks stock. Any idea about what ship Mary Duffin arrived in?

A possibility:
Daily Southern Cross, 31 May 1865
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18650531.2.4
7.1
has a Mary Duffin passenger on the ship Empress, arrived Auckland 14 May 1865, from London.
Also the Daily Southern Cross, 31 May 1865 has a report on the voyage:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18650531.2.4
7.1

stock - 2020-01-24 16:02:00

Name DUFFIN, Mary
Vessel EMPRESS: Arrived:Auckland May 14 1865

carbs51 - 2020-01-24 16:43:00

Thanks Stock and carbs51. I have so little on Mary, I was hoping to find out more about her.

mnkool - 2020-01-24 19:06:00

Have you found the Duffin's in the 1851 and 1861 census,do you have an arrival for her brother John Duffin?

carbs51 - 2020-01-25 08:11:00

No I havent - Last night I looked at baptism records for John but the closest one I found had the child recorded as a bastard without either of his parents names.

mnkool - 2020-01-25 10:04:00

carbs51 wrote:

do you have an arrival for her brother John Duffin?

According to the obituary, he came from India with the 57th regiment in 1861; born "at Kilkenny" 1832.

stock - 2020-01-25 11:36:00