Dear Shizara, What a roll you've been on indeed. At last Emily seems to be surfacing. I still wonder about Sarah thomson though. No I don't have a family tree maker- I wouldn't know where to begin(Density problem again!)
The SB v JHH issue is in my private messages response to your Q. I will clarify this with her but I recall that is what she said. Excellent this is- what a family those Victorians

Giggles.. you aren't wrong. As a picture emerges I get more intrigued and wonder what is around the next corner.

Its as good as if not better than a film. Perhaps I ought to write it up!!!

You should! Your mother will be chortling for the rest of her days! This is easily one of the most interesting, never a dull moment adventure that I have ever been on.

I have sent off an email tonight to see if I can get an obituary look up for John Herbert Hankins. This might help with a few more details including the names of all 7 children.

I have to say my Mum hasn't stopped giggling with each sequel I update her with. I have friends in ' The Club' They too are looking for us, especially with regard to the stuff before NZ. Who needs night time dreams when you have this lot to ponder over? !!!

Have just received an email with the obituary for John Herbert Hankins and it has some useful information. I need to type it out from the newspaper article and will do that when I come home tonight.

Shizara, This is so cool- peeps in NZ with info 90 years later communicating back here. I've been given a copy of the one for TU Cook as well from Foxton. Hope you have a good day round UK today.

Oooh... it's a real treasure trove. First .. SOUTHEY BAKER is the right name. In the early 1880's he was in partnership with John Herbert Hankins.

A brief outline of the identies of the 7 children from the notes:

It would seem that they are:

John George Herbert Hankins
Chas E Hankins - who lived in Oregon USA (?)
Ethel May Hankins - married William Lockhart Fitzherbert
Gertrude Muriel Winifred Hankins (born at sea) - married Flinders Scott McRae
Agnes Eleanor Hankins - married Peter Lockhart Sim
William Herbert (Ford) Hankins - deceased
Kenneth Arthur Hankins - deceased

I am currently looking up the dates and places and the names may not necessarily be in order of birth.

Am assuming that Nell was a knickname and as she married Peter Sim it would appear that Agnes Eleanor Hankins was her real name.

Oh My Goodness me- Shizara.(LOL) I can imagine the whisperings behind the filing cabinets in The Firm's Office back then. Its a right load of carry ons!!!! SB a Partner? No wonder there is an air of a smoke screen my Mum was brought up to feel about them all. Nell fits eleanor- Ell, Elly Nelly. Its getting better and better.

Have you started that book yet? I have a feeling there is more to come....

I'm definitely 'up' for it. I still wonder what happened to 'the lost' wife; Sarah Thomson, more Qs like 'where did the other son from Sarah and George Samuel WD pop-up from and what happened to him and his offspring? What brought The WDs and the Hankins to NZ? If we can fill in some of that, I think there's a foundation on which to build a series!!!

Grins.. Someone, somewhere knows about Sarah and there is still a great, big, pile of stones to turn over.

Now, have you an account at genesreunited? If so, I won't go down that avenue as you have already done it.

I have an account (basic free one) but have actually got very little infact Zilch from it so really haven't bothered. Is it worth looking at again,then? I'm looking forward to turning up these stones. Its a 'colourful' den under there. Bring it on!!!

Giggles - I have a paid for account there and use it regularly. Will do a cursory search before I go into whizzy_mode and get ready for work.

Sent off 2 enquiries.