While I was in Christchurch last June for the NZSG conference, I was determined to finally discover the resting place of my 2 x great grandfather, Martin Burke. (There’s a picture of Martin in an earlier blog post.) My first attempt with my aunt back in 2012 was not successful. From Christchurch City Council’s cemetery database…
Tag: Christchurch

This is a copy of a photograph that was shared with me by my third cousin, Margaret. The couple are our great great grandparents, Ann Philp and Martin Burke. But who is the girl with them? Ann and Martin had three children: Mary (born 1863), Anne (born 1865) and Thomas (born around 1866), so presumably…
My grandfather and his parents, out on the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand. A photograph from a family album. Wordless Wednesday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
On February 22nd 2011 at 12.51pm (NZDT), an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude hit Christchurch, New Zealand, causing the deaths of 185 people. These postcards are from the album of my grandmother, Agnes Majella (Burke) Gaffaney, who was born, raised and buried in Christchurch.
Wordless Wednesday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
In Loving Memory of Margaret Beloved Wife of Peter Gaffaney Died 16th Nov 1931 Also her Loved Husband Peter Gaffaney Died 4th July 1954 R.I.P. Also Their Loved Son Michael Dominic Gaffaney Died 5th Sept 1990 Aged 80 Dearly Loved Husband of Agnes Died 25th Sept 1995 Aged 81 My great grandmother Margaret (O’Rourke) Gaffaney…
Not long after my great grandparents, Peter and Margaret Gaffaney, moved to Rangiora in North Canterbury, Margaret died “unexpectedly” at the age of 46 (though her death certificate gives her age as 42) on 16th November 1931. The cause of death was “Perinephritic Abscess, Toxaemia and secondary Haemoerrhage”.1 My grandfather was just 21 when his…
Prime Minister John Key has requested a two-minute silence around New Zealand to show respect for those fallen and affected by the Christchurch earthquake. This may be New Zealand’s single most tragic event. I am calling on New Zealanders to stop and remember those who have lost their lives, those who are missing and the…