RogerWNZ on Family Tree Circles

During 2015, I spent a lot of time researching my (Watkin) family roots, both in New Zealand (Taranaki) and the UK (Shropshire and Montgomeryshire).

Having discovered quite a lot, I then make contact with the wife of a distant cousin, who lives in Stratford, 5 hours drive from me. Mary Dobson had not only been researching for 20 years, but had produced two 100+ page books on the family tree.

So, armed with her knowledge, I made contact with UK-based cousins, and spent a wonderful week in that country in November, finding family heritage sites, and meeting some very distant cousins. A great trip!

I also discovered the Irish heritage of my Paternal grandmother, the Hart family of BALLYGARGAN, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Now, I have turned by research to my mother's side of the family, the Rees and Williams families from Christchurch, New Zealand.

The research continues!

Roger

I am a second generation New Zealander, of English/Welsh descent.

Although I have been aware of my family's origins for many years, it has only been recently that I have been actively researching and documenting my ancestors' details.

I now know that my great grandfather, Arthur Rogers Watkin, emigrated from Shropshire, England in 1880, and settled with his wife, Mary, and their four children in New Plymouth, on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

I visited and photographed their combined headstone in the old settler cemetery (Te Henui) in New Plymouth. There is an enormous pohutukawa tree growing out of the grave, which is on the side of a hill.

In the photo, their headstone is the small white one to the left of the tree!

Roger Watkin
April 2015

Hi. I am commencing a research task prior to visiting these areas of the UK, on a trip from New Zealand, later this year (2015).

Using the power of the internet, I have narrowed the search areas to a small part of the English/Welsh border, around Llangynyw, Manafon, Bettws Cedewain, Berriew, Clun and Church Stretton. My forebears were farmers in this area, and the earliest confirmed ancestor I have found is Job Watkin (my great great grandfather) and his wife Ann (nee Goodwin) who were married on 2 May 1829 at Bettws Cedewain.

I have found evidence that they had ten children, between 1831 and about 1855. At least three of them (John, born 1831, Arthur, born 1841 and Daniel, born 1849) emigrated to New Zealand in 1880 and 1881. Arthur is my great grandfather.

I would like to find out what happened to Job and Ann. Did they also move away, or end their days pretty much where they started?

I would like to try and find out what happened to the other seven, (Job, Edward, Catherine, Evan, Ann, Thomas & Alfred) and whether any of their descendants are still living in the area.

Any help will be appreciated!

Roger