hi Shane,

that was ESTHER Mary Taylor who married Walter Brown in 1903

I have found 7 children for them but the records only go up to 1912, do you have more?

uncle Len was Leonard Corbet Percival Brown, born 1905
uncle Fred was Frederick Charles Brown, born 1912

William Walter Lashford Brown
- born 25 November 1903
- died 15 September 1976


Leonard Corbet Percival Brown
- born 21 April 1905
- died 19 June 1975


Alice Myrtle Brown
- born 10 June 1906


Leslie Francis David Brown
- born 25 June 1908
- died 22 April 1990


Ivy Esther Mary Brown
- born 27 June 1909
- died 15 September 2005


Robert George Clifton Brown
- born 10 August 1910
- died 3 May 1977


Frederick Charles Brown
- born 2 December 1912
- died 9 November 1996

Hi Ngaire,

Thanks so much for your most welcome response. There is one name on here I didn't have and that is Ivy. Mum has given me all she knew, here are three others you may be interested in May, Clare and Nellie. I have know middle names or dates for them and I've hit a brick wall where they are concerned, sorry. You may have better luck. Concerning my Grandad, William, he an Sarita (nee Thomas) had 3 Children, Ruth Mary; Born 25/06/1931, living now, in Tauranga. Joan Nordeen (my mum); Born 11/08/1934, living in Dargaville. And William Dudley; Born 10/11/1937, Now living in Murgon, Q.L.D Australia.
I have spoken to uncle Bill about his dad and he doesn't know anything. After Grandad and Sarita (Nana) split, uncle bill must have been very young and was bought up by his mother and a bloke called Keith Berstrum. I think that was his last name, I know he was Keith as us as kid's knew him as uncle Keith.
Grandad spent the last 3 or 4 years of his life with my family. That's when he and I became great mate's, I loved him dearly. He had confided in me during this time the circumstances surrounding his split with Sarita. And you may have guest it, it was to do with the Keith thing. Funnily enough on a personal note, my marriage split was along the same lines as my Grandfather's....lol
It was me who took Grandad to the hospital in Dargaville for a simple Pyle operation. Sadly for me, it was the last time I saw my Grandfather. I found out later that during the OP, doctors had found advanced Bowel Cancer and they'd dealt with it as best they could for the times by removing most of Grandad's bowel. Mum did tell me many years later that she'd believe Grandad had known this and pulled the pin himself as he'd not responded to the medication's doctor's placed him on. And funnily enough it had fitted with Grandad's last words to me. The day I'd dropped him off he'd said to me, "look after your mum and dad and be the best man you can be". I can remember responding with, "Don't be silly Grandad, I'll be in on Monday to pick you up" In saying that , I do, now believe he had know it was his time. That's just my little personal story about William Walter Lashford, my Grandfather and my friend. I do hope you find something in that little story about the man.
There is a couple of things Grandad did tell me about his father Walter when I'd asked about my great grand-pa Brown. Firstly, That Walter and his brother had jumped ship in N.Z. after leaving Ireland. Also some stuff about Kinsale in County Cork, a fishing village south of Dublin. They then dropped the E off the end Browne, making it the Brown we know today. I'd love to find out if this is fact or fiction.
And secondly, that his dad was a violent man at time's. Grandad showed me a scare on his leg where a lump of meat had been taken out when his dad had chastised him with a stock whip. Not nice!
Well Ngaire, after that drawn out reply I hope there is something for you. Here's my personal E Mail in case you'd like to stay in touch on a private level with any info. holden58fc@gmail.com
Oh yeah, Mum did say that she thought there was someone doing a family tree on the Brown family in N.Z. She had also told me that she did believe that her family did at one time have an E at the end of their name. Maybe something to hunt out. So on that, great share with you and take care. Shane

Hi Shane I have ben some research on this family line Id be happy to swap info etc.
Cheers
Michelle

Esther Mary TAYLOR
b. 25 Dec 1883 in Johnsonville, Wellington NZ
died 2 May 1928 in Porirua Hospital, Wellington
Married Walter Brown on 16 June 1903 in Wellington, NZ
Esther Mary Taylor is the daughter of Frank (Francis) Taylor 1858-1939 and Alice Wilmshurst 1862-1919

Hi Shane , Your uncle Bill (William Dudley Brown ) from the rolls I see his mother Sarita was living with my Uncle Keith Dudley Bergstrom 2 years prior to his birth and after she split with William , Keith worked for William and Sarita as a farmhand , I have followed Keith and Sarita on the rolls and they lived together until Keith died in 1972. I am guessing Williams father was not William Brown but Keiths son he has his middle name .Because Sarita still being married to William when her son was born he would automatically take on his surname .