An Edmonds Keeps His Promise

edmondsallan . hello to all . The storm here is causing havoc & even the cats are snuggling close as I put this journal together. Good time to keep part of a promise I made to you. Having explained about death records etc' in the last two journals to assist us all to follow how rumors & mistakes can easily be made in ancestry workings . , I think it is time to put pen to paper & do the first Journal on some burial rumors of the Edmonds, Maori & Pakeha ancestry . However the Main thread, Main Character , in this journal & for all to understand,is John Samuel Edmonds . It may take two or three journals to get the real story out to you for your perusal .In doing so it is not my intention to sling off at anybody,or upset any one of our "extended edmonds family " .only to seek & tell the truth .
" OTAHUAO BURIAL RESERVE " This is the name of a little known burial ground on the South-east corner of the now Edmonds Ruins . The maori land court granted this piece of land to be used as a burial ground & appointed a maori family as trustees, which is still with that trust today The family who made the application many years ago and succeeded was the " Strongman " family . I believe , but have no proof ,told to me by a descendant still alive today .with paper work on this burial ground, that this particular " Strongman family " in this area were in dispute with their close whanau, & were not allowed at the time to bury their dead in their tribal burial grounds . I do not know the ins or outs of this story only what what i was told & which I believe may be true . This is how that burial ground got started . This descendant was the last to rent the annexe of the " Edmonds original home " after the fire in 1885-86. Perhaps we should look at the calender about this " Edmonds Home "
1841 Construction started , 1858 construction completed , 1885-86 house destroyed by fire , 1886 to the 1950's - " Edmonds Descendants " continued to live in the annexe to the house . I have the name of that married couple , and spoken to his wife who is still alive & as bright as button .I will not disclose this family's surname , to ensure their privacy . I will say that most of the knowledge they accumulated is already officially recorded . Her late husband kept records of what was happening in the area . So at last we have the genuine entries & documentation about the " Otahuao Burial reserve " Besides what the present trustees hold , from a family who has lived & is still living in that area . Their son has his fathers papers and when I spoke to him , he told me part of all that was documented by his late father & will research further papers to tell me all about this generally unknown Burial Reserve . What i have been told & have now proven as correct is as follows .
The first burial in this " Otahuao Burial Reserve " was _ Davis Andrew Strongman - born 1845 - died 1872 , He was the husband of Matilda Edmonds , 6th child of John & Maryanne edmonds ( our original Ancester )*** Keep this date in mind for the next journal . Why should we remember it ? Because " John Samuel EdMonds " died on the 15th of July 1865 . Therefore he could not be & isn't buried there. Fake Truth & rumor says he was . You can now see he wasn't & which will be proved beyond any doubt . Their are approximately twenty( 20 )people buried there .including children . Their are other Strongman"s -- Cook's -- Crowley's. I have in hand some of their details . Hopefully further details will be sent on to me very soon, as mentioned previously. This is also why you need to refer to the dates on the burial laws . you can now see that they did not have to file anything offically & did not , Later,a record allocation was done . In case some of you are still wondering , their is no one buried in the " Edmonds" home grounds That particular enquiry was investigated by official authorites in 1975. Their is another smaller ground alongside the " Otahuao " burial reserve . This where the " percenta " ( after birth)from children of the whanau were buried . Their are some edmonds buried there , at a far later date , believed to be of the maori ancestry . The decendant told me they were children. This particular documentation is still being investigated & researched from previous mentioned. I hope this journal clears the clouds away from an un proven rumor and some times put into print. To Finish off - Once again < I repeat " John Samuel Edmonds " is not buried at the " Otahuao Burial Reserve " at Kerikeri . Northland NZ.. Till next we meet - keep digging , ask Questions on anything that passes thro your hands , -- Regards to all -edmondsallan