Hi I'm looking for our grandmum's lines and her kids lines in Savaii. :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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Hi I'm looking for our grandmum's lines and her kids lines in Savaii.

Journal by Kawhio

My father was the son of a Samoan lady name not known to any of us(My father passed away age 67 in 1968 when I was very young in N.Z.)
He left no names of whom his mum and her family were, but his father had given him photos of him self and who worked for him in Samoa.

I have a black and white photo that shows 3 Samoan Police officers.
1 wearing a white helmet,1 wearing a cap,and an other standing at the back of the two rows of men hat less, as he must have been a very tall chap at least 7foot tall as he almost reaches the roof of the large house they are standing in the front off.
All are wearing dark uniformed coats,2 are wearing long white strides.

This group of men total 29 in all,28 can be seen to be identified, only 1 is known and that is my grandfather seated to the right of an army officer.

13 elders and 1 white man stands behind the seated white men in a row.
There are 4 white men on the seat.

7 men are seated on mates in 2 groups ether side of the White men.
Apart from the Policemen all others look to be elders.
Many are older then 60 but younger then 80 years old.
Many of the elders were a must-arch.

My grandfather was known to the locals as Nookie,but his real name was Richard Williams,born County Kerry Ireland 1858.

Little else is known about his parents or if he had siblings.
What is known is what was printed and published by the Cyclopedia Company of Fiji,Sydney,New South Wales,1907.
It says Resident Magistrate and Native Commissioner on Savaii (Antmann is the German name), is the only white officer on the Island.
County Kerry is where he received his early education,finishing at the Civil Service Academy,Dublin.
He visited the Australian Colonies in 1884,and after a short stay there,he went on to Samoa.
He was mainly instrumental in floating the Company that afterwards led to the famous lawsuit Cornwell versus McArthur.
The trail lasted many years,was heard in the Courts of Samoa,Fiji and New Zealand,was carried to the House of Lords,and was on appeal,finally decided by the ownership of certain lands.
On this decision,Mr Williams received power of attorney to take over and manage the property.
This was continued to do until the hoisting of the flag,when he was appointed by the Imperial German Government to the position of Chief Magistrate and Native Commissioner on Savaii.
His Headquarters were at Matautu,where there was a Court House.
He had a staff of 13,and in addition,scattered around the island under his jurisdiction,a staff of 13 native Magistrates (Faamasinos) 56 town overseers (Pulinuus) 21 Clerks (Failautusis),and 28 Police (Leo leo).
The whole of the roads and bridges,of which there were many,have all been made since annexation and under Mr Williams,personal supervision.

If any one or family's that think they can help please don't be shy to try.
I was named after both my grand fathers,I have never been out of N.Z.
As a young chap dads 3 sisters would come and visit us at home once and a while.
Two of the 3 sisters today, some are known to me but dads other sister have vanished including the Aunty that came to visit us as kids in Kawhia N.Z.
Her name was Eileen Foster,Pago Pago.
Rosie of Fiji,
Hilda Australia,

Some of these Aunties I've never met,we don't know if they had a family.
Thanking you Richard (2nd)
All would have passed away by now.

Surnames: NONE
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by Kawhio Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2011-08-07 21:37:03

Kawhio , from Waikato - Kawhia -New Zealand., has been a Family Tree Circles member since Nov 2009. is researching the following names: WILLIAMS, THOM, WILLIAMOTT and 22 other(s).

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