Thomas Rafter of New Zealand

By tolina September 22, 2014 1465 views 2 comments

Thomas migrated to New Zealand on the "Asterope" arriving in Wellington on 6 October 1868. About 10 days later he travelled up to Napier, Hawkes Bay on the "Ahuriri", arriving about 17th October 1868.
In 1881 he is mentioned as looking after mental patients at the Napier goal.

My query is: what work did Thomas do between late 1868 and early 1881? So far I have found nothing in the local newspapers or in the Hawkes Bay Gazette (the official Provincial Government record) referring to him.

After marring my great-grandmother Annie (KEENAN) in 1881 he moved to New Plymouth to enter the prison service in which he worked for the next 30 years at New Plymouth, Lyttelton and finally Napier again.

Related Surnames:
KEENAN RAFTER

Comments (2)

wendums1229


Thomas Rofter

Age:
32

Birth Year:
abt 1848

Birthplace:
Canada

Home in 1880:
La Salle, La Salle, Illinois

Race:
White

Gender:
Male

Relation to Head of House:
Self (Head)

Marital Status:
Married

Spouse's Name:
Ann Rofter

Father's Birthplace:
Ireland

Mother's Birthplace:
Ireland

Household Members:

Name

Age

Thomas Rofter 32
Ann Rofter 25

Occupation:
Saloon Keeper
1880 United States Federal Census
about Thomas Rofter

tolina

Thanks for the response. Interesting that my Rafter was also spelt "Rofter" in some documents in New Zealand.
However my Thomas Rafter was certainly born in Ireland - Kilkenny, as I have a copy of his Birth Certificate.
Thank you again for this information.