Robert Lawton left the UK - when?

[Irene Hall]

|banghead| My grandfather left the UK sometime between 1908 and 1912. Four years! You think I'd have no trouble finding the ship that he arrived on. But no!:(

Ok the story is this......

Granddad went to Canada for three years came back to the UK to marry a lady call Mary Barraclough (engaged 15 years! In no hurry it would seem). Was back a week, couldn't stand the UK and left for NZ and never went back. All very simple.

He married Mary in 1908 in Stalybridge Cheshire. His first child was born in NZ in 1912.

I can not find for the life of me, the boat he arrived on therefore, just when he actually arrived in NZ. Don't have access to Find my past (bought too many BMD certs just lately). Shipping lists here are not much chop - in short stumped!!

Suggestions anyone?

Irene

[Sue Mackay]

I put in a search on findmypast for a Robert Lawton going UK to NZ between 1908 and 1912. The only hit was a "Mr. Lawton" (no age or initial) who sailed from London to Wellington on the 'Arawa', arriving 8 Nov 1911. Trouble is it says he was single. so may not be the right one.

[Pam Downes]

Did he go straight to NZ, or did he travel via Canada, the States, etc? If he did, and changed ship en route his destination would be classed as New York, Quebec, etc.
Pam

[Irene Hall]

Definately the wrong one Sue. He was married at that point and they came out together.

Pam, I don't know for certain if they went via the North America or not. But I believe they came straight out.


Irene

[Peter Goodey]

It costs nothing to search.

For example the index shows a LAWTON male 1911 London-Wellington
and an M LAWTON female 1911 London-Wellington.

If you want to investigate these and similar entries you'll have to feed some coins in the slot ;)

[Sue Mackay]

I had a couple of credits about to expire but not enough to look up the actual image. However, I did see that "Mrs.M Lawton" left on the Ruapehu from London to Wellington on 6 July 1911. The interesting thing is that the entry clearly says Mrs. but she is listed as single. Perhaps single meant 'unaccompanied' and they travelled separately? You'd need to look more closely at the actual passenger lists.

[Irene Hall]

I did search Peter, but those two never came up! However they are interesting. Hard to know if their final destination was Wellington.
My lot would probably have arrived in Auckland. As they lived all their lives in the Dargarville area. However, as always, there is the possibility they arrived Wellington and travelled up to Northland from there. Hard to know.

Thanks Sue. I'll have to wait until I've save up a few more pennies and see if I can find on Findmypast. Haven't used it yet.

Irene