Otto. Keven. Hannken, Waddell and Nicolle

APL SGGSC5-2748

Today we look at some of the research queries received in the last few weeks. There is some fantastic work going on. The purpose of this post is twofold- to publicise some recent activity and to invite your assistance and connection with other researchers.

Jan in Australia has recently linked up with other Hannken 'cousins' through the Ancestry DNA network. She is looking for a copy of Philip Hannken's biography of his father Frederick titled 'The Pioneer'. Her copy (now lost) was in a plain green binding, probably published privately in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Does anyone own a copy which could be scanned and shared?

Still on Hannken matters- a researcher asks: does anyone know the whereabouts of the Hannken/Waddell family album auctioned through Art & Object in August 2015. The catalogue entry reads:
 CARTE DE VISITES, - ALBUM
Auckland
31 carte de visites mostly portraits by Hemus & Hanna, Queen St,
Auckland with several different logos verso. Single images by Clarke
Brothers, Queen St, Auckland; R.H. Bartlett Auckland; Foy Brothers
Thames; E. Willmott, Queen
St Auckland; Gregorys Ponsonby Road; Tuttles & Co Auckland, Josiah
Martin Auckland.
The photographs appear to mainly members of the Waddell and
Hannken families.
Two images of shop frontages one of ‘Hannken Bros First Cheap Cash
Sale’ and one of Waddell Steam Biscuit Factory.
Some of the photographs are faded with some spotting mostly G to
VG.
All in a small oblong album bound with squares of mother of pearl,
brass clasps and aleather spine, the album is worn with loose pages
and the spine is split.
$300 - $400

Turning now to Otto/Keven history. Jeremy is researching the early life of Thomas Keven. He is particularly interested in picking up the trail from Australia back to Britain. Would anyone currently working in the same area be interested in collaborating?

Jeremy has also explored the Nicolle family in considerable detail, using primary source material to establish the lineage of Eliza Nicolle wife of George Otto. He draws attention to the number of unsubstantiated trees for Nicolle which have been published and highlights the potential pitfalls for researchers. Jeremy has shared his research here see Descendants of George Nicolle.

A Fine Lineage

An angel in the burial ground at Russell, Bay of Islands. Image BFA 2014

For the vast majority of the world's population a knowledge of the identity of forebears and the stories associated with their lives forms the scaffold for a healthy sense of identity. This recent article amused me principally because of the false assumptions on which it is based.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/80347102/what-youll-find-in-your-family-tree-might-shock-and-surprise-you
Not that the author is alone in those. His quotation from the Guardian merely perpetuates an inaccurate myth- that 'not for profit' or 'volunteer' equals an amateur filling in time. He also suffers from the Westerner's misconception that 'middle age' is a time-based tragedy rather than a resource-rich opportunity.

As one who began to explore family history in my twenties my experience was rather different. The men and women of all age groups involved in genealogy in the 1980's definitely perceived their role as pioneers in an age of opportunity. As a result, many of the databases now available on line were compiled from their patient hours of data retrieval, cross checking and indexing. Memorial transcriptions in particular have relied almost solely on those volunteers trekking out in groups to find, photograph and transcribe.

The advent of the internet brought a marriage made in heaven. At last the genealogists' drive to cooperate and connect acquired the perfect technological partner.
In many respects those cultural historians or 'family historians' were the vanguard of the share culture which characterises the Web today. So enjoy the instant access, check and double check the data - then share what you have, build connections and grow that legacy of knowledge for those who come after.