We are searching for information on a man called "Old Man" Valentine who may have migrated to the Fiji islands from South America, or possibly Europe.

His second marriage was to a Fiji princess from Verata named Adi Liku Tabua.

(We believe he was also married to a woman named Beddoes and possibly another woman named McCumber.)

"Old Man" Valentine and Adi Liku Tabua had a son named William Valentine.

Willliam Valentine married Adi Sereima Bolavou.

They had a daughter named Emmaline Valentine who married Frank Mitchell.

Any assistance in tracing this family will be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.

The Valentine and Mitchell families live on the islands of Taveuni and Qamea. Their family history has been passed down orally in detail. If you send me your details, I will pass them on by post to the family (they are friends) and they will reply if interested. Very few of them have access to email.

My grandmother is the daughter of Emmaline and Frank Mitchell........
You have lots of relatives that would be very happy to meet you!!
Lots of love,
Dee

My Great Grandfather was Henry Valentine, born in Levuka 1861. He came to Queensland and married Mary Ann Fear in 1884. I am currenlty in Fiji researching but cannot get anything before 1875. I would love to hear from any other ancestors who can help me.
Thanks
jules vicary

My inquiry concerning the origin of a man "in the old days", in Fiji, called "Valentino", commenced about a year ago, via this medium. The inquiry is in behalf of my boss, a direct descendant within the Mitchell clan from the Qamea, Taveuni, Matagi, and Laucala islands region in northern Fiji.

The man nick-named "Valentino" was known more generally as "Old Man" Valentine. It is uncertain as to whether he migrated to Fiji from South America, possibly Europe (Italy), perhaps from elsewhere.

My boss also wants to know when "Old Man" Valentine arrived in Fiji.

He married a Fijian blue-blood from Verata named Adi Liku Tabua.

(There is talk that he was, at one time, married to a woman named Beddoes, possibly, also, to a woman named McCumber.)

"Old Man" Valentine a.k.a. "Valentino" and Adi Liku Tabua had a son named William Valentine.

William Valentine married a blue-blood too: Adi Sereima Bolavu.

Among the children of William and Adi Sereima was a daughter Emmaline "Emma" Valentine.

The said Emma Valentine married Frank Mitchell.

Among Emma and Frank's offspring was a daughter born May 21, 1912 named Lucille Sereima Loloma Mitchell. She migrated to Hawaii in in the early 1930s, was married to Hawaii-born Patrick William F. Hickey, Jr., the union producing five (5) children, including therein a son named Michael Mitchell Hickey.

The same Michael Mitchell Hickey is my boss. In his effort to compile a genealogical chart of his mother's side of the family, for his 14-year-old granddaughter "Talei", he has hit "a cold trail" in the person of the mysterious "Valentino" a.k.a. "Old Man" Valentine. Legend has it that the handle "Valentino" in this case was inspired by the big screen heartthhrob of the era Rudoph Valentino. This can only mean the period in question was...perhaps...the 1910-1930 span?

Mr. Vicary, kind sir, I know this information will probably do little, or nothing, to aid and abet your search for your beloved ancestor, but, should your investigation turn up anything along the trail, pertaining to "Valentino" a.k.a. "Old Man" Valentine, then, and in such event, don't forget this file. Please!

Sa vinaka vaka levu Turaga.

Aloha and best wishes,

Rose Marie

My great-great-grandmother was Louisa Valentine who married William Beddows at the Mission House, Levuka on June 7th 1856. Perhaps she was a relative of Henry Valentine, albeit from a generation before, considering the date of his birth. Please feel free to contact me if you think there may be a link.
Ross.

William Valentine was the father of David Valentine who was born at Ovolau. David married Louisa Jackson whose birth was registered in October 1855. One of their children was Laisa Valentine (1867 - 1948) who married Francis Charles Beddoes. Laisa was my husband's grandmother.
Is this of any help? Hope so.
I believe there is to be a Beddoes reunion in Fiji later this year but I don't know any details yet.

I've got a library book here "A history of Fiji (vol1)" by R A Derrick and it mentions a William Valentine in Fiji in 1846. Not much info, it just says that the chief Cakobau seized a boat and later it was returned to William Valentine. Must be the same family?

Hi Ross,

Thanks for that information - I was in Fiji in Feb 04 - visited with Valentine descendants in Levuka and Suva and was given your name as a contact. I would be interested in any information you may have - you can email me direct at julesvee@dodo.com.au I believe the William Valentine you mention may be my great-great-grandfather or his brother, but I only had 10 days in Fiji and only found scant records in that time - we talked about planning a Valentine Family Reunion sometime in the future - I'm keen, what about you?

Regards
Jules Vicary

Please forgive the lack of respone to your message, however, I have been very ill. I would like, however, to complete the family tree that I began several years ago. I was very excited to learn that your grandmother is the daughter of Emmaline and Frank Mitchell.

Perhaps she can fill in some of the information that I am missing:

Emmaline Valentine - Date and place of birth
John Valentine (Brother) - Date and place of birth
Any other siblings - Date and place of birth
Date and place of marriage of Emmaline Valentine and Frank Mitchell.

Information on Emmaline's parents -
William Valentine - Date and place of birth
Adi Sereima Bolavou - Date and place of birth
Date and Place of Marriage of William Valentine & Adi Sereima Bolavou

Information on William Valentine's parents -
First name?? Valentine - Date and place of birth
Adi Liku Tabua - Date and place of birth
Date and place of marriage of (First name??) Valentine & Adi Liku Tabua
Names, dates & places of birth of all children

Information on Adi Sereima Bolavou's parents -
Mother's name
Date & place of birth of mother
Father - Tui Qaraniyaku - Date & place of birth
Date and place of marriage of (??) and Adi Sereima Bolavou
Names, dates & places of birth of all children

I would be more than happy to share the family tree with you when it is completed. It is already quite extensive, but as you can imagine we are still missing some pertinent information.