Search for content in message boards

Great Grandmother

Great Grandmother

Posted: 20 Oct 2012 8:16AM GMT
Classification: Lookup
Surnames: Heister
Hi,

I'm trying to find a little more information about my great grandmother. Her name was Emma Theodorine G (I don't know how to spell her maiden name, but it sounded like Gaznaelle). I know she was born in 1901 in New Caledonia, and married around the age of 14 in 1915, and her surname changed to Heister. She then immigrated over here to Sydney, Australia in April, 1917. If any one knows any information that would be great!!

Re: Great Grandmother

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 10:42AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Nicole,

Just last week I discovered a site www.en.calameo.com. It is a biographical dictionary of baptisms in New Caledonia for the late 1800's/early 1900's which I have found extremely helpful to my research. It is written in French and has marginal notes which sometimes tells who the person married. I used an online translator for the phrases I did not understand. Your great-grandmother's surname was spelt GAZINGEL. With my limited French it looks like she married Alexandre Alain Heister, born 16/2/1890 in Noumea to Georges Henry HEISTER, a German shipwright, and Gabrielle Olive PAUGAME, 28. Alexandre married your grandmother on 8.5.1915. On 10/4/1922 he married Jeanne Lucie DE BALMANN and then it looks like he married Marie Antoinette DE BALMANN on 4.11.1950, again both in Noumea. Hope my interpretation is correct and this is of some help.

Regards, Mitch.

Re: Great Grandmother

Posted: 15 Dec 2012 6:00AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Mitch,

Oh wow, I just saw this reply! You are a lifesaver!!! I could hug you right now!! :D

My nan and I were just talking on the phone about a hour ago about Emma, and relatives over there. She remembers a little, but at 91, her memory isn't that great.

Thank you soooooo much for this information, it has helped me so much!

Regards,
Nicole

Re: Great Grandmother

Posted: 15 Dec 2012 6:34AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 15 Dec 2012 8:44AM GMT
Hi Mitch,

I found it!! :o)

Thank you sooo much!!

Re: Great Grandmother

Posted: 15 Dec 2012 6:52PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Nicole,

You're really welcome - I'm glad the information gleaned from the site can be of assistance.

Because my great-grandmother had several siblings, I spent quite a bit of time poring over the details it contained and I started to get a sense of their lives in NC. The godparents gave me an idea of whom they mixed with and were possibly related to. The occupations listed for parents and godparents gave an insight into their lifestyle.

The multiple marriages are intriguing. Where with my British/Australian research death led to remarriage,that doesn't seem to have been the case with the French!

Their naming traditions are something I would like to know more about. Children seemed to have 3 Christian names one of which would be chosen as their given name and others as the baptismal name and then sometimes a different combination for the birth registration. I started to see why members of the family recalled them by different names.

Whilst doing this section of my research I realised that we Aussies who have NC roots are a distinct breed with something in common. I know the Huegenot descendents have their own societies around the world, I wonder if there is one for our lot?

I would like to take the opportunity here to thank Christian Martinet who compiled the dictionary. It is an invaluable tool.

cheers,
Mitch

per page

Find a board about a specific topic