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.

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 Tui Qaraniyaku and Adi Sereima Bolavou's mother
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.

Hello, I have some information that may be of use to you. I am researching my husbands family tree, his grandmother was a McComber. A Valentine married into the McComber Family.

I believe you were looking for info on William Valentine, who was the father of William Valentine( the one that married Adi Sereima Bolavou). Anyway, Williams father was William, born around 1815 on Levuka Ovalau, and he married Adi Kasanita LikuTabua(born around 1820) of Batiki Island around 1840. They had a daughter named Lydia Valentine( sister to the William who married Sereima Bolavou) who married John Brownell Macomber from the USA, she was born in 1841 in Levuka. In fact John and Lydia had three childre, Ephraim, John and Clara, who died young. Ephraim married Amelia Veimodo who was the daughter of Tui Laucala.They had a quite a family line that is continued to this day.

The second part of the equation here is that Maraia Valentine one of the daughters of Adi Sereimea Bolavou and William Valentine was born in 1876 and married John Macomber on August 11, 1896 in Lomaloma, Lau Group Fiji. This John Macomber was the son of John Brownell Macomber( the original Macomber to Fiji) and Lydia Valentine.

So if I've totally confused you by now thats okay, because it is confusing, but to clarify, John McComber married Maraia Valentine, they were cousins, as Johns Mother Lydia Valentine and Maraia's father William Valentine were brother and sister, their parents were William Valentine and Adi Kasanita Likutabua.

Hope that has helped, I have more info on the Macomber family if you would like, but I believe I have answered some of your questions regarding Mr. Valentine.

Cheers
Seruwaia Sanday
BC, Canada.

Bula Vinaka Seruwaia,

I sent a copy of your wonderful research on the Valentine and McComber side of our family to a few of my cousins around the world. It was really exciting to hear back from a second cousin of mine (and your husband) in NZ. I'm going to cut and past her comments below for you to read.

Here's the reply from our cousin Rachel in NZ:
Wow, the email on the Macombers was fascinating, Maraia Valentine and John Macomber (the 1st cousins) were my grandparents!!! Maraia's sister of course was Emma, (my Mothers yaca) who was Aunty Lai's mother, your great grandma, connections, connections!! I'm still trying to get my head around the other people, but I know Aunty Ella will know who they are, although she's getting a bit forgetful these days, Aunty and Vicki are coming over to see Isla on Sunday, so I'll pick her brains then.
There's an author Debbie Macomber from the States, she has a lot of books published here, she mainly does light romance I think, I've got one of her books but haven't read it yet, me and books, honestly I can't stop buying them, I love reading, but these days I don't get as much time. Anyway I presume Debbie Maconber is married to a Macomber, she has web site, I know there are many Macomber's in the USA.

I hope to hear from you very soon Seruwaia. Please e-mail me anytime at: deegee619@aol.com

Moce mada,
Dee

"Old Man" Valentine and Adi Liku Tabua were the parents of my great grandmother Cordelia Valentine who married Gustav Petersen. They eventually settled in Naselesele, Taveuni where their descendants still live.

I believe Cordelia had a sister called Marama, who married a Fijian man from Lau and they settled in Yanuca off Taveuni. Then there was the sister who married a Mitchell. I think William had a son called Steven whose descendants still live in Taveuni.

A picture of Cordelia is attached

Seruwaia,
Are you sure that the first William Valentine was born in Fiji in 1815? That is very early for a European birth in Fiji.
He probably married Adi Liku Tabua about 1840, but after coming to Fiji from wherever he was born. William Valentine was definitely living in Levuka about 1844, when all the settlers there were driven out, along with their Fijian wives and children to Nawaido, Vanua Levu by Cakobau.
These settlers had first come to Levuka in the 1830s, and the missionaries arrived about 1835. When the American Exploring Expedition arrived in Ovalau in 1840, they found approximately 40 houses there. The narrative of the fleet mentions David Whippy and Paddy Connel and some missionaries, but no other Europeans.
Christine

Bula Rose Marie,

Please email me at tsmith@cuscal.com.au or tasere@yahoo.com.

My grandmother was Nancy Valentine and her father Frank Valentine was the son of Stephen & Louisa (nee Jackson)Valentine.
Stephen's father was William Valentine and they had two children - Stephen and Lydia (who later became Mrs McComber).

I have some information you maybe interested in regarding the Valentine Family and may be of help to you and your boss.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Regards
Tania

Sydney, Australia

Hi Jules,

I am a direct descendent of William Valentine, his grandson is my great grandfather Frank Valentine who married Melisi Edwards (Latu)

I have not heard of Henry Valentine but I will look up with the information I have and you can contact me on
tasere@yahoo.com or tsmith@cuscal.com.au.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Regards
Tania

Hi Dee,

If you have any information for this side of the Valentine Family Tree please contact me on

tsmith@cuscal.com.au. or tasere@yahoo.com

I wish to share and exchange information.

Regards
Tania

Hi Rose Marie,

Please feel free to contact me on tasere@yahoo.com or tsmith@cuscal.com.au. regarding the information you are needing.

My great grandfather was Frank Valentine whose father was Stephen Valentine, who is the son of William Valentine Snr.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
Tania

Hi there,

If possible could you please send in attachment a copy of Cordelia, I could not see this attachment here.

I am a descendent of William Valentine and wishing to obtain more informatin or photo's of the Family.

My grandmother was Nancy Valentine, her father was Frank Valentine, his father was Stephen who is the son of William Valentine.

Would love to hear form you and also share information. would love a copy of Cordelia's picture.

Please contact me on tasere@yahoo.com or tsmith@cuscal.com.au

Regards
Tania

Hi barbara,

William Valentine came from Chile in South America. His first wife was from lomaiviti region - Batiki. He had many children onto th many woman in which all the branches of the Valentine Family are made up from - The Mitchells, Peterson's, Beddoe's, Stolz etc.

I believe William's first two children were Stephen (who married Louisa Jackson) and Lydia (who became Mrs McComber)
David did not marry Louisa Jackson as mentioned in your email.
Louisa Jackson had two another sisters. They were or had settled in Beqa, Fiji Islands. I have heard stories from my father mentioning that their is some Valentine land in Beqa too and this is where Stephen is buried.

I have more information here if you would like get in touch with me at tasere@yahoo.com or tsmith@cuscal.com.au.

My grandmother was a Valentine and her father was Frank and his father was Stephen.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
Tania

My greatgrandmother was Cordelia Valentine whose parents were William Valentine and Adi Kasanita Likutabua (she was one of his 11/12 children from 3 different wives. Some information I have on William Valentine which was passed on to me as follows:

William Valentine came from Chile, South America, a butcher by trade and was born in 1815. He was married in 1836 in Levuka. He kept 3 wives, a Ra lady, his married wife was probably Adi Kelera of Batiki or Nairai of Lomaiviti Group. His second mistress was Adi Kasanita Likutabua born in 1820 of Verata Ucuni Vanua, Viti Levu. Their first child was Lydia Valentine born in Levuka Ovalau in 1837. Adi Kasanita was probably 16 years old then. Their second was Cordelia Martha Valentine who was born to them in 07/06/1841 in Levuka. She was married to Mr Augustavus Petersen from Smalem, Sweden. Cordelia had some 11 or 12 brothers and sisters from 3 sets of mums for instance in 1841 there were 3 children born to Mr William Valentine. In fact he did register all his 11 or 12 children of 3 different mothers.

I hope this helps.

When you say William Valentine registered all his children, who were born in the 1830s/40s, what exactly do you mean? Where and with whom did he register them?

The British Consular records from Fiji, which run from 1858 to 1873, do not contain any Valentine children, and the Fijian colonial government registrations start after Cession in 1874. Unless they were all registered late, which could happen, these children are unlikely to be in the Birth Registrations.

The children could be, and probably are, in the Marriage registrations, because by then they are old enough to be getting married.

There may be baptismal records, from probably the Wesleyan church.

Chris
If this helps I have a copy (1 page) from "Baptisms solemnized in the Wesleyan-Methodist Chapel" for October 3 1843. "The minister by whom the ceremony was performed" in the following baptisms was Revd Jno Hunt.

Oct 3 1843 Louisa daughter of William Valentine Ovalau,
Oct 3 1843 Ann daughter of William Valentine Ovalau,
Oct 3 1843 Emerlin daughter of William Valentine Ovalau,
Oct 3 1843 David son of William Valentine Ovalau.

There is no provision for a 2nd parent's name on the form. There is no provision for the actual birthdate either.

Barbara

Well,at least that shows that they were born before 1843.
Are there any other names on that page, of other baptisms?
Woluld it be possible for you to scan the page and send me a copy, please.
cliavaa@gmail.com

Hi Chris,

How are you connected to the Valentine Family? Which side do you come in on?

I would like to share information or see what you have.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
Tania

I am not connected to the Valentine family, just interested in them, as they are connected to various others I am helping people with.

Hi Chris,

that's fine. Are you based in Fiji? Who are you helping out from the family? Any Suva or Taveuni connections!

Thanks
Tania

Hi Rose,

Please contact me so I can correct and share with you information.

Thanks
Tania

Hi Jules,

Did you have any luck with obtaining information regarding the Valentine Family Tree?

Regards
Tania

try this website robertwolfgram.com concerning the valentine
and mitchel family tree

Bula, im very interested in those facts that you have shared, as i am also a decendant of a valentine. How?? Is that my grandmother laisa cevalau was the eldest daughter of the tui Qaraniyaku, Qamea. And her mother was Emmaline Valentine who was believed to be the daughter of a Chris Valentine. Emmaline was the second cousin to Eliza Mitchell who married a Kamea. What interests me is that the Adi Seremia Bolavou is the daughter of Tui Qaraniyaku....And i would like to know which one??? Hope we can get more info...t