I caught a little bit of a television programme about the Scots in New Zealand, then read the review of that programme in the morning newspaper. One comment I picked up on was that 19th century Scots women in New Zealand were more likely than any others to go into "professional" and other male-dominated fields.
A Sutherland woman (I'm not sure from which side of the family) was the first female lawyer in Tonga and Annie (1862) gave her occupation as a teacher.
With the exception of Dundee, where the jute industry was entirely staffed by married women (in fact, married Dundee women who were not employed or looking for work were considered lazy), married women tended not to work after marriage. However, T M Devine suggests in The Scottish Nation that there was a hidden labour economy not reflected in the census categories. This included homework, such as sewing and laundering, seasonal tasks on farms and casual employment as charwomen or baby-minders.
Women tended to be employed in four areas: domestic service, agriculture, clothing and textiles. 9 out of 10 women worked in these sectors in the middle decades of the 19th century. In 1871, more than a quarter of 'regular' scottish farm workers were women (not including the great army of seasonal workers who worked on the grain, potato and soft fruit harvest). In the later 19th century the move to the city meant women were moving off the land and into towns and cities. By 1900, more women than ever before were employed as clerks within the booming commercial sector and there were also many more female teachers, nurses and midwives than ever before.
Where women found work in formerly male preserves, their career choices were limited - in tailoring, women were confined to machine work in the ready-made trade while men monopolised the first-class shops catering for the most skilled work; in printing, female compositors were confined to typesetting, while men controlled other processes; females were positively encouraged into teaching, but could go no further than the post of infant mistress. Professions such as medicine proved nearly impossible for women to enter - by 1901, there were still only 60 women doctors in Scotland and in hospitals they were confined to low-status specialisations such as obstetrics and children's diseases. [source: T M Devine, The Scottish Nation 1700-2007 (Penguin 2006) pp 532-534]
I feel justifiably proud that my Scottish female forebears were so hardworking ~ particularly as I have made a career of assiduously avoiding any sort of job commitment. ~It certainly wouldn't do in Dundee.
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Monday, 19 March 2007
The Wrong Track???
My friend put her editor's hat on and suggested that "Sutherland" in "Searching for Sutherland" should be plural. I must admit that I've never really liked the title so I've changed it completely. I hope it doesn't stuff up my blogspot address.
Anyway ... today I had a bit of a start. I was browsing through www.familysearch.org (as you do), just throwing in random names and seeing if anything new came up, and I tried entering Robert and Christina Sutherland as parents. The search threw back David Sutherland, born on 9 November 1873, Latheron, Caithness, to Robert Dunbar Sutherland and Christina Morrison Sutherland. Zut Alors!!! Have I been going down the wrong track all along??
I'll go along to the LDS Family History centre next week and see if there's any more information there. Although I did do a couple of searches found Robert D Sutherland and Christina M Sutherland in Latheron in the 1881 and 1891 censuses. There was young David, aged 7 and 17 respectively- (at 17 a "teacher of pupils" no less). There was a daughter listed - Helen and another - Isobel - but no William Morrison or Robert, which is somewhat heartening. I don't want to have to reconstruct the whole tree again.
I'll spend a little more time ruling this family out before continuing with the Sth Leith Sutherlands.
Still no word from Mr Lupi .
Anyway ... today I had a bit of a start. I was browsing through www.familysearch.org (as you do), just throwing in random names and seeing if anything new came up, and I tried entering Robert and Christina Sutherland as parents. The search threw back David Sutherland, born on 9 November 1873, Latheron, Caithness, to Robert Dunbar Sutherland and Christina Morrison Sutherland. Zut Alors!!! Have I been going down the wrong track all along??
I'll go along to the LDS Family History centre next week and see if there's any more information there. Although I did do a couple of searches found Robert D Sutherland and Christina M Sutherland in Latheron in the 1881 and 1891 censuses. There was young David, aged 7 and 17 respectively- (at 17 a "teacher of pupils" no less). There was a daughter listed - Helen and another - Isobel - but no William Morrison or Robert, which is somewhat heartening. I don't want to have to reconstruct the whole tree again.
I'll spend a little more time ruling this family out before continuing with the Sth Leith Sutherlands.
Still no word from Mr Lupi .
Thursday, 15 March 2007
Where I'm up to now
I'm overwhelmed at how much information I've been able to cobble together over the past month or so. From my children, I've been able to create a family tree that goes back six generations - or seven if you include James Sutherland's parents.
Below is the descendency list of James Sutherland, based on the information I have gathered. There are still a lot of gaps. For example, I would like to look for information about each of James and Catherine's children. I know a couple of them died young and I'm not sure if I can get information about them - Statutory records started in 1855 which means after that date births, deaths and marriages were legally required to be registered. Before then, particularly in the case of deaths, there was a cost involved, so only those prepared to pay had the details registered.
Anyway, I'm pretty proud of the information I've gathered so far....
James Sutherland and his descendents
First Generation
James Sutherland was born about 1790 in Halkirk, Caithness. His parents were David Sutherland and Elizabeth Henry. He died on 27 Mar 1876 in 7 King Street, Leith, Scotland.
James married Catherine Sutherland daughter of Robert Sutherland and Margaret Henry on 24 Jan 1823 in Lybster Caithness Scotland. Catherine was born about 1796 in Scotland. She died on 23 Dec 1870 in Canongate, Edinburgh.
They had the following children:
Robert was born on 28 Nov 1827. He died on 3 Sep 1916.
Betty was born about 1830.
David was born about 1826.
Davidson was born about 1832.
James was born about 1839.
Janet was born about 1834.
Margaret was born about 1826.
William was born about 1836.
Catherine was born in 1831. She died young.
Elizabeth was born about 1829. She died young.
Elizabeth was born in 1837. She died young.
John was born about 1835. He died young.
Second Generation
Robert Sutherland was born1 on 28 Nov 1827 in Lybster Caithness Scotland. He died on 3 Sep 1916 in Raymond Road, Gore Hill St Leonards, Sydney. He was buried on 4 Sep 1916 in Presbytarian Cemetary Gore Hill.
Robert married Christina Middlemas daughter of Thomas Middlemas and Ann Dilworth Simpson on 13 Dec 1855 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. Christina was born on 14 Mar 1834 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland. She was christened in St Cuthberts Church. She died on 31 Jul 1922 in Raymond Road, Gore Hill St Leonards, Sydney. She was buried on 1 Aug 1922 in Prebytarian Cemetary, Gore Hill, NSW.
Robert and Christina had the following children:
William Morrison was born on 20 May 1869. He died on 6 May 1915.
Thomas Middlemass was born on 9 Nov 1858 in Dundee Angus Scotland.
James was born on 12 Dec 1856 in Dundee Angus Scotland.
Catherine was born on 24 Apr 1866 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Christina Dickson was born on 17 May 1864 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Ann Dilworth Simpson was born on 5 Aug 1861 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Robert was born on 26 May 1876 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland. He died on 10 Aug 1984.
Georgina Alexandrina McIntosh was born on 9 Nov 1871 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Eliza was born in 1879 in Scotland.
Third Generation
William Morrison Sutherland (Morrison) was born on 20 May 1869 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. He died on 6 May 1915 in Tonga.
William married Naomi Mahe on 16 Nov 1897 in Nukalofa. Naomi was born in Tonga.
They had the following children:
Christina Middlemas was born on 5 Jan 1899 in Namuka, Tonga. She died on 27 Jun 1976 in Middlemore Hospital Auckland NZ.
Robert was born on 3 Feb 1901 in Namuka, Tonga. He died on 19 Apr 1984.
William Morrison was born on 2 Jun 1902 in Lifuka, Tonga.
Walter Stringer was born on 10 Jul 1904 in Nimafuou, Tonga. He died young.
Georgina Mary was born on 18 Mar 1906 in Nukalofa, Tonga.
Donald Gordon was born on 14 Feb 1909. He died in 1986.
Fourth Generation
Donald Gordon was born on 14 Feb 1909 in Nukalofa, Tonga. He died in 1986 in Gisborne and was buried at Tolaga Bay, NZ.
Donald married Stella Karmelina Matutinovich . The marriage ended in divorce. Stella was born in Dargaville NZ. She died on 22 October 1989 in Auckland. She was buried in Waikumeke Cemetary.
They had the following children:
William Gordon was born on 26 Jun 1933.
Naomi Memory Matutinovich was born abt 1932 (stillborn)
There are a few gaps but mainly to do with dates. I'm ashamed to say I can never remember my nephews' ages. I'm sure my mum will help fill in some of these.
Below is the descendency list of James Sutherland, based on the information I have gathered. There are still a lot of gaps. For example, I would like to look for information about each of James and Catherine's children. I know a couple of them died young and I'm not sure if I can get information about them - Statutory records started in 1855 which means after that date births, deaths and marriages were legally required to be registered. Before then, particularly in the case of deaths, there was a cost involved, so only those prepared to pay had the details registered.
Anyway, I'm pretty proud of the information I've gathered so far....
James Sutherland and his descendents
First Generation
James Sutherland was born about 1790 in Halkirk, Caithness. His parents were David Sutherland and Elizabeth Henry. He died on 27 Mar 1876 in 7 King Street, Leith, Scotland.
James married Catherine Sutherland daughter of Robert Sutherland and Margaret Henry on 24 Jan 1823 in Lybster Caithness Scotland. Catherine was born about 1796 in Scotland. She died on 23 Dec 1870 in Canongate, Edinburgh.
They had the following children:
Robert was born on 28 Nov 1827. He died on 3 Sep 1916.
Betty was born about 1830.
David was born about 1826.
Davidson was born about 1832.
James was born about 1839.
Janet was born about 1834.
Margaret was born about 1826.
William was born about 1836.
Catherine was born in 1831. She died young.
Elizabeth was born about 1829. She died young.
Elizabeth was born in 1837. She died young.
John was born about 1835. He died young.
Second Generation
Robert Sutherland was born1 on 28 Nov 1827 in Lybster Caithness Scotland. He died on 3 Sep 1916 in Raymond Road, Gore Hill St Leonards, Sydney. He was buried on 4 Sep 1916 in Presbytarian Cemetary Gore Hill.
Robert married Christina Middlemas daughter of Thomas Middlemas and Ann Dilworth Simpson on 13 Dec 1855 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. Christina was born on 14 Mar 1834 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland. She was christened in St Cuthberts Church. She died on 31 Jul 1922 in Raymond Road, Gore Hill St Leonards, Sydney. She was buried on 1 Aug 1922 in Prebytarian Cemetary, Gore Hill, NSW.
Robert and Christina had the following children:
William Morrison was born on 20 May 1869. He died on 6 May 1915.
Thomas Middlemass was born on 9 Nov 1858 in Dundee Angus Scotland.
James was born on 12 Dec 1856 in Dundee Angus Scotland.
Catherine was born on 24 Apr 1866 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Christina Dickson was born on 17 May 1864 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Ann Dilworth Simpson was born on 5 Aug 1861 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Robert was born on 26 May 1876 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland. He died on 10 Aug 1984.
Georgina Alexandrina McIntosh was born on 9 Nov 1871 in South Leith Midlothian Scotland.
Eliza was born in 1879 in Scotland.
Third Generation
William Morrison Sutherland (Morrison) was born on 20 May 1869 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. He died on 6 May 1915 in Tonga.
William married Naomi Mahe on 16 Nov 1897 in Nukalofa. Naomi was born in Tonga.
They had the following children:
Christina Middlemas was born on 5 Jan 1899 in Namuka, Tonga. She died on 27 Jun 1976 in Middlemore Hospital Auckland NZ.
Robert was born on 3 Feb 1901 in Namuka, Tonga. He died on 19 Apr 1984.
William Morrison was born on 2 Jun 1902 in Lifuka, Tonga.
Walter Stringer was born on 10 Jul 1904 in Nimafuou, Tonga. He died young.
Georgina Mary was born on 18 Mar 1906 in Nukalofa, Tonga.
Donald Gordon was born on 14 Feb 1909. He died in 1986.
Fourth Generation
Donald Gordon was born on 14 Feb 1909 in Nukalofa, Tonga. He died in 1986 in Gisborne and was buried at Tolaga Bay, NZ.
Donald married Stella Karmelina Matutinovich . The marriage ended in divorce. Stella was born in Dargaville NZ. She died on 22 October 1989 in Auckland. She was buried in Waikumeke Cemetary.
They had the following children:
William Gordon was born on 26 Jun 1933.
Naomi Memory Matutinovich was born abt 1932 (stillborn)
There are a few gaps but mainly to do with dates. I'm ashamed to say I can never remember my nephews' ages. I'm sure my mum will help fill in some of these.
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
Putting it all Together
Although I have a million miles to go before I’ve completed this project, which seems to become more mammoth with every scrap of information I unearth, I can’t help thinking about what I’m going to do with it all.
One outcome would be to write up a family history, but I can’t help thinking that 1) some family stories are best left untold; and 2) “great-aunt-maude’s-next-door-neighbour’s-visitor-falling-down-the-well-after-running-off-with- the-ploughman”-type histories are not what interests me.
When I began this project, my principal interest lay in the choices that families and individuals make during their lives – what drives people to make the decisions that they do. For example, my great-grandfather was raised in Edinburgh and settled in Tonga – why? In trying to find out how he came to be there, I discovered that I first had to establish all sorts of links to previous generations and my focus has shifted from “why did they do this?” to a more basic “who were they?”
It is difficult to describe the thrill of finding another piece to the jigsaw. When I found my great-great-uncle’s passport application, and especially his photo, I was ecstatic. I could actually see this person and imagine him going about his business - what's more it provided a valuable link to a family that I had hitherto only been able to assume belonged to my family tree. When I found my ancestors in Lybster in the Scottish highlands – my family - over 200 years ago, I was quite astonished that there was this common thread going back that far – and, of course, even further.
So, although I could ask all sorts of questions about why my ancestors made the choices they did, I’ve decided to concentrate at this stage to piecing together the family tree and allowing the information I find to tell its own story.
The main thing is that this family tree is accessible to everyone. I started to enter the details on www.ancestry.co.uk which produces a very nice chart and allows you to fill in all sorts of details. However, It would seem that only members of the site – and it can cost up to $US200 to register – can view the information. So I’m giving some thought to how I might publish the tree so that others can see it – The LDS is looking like a viable option and I’ll discuss them in a later blog. In the meantime, I’ll sketch up a quick family tree from what I have now and publish that within my next couple of posts.
One outcome would be to write up a family history, but I can’t help thinking that 1) some family stories are best left untold; and 2) “great-aunt-maude’s-next-door-neighbour’s-visitor-falling-down-the-well-after-running-off-with- the-ploughman”-type histories are not what interests me.
When I began this project, my principal interest lay in the choices that families and individuals make during their lives – what drives people to make the decisions that they do. For example, my great-grandfather was raised in Edinburgh and settled in Tonga – why? In trying to find out how he came to be there, I discovered that I first had to establish all sorts of links to previous generations and my focus has shifted from “why did they do this?” to a more basic “who were they?”
It is difficult to describe the thrill of finding another piece to the jigsaw. When I found my great-great-uncle’s passport application, and especially his photo, I was ecstatic. I could actually see this person and imagine him going about his business - what's more it provided a valuable link to a family that I had hitherto only been able to assume belonged to my family tree. When I found my ancestors in Lybster in the Scottish highlands – my family - over 200 years ago, I was quite astonished that there was this common thread going back that far – and, of course, even further.
So, although I could ask all sorts of questions about why my ancestors made the choices they did, I’ve decided to concentrate at this stage to piecing together the family tree and allowing the information I find to tell its own story.
The main thing is that this family tree is accessible to everyone. I started to enter the details on www.ancestry.co.uk which produces a very nice chart and allows you to fill in all sorts of details. However, It would seem that only members of the site – and it can cost up to $US200 to register – can view the information. So I’m giving some thought to how I might publish the tree so that others can see it – The LDS is looking like a viable option and I’ll discuss them in a later blog. In the meantime, I’ll sketch up a quick family tree from what I have now and publish that within my next couple of posts.
Monday, 12 March 2007
The Village of Lybster
I'm still waiting to hear back from Mr Lupi of the Solomon Islands with my great-grandfather's death certificate. However, finding his brother's passport application has convinced me that the Edinburgh Sutherlands - Christina and Robert et al - are indeed William's and Robert's family At least I'm going to assume I'm on the right track and I'll continue finding out about them and their background until I discover otherwise.
I've also learnt - thanks Nicola - how to upload images, so my blogs should take on an entire new dimension!
As I mentioned in my earlier blog, Robert (1827) was a sailmaker when he met Christina. He was born in the village of Lybster, Caithnesshire, to Catherine and James Sutherland, a Cooper, and baptised on November 28 1827.
According to the Gazetteer of Scotland vol 2 1847, Lybster is:
A village and a quoad sacra parish* on the west coast of Caithness-shire. The village stands at the head of Amherst bay, a little east of the great north mail road and 13 miles south west of the town of Wick. It was commenced, in 1802, by the late lieutenant-general Sinclair, and, already of considerable size, it promises to become a place of importance. Many of its houses are good, and new ones are annually added.
Most of its inhabitants are maintained soley by the herring fishery, and they have amongst them 100 boats. The village has a post office, a friendly society,* one or two schools, and two fairs.
Population about 400 - the quoad sacra parish lies, quoad civilia, in the parish of Latheron, and is in the presbytry of Caithness, and synod of Sutherland and Caithness. The church is situated in the village and was built in 1836-7 at the cost of stg832. Sittings 805, stipend stg100. The parish comprehends a landward district which, jointly with the village, has a population of upwards of 2,500. Its erection arose from the church extention scheme of the General Assembly, and ranks as the first result of that scheme north of Inverness. A preaching station in connection with the United Secession was commenced at the village in 1835, but has been abandoned. [source: The Top. Stat, & Hist. Gazateer of Scotland Vol 2. 1847]
Lybster is described today as an “attractive village” with a main street of dual carriageway 
proportions from which a steep narrow road winds down to a “striking harbour. The harbour originally had a wooden pier that was built in 1810 to allow fishing vessels to land. In the 1830s the harbour was developed by Temple Sinclair, son of the village's founder, Lieutenant General Patrick Sinclair. Like many Caithness communities, Lybster's growth was through the herring industry. It was at the centre of the herring boom and for a while home to Scotland’s third largest fishing fleet. However, when that trade collapsed in the late 1800’s, so did the village’s properity. Today the village’s economic opportunities are mainly service related and many residents commute to Wick. Today, Lybster has a population of just 530, not very much more than Lybster of 1847.
This information and photos are from http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lybster/lybster/index.html and http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/28CC1537-34A2-4105-A1B8-208D381D1E4A/0/lybster.pdf
I've also learnt - thanks Nicola - how to upload images, so my blogs should take on an entire new dimension!
As I mentioned in my earlier blog, Robert (1827) was a sailmaker when he met Christina. He was born in the village of Lybster, Caithnesshire, to Catherine and James Sutherland, a Cooper, and baptised on November 28 1827.
According to the Gazetteer of Scotland vol 2 1847, Lybster is:
A village and a quoad sacra parish* on the west coast of Caithness-shire. The village stands at the head of Amherst bay, a little east of the great north mail road and 13 miles south west of the town of Wick. It was commenced, in 1802, by the late lieutenant-general Sinclair, and, already of considerable size, it promises to become a place of importance. Many of its houses are good, and new ones are annually added.
Most of its inhabitants are maintained soley by the herring fishery, and they have amongst them 100 boats. The village has a post office, a friendly society,* one or two schools, and two fairs.
Population about 400 - the quoad sacra parish lies, quoad civilia, in the parish of Latheron, and is in the presbytry of Caithness, and synod of Sutherland and Caithness. The church is situated in the village and was built in 1836-7 at the cost of stg832. Sittings 805, stipend stg100. The parish comprehends a landward district which, jointly with the village, has a population of upwards of 2,500. Its erection arose from the church extention scheme of the General Assembly, and ranks as the first result of that scheme north of Inverness. A preaching station in connection with the United Secession was commenced at the village in 1835, but has been abandoned. [source: The Top. Stat, & Hist. Gazateer of Scotland Vol 2. 1847]
*A quoad sacra parish is one created and functioning for ecclesiastical purposes only
* Friendly societies are mutual aid organisations designed to help people protect themselves against hardship. For more information about friendly societies see http://www.open.ac.uk/socialsciences/fsrg/
Lybster is described today as an “attractive village” with a main street of dual carriageway 
proportions from which a steep narrow road winds down to a “striking harbour. The harbour originally had a wooden pier that was built in 1810 to allow fishing vessels to land. In the 1830s the harbour was developed by Temple Sinclair, son of the village's founder, Lieutenant General Patrick Sinclair. Like many Caithness communities, Lybster's growth was through the herring industry. It was at the centre of the herring boom and for a while home to Scotland’s third largest fishing fleet. However, when that trade collapsed in the late 1800’s, so did the village’s properity. Today the village’s economic opportunities are mainly service related and many residents commute to Wick. Today, Lybster has a population of just 530, not very much more than Lybster of 1847.This information and photos are from http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lybster/lybster/index.html and http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/28CC1537-34A2-4105-A1B8-208D381D1E4A/0/lybster.pdf
Thursday, 1 March 2007
a thoroughly sucessful morning
I've just spent the morning at the Auckland University Special Collections. I haven't found William Morrison, but I did find his brother, Robert - who would be my great great uncle.
Robert applied for a passport in 1920 (5 years after Morrison died). He is aged 44 which matches exactly with the family I have been following in Scotland.
Robert lists his occupation as an accountant and has applied for a British passport to travel to Samoa on business. He was born on 26 May 1876 in Edinburgh.
The photograph shows a rather dapper gentleman wearing a white jacket and sporting a bow tie. I was particularly impressed with the waxed moustache. His physical description is entered as 5 feet 8 3/4 inches in height; forehead - normal; eyes- blue; nose- normal (although it looks quite long and straight in the photo); Hair - fair; complexion-fair; and a long face.
That's quite a contrast with William Morrison Sutherland Junior (born 9 June 1902), who is dark with brown eyes and black hair.
I'm quite taken with how short these men are, considering my father is 6ft 4 and my grandfather was also tall - I was expecting a clan of behemoths. I mentioned this to my mum, who said that Naomi Mahe (Mrs Sutherland) was no midget. Apparently she travelled to New Zealand when my father was young and he remembers her as a giantess of a woman.
I also trawled through the Weslyan Baptismal and marriage records - no marriage (although there's nothing sinister about that, it just means that the marriage wasn't recorded on the fiches I was looking on) but I did find baptisms for Robert (1901) and William Morrison (1902). I was interested that the names were listed in Tongan:
Lopeti and Uiliam Molisoni Satalani, with parent lists as Uiliam and Neomai. I'm not sure whether they identified as Tongan or this was just the form for registering the baptisms. The labels are in Tongan as well so while I'll can decipher a little - it's a language very similar to Te Reo Maori - there is a column which gives a name and I'm not sure what it is. the name corresponding to my two entries is S or J Mahe (Mahe is Naomi's maiden name).
It was so exciting coming across Robert's passport application - particularly with his photo. I can begin visualise my people now. I can't wait until I've heard back from The Solomon Islands with more information!
Robert applied for a passport in 1920 (5 years after Morrison died). He is aged 44 which matches exactly with the family I have been following in Scotland.
Robert lists his occupation as an accountant and has applied for a British passport to travel to Samoa on business. He was born on 26 May 1876 in Edinburgh.
The photograph shows a rather dapper gentleman wearing a white jacket and sporting a bow tie. I was particularly impressed with the waxed moustache. His physical description is entered as 5 feet 8 3/4 inches in height; forehead - normal; eyes- blue; nose- normal (although it looks quite long and straight in the photo); Hair - fair; complexion-fair; and a long face.
That's quite a contrast with William Morrison Sutherland Junior (born 9 June 1902), who is dark with brown eyes and black hair.
I'm quite taken with how short these men are, considering my father is 6ft 4 and my grandfather was also tall - I was expecting a clan of behemoths. I mentioned this to my mum, who said that Naomi Mahe (Mrs Sutherland) was no midget. Apparently she travelled to New Zealand when my father was young and he remembers her as a giantess of a woman.
I also trawled through the Weslyan Baptismal and marriage records - no marriage (although there's nothing sinister about that, it just means that the marriage wasn't recorded on the fiches I was looking on) but I did find baptisms for Robert (1901) and William Morrison (1902). I was interested that the names were listed in Tongan:
Lopeti and Uiliam Molisoni Satalani, with parent lists as Uiliam and Neomai. I'm not sure whether they identified as Tongan or this was just the form for registering the baptisms. The labels are in Tongan as well so while I'll can decipher a little - it's a language very similar to Te Reo Maori - there is a column which gives a name and I'm not sure what it is. the name corresponding to my two entries is S or J Mahe (Mahe is Naomi's maiden name).
It was so exciting coming across Robert's passport application - particularly with his photo. I can begin visualise my people now. I can't wait until I've heard back from The Solomon Islands with more information!
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