An inquiry for the Kiwis

Question

I am trying to find one of the following documents:

1. An immigration or emigration record, or

2. A birth or baptism record.

Goal: Discover the names of her parents.

The person of interest is Olga RAY. Her parents, an Englishman - surname RAY - with a Russian wife, moved to New Zealand after the 1st world war, had Olga in New Zealand, then moved to Bordeaux in France, where they bought a chateau and entered the wine making trade. WWII interrupted that, and young Olga joined the French Resistance at 16 and smuggled documents for British soldiers trying to escape to Spain. She was caught and spent the latter part of the war in a prison camp in Bordeaux.

So I have her full name, where she was born, her approximate age (born between 1923 and 1927) and that's about all. I already tried a BDM lookup with no success, it really needs someone who knows their way around the system over there.

Answer 1

If the parents put a birth notice in the paper, the you could search https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers between the relevant dates (and region, if you know it) for something like "RAY" "a daughter".  And then browse a gazillion results. 

There's also an index of the 1925 electoral roll available at The Wilson Collection (https://wilsoncollection.co.nz/).  Not much help on its own, but may help to narrow things down if/when you get a few other clues like a parent's first initial.

Comments

Might not be your people, but there is a Harold Christopher Ray and a Claude Marie Marcelle Ray who are married farmers at Kaiaua, Thames, in the 1925 electoral roll.  These two names, plus daughter Olga Alexandra Ray (b. abt. 1926), are recorded as leaving Auckland for London in 1937 ("New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDN-GV2Q : 5 July 2019), Olga Alexandra Ray, 1937; citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm 004448894.).

Interestingly, it looks like mother and daughter arrived in Auckland from Southhampton in 1930 ("New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KLYJ-XPG : 3 July 2019), Olga A Ray, 26 Aug 1930; citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm 004439880.)

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Following up on Dannys suggestion  - Claude Maire appears to be of Russian/French descent - http://www.ferriere.net/Boite-a-sel/B-a-s-Otabl.htm

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Great sleuthing, Danny!

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Thanks Fiona!

The plot thickens.  There's a divorce record for Harold Christopher Ray and Margaret Ray in 1923 at ArchivesNZ, which will become unrestricted this year if not already (Ref: R19134286).  And then there's a marriage record between HCR and Claude in 1924 (NZ BDM Marriage Reg. No. 1924/10844).  HCR previously married Margaret Worthing in NZ in 1911 (NZ BDM Marriage Ref. No. 1911/2494).  

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The divorce reports in Papers Past suggest Harold and Margaret had travelled widely.

Answer 2

Hello :) I have put it in our Kiwi Crew chat so hopefully you will get some help later today.

Anneke

Answer 3

Hi Robert 

There will likely be no access to her NZBDM birth record till 100 years after her birth ( as there will be no corresponding death record for her in New Zealand to allow for the earlier opening of her records) |

Birth records are restricted to

• Birth of a living person who was born 100 years ago or more
• Birth of a deceased person who died 50 years ago or more or who was born 80 years ago or more

note the persons death has to be confirmed with the Department of Internal Affairs for the second line to activate.

Comments

Thanks Graeme. This is good to know about NZBDM.

Is there a central location to search for migration records?

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It would be possible to search microfiches for the name, this has to be done at a physical repository such as a public library. That would at least give you the registration district , assuming the birth was actually registered

Answer 4

I've had alook at various NZ sources with no joy,being a winemaker, I suggest looking in records of the Bordeaux wine trade might be more productive, either info on imports to England, or ownership of Chateaux, there was quite a community of English and Irish owners. Possibly ownership of 1855 classified Chateaux in the late 30's, or books or works by Alexis Lichine on Bordeaux, or his Encyclopedia of Wines and Spirits.

Answer 5

The chateau is Château Carbonneau, in Pessac-sur-Dordogne (Gironde). It is still owned and operated by her son. The story is told on their website, in French and English.

Answer 6

I asked before whether there are migration records! Inwards and out wards might be helpful.

Comments

yes the there are - the ones that Danny found two answers up

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NZ passenger lists can be very hit-and-miss, but after about 1910 they are in better shape (ref: https://www.archives.govt.nz/research-guidance/research-guides/citizenship-and-migration/searching-passenger-lists).

Those held by ArchivesNZ are available through FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1609792?collectionNameFilter=false

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Excellent! Thanks Graeme and Danny

Answer 7

I had ancstors spelled it RAE not Ray...  might check alternate spellings