Did Susan Griffith travel to New Zealand?

In the past I have assumed that George's wife Susan and their children did not travel to New Zealand with George, but the truth is that I have no evidence either way.  I thought it was time I examined this question again. 

So far I have managed to establish that George was in Hokitika from at least March 1866 until December 1867.  He doesn't reappear in the Melbourne directories until 1869, which is consistent with him being back in Melbourne by 1868.

There appears to be a second period of absence from Melbourne in the directories, from about 1872 to 1873.  He is back in the directories by 1874.  I have not discovered where he went, if he went anywhere.

Looking at the births of their children, the sixth child, George Henry, was born in Fitzroy in 1865, and died there in 1866.  After young George the next birth involved the twins Alfred John and Charlotte Broadley Griffith, registered in Collingwood in 1867.  That would appear to be a bit of a fly in the ointment when George can be shown to be in Hokitika from 1866 to 1867, so the question arises as to how Susan became pregnant.  Was she in New Zealand for a time and return?  Was someone else the father?  It doesn't seem likely that she could have been pregnant before he turned up in Hokitika in March 1866 and have her twins in 1867.  Had she been pregnant by March 1866, the twins would have been born before the end of the year.  Perhaps George came and went a couple of times?

After the twins there is a substantial gap before the next child was born - Emily Frances, born in Collingwood in 1873, a gap of five to six years.  This could have been a natural gap, but the directories do seem to indicate that George was absent from Melbourne in the period 1872 to 1873.

There are no children born or died in New Zealand.

I haven't yet been able to find a shipping record to New Zealand for George, let alone Susan and the children, so anything is possible.    However,   taking the view that Susan may still have been in Melbourne, but I hadn't spotted her in the directories, I did a special search in the digitised Sands & McDougall directories for Susan Griffith/s, and I was surprised to turn up several references to a Susan Griffiths living at St David Street, Prahran (next to the Windsor Castle Hotel)  from 1872 to 1875.

Whether that is my Susan Griffith I have yet discover, but it does introduce another line to examine, particularly if I could discover the children in school records somewhere.

Unknown Gentleman of Hokitika, circa 1868

This is another unknown gentleman from the Griffith family album, taken in Hokitika in the Revell St studio of Rudolph Haigh.  Haigh took over this studio in October 1868, and it was burnt down in early 1869. 

Again, there is no further information about this gentleman other than what is in the photo.  He appears to be about 40 years of age, curly hair, slightly thinning on top, wearing rimless spectacles, droopy moustache and a long, narrow goatee beard.

He appears to be reasonably well-dressed, though the jacket seems well worn, and warm. 




He seems to be of German appearance, and of all the unknown men in the album, the one who looks most like a musician - but undoubtedly that is my wild imagination.     Does anyone recognise him?

An interesting description of the Corinthian Hall is contained in this sale notice from the West Coast Times on 26 December 1866.  J Harding, the vendor, was described in an earlier article in February 1866 as a publican, and this advertisement confirms that the business was more than just a hall, but included  hotel accommodation and bar.                                           "The Hotel is substantially built of corrugated iron, and comprises Spacious Bar, Commercial Room,  Bedrooms, Cellar, large and commodious hall, well ventilated with windows, and capable of containing 700 persons, fitted with stage and all necessary theatre fittings".                                          The Hall was also in Revell Street, Hokitika where the Victoria Hotel, operated by J R Wright, and the London Portrait Rooms, operated by Rudolph Haigh were situated - places with which George Griffith was acquainted.

Research tip, Papers Past

This is a very useful tip received from Olwyn Whitehouse a little while ago about how to get the best out of the Papers Past collection - using Google and the following research parameters, with "G. Griffith" as an example:

"G. Griffith" 1862 -"l=mi" site:http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

The -"l=mi" excludes results in the Maori language.  I'm putting it here mainly so I 

can find it myself, but others may find it useful too.

George Griffiths, violinist, at the Corinthian Hall

Margaret of History House Greymouth  has very kindly sent to me this advertisement from the West Coast Times issued on 15 March 1866.    Once again, I know that my ancestor George Griffith was a violinist, and I know he was in this general vicinity in the period, so I feel it is likely to be my ancestor.

This is a further refinement of the time frame in which I know he was in New Zealand.  I now know that he was in Hokitika by 15 March 1866, and he was still there in December 1867 when he was advertising as a piano tuner and repairer.

This is consistent with one of the periods in which he was absent from the Melbourne post office directories.  He was listed in 1866, which would have reflected the year of 1865, and he was re-listed in 1869, which would indicate his presence in Melbourne by 1868.

The Mr Barlow mentioned seems likely to be the versatile entertainer known as "Billy Barlow", identified in the Austral Harmony directory of Colonial Musicians as Robert Barlow.

Unknown Gentleman of Dunedin, Hokitika or Greymouth circa 1866

Here is another of the mysterious unknown gentlemen from New Zealand.  The dark halo around the subject suggests that this is a copy of an earlier photo.  Photographers did a lot of copying as part of their business.

The photo was taken by the Tait Brothers, with a printed logo on the back suggesting they operated in Dunedin, Hokitika and Greymouth.  Where this one was taken is anyone's guess.  Maybe not even in New Zealand.

What I can deduce from the photo is that the fellow is wearing a good quality woollen suit coat, which looks clean and newish.  He is a bit of a dude, wearing a very fashionable roll curl on top of his head, and maintaining a good length of curl over his ears. 

He is rather gaunt-looking, with hollowed-out cheeks, possibly from hard physical labour - or perhaps he had been ill.  He has light-coloured eyes, and appears to be aged in mid to late thirties.

Early Canterbury Photographers has a lot of information about the Tait Bros operation, but there is no example of the same style of printed mountboard, so that doesn't help with a date.  The man's hair-style and fashion, though, places the portrait date in the mid to late 1860s.

Again, if you are able to identify this man, please get in touch.

J R Wright of the Melbourne Hotel, Hokitika

James R Wright, mentioned previously at the Victoria Hotel, would appear to be a hotel and entertainment proprietor.    Was he from Melbourne himself, or did he purchase the hotel which had that name already?  Probably the latter.

Does anyone know anything of this James R Wright?  I'm wondering if he could be the Unknown Gentleman of Hokitika - not that I think he is wearing a hotel-keeping outfit, but you never know.

This advertisement appeared in the the West Coast Times from 14 December 1866, page 1.

George Griffith piano tuning in Melbourne, 1876

July to Sep 1876

PIANOFORTE TUNING.
TUNING. TUNING.
NICHOLSON and ASCHERBERG
Beg to inform their musical friends and the public
that they have now in their employ the
THREE BEST TUNERS IN MELBOURNE,
The staff consisting
Of
Mr. JOHN BLACKBURN,
Of whom nothing need be said, his name being a suffi-
cient guarantee for excellence of work.
Mr. RICHARD O'BRIEN,
A most excellent and finished tuner, for five years with Erard,
several years with Broadwood, for the
last five years constantly engaged in Melbourne.
Mr. GEO. GRIFFITH,
A most careful and painstaking tuner.
In securing the very best men for this important branch of their
business, Nicholson and Ascherberg again prove that it is
their endeavour to have the best that can be had in every
department, and they hope that this will be duly estimated by
their numerous
friends and the public
The tuning of a piano is one of the main things to be thought
of by owners, as many a good instrument is spoiled by the
tuning being entrusted to inferior men.
Nicholson and Ascherberg therefore assure the public that
all tuning entrusted to them will receive every justice at their hands,
combined with punctuality and moderate charge.
NICHOLSON and ASCHERBERG,
Pianoforte Gallery
(Opposite W. H. Rocke and Co ),
46 and 47 COLLINS-STREET EAST.
The Argus 3 June 1876




A few months later Nicholson and Ascherberg advertised a string and brass orchestra.  It is tempting to think that George was a part of that orchestra.  Perhaps he was, but the only story about him that I have heard that has been handed down was that he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis in his  hands, and that he had to have his hands massaged before he could play.  I have wondered whether he was still able to play. 

NICHOLSON and ASCHERBERG'S BAND 
(String and Brass Instruments) 
has long been known as the first orchestra for
dance music in the colony.
The BAND Consists of 80 MEN.
Conducted by the well-known Herr PLOCK,
possessing the largest and most choice repertoire
of music of any band this side of the equator.  
Any number from one to 80 can be engaged. 
Engagements may be made and all particulars ob-
tained at Nicholson and Ascherberg's. 
Quadrille pianist, Herr Plock.



PIANOFORTE TUNING,
NIOHOLSON and ASCHERBERG,
Have in their employ the   
FOUR BEST TUNERS in the COLONY,
The staff consisting of   
Mr. JOHN BLACKBURN    
Mr. RICHARD O'BRIEN.
Mr. J. EZOLD.
Mr. GEO. GRIFFITH.
In the tuning of pianos many a good instrument is
spoiled by the work being entrusted to inferior work-
men, Messrs. N. and A. assure the public that all
orders given them will be faithfully executed with
punctuality, and at moderate charges.
NICHOLSON and ASCHERBERG,  
45 and 47 COLLINS-STREET
The Argus 9 September 1876

After this date Nicholson and Ascherberg continued to advertise the best piano tuners in Melbourne, but they no longer advertised their names, concentrating on different aspects of their music business on which to spend their advertising pounds.

When did George Griffith return to Melbourne?

I have been hunting for definite evidence of George Griffith's return to Melbourne after his appearance in Hokitika in the 1867 West Coast Times.  The Sands & McDougall Directory lists George in 1869.  Generally directories are about a year behind what they are reporting by the time they are printed, so we can probably take that to mean that he was back in town by 1868.   

The only other thing I can locate in this general period is the appearance of 'Geo Griffiths' in a program for the 'London Music Hall' in Bourke Street.   It is not certainly my ancestor, but while there are quite a few other George Griffiths' around, I haven't come upon another musician of that name. Of course, this could be the exception that proves the rule, but on balance, I think this is likely to be my ancestor.

LONDON MUSIC
HALL.
IMMENSE SUCCESS SINCE RE-OPENING.
CROWDED HOUSES.
GRAND ENTERTAINMENT. SINGING and DANCING.
The following artists are already engaged :
Johnny Cowan,
Mr. J. J. Daniels,
John Black,
Mr. Lelifield,
Mr. Lloyd,
Mr. Leotard,
Harry Santley,
Mr. J. Munyard, Mr. Cullimore,
Mr. Geo Griffiths,
Mr. Fritz,
And
Miss Milly Parker.
Commence every evening at 8 o'clock sharp.
I. COLEMAN, Proprietor.

LONDON MUSIC-HALL.-Come and see Mr. J. J.
DANIELS, great descriptive singer.

LONDON MUSIC HALL, Bourke-street East.
Come and see Mr. J. J. DANIELS, great descriptive singer.

The Argus 25 April 1871

Isaac Coleman, the proprietor of the London Music Hall, can best be described as a 'colourful character' - his name was frequently mentioned in The Argus at the time, and also in many courtrooms.  After a string of advertisements like the above in April 1871 mentioning George Griffiths (sic), it wasn't long before Coleman was back in court facing a hearing on his licence.  In June 1871 he forfeited his licence, and by February 1872 he was undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.    Thus was George prevented from becoming a sensation in the Melbourne music hall scene.  It was quite some years before his name reappeared in The Argus.

When did George Griffith leave Melbourne for New Zealand?

In this post I will examine the available Victorian directories for entries from George Griffith and see if I can establish approximately when he was absent from Victoria. 






 1857 Ovens,   Griffith, George, Professor of Music, Woolshed, Beechworth
1866 Sands & McDougall, Griffith, Geo, 16 Little Latrobe-street, east
1867-
1868 -
1869 Sands & McDougall, Griffith, Geo, Prof of Music, 10 Budd St, East Collingwood
1870 Sands & McDougall, Griffith, Geo, Prof of Music, 10 Budd St, East Collingwood
1871 Sands & McDougall, Griffith, Geo, Prof of Music, 10 Budd St, East Collingwood
1871 Sands & McDougall, Trade & Prof, Prof's & Teachers, Griffith, George (music),        Budd St, E C.
1871/72  Bailleire's, Victoria, Griffith, G, Prof of Music, East Collingwood
1872 -
1873 -
1874  Sands & McDougall, Griffiths, George, 75 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy
1875  Sands & McDougall, Griffiths, George, 75 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy
1876  Sands & McDougall, Griffiths, George, 75 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy
1876  Sands & McDougall, Griffiths, George, 1 Lit Marion St, Fitzroy
1877  Sands & McDougall, Griffiths, George, 123 Moor St, Fitzroy
1878  Sands & McDougall, Griffiths, George, Lit George St, Fitzroy
1879  Sands & McDougall, Griffiths, George, 49 Lit George St, Fitzroy

George died on 31 December 1878.  From 1880 his wife was listed in the directories.


Two things stand out here - firstly, that there are two apparent gaps in the record, which may indicate two periods of absence.  This requires a more detailed examination.  We know from the previous post on the West Coast Times advertisements that he was in Hokitika, New Zealand, in 1867, which matches with one of the years in which George was absent from the directories.


Secondly, that George's main occupation, where it is recorded, is as a teacher, or Professor of Music.  After the second period of absence, from 1874, it is not so clear how he was employed.  In the 1867 ads he is a piano tuner and repairer, which is quite a change from 'musician'.

Hokitika in the 1870s

Hokitika in the 1870s photographed by James Ring. Source: Photographic 

Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand.

I was interested to see what Hokitika looked like around the time George Griffith was there, and found this interesting photo in the National Library NZ on The Commons' photostream.  

It is evident from the closeness of the timber dwellings that a fire could easily take hold and wipe out several buildings, as happened in Revell Street in 1869, mentioned in the Early Canterbury Photographers blog.  

A Piano Tuner in Hokitika, 1867

I've been having a very close look at the Papers Past collection to see if I could find some evidence that George Griffith was ever in New Zealand, and I think I have found it, in the above advertisement for:
"Pianos.  G Griffith from Melbourne, pianoforte Tuner and Repairer, Address - R Wright, Victoria Hotel, Revell street, [Hokitika]", followed by "Music provided for Balls and Parties, Violin and Piano always at command.  J R Wright, Victoria Hotel."


A series of advertisements was placed in the West Coast Times from 8 October 1867 to December 1867.    George seems to have some form of business relationship with J R Wright of Hokitika.  I feel he is likely to have been the "violin on command". 

Mr Wright appears as a supporter of various candidates for the Provincial Council from 1866, so he had perhaps been in town a little longer than Griffith.


I'm pleased to have been able to spot him somewhere, at least.  And of course if you are a connection of J R Wright, I would love to heard from you.  Maybe one of my unknown gentlemen is J R Wright.

Unknown Gentleman of Hokitika, circa 1868

This full length portrait was taken in the London Portrait Rooms studio of Rudolph Haigh & Co.


I haven't had to look far to discover something about Rudolph Haigh's operation, because an excellent vignette of Haigh is contained on the Early Canterbury Photographers blog.


This reveals that Haigh had advertised removing to the premises of the London Portrait Rooms in August 1868, and that the building burnt down in July 1869, which beautifully narrows down the time-frame for this image.   The very simple printed business name on the back, compared with others on the Canterbury website suggests it was produced very early in the life of Haigh's business at this address, so I take it to have been an 1868 image.


Again, I know nothing about the gentleman in the photo beyond what I can see.  He seems to be aged about 30.  He is dressed in fresh, fairly new I think, clean and fashionable clothing.  The cap in his hand, and the whip in the other, seems to suggest to me some sort of official uniform.  A postman?  A coachdriver? An inspector?


The colourist took note of blue eyes and a ruddy complexion.

If anyone recognises the man or the uniform, I would love to know about it.  Please get in touch.