The Groom Family of Buckinghamshire London Tasmania Fiji Book 1 Fiji Descendants

By Yvonne McKissock

The author has documented the Groom family into 2 part series. Presenting 7 generations of early settlers from Fiji dating back to 1869. This book is compact and very well organized of births, deaths and marriages, providing its readers with easy to understand information on how to compile their own family history into an ebook. Book 2 has a further 10 generations of Groom family to 1550 England.

The book has details of the generations of Groom family their birth, death and marriages mainly in Fiji, NZ, Australia, Samoa, Spain, England and USA.
Both books show the depth of history of the people and lifestyles that existed before our time.

Fiji family names in the eBook:
Jennings, MacKay, Bingwor, Eyre, Fong, Cheer, Eastgate, French, Brewer, Sale, Carne, Duthie, Underwood, Campbell, Danford, Viliame, Whiting, Konrote, Joy, O’Connor, Newton, Murray, Vasea, Lanyon, Miller, Hughes, Andrews, Heritage, King, Elliott, Vera, Robinson, MacGregor, Fenn, Pickering, Acton, Shepherd, Gran, Doughty, Thomas, Matthias, Whippy, Maharaj, Sukul, Emberson, Lilo, Singh, Nair, Amputch, Powell, Kingdon, Morell, Hazelman, Andrews, Buksh, Sword, Slater,
Backhouse Smith, Hopewell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yvonne McKissock
• Release date: Sep 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370308842

Yvonne McKissock

I was born and raised in New Zealand, and I reside in Sydney, NSW, Australia with my daughter, son in law and 2 grandchildren. I have been interested in family history as long as I can remember and I have published two family history books. My interests vary from family history, reading, travelling, family photography, collecting old family photos, spending time with the young grandchildren and among others.

Book preview

Dedication

To understand where your family comes from is so important, for any human being. The number one thing the people should do in life is to find out their cultural heritage.

I would like to dedicate this book to my great grandfather Arthur Groom

My grandmother Winifred Agnes Jennings nee Groom

My mother Pauline Kathleen Cullen nee Jennings

Acknowledgement and Thanks

Alana Blake my daughter for all her love, support and patients with my published books.

My mother Pauline Jennings RIP for old photos and family information.

Anne Richmond, my very special sister for your love and support throughout my books and also the love and support from your children Jelaine, Kane and Isaac Richmond.

I would like thank my two favourite Doreen’s in my life (Elliott/ Sloan) who has given me a lot of love and support over all these years and all they want in return are their children and grandchildren to know their family history. Loloma Yvonne.

My mother’s brother Arthur Jennings & Gloria Jennings who has always loved and supported me in my books. Loloma EE.

To make this book possible details of James Henry Groom descendants have been provided through the welcome contributions of family pages and photos. John & Helen Stoupe (NZ), Joan Gibson (NZ), Joanne Heta (QLD, Australia), Eseta Tanielu ( NZ) Margaret Jourdain (NZ), Rosemary Simi (NZ) Ferila Hanipale (NZ) Sylvyetta and Seborah Hanipale (NZ), Motuiliu Groom RIP ( NZ), Cecile Rasmussen (NZ), Louise Underwood (NZ) Vincent Pita Underwood (NZ), Vincent Underwood (NZ), Cecil Underwood (NSW, Australia), Melanie Koti (NZ), Jeanene Setters (NZ), Mark Scampton (NZ), Selina Barrow (NZ), Ngaia Monahan (NZ), Patricia Arthur (NZ), Crystal Arthur (NZ), Joshua Arthur (NZ), Cristy Holding (NZ), Ruth Wilson (NZ), Edgar Arthur (NZ), Tia Robertson (WA, Australia), Adrianne Arthur (NZ), Jacob Arthur (NZ), Nina Arthur (NZ), Damien Russell (WA, Australia), Juanita Cartwright (NZ), Belinda Cartwright (NZ), Sharon Arthur (NZ), Leba Andrews (Fiji), Talita Atchison (NSW, Australia), Lisa Nattrass (NSW, Australia), Eva Edwards (NSW, Australia), Noni Smith (WA, Australia), Sera Torenbeek (QLD, Australia), Toni Meagher (NSW, Australia), Ashleigh Meagher (NSW, Australia), Maree Healy (Victoria, Australia), Elizabeth Healy (Victoria, Australia), Nicola Healy (NSW, Australia), Jodie Gonzalez Del Val (NSW, Australia), Mary Jennings (NZ), Edward Jennings (Fiji), Arthur Grahn Jennings (USA), Gloria Jennings (NZ), Debbie Jennings (QLD, Australia), Trent & Mellissa Jennings (QLD, Australia), Zane Jennings (QLD, Australia), Jessica Bidwell (QLD, Australia), Gregory Jennings (NZ), Zebulon Jennings (QLD, Australia), Orin Jennings (QLD, Australia), Alecia Montgomery(USA), Quaid Jennings (QLD, Australia), Melita Wilton (QLD, Australia), Tania Montgomery (NZ), Nelwin Churches (NZ), Scott Lear (England), Austin Jennings ( NZ), Winifred Karika (NSW, Australia), Jefferey Karika (NZ), Tania Greenway (NZ), Lillian Jennings (NZ), Treena Kleidon (NZ), Teleni Jennings (NZ), Colleen Jennings (QLD,Australia) Klaire Jennings (NZ), Trevor Jennings (NZ), Lyndall Connelly (NZ), Arthur Groom (Fiji), Edgar Groom (Canada), Bill Hopewell (QLD, Australia), Peter Hopewell RIP (NZ), Robert Randles (USA), Christine Randles (USA), Colleen Campbell (NZ), Margaret Campbell (NZ), Anne White (NZ), Vanda Symon (NZ), Kathy Matthew (NSW, Australia), Wayne O’Connor (Fiji), Alexander O’Connor (Fiji), Elizabeth Adams (NSW, Australia), Alita Elliott, (NSW, Australia), Lynette Bee (NSW, Australia), Doreen Elliott (QLD, Australia), Doreen Sloan (WA, Australia) Paul Steiner (USA), Joyce Lawson (QLD, Australia), Jennifer Lawson (QLD, Australia ), Ale family ( Australia, New Zealand, USA)

England

Sally Mason, Archivist, Centre for Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire County Council

Australia

Irene Schaffer, Research Agent & Author, Rosetta, Tasmania

Barry Aulich Tasmanian Research

Doreen Sloan for family pages and photos

Doreen Elliott for family pages and photos of the Elliott family

Bill Hopewell for Fiji documentation and family pages

Joyce Lawson (QLD) Lawson family documentation

Ken Briar (USA) Wright family documentation

England: Anthony Adolph

This book is based on F.G. Groom’s The Grooms of Harefield (Tasmania, Australia, 1985), which was reworked and added to extensively by Yvonne McKissock. Her work was in turn reworked into its present form and amplified by new research in Britain in 2015 by Anthony Adolph, a professional genealogist and broadcaster, author of books including Tracing Your Family History and In Search of our Ancient Ancestors.

About the Author

Born and raised in New Zealand, Yvonne now resides in Sydney, NSW, Australia with her daughter, son in law and 2 grandchildren. She has been interested in family history as long as she can remember and has published two family history books. Her interests vary from reading, travelling, family photography, collecting old family photos, spending time with the young grandchildren and among others.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement and Thanks

About the Author

Introduction

SECTION 1: JAMES HENRY GROOM

Chapter 1: Arthur Groom / Arthur Groom, Carrie Meredith Groom

Chapter 2: Arthur Groom / James Henry Groom aka Ale Palelei

Chapter 3: Arthur Groom / Arthur Groom, Francis Groom, Winifred Groom

Chapter 4: Winifred Agnes Groom / Pauline Jennings

Chapter 5: Winifred Agnes Groom/ Jane Jennings

Chapter 6: Winifred Agnes Groom / Freda Jennings

Chapter 7: Winifred Agnes Groom / Robert Jennings / George Jennings / Arthur Jennings

Chapter 8: Winifred Agnes Groom / Lorraine Jennings, Winifred Jennings, Edward Jennings, Louise Jennings, William Jennings

Chapter 9: Winifred Agnes Groom / Edward Jennings, Louise Jennings, William Jennings

Chapter 10: Arthur Groom / Edgar Groom

Chapter 11: Arthur Groom / Vernon Groom, Henry Groom, Elizabeth Groom, James Groom, Hugh Groom

SECTION 2: MINNIE GROOM

Chapter 12: Minnie Groom / Wilfred Vernon Hopewell, Ada Minnie Hopewell, Adela Georgie Hopewell

Chapter 13: Minnie Groom / Edna Lovoni Hopewell, Esme Lima Hopewell, Dorothy Vernon Hopewell

Chapter 14: Minnie Groom / Gorrie Street Memories, Suva, Fiji 1937-1953 by Minnie’s grandson Bill Hopewell

SECTION 3: AGNES GROOM

Chapter 15: Mary Ann Duthie / Alexander Campbell, Ronald Campbell, Vernon Campbell

Chapter 16: Mary Ann Duthie / Margaret Campbell, O’Connor family

Chapter 17: Mary Ann Duthie / Edward Campbell, Norman Campbell

Chapter 18: Agnes Groom / Laura Agnes Duthie

Chapter 19: Agnes Groom / Andrew Groom Duthie, Edith Emma Duthie

SECTION 4: ALICE GROOM EDGAR GROOM

Chapter 20: Edgar Groom/ Agnes Groom

Chapter 21: Edgar Groom/ John Groom

SECTION 5

Chapter 22: Grahn, Gran and Grant Families from Norway, USA, Australia, and Fiji

Chapter 23: Campbell Family from Scotland, Australia and Fiji

Chapter 24: Lawson (Larsen) family from Denmark, England, Australia and Fiji

Chapter 25: Elliott family of Fiji

A Note from the Author

Introduction

I have been very interested for twenty years plus in compiling my family history. I have met very interesting people on the way. I have published in 2009 "Jennings Family of Tonga my grandfather’s side of the family. Also in 2009 I published Harman Family from Yorkshire to Fiji".

Both these books have documented family descendants of Tonga and Fiji to 2008 in the near future will be republished into Ebooks.

I have always been very interested over twenty years plus on my grandmother’s Groom side of the family in Fiji. There has never been any documentation wriiten on the Fiji Groom family. All the documentation I have noticed over the years written and via internet have been on our Groom in Tasmania and England. In Tasmania when James Henry Groom is mention it mainly states family in Fiji. Now I feel our family is recognised in the descendants of the Groom family of Tasmania and England.

The Groom family of Buckinghamshire, London, Tasmania, Fiji is a collation of the 17 generations of descendants from 1550 Stoke Poges, Harefield, London, Tasmania, Australia and Fiji. These two ebooks outlines the history and family genealogy of 17 generations from Agnes and son Wylliam Grome, 1550, Stoke Poges, a town in Buckinghamshire, England.

It has a detail record of births, deaths and marriages and photos of descendants up to 2015

I have separated the book into 2 ebooks.

Book 1

Fiji Descendants: James Henry Groom went to Fiji with his brother Warner in 1869 as early settlers. Warner married and had no descendants. James Henry has over 90 pages of descendants. I have documented births, marriages and deaths of about 98 % of descendants in Fiji. The family is mainly scattered from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and USA.

Book 2

Will be following shortly in a ebook format. James Henry Groom went back to Harefield, Tasmania from Fiji to pass away and be with his siblings. His grandfather James Foster Groom 1786 in London has been well documented in the book also his ancestors families -James Groom 1760, Henry Groom 1735, Henry Groom 1710, John Rose Groom 1655, John Groom 1620, Nycholas Grome 1573, William Grome 1550 and his mother Agnes Groume.

England: Anthony Adolph

This book is based on F.G. Groom’s The Grooms of Harefield (Tasmania, Australia, 1985), which was reworked and added to extensively by Yvonne McKissock. Her work was in turn reworked into its present form and amplified by new research in Britain in 2015 by Anthony Adolph, a professional genealogist and broadcaster, author of books including Tracing Your Family History and In Search of our Ancient Ancestors.

Section 1

James Henry Groom

1. James Henry Groom. The second son of Francis Groom and Matilda Emma Minnitt was born on 16 October 1841 in Blackbrush, Brighton, Tasmania before his parents moved to ‘Harefield’. He grew up at ‘Harefield’. The diary of his son, Arthur, states that James Henry Groom and Warner Ottley Groom arrived in Fiji 10 October 1868. They bought land there to establish a cotton plantation. The Fiji Times (which had been established on 4 September 1869 in Levuka and which continues to the present time) in the issue dated Saturday July 30, 1870 reported:

We are sorry to learn that Messrs Groom Bros, were burnt out of their homestead on the Island of Kabaia on the 20st inst. The origin of the fire, as in most cases of a similar kind, is unknown. The Messrs Groom lost all their clothes, cotton, stores, tools, &c. During the American Civil War of 1861-1865, large areas of land in Fiji were acquired for cotton plantations. The Groom brothers hoping to make money lost their cotton plantation as the entry from the The Fiji Times records. They both then worked for the Colonial Government, James Henry Groom in the Post Office from 1886 until 1890 where he became the Postmaster of Fiji (details of his service are contained in the Fijian Government Service Register:

• 1874 to 1914 [page 140] and Warner Ottley Groom for the Customs from 1875 until his retirement in 1907 (details of his service are contained in the Fijian Government Service Register:

• 1874 – 1907 [page 133]

• 1898 – 1913 [page 51])

They both acquired land as mentioned in the Land Claims Commission & Crown Grant Registers. The land titles are as follows:

1. CG 594 - LOT 6 Sec 22, Suva – Claimed by W.O.Groom

2. Land Report 1146 & 1147 – Suva Point – Claimed by J H Groom.[No Report]

James took a wife named Tuia Moli, also known as, Moli Tenai, the daughter of a Fijian Chief of the village of Nawowo on the island of Ovalau of which Levuka was the capital and the first European settlement in Fiji. James and Moli had 5 children:

1. Arthur Groom (see below).

2. Minnie Groom (see below).

3. Agnes Groom (see below)

4. Alice Groom (see below)

5. Edgar Groom (see below)

The diary of Arthur Groom records that Warner Ottley Groom (his brother) married Marie Augusta Niemauu on 14 February 1887 in Fiji but they had no children.

The Fiji Times of Wednesday, April 8, 1874 reported a cricket match with W.O. Groom and J.H. Groom as players. The brothers were very much involved in their sport with Warner representing Fiji in cricket.

Both brothers had regular entries in The Fiji Times of their sporting achievements. During their years in Fiji the Groom brothers acquired land in both Levuka and Viti Levu and were financially very stable.

When James Henry Groom left Fiji in 1890, being very unwell, and returned back to Tasmania, his brother James fully supported his children until his death on 13 November 1893 at ‘Estancia’ Ulverstone, Tasmania, which belonged to his brother Francis Charles Groom. From the documentation of their lives it appears that they were well educated children.

James filed his last will and testament on 5 June 1890 in Tasmania. It documents his instructions as follows:

This is the last Will and Testament of me James Henry Groom of Levuka, Fiji. I hereby revoke all wills by me at any time ………. made. I appoint Edgar Charles Turner and William Wallace Wilson both of Levuka to be my Executors and direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses shall be paid as soon as conveniently after my death. I give devise and bequeath unto my four natural children called or known as Arthur Groom, Minnie Groom, Agnes Groom and Edgar Groom. All my real or personal estate whatever whether situated in the Colony of Fiji or Australasia. In witness whereof I the said James Henry Groom have to this my last will and testament set on this fifth day of June in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and ninety. Signed by James Henry Groom

Witnesses: Frances M Butler and Gertrude Groom

The following applications were made to the Supreme Court of Fiji by Arthur Groom who had assumed responsibility for the care of his youngest sibling Edgar Groom.

In The Supreme Court of Fiji A.D.1906

The Chief Justice at Chambers

In the Estate of James Henry Groom deceased

And in the matter of Edgar Groom a minor.

Tuesday the 31st day of July 1906

I ARTHUR GROOM of Lautoka in the Colony of Fiji Contractor and Builder make oath and say as follows:-

1 That I am the brother of the said Edgar Groom mentioned in my Petition of the 31st day of July 1906.

2 That the said Edgar Groom left school in Auckland in or about February last and from that time remained in Auckland until the