Above Image: from the chapter Family History and Childhood: "A Dentist at Large" by Roy Hanan.
New Zealand
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Roy Hanan's Grandfather arrives in New Zealand in 1863
Invercargill at the bottom of the South Island in New Zealand in 1863 was booming. New buildings were being built and kerosene street lighting had been erected. This was because gold has been discovered inWakatipu in 1862 and the towns population had suddenly grown by 3000 people, with most of the immigrants from Australia and Britain.
James Albert and Sarah Hanan having done well from the Bendigo gold rush, once again look to supply gold prospectors with goods and services. They arrive in Invercargill with their baby son James Albert (Alby) on the ship the Glencoe in 1863.
James Albert and Sarah Hanan having done well from the Bendigo gold rush, once again look to supply gold prospectors with goods and services. They arrive in Invercargill with their baby son James Albert (Alby) on the ship the Glencoe in 1863.
James and Sarah Hanan set up business and become shop keepers.
James Albert senior was well versed in astrology and was responsible for the building of the 'Temple of Science' in Invercargill's main street. A place he was very passionate about. James Albert although not highly educated, was well read and often gave lectures such as 'The origins of the Universe' and "Is the centre of the earth a molten mass of liquid fire- or is it solid to the very core.' He was a believer in Darwinism and owned a copy of "Origin of Species" edition 6 which was printed in 1872. Copies of his lectures and letters home to his Irish family still survive today.
On a letter home to a younger brother in cork he wrote about how proud he was of his younger son Josiah but was disapointed by Roy Hanan's father James Albert's lack of application to his studies. James Albert and Sarah's daughter Blessing sadly dies in childhood.
James Albert died on May 3rd 1885. Part of his very long eulogy in the Invercargill Times says "Mr Hanan took a keen interest in local public matters and for some time had done duty on the Invercargill school committee..". "...he was also an enthusiastic member of the scientific institute and of the parliamentary union."
On a letter home to a younger brother in cork he wrote about how proud he was of his younger son Josiah but was disapointed by Roy Hanan's father James Albert's lack of application to his studies. James Albert and Sarah's daughter Blessing sadly dies in childhood.
James Albert died on May 3rd 1885. Part of his very long eulogy in the Invercargill Times says "Mr Hanan took a keen interest in local public matters and for some time had done duty on the Invercargill school committee..". "...he was also an enthusiastic member of the scientific institute and of the parliamentary union."
James Albert Hanan obituary.pdf | |
File Size: | 121 kb |
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James Albert the junior (Alby), Roy Hanan's father, married Johanna Mcgill in 1887 in Invercargill. He rented a shop from his father (James Albert ) and as the shop become successful he then founded the drapery firm of Hanan & Co which later sold and became 'The DIC'.
Alby and Johanna had seven children. Roy wrote of his father in "A Dentist at Large" that he was a business man and was very proud of the tertiary education of his two youngest sons: Ralph (law) and Roy (dentistry).
Alby and Johanna had seven children. Roy wrote of his father in "A Dentist at Large" that he was a business man and was very proud of the tertiary education of his two youngest sons: Ralph (law) and Roy (dentistry).