Family Research-"Paget" "Player" New Zealand-Maori ancestry?

Question

I have been searching through many databases to try to find a link to my Maori ancestry in New Zealand. My great-great grandmother was half-Maori. Her father's last name was Paget. He was originally from England. He married a full-blooded Maori woman (supposedly of royal blood) of the Te Arawa Tribe on the Coramundel Coast of N.Z. and they settled in Mercury Bay where they had my g-g-grandmother, Maria Paget. My ancestor Paget died on a Schooner named "Rapid" in 1863 btwn. Mercury Bay and Auckland. He had goldmines in Merc. Bay, which he left to my gg-grandmdother Maria. Maria later married my gg-grandfather, Richard Allen Player. They had six(?) children, my great-grandfather, Lionel Paget Player (other names I know are Audrey, Ivy and Rudolph(?) being one of them. He later moved to San Francisco, CA. I have two photos of Maria (VERY Maori looking) and Richard Allen Player with their children...any help appreciated...please respond only if you have info on these families thx

Rustskipper--wow...thanks so much for all the info. I have been on all the sites you noted and am even a member of the Paget rootsweb page. I am going through Yahoo Answers on the off-chance someone might recognize this particular family.

This is my mother's side of the family...on my father's I am Choctaw, Laponi and Cherokee...this search for my Maori ancestry is keeping with the spiritual aspect of my research, which I have garnered from my Native American roots. If I am able to find the first name of my Paget ancestor, I'm hoping the rest will become a bit easier. I was able to find the ship he drowned on by researching and pouring through old N.Z. newspapers online. His first name was not listed! You never know where or how these things will come. His daughter Maria was his only child and was raised in an all girls English school according to his wishes. Her mother (full Maori, desperately trying to find her name) remarried to another Maori and had sons.

Rachel H. I don't know of Florence Paget. As far as I know, she's not part of this particular family, although I don't know! I'll let you know if I find anything at all.

Answer 1

Hey AMac,

Hope some of this helps - seems like you know more than I can find. I recommend getting the Family Tree Maker software, and plotting the Tree methodically. Also, start posting specific questions on the GENFORUMs - that should get some interest.

1 - p.19 PAGET, James, a middle-aged wagon driver was drowned in the Mokau River, Piopio. [AWN 22.07.1915]

2 - Katy Paget - passive mention

3 - Player Family Genealogy Forum - none of the first names or paget found immediately. This would be a good place to post your additional questions. On the same site there is a reference to Richard, which says - "I'm looking for anyone who knows of or is related to Richard Player. He died in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1996. Anyone knowing of him or any relation to him, please contact me." - you will find Nicole Player hyperlink at that website to contact (no telling if this is a relation).

4 - Paget Family Genealogy Links

This may not be much help - I am use to research in the US. The name Paget splits back in England to decendants that came to the US on the Mayflower - some of my ancestors came here then - paget is related to Alder.

Answer 2

Hi, I am searching to find similar links, I live in NZ and have come back to the name Florence Irene Paget, who would be my g g grandmother. Do you have any record of this name?

Answer 3

The Mormon Church is very helpfu in geneological research.