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French Polynesia Genealogy: Difference between revisions
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Papeete, Tahiti is the capital. The population is about 92,000. About half of the people live on the island of Tahiti. | Papeete, Tahiti is the capital. The population is about 92,000. About half of the people live on the island of Tahiti. | ||
==== '''When we put our family history together, we may not have many dates to work with. Because of this, we need to ''study the history of the islands where our ancestors lived by starting with the historical background for the island group of our ancestors''. Historical dates from these publications and from the Internet can be used to estimate the dates of our ancestors’ lives more accurately.''' ==== | |||
'''To see a time line for each of the island groups and to find research resources for them, please click on each island group separately. This is because the Wiki can only hold certain amounts of information at one time, so it has been separated into sections.''' | |||
==== Case Study: Gisele Maeva Takanga Buchin Tehaavi, including historical background ==== | ==== Case Study: Gisele Maeva Takanga Buchin Tehaavi, including historical background ==== | ||
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He married a woman whose father was ''English''. (The pedigree chart shows her as Elizabeth Moehauti P. Gibson, whose father is Andrew Gibson, born in ''Liverpool England ''in 1813 and her mother as Vahinerii Moehauti Pupa). | He married a woman whose father was ''English''. (The pedigree chart shows her as Elizabeth Moehauti P. Gibson, whose father is Andrew Gibson, born in ''Liverpool England ''in 1813 and her mother as Vahinerii Moehauti Pupa). | ||
My mother’s people were born in ''Taega'' (pronounced Taenga), which is in the western part of the '''''Tuamotu Islands'''''to the east of the island of '''''Anaa.''''' | My mother’s people were born in ''Taega'' (pronounced Taenga), which is in the western part of the '''''Tuamotu Islands'''''to the east of the island of '''''Anaa.''''' | ||
A powerful sect which combined Tahitian traditions with Christian ideas called the '''''Mamia'' '''rose up in the island of ''Tahiti'' in about 1827. They were rebelling against the teachings and power of the Christian missionaries. They had ''Mana, or power''. This sect did not keep the ways of ''Mana ''according to the ''Tup`una,'' who are our ancestors. ''Mana'' is like the priesthood, and they did not keep the rules of it. To gain more power, the ''Mamaia'' told people they had to join them or be killed. The other choice was to flee. This sect and others, along with drought and over-population and seeking for freedom caused many of the people to migrate to other islands. | A powerful sect which combined Tahitian traditions with Christian ideas called the '''''Mamia'' '''rose up in the island of ''Tahiti'' in about 1827. They were rebelling against the teachings and power of the Christian missionaries. They had ''Mana, or power''. This sect did not keep the ways of ''Mana ''according to the ''Tup`una,'' who are our ancestors. ''Mana'' is like the priesthood, and they did not keep the rules of it. To gain more power, the ''Mamaia'' told people they had to join them or be killed. The other choice was to flee. This sect and others, along with drought and over-population and seeking for freedom caused many of the people to migrate to other islands. | ||
“The Sacred Land of Hawaiki” which some Maoris refer to as the place where their ancestors came from is ''Raiatea,'' in the ''Leeward Islands''. They call it ''“Hawaiki Nui”'' and it has a place on it called ''“Taputaputea,” ''which is a holy place. It is a small triangle of land and it contains a wooden platform which is built high and has three levels. The levels represent to the islanders what we think of as Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial glories. (There is a picture of one of these “prayer platforms” in Cole and Jensen’s ''Israel in the Pacific,'' Page 146.) | |||
Each island had ataputaputea, which would face either north, south, east, or west. At the time when the ''Mamaia'' were in power, they destroyed many of these ''Taputaputeas'' in order to bring down the power of the priests. | |||
''Queen Pomare ''fought against the ''Mamia'' chiefs. They finally all died out. | ''Queen Pomare ''fought against the ''Mamia'' chiefs. They finally all died out. | ||
My mother’s father’s family lived on the island of Anaa in the '''''Tuamotos''.''' '''In 1845, the Mormon missionaries Benjamin Grouard and Addison Pratt were having great success on the island of ''Anaa'''''<i>.</i> They baptized almost every inhabitant of the island, and there were 3,500 members and 7 branches of the Church in the late 1840's. The members were strong and faithful, and by 1852, the Church had spread, scattered on 20 islands. | My mother’s father’s family lived on the island of '''''Anaa'''''in the '''''Tuamotos''.''' '''In 1845, the Mormon missionaries Benjamin Grouard and Addison Pratt were having great success on the island of ''Anaa'''''<i>.</i> They baptized almost every inhabitant of the island, and there were 3,500 members and 7 branches of the Church in the late 1840's. The members were strong and faithful, and by '''1852, the Church had spread, scattered on 20 islands.''' | ||
The Catholic Church, being the national church of the ''French Protectorate ''which was in power at the time, became concerned and started to persecute the Mormons. They passed a law against Mormons meeting together, even in family homes. '''They were forbidden to read, sing, and pray, and were continually watched. | The Catholic Church, being the national church of the ''French Protectorate ''which was in power at the time, became concerned and started to persecute the Mormons. '''They passed a law against Mormons meeting together, even in family homes.''' They were forbidden to read, sing, and pray, and were continually watched. | ||
At this time, Church Brethren were imprisoned in ''Tahit''i and in ''Anaa.'' '''My ancestors hid in caves under the reef by day and got their food by night. They built canoes and provided them with food. '''The men worked on the canoes while the women got food and clothing ready and put water into gourds for drinking. Some gourds were several feet tall. They only grow on volcanic islands, so families had to trade for them. | At this time, Church Brethren were imprisoned in ''Tahit''i and in ''Anaa.'' '''My ancestors hid in caves under the reef by day and got their food by night. They built canoes and provided them with food. '''The men worked on the canoes while the women got food and clothing ready and put water into gourds for drinking. Some gourds were several feet tall. They only grow on volcanic islands, so families had to trade for them. | ||
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'''The Church members populated the islands of ''Taenga, Fakaava, Faaite, Katiu, Makemo, Marutea, Hikuereu, Marokau, and Hao.'''''They lived on their home islands for six months of the year, and then would travel to '''''Hikueru'' to dive to get pearls and mother of pearl. '''This is why I was born in ''Hikueru'' rather than ''Taenga.'' | '''The Church members populated the islands of ''Taenga, Fakaava, Faaite, Katiu, Makemo, Marutea, Hikuereu, Marokau, and Hao.'''''They lived on their home islands for six months of the year, and then would travel to '''''Hikueru'' to dive to get pearls and mother of pearl. '''This is why I was born in ''Hikueru'' rather than ''Taenga.'' | ||
The members would travel and work together, keeping their organization as branches | '''The members would travel and work together, keeping their organization as branches'''. They would meet once a month in a church house, and have regular gatherings more often. This kept them from the evils of gambling, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. that were around them. There is no school during the diving. | ||
The fathers and the oldest boys go diving. '''The men would dive down, sometimes as deep as 30 yards, holding their breath from 3 to 5 minutes.''' My grandfather (Kaheke Mariteragi or Fakapeka) was one of the best divers. He could hold his breath for 5 minutes. He made 50 dives a day at the height of his manhood. There are sharks around, and they have to come up gradually after a dive so they won’t get the “bends” from the change in pressure. They have to stop diving at age 55 because it is so hard on them. | The fathers and the oldest boys go diving. '''The men would dive down, sometimes as deep as 30 yards, holding their breath from 3 to 5 minutes.''' My grandfather (Kaheke Mariteragi or Fakapeka) was one of the best divers. He could hold his breath for 5 minutes. He made 50 dives a day at the height of his manhood. There are sharks around, and they have to come up gradually after a dive so they won’t get the “bends” from the change in pressure. They have to stop diving at age 55 because it is so hard on them. | ||
The women would make dresses, shirts, and bread to sell. They would dry the abalone meat and get the pearls and prepare the mother-of-pearl in the shells. '''They would sell the dried abalone meat, the pearls, and the mother of pearl to a Chinese owner. '''This owner would lend them the money to equip them for the diving voyage. They would dive for 3 weeks to earn the money to repay him. He would pay them for the rest of the things they had gotten from their labors. They lived for the rest of the year on this money, and would go to Tahiti to get the supplies they needed for the rest of the year. My Grandfather was Branch President at Faaite. When children are 8 years old they go to Makemo. | The women would make dresses, shirts, and bread to sell. They would dry the abalone meat and get the pearls and prepare the mother-of-pearl in the shells. '''They would sell the dried abalone meat, the pearls, and the mother of pearl to a Chinese owner. '''This owner would lend them the money to equip them for the diving voyage. They would dive for 3 weeks to earn the money to repay him. He would pay them for the rest of the things they had gotten from their labors. '''They lived for the rest of the year on this money, and would go to Tahiti to get the supplies they needed for the rest of the year. '''My Grandfather was Branch President at Faaite. When children are 8 years old they go to Makemo. | ||
My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. His parents are from the ''Leeward Islands, Huahine''. His family now lives in ''New Zealand. ''People of the Tehaavi family are in the ''Cook Islands ''also. And in the ''Mangaia Is''lands near ''Rarotonga''. It took a fisherman 6 months to sail to ''Rarotonga'' from ''Tahit''i a few years ago when he got lost. The winds and currents led him from ''Tahiti'' to''Rarotonga''.<br><br>My mother’s name was Teuruhei Kokura Mariteragi. I was born on '''''Hikueru.'' Some of the people there have red hair.''' Some Stories about ''Hikueru ''are that the 5th king went to ''Bora Bora ''on his canoe to get his wife. It took him 5 months. The people had to prepare for long voyages, and had to navigate well to reach their destinations.<br><br>Tumukiva, the 7th king, also went to ''Raiatea ''(near ''Bora Bora'') to get his wife. | My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. His parents are from the ''Leeward Islands, Huahine''. His family now lives in ''New Zealand. ''People of the Tehaavi family are in the ''Cook Islands ''also. And in the ''Mangaia Is''lands near ''Rarotonga''. It took a fisherman 6 months to sail to ''Rarotonga'' from ''Tahit''i a few years ago when he got lost. The winds and currents led him from ''Tahiti'' to''Rarotonga''.<br><br>My mother’s name was Teuruhei Kokura Mariteragi. I was born on '''''Hikueru.'' Some of the people there have red hair.''' Some Stories about ''Hikueru ''are that the 5th king went to ''Bora Bora ''on his canoe to get his wife. It took him 5 months. The people had to prepare for long voyages, and had to navigate well to reach their destinations.<br><br>Tumukiva, the 7th king, also went to ''Raiatea ''(near ''Bora Bora'') to get his wife. | ||
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There is also a picture of the Mission Schooner. It was in use from 1950 to 1956. I sailed to all of the islands with the mission president when I was a member of the Church Band. He organized it and I was in it for 3 years. I later became a teacher in the elementary schools of our Church. Our home is now in ''Moorea, Tahiti''. | There is also a picture of the Mission Schooner. It was in use from 1950 to 1956. I sailed to all of the islands with the mission president when I was a member of the Church Band. He organized it and I was in it for 3 years. I later became a teacher in the elementary schools of our Church. Our home is now in ''Moorea, Tahiti''. | ||
See also the Portal: French Polynesia in FamilySearch Research Wiki. | |||
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