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==== Customs ====
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A case study with research steps, and description of genealogy resources in the FamilySearch Library.
 
=== Customs  ===


The importance of correct family lines is jealously guarded, and has everything to do with land acquisition and passing on the titles of nobility. These concepts pre-date the Christian era.  
The importance of correct family lines is jealously guarded, and has everything to do with land acquisition and passing on the titles of nobility. These concepts pre-date the Christian era.  


In the case of weddings or funerals, there is a very exact order of things to follow. Who is in charge and makes the decisions is decided by the extended family, rather than the immediate family. Every person is inferior or superior to other family members. A female usually outranks a male, sometimes going back a couple of generations. Each person&nbsp;must know his or her&nbsp;place in the family genealogy to determine who is sitting in the proper place in the kava circle, which has great importance in the social and political life of each person.  
In the case of weddings or funerals, there is a very exact order of things to follow. Who is in charge and makes the decisions is decided by the extended family, rather than the immediate family. Every person is inferior or superior to other family members. A female usually outranks a male, sometimes going back a couple of generations. Each person must know his or her place in the family genealogy to determine who is sitting in the proper place in the kava circle, which has great importance in the social and political life of each person.
 
'''Titles and Rank'''
 
To keep track of family ties, many ''Tongans'' make a  ''Tohi'' ''Hohoko map'', a document which shows the descendants of their ancestral lines. The ancestral family is called the ''Ha`a, ''and most of us know which ''ha`a'' we are from.  Chiefly titles are divided into ''ha'a'' (clan groups or lineages), with titles being "sons" or "younger brothers" to the most senior title of that ''ha'a''.  The ''ha'a, ''formerly the basis of military alliances and still defining ritual obligations, gradually became less important in the 20th century.
 
The aristocrats (''hou'eiki'') of Tongan society trace their descent from the ''Tu'i Tonga'' or sacred ruler.  Their status is assured regardless of titleholding.  In the 18th century there were many titles (indicating control of land-and-people).  Only a few of these titleholding chiefs were given the status of hereditary estateholder (''nopele'' or ''matapule ma'u tofi'a)'' by Tupou I ( in 1875, 1880, and 1882), by Tupou II (1894 and 1903), and by Salote Tupou III (1921).  The place of residence for the Tu'i Tonga was Mu'a.
 
There are two other noble lines that impact Tongan genealogy.  A change in government was done during the reign of Tu'i Tonga Kau'ulufonuafekai.  He appointed his younger brother, Mo'ungamotu'a as the 1st Tu'i Ha'atakalaua, as a temportal king in 1470.  Tu'i Tonga would remain the sacred or spiritual king while the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua would take care of running the kingdom overseeing the cultivation of plantations, and directing the people in bringing tribute to the Tu'i Tonga.  Over time the Tu'i Tonga's power would wane and the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua's would grow.  


To keep track of family ties, many ''Tongans'' make a ''Hohoko map'', which shows the descendants of their ancestral lines. The ancestral family is called the ''Ha`a, ''and most of us know which ha`a we are from. This is helpful in doing our family history.
Later the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua line would create another noble line known as the Tu'i Kanokupolu during the reign of the 6th Tu'i Ha'atakalaua Mo'ugatoga, who had married a Samoan chieftian named Tohuia from the island of Upolu, Samoa.  Their son Ngata would receive the title and serve as the 1st Tu'i Kanakupolu [meaning the Heart of Upolu honoring his mother's island].  Ngata's personal god was known as Taliai Tupou and the name "Tupou" was adopted by many Tu'i Kanakupolu rulers and is now always affixed to the name of the reigning sovereign. Over time, the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua's power would wane during the time of Tu'i Ha'ataklaua Mulikiha'amea [1799] and the Tu'i Kanakupolu's power would grow culminating in the union of all of Tonga [Ha'apai, Vava'u, and Tongatapu islands] under one ruler, King George Tupou I [1852].  


'''Places<br>'''People move from one village to another, so we should find out where our ancestors lived during their lives. Then we can study the history of the villages where they lived.
'''Places'''  


If we do a village family history project, non-members as well as members should be contacted and included in the project, especially the ''Nobles. ''Not many of the ''Nobles ''are members of the Church now, but their parents and grandparents fed the missionaries, and they may be interested in finding out more about this.
People moved from one village to another, so create a residental history of where your ancestors lived during their lives. Then study the history of the villages where they lived.  


'''Names'''<br>The further we go back in time, the more likely we are to find that a person has changed his or her name. If someone did something, proving themself in a certain way, they can change their name accordingly.&nbsp;Study the context of the person’s life, including parents, and other family members when dealing with name changes. On some Church records, the person’s <br>several names may be given.
If you do a village family history project, all village families should be contacted and included in the project, especially the ''Nobles''. As like European overseers, Tongan ''Nobles ,''their parents and grandparents knew who were in their village and may have information to share with you about your ancestor.  


'''Dates<br>'''On outlying islands, people would often wait to get births, marriages, and deaths recorded at the headquarters of the place where they lived. Sometimes, people did not know the exact date of their birth, for instance. One man had an estimated birth date on his record that had been given by his mother a few years after his birth, besides the one he had been told was his real birth date. When he had to decide which one to keep, he chose the one on the record because it was the same as a favourite relative, even though it was not accurate. We should be aware that it may be possible and at other times it may not be possible to be completely accurate with dates.
'''Names'''  


==== Case Study ====
The further back in time, the more likely that a person has changed his or her name. If someone did something, proving themself in a certain way, they may change their name accordingly. Study the context of the person’s life, including parents, and other family members when dealing with name changes. On some government and church records, the person’s several names may be given.


I am ''Tisina Melila Wolfgramm Gerber''. My husband is ''Roy Gerber.''  
Surnames were unknown in Tonga prior to the setting up of mission schools in Tonga and were not widely used until the expansion of secondary education in the late 1940s.  Nowaday's most Tongans have a Tonganized papalangi name (e.g. Melenaite = Mary Knight; 'Ilaisaane = Eliza Ann; Sione = John; Tevita = David) plus a Tongan personal name (e.g. Manu, Finau, Ofa) and a surname. 
 
Some names are not gender-specific, e.g. Tupou and Manu can be given used by both male and female.
 
'''Tongan Spelling'''  


My father is ''Iohani Otto Melila Wolfgramm''. He was born in 1911 and died in 1997. His father was ''Charles Fredrick Wolfgramm'', and his mother was ''Salome Fo`ou Afu''. Dad’s grandfather, ''Frederick Gustav Ludwig Wolfgramm'', emigrated from ''Pyritz, Pomern, Prussia'' in 1885 to join others of his family, who were copra traders. Frederick’s wife was ''Kisaea Sisifa'', daughter of ''Afi`a Folola Havea Tu`i Ha`ateiho ''and ''Ilaisa`ane Pita Haveatuli''.
Prior to 1943 the letter ''g'' stood for the sound ''ng'', and the Wesleyan schools used the letter ''b'' where the Catholic schools used ''p''; ''j ''had earlier been largely abandoned in favor of ''s''.  In 1943 His Royal Highness Prince Tupouto's, newly appointed Minister for Education, and upon becoming the ruling monarch of Tonga in 1965, and known to his people as His Majesty Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, approved the substitution of ''ng'' for ''g'' and promoted uniformity in the use of ''p'' and ''s'' (eliminating ''b'' and ''j'' entirely), divided words that were formerly one word, and standarized the use of the glottal stop (''fakau'a'') in written texts where the sound occurred in spoken speech.  


My mother is ''Salote Lasini Fakatou'', who was born in 1915. Her father was ''Penisoni Kaufusi Fakatou ''and her mother was ''Selu Vaia Mafi''. They have 19 children, of which I am the 5th born. My father moved to the ''United States ''in 1960 because he wanted to take the family to the LDS temple. His life was dedicated to missionary work, family history, temple work, and priesthood service. He taught me his knowledge of family history work. Following are some things I have learned in doing Tongan family history work:
Therefore, researchers may encounter written records that 'look' different, however, are the same person. Case study:  Prior to 1943, maternal grandfather of Caroline Wolfgramm Irwin was known in government and religious records as Baula Lagi. After 1943, this same individual is known in written record as Paula [Paul] Langi. The slight difference in the sound of "P" substituting for letter "B". Other relatives' names were also subtlely changed going from Jio to Sio [Joe].  


'''1. We should interview our family members and write down their information.'''<br>I have been interested in genealogy and family history ever since I was a child. I have wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps in finding and preserving the records of our people. I have a strong spiritual connection with my father because of a special manifestation that occurred during my childhood and a promise I made to him. He has worked and prayed a lot to get the information of his family, and so has my mom. We have talked for hours with my father and mother, and I helped them record in writing the things they have memorized and the records they have obtained. Also, I talked with my Aunt Edna P. Wolfgramm Burningham, to get information on the German lines.
<br>  


'''2. We should gather written records from our family members.<br>'''My mother wrote our family genealogy on a family map, or ''Hohoko''. Many Tongan families have charts like this. She wrote on sail cloth with a ball point pen so it could be folded up and carried and not be torn or destroyed by the elements. The map is about 4 feet wide and 20 feet long. (See the picture on Page XX.)
'''Dates'''  


'''3. We should enter information into Persona Ancestral File or another genealogical <br>computer program.'''<br>Family members helped me copy the information from the Hohoko into the Person Ancesral File computer program. From there, it can be printed out as pedigree charts and family group records and entered into the TempleReady program to request LDS temple ordinance work.  
On outlying islands, people would often wait to get births, marriages, and deaths recorded at the headquarters of the place where they lived. Sometimes, people did not know the exact date of their birth. For instance, one man had an estimated birth date on his record that had been given by his mother a few years after his birth. The record also contained the date that he had been told was his real birth date. When the man had to decide which date to keep, he chose the one on the record that was an estimated birth date because it was the same as a favourite relative. His reasoning was to honor this relative by using the same birth date as his own even though it was not accurate. It may or may not be possible to be completely accurate with dates.


'''4. We should write down what we have learned and share the information with others.<br>'''We also compiled the stories of our family and published them in a book, “Iohani Wolfgramm, Man of Faith and Courage.” Testimonies, family stories and memories, as well as family history of our ancestors has been compiled in this book. A copy is in the Family History Library, call number 921.9612 G313i - JSMB INTL Book.
=== Case Study  ===


'''5. We should share the genealogical information we have with others who need to complete their family history and temple work.<br>'''My father received a call to be a missionary in Tonga and spent 1941-1943 with his young <br>Family, serving wherever the Lord called them to go. In 1965, he wanted to take his family to the temple, but there was none in Tonga at the time, so he wanted to bring his whole family to the United States. Through the blessings of the Lord, the family received permission, papers, and funding to immigrate to Utah.
I am ''Tisina Melila Wolfgramm Gerber''. My husband is ''Roy Gerber.''  


Before we came, my father was able to get permission to copy the royal lineage charts of ''Amelia Tamaha ''at the Kings’ palace. He brought these with him. The family donated them to the ''Family History Library'', and they can be found on '''microfilm number 1224643, ''‘The Iohani and Salote Wofgramm Papers.”'''''
My father is ''Iohani Otto Melila Wolfgramm''. He was born in 1911 and died in 1997. His father was ''Charles Fredrick Wolfgramm'', and his mother was ''Salome Fo`ou Afu''. Dad’s grandfather, ''Frederick Gustav Ludwig Wolfgramm'', emigrated from ''Pyritz, Pomern, Prussia'' in 1885 to join others of his family, who were copra traders. Frederick’s wife was ''Kisaea Sisifa'', daughter of ''Afi`a Folola Havea Tu`i Ha`ateiho ''and ''Ilaisa`ane Pita Haveatuli''.


Iohani was also able to copy other charts of the Royal ancestors from the charts before coming to the USA in 1965. Our family has donated copies to the Family History Library. They are on '''film number 1224643'''. They are:
My mother is ''Salote Lasini Fakatou'', who was born in 1915. Her father was ''Penisoni Kaufusi Fakatou ''and her mother was ''Selu Vaia Mafi''. My parents, Iohani and Salote, had 19 children, of which I am the 5th child born to them.


''95 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs from `Ahoeitu and Tangaloa and his son `Ahoeitu (the first Tui Tonga, 950 A.D.) to Tui Ha`atakalaua, 1450, including the Ha`a Túi Kanokupolu line.''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In this book we can find 95 charts of Tongan Chiefs and their genealogical lines.  
My father moved to the ''United States ''in 1960.  


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is not a complete record, but only a few from the Genealogy papers of Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm.<br>'''Instructions:'''
Following are some things I have learned in doing Tongan family history work:  


When ywe find the Chief Line thatyour family descended from on one of the 95 charts, there are three more books that we will need.<br>1) ''Amelia Tamaha Records from the year 1844<br>2) Túi Latai Mataele (''who came from the royal lines) book of records he copied from the Tongan Royal Palace<br>3) ''Veikune book of records of Queen Matáaho’s father.<br>''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; • A 3-page list of the genealogy with the title in English is at the beginning of the record. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; • The record itself has 95 pages<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; • 79 Larger charts of more charts of more genealogy lines are also available.<br><br>''77 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs from `Ahueitu and Tangaloa and his son `Aho Eitu, the first Tui Tonga 950 A.D. toTakulaua Tui, Ha`a Takalaua 1450, including the Ha!a Túi Kanokupolu line.<br>''These charts are in larger print, with some additional names than are found on the 99 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs in this same collection.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; •There is a list of the genealogies with an introduction in English at the beginning of the record. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; •There are 77 pages in this record set. If you can’t find a name in the set of 99 genealogy charts, there are more names in
'''1. Interview family members and write their information.'''<br>My father has worked and prayed a lot to get the information of his family, and so has my mom. We have talked for hours with my father and mother, and I helped them record in writing the things they have memorized and the records they have obtained. Also, I talked with my Aunt Edna P. Wolfgramm Burningham, to get information on the German lines. It is important to talk to the older relatives and make sure their information is recorded while they are still living.  


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;this larger print version.
'''2. Gather written records.<br>'''My mother wrote our family genealogy on a family map, or ''Hohoko''. Many Tongan families have charts like this. She wrote on sail cloth with a ball point pen so it could be folded up and carried and not be torn or destroyed by the elements. The map is about 4 feet wide and 20 feet long. (See the [[Step 5. Organize your information|picture in Step 5 of the Pacific Island Guide]].)  I used this map to copy the basic information I needed.  


'''Other Resources available <br>'''''CD and maps of Royal Tongan lines by Kakolosi Tui’one.<br>Compiled by Kakolosi K. Tui’one (March 29, 1936 - Sept 9, 2002)''
'''3. Enter information into Personal Ancestral File or similar computer program.'''<br>Family members helped me copy the information from the ''Hohoko'' into the [[PAF and Other Genealogy Organizers|Person Ancesral File computer program]]. From there, it can be printed out as [[:File:Pedigree Chart Blank.png|pedigree charts]] and [[Family group record: roadmap for researchers|family group records]] preparing the names for publication and other work you wish to share.  


During his life, ''Kakolosi Tui’one ''worked hard to collect the records of the ''Royal family of Tonga''. He was given permission in 1949 to copy the records of the royal family. During the last few years of his life he lived with this son, Stanley. He would stay up working on his computer all day and all night sometimes, trying to get the records complete. Kakolosi died just a few months after had finished his work, in the year 2002.
'''4. Write what is learned and share the information with others.<br>'''We also compiled the stories of our family and published them in a book, Tisina Wolfgramm Gerber, ''Man of Faith and Courage'' [FS Library book 921.9612 G313i]. Testimonies, family stories and memories, as well as family history of our ancestors have been compiled in this book.   You also could eventually compile your family stories into a book, if you have the time and the means to do it,


These records are on “maps” or''hohoko ''charts. They are on a Compact Disc that must be read by a ''Computer Assisted Design (AutoCAD14) ''program. (It is not possible to see what is on the CD by loading it onto a regular word processing program).  
'''5. Share the information with others.<br>'''Before we came to America, my father was able to get permission to copy the royal lineage charts of ''Amelia Tamaha'' at the Kings’ palace, and several other charts of Royal ancestors. He brought these with him. The family donated them to the FamilySearch Library as the ''Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm Papers'' mentioned below.


The maps are 32 by 41 inches and cannot be printed out by a regular computer printer because they are in AutoCad format. There are 70 maps in the set. We can call ''Kakolosi’s children at 801-446-5362 ''and they will print out the ones we request. If we want to buy the CD with all of the files on it, we can also request it from the Tui’one Family. The family donated a copy to the Family History Library, which has the call number '''CD-ROM no. 1125 - INTL Lib Att Win.'''
=== Research Ideas and Resources  ===


A printed copy of these maps is located in the bottom drawer of one of the large pedigree chart and map cases in the ''Family History Library in Salt Lake City.'' The call number is '''PEDIGREE no. 2182, pt. 1 - 71 INTL Pedigree File.''' We can ask a Library Attendant for help in getting them.
Most Tongans know the name of an ancestor who was a chief. Look for this ancestor in one or more of the following sources. Compare the different sources to get a more complete genealogy.  


Note: Because the maps are computerized, each map has a ''file name''. The''file name ''contains family names on the charts. They start with the letters of the alphabet contained in the map. Look at the '''INDEX''' to see the file names for the maps and the name of the ancestral couple of the decendants on that map.
'''Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm Papers'''  


'''Tongan Oral Genealogy Interviews from the 1970s<br>'''''Kalolaina and Tevita Mapa ''were commissioned by the LDS Church to gather oral genealogies throughout''Tonga ''during the 1970s. There are over ''800 Tongan oral genealogical interviews'', which they gathered on reel-to-reel tapes. The tapes were transcribed, and the transcripts were microfilmed.  
Tisina Wolfgramm Gerber donated the information which was collected by her family and they were microfilmed. ''[Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm Papers]'' (Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2003) [{{FSC|1116459|title-id|disp=FS Library film 1224623}}]. The papers on this microfiom include the charts of the royal families which Iohani gathered in the 1050s before he left for the United States.  


The paper copies of the transcripts are stored in the ''Special Collections area of the Family History Library''.&nbsp;Search the catalog by ''surname'' for your ancestror’s name.&nbsp; Also search by the ''name of your ancestor’s village ''to see if any other people from your ancestral village were interviewed.  
*''95 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs from `Ahoeitu and Tangaloa and his son `Ahoeitu (the first Tui Tonga, 950 A.D.) to Tui Ha`atakalaua, 1450, including the Ha`a Túi Kanokupolu line.'' (This is not a complete record, but only a few from the Genealogy papers of Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm).
*''Amelia Tamaha Records from the year 1844''
*''Túi Latai Mataele ''(''who came from the royal lines) book of records (''copied from the Tongan Royal Palace'').''  
*''Veikune book of records of Queen Matáaho’s father.''  
*''77 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs from `Ahueitu and Tangaloa and his son `Aho Eitu, the first Tui Tonga 950 A.D. to Takulaua Tui, Ha`a Takalaua 1450, including the Ha'a Túi Kanokupolu line.''These charts are in larger print, with some additional names than are found on the 99 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs in this same collection.


A project is&nbsp;underway to translate these transcripts from ''Tongan'' into ''English''. We can contact the ''Family History Library Public Affairs Unit at 1-800-240-1054'' for further information about the translations.
'''Kakolosi Tui’one's Tongan Pedigree Maps and CD'''  


'''How to browse through the villages more quickly<br>'''If&nbsp;you want to see more quickly what villages the people who gave their oral histories were from,&nbsp;use the ''Register of Tongan Oral Histories''. The Register is a thirteen-page list of the same oral genealogies in alphabetical order by last name, with a column showing the name of the village and a column showing the cassette tape number. The glottal stops are interfiled with the letters of the alphabet in this list.<br><br>'''Example from the Register of Tongan Oral Histories:'''
Kakolosi K. Tui’one, ''Tongan Pedigree Charts Including Royal Lineages'' (West Valley City, Utah: K. Tui'one, 2002) [{{FSC|1118215|title-id|disp=CD-ROM no. 1125 supp.; PEDIGREE no. 2182 pt. 1-71}}]


''NAMES PLACE TAPE''
During his life, ''Kakolosi Tui’one'' worked hard to collect the records of the royal family of Tonga. He was given permission in 1949 to copy the records of the royal family. These records are on “maps” or ''hohoko ''charts. They are on a Compact Disc that must be read by a ''Computer Assisted Design (AutoCAD14) ''program. (It is not possible to see what is on the CD by loading it onto a regular word processing program).


''1. Afimeimo `unga Pahu 595 <br>2. Afu, Maika Ha`ano 787<br>3. Afuha`amango, Setaleki Mumui Neiafu 104<br>4. Afusipa, Sione Feletoa 789''
The maps are 32 by 41 inches and cannot be printed out by a regular computer printer because they are in AutoCad format. There are 70 maps in the set. You can call''Kakolosi’s'' children at 801-446-5362 and they will print out the ones requested. If you want to buy the CD with all of the files on it, you can also request it from the Tui’one Family. The family donated a copy to the FamilySearch Library, which has the call number '''CD-ROM no. 1125 - INTL Lib Att Win.'''  


''<br>''This list is in print form , and has been given the call number—<br>'''FHL INTL Book<br>996.12 D33r<br>This list is also on microfilm with the microfilm number<br>795912 Item 12'''
A printed copy of these maps is located in the bottom drawer of one of the large pedigree chart and map cases in the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. The call number is '''PEDIGREE no. 2182, pt. 1 - 71 INTL Pedigree File.''' Ask a Library Attendant for help in getting them.


Not all of the interviews are listed here, so ''another index ''is being prepared. The title will be ''“Index to the Tongan Oral Genealoggy Interviews.”'' ''Tongan'' people will be descended from at least one royal line, because we are all related to each other in one way or another, so the above references can be helpful in carrying family lines back into further generations.
Note: Because the maps are computerized, each map has a ''file name''. The ''file name'' contains family names on the charts. They start with the letters of the alphabet contained in the map. Look at the index to see the file names for the maps and the name of the ancestral couple of the decendants on that map.  


'''Further Resources'''<br>On the Internet, we can go to ''Familysearch.org ''and choose the ''Library tab ''and then ''Family History Library Catalog''. Type in ''Tonga ''to get records that are made on an Island Group-wide basis and print the items&nbsp;you are interested in.
'''The Cole Jensen Collection'''  


Then type in the name of the''island group'', such as ''Vava`u or Hapa`i'' where our ancestors were from to get a list of records made on that level. Then&nbsp;try typing in the name of the ''island ''and then the ''village'', in case any records were kept on those levels.
An important collection of copied genealogies for Tonga is found in the ''Cole-Jensen Collection: Oral Genealogies and Genealogical Information Collected from the Polnesian Peoples and from the Pacific Islands.'' These records were collected over a 50 year period and microfilmed in 1984 by the Genealogical Sociey of Utah.  The original collection consisted of 51 binders.  The original materials no longer exist as an intact collection.  However, there are nine microfilms: '''1358001''' through 1'''358009''', available at various FamilySearch centers.  This collection contains family group records, pedigree charts, and oral genealogies collected from the lslands of Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands, and French Polynesia, including the Society, Marquesas, Austral Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago. The following microfilms contain Tongan information:


To save time,&nbsp;you can also use a ''film/fiche number search ''to get to the oral genealogy interviews quickly. Some of these numbers are:'''795707, 796816, 795831, 795708, 795709, 795710, 795889, 795890, 795891, 795892, 795913, 795978, 795983, 1066597,795976, and 795975 item 4795913'''
'''1358004''':  Newspaper article with pictures of Queen Salote Tupou III and Tongan genealogies from Binder 20.


Tuvalu (Ellice Islands)<br>Tuvalu is a group of nine small atolls in the western Pacific Ocean,. The main island lies north of Fiji. Tuvalu is the world’s second smallest country. The languages spoken are Tuvaluan and English. Tuvaluans are threatened by rising sea levels because the highest point is just 16 feet above sea level. The estimated population is 10,500.  
'''1358006:'''  Names, dates, and places for 1000 pedigree charts. From Binder 35.


The islands are Nanumea, Nanumanga, Niutao, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita.  
'''1358007:'''  Family Pedigree Charts of Hawaii,, New Zealand, and Tonga. (Not indexed); Genealogy from Tonga Islands, collected by Sinisa Fakalata 


'''1358008:'''  Genealogy of Tonga: Ko'e Tohi Hohoko Eni 'A Kingi Siaosi Tupou II. Written in 1903 and copy given to Rudy Wolfgramm. Tonga Genealogy; Family Records; Kingdom of Tonga and Island Families; "Koe Tohi Hohoko" with table of contents.  Ko'e Tohi Hohoko Eni 'Ae Haa Tu'i Kanokupolu, 150 pages; Takalaua and Vaeleveamata Story, 121 Pages.


Government Death records of Vavau 1880-1941,133 pages; Niuatoputapu Births 1888-1944 and Deaths:1888-1939 with index of 78 pages, Copied by Sione M. Kauvaka and is only those related to Sione M. Kauvaka according to V. Hemaloto.


Birth and Death Rocords of Ha'apai District copied by Sinisi Fakalata, Islands mixed.  Contains some from Niuatoputapu and Vava'u with an index.


Tohi Hohoko: Family Genealogies from Tongan Islands, including a summarized version of the Cole Jensen Binder 43, compiled by Etuini Tupou from the Tamaha records in 1844.


<br>
'''Tongan Oral Histories'''


''Kalolaina Mapa ''and ''Tevita Mapa '' were commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to gather oral genealogies throughout Tonga during the 1970s. There are over 800 Tongan oral genealogical interviews, which they gathered on reel-to-reel tapes. The tapes were transcribed, and the transcripts were microfilmed. In 2006, the tapes were transferred to compact disc (CD) in order to preserve them. For more information about these oral histories click on [[Tonga Compiled Genealogies|Tongan Oral History]].


'''Using the FamilySearch Catalog to Find Tongan Sources'''


Historical background<br>1400 The first settlers are Samoans or Tongans<br>1818-25 Whalers and traders visit the islands. Some settle there.<br>1826 The islands are mapped and named after a British Member of Parliament named Edward Ellice, who own the ship that landed on Funafuti in 1819.<br>1850s Jack O’Brien, of Australian-Irish descent, comes to Funafuti and marries Sarai, the daughter of the King of Funafuti. This royal family still bears the O’Brien name.<br>1860 Britain annexes the islands to protect them from Peruvian slave traders, who have kidnaped 400 Tuvaluans.<br>1865 The London Missionary Society installs Samoan pastors on various islands.<br>1892 The islands are a protectorate of Britain, called the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.<br>Traders from American, British, French, and German trading companies settle and leave their names: Duffy (Nanumea), Buckland (Niutao, Nitz (Vaitapu), O’Brien (Funafuti), Restieaux, Fenisot (Nukufetau), and Kleis (Nui). <br>1915 Britain annexes them as the Gilbert and Ellice Island Colony.<br>1975 The Ellice Islands break away from the Gilbert Islands and become known as Tuvalu. The Tuvaluans are more Polynesian whilethe I-Kiribati of the Gilbert Islands are more Micronesian in ethnicity and culture.<br>1978 They become independent with the name Tuvalu. <br>1979 The U.S.A. gives Tuvalu four islands that have been U.S. territory.<br>2000 Tuvalu joins the United Nations.
The '''Place''' Search of the FamilySearch Catalog will help you find and use records about Tongans. In the online Catalog click on each blue underlined topic or title to see more details about it. Click the '''View Film Notes''' button to see microfilm numbers. The sources on microfilm may be viewed at your local FamilySearch Center. To find a FamilySearch center near you, [https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/about click here.] Search the online Catalog for the records of Tongan ancestors at each of the following levels:


Resources available<br>Civil registrations of birth, marriages and death records are available for the years from 1866-1979. They are microfilm of original records in the Tuvalu Archives, Funafuti. There are 10 rolls of microfilm.<br>VAULT INTL Films:<br>Number 1213002 contains records of births in Funafuti from 1974-1979. Births in Nanumanga from 1902-1952 and from 1968-1973. Births in Nanumea from 1903-1975. Birth in Niutao from 1905-1952, from 1890-1899, and from 1952-1955.<br>Number 1213003 contains records of births in Niutao from 1955-1874. Births in Niu from 1903-1976. `````````````````````Births in Nukufetau from 1904-1975.
'''''National level.''''' Use the Place Search to find the records of for the whole nation of Tonga. To do this {{FSC|Tonga|subject|disp=click here}}, and then click on the blue underlined topic of interest. <br>  


Number 1213004 contains births in Nukulaelae from 1903-1975. Births in Vaitupu from 1866-1952, 1866-1905, and 1952-1974. Births in Northern Ellice from 1968-1972.
'''''Island group level.''''' Likewise, use the Place Search to find additional records at the island group level. Click one of the main three island groups below and then click on the blue underlined topic of interest within that group. <br>


Number 1213005 contains births in Northern Ellice and Southern Ellice from 1968-19754. Death records in Funafati, Nanumanga, Nanumea, Niutao ranging from 1903-1969.
*{{FSC|Tonga%2C+Ha%27apai|subject|disp=Ha`apai}} island group
*{{FSC|Tonga%2C+Tongatapu|subject|disp=Tongatapu}} island group
*{{FSC|Tonga%2C+Vava%27u|subject|disp=Vava`u}} island group


Number 1213006 contains death records in Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu, Northern Ellice, and Southern Ellice ranging from 1903-1979. Marriages in Funafati from 1933-1979
'''''Island level.''''' Some of the records of Tonga are about an entire island, for example, Niuafo'ou. To start, open the the Place Search by clicking [https://www.familysearch.org/ here ]. Then find records at the island level by typing the name of the island in the ''Place'' field, and then clicking on the '''Search''' button. In the ''Place Search Results'' click the blue underlined name of the island. Then click the blue underlined topic of interest for that island to see titles under that topic. Click the blue underlined title to see more details. If available, also click the '''View Film Notes''' button. <br>


Number 1213007 contains marriage records in Nanumanga, Nanumea, Nui, ranging from 1889-1974. Marriage records in Nukufetau from 1973-1974 and in Nukulaelae from 1952-1968.<br>Number 1213008 contains marriage, adoption, and divorce records ranging from 1911-1975.
'''''Village level.''''' Some records are only about one village, for example, Hoi. To start, open the the Place Search by clicking [https://www.familysearch.org/ here ]. Then find records at the village level by typing the name of the village in the ''Place'' field, and then clicking on the '''Search''' button. In the ''Place Search Results'' click the blue underlined name of the village. Then click the blue underlined topic of interest for that village to see titles under that topic. Click the blue underlined title to see more details. If available, also click the '''View Film Notes''' button. <br>  


Number 1213009 contains records of Peruvian slave raids, Tongan wars, old men’s tales, archeological site to 1900, and history and genealogy records up to 1900.
{{Pacific}} <br>


Number 1213010 contains notes and genealogies, some of them oral genealogies, and Number 1213008.<br>
[[Category:Tonga]]
[[Category:Research Tips and Strategies]]
[[Category:Naming Customs]]

Latest revision as of 11:20, 19 December 2023

TonWesChu

A case study with research steps, and description of genealogy resources in the FamilySearch Library.

Customs

The importance of correct family lines is jealously guarded, and has everything to do with land acquisition and passing on the titles of nobility. These concepts pre-date the Christian era.

In the case of weddings or funerals, there is a very exact order of things to follow. Who is in charge and makes the decisions is decided by the extended family, rather than the immediate family. Every person is inferior or superior to other family members. A female usually outranks a male, sometimes going back a couple of generations. Each person must know his or her place in the family genealogy to determine who is sitting in the proper place in the kava circle, which has great importance in the social and political life of each person.

Titles and Rank

To keep track of family ties, many Tongans make a Tohi Hohoko map, a document which shows the descendants of their ancestral lines. The ancestral family is called the Ha`a, and most of us know which ha`a we are from. Chiefly titles are divided into ha'a (clan groups or lineages), with titles being "sons" or "younger brothers" to the most senior title of that ha'a. The ha'a, formerly the basis of military alliances and still defining ritual obligations, gradually became less important in the 20th century.

The aristocrats (hou'eiki) of Tongan society trace their descent from the Tu'i Tonga or sacred ruler. Their status is assured regardless of titleholding. In the 18th century there were many titles (indicating control of land-and-people). Only a few of these titleholding chiefs were given the status of hereditary estateholder (nopele or matapule ma'u tofi'a) by Tupou I ( in 1875, 1880, and 1882), by Tupou II (1894 and 1903), and by Salote Tupou III (1921). The place of residence for the Tu'i Tonga was Mu'a.

There are two other noble lines that impact Tongan genealogy. A change in government was done during the reign of Tu'i Tonga Kau'ulufonuafekai. He appointed his younger brother, Mo'ungamotu'a as the 1st Tu'i Ha'atakalaua, as a temportal king in 1470. Tu'i Tonga would remain the sacred or spiritual king while the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua would take care of running the kingdom overseeing the cultivation of plantations, and directing the people in bringing tribute to the Tu'i Tonga. Over time the Tu'i Tonga's power would wane and the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua's would grow.

Later the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua line would create another noble line known as the Tu'i Kanokupolu during the reign of the 6th Tu'i Ha'atakalaua Mo'ugatoga, who had married a Samoan chieftian named Tohuia from the island of Upolu, Samoa. Their son Ngata would receive the title and serve as the 1st Tu'i Kanakupolu [meaning the Heart of Upolu honoring his mother's island]. Ngata's personal god was known as Taliai Tupou and the name "Tupou" was adopted by many Tu'i Kanakupolu rulers and is now always affixed to the name of the reigning sovereign. Over time, the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua's power would wane during the time of Tu'i Ha'ataklaua Mulikiha'amea [1799] and the Tu'i Kanakupolu's power would grow culminating in the union of all of Tonga [Ha'apai, Vava'u, and Tongatapu islands] under one ruler, King George Tupou I [1852].

Places

People moved from one village to another, so create a residental history of where your ancestors lived during their lives. Then study the history of the villages where they lived.

If you do a village family history project, all village families should be contacted and included in the project, especially the Nobles. As like European overseers, Tongan Nobles ,their parents and grandparents knew who were in their village and may have information to share with you about your ancestor.

Names

The further back in time, the more likely that a person has changed his or her name. If someone did something, proving themself in a certain way, they may change their name accordingly. Study the context of the person’s life, including parents, and other family members when dealing with name changes. On some government and church records, the person’s several names may be given.

Surnames were unknown in Tonga prior to the setting up of mission schools in Tonga and were not widely used until the expansion of secondary education in the late 1940s. Nowaday's most Tongans have a Tonganized papalangi name (e.g. Melenaite = Mary Knight; 'Ilaisaane = Eliza Ann; Sione = John; Tevita = David) plus a Tongan personal name (e.g. Manu, Finau, Ofa) and a surname.

Some names are not gender-specific, e.g. Tupou and Manu can be given used by both male and female.

Tongan Spelling

Prior to 1943 the letter g stood for the sound ng, and the Wesleyan schools used the letter b where the Catholic schools used p; j had earlier been largely abandoned in favor of s. In 1943 His Royal Highness Prince Tupouto's, newly appointed Minister for Education, and upon becoming the ruling monarch of Tonga in 1965, and known to his people as His Majesty Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, approved the substitution of ng for g and promoted uniformity in the use of p and s (eliminating b and j entirely), divided words that were formerly one word, and standarized the use of the glottal stop (fakau'a) in written texts where the sound occurred in spoken speech.

Therefore, researchers may encounter written records that 'look' different, however, are the same person. Case study: Prior to 1943, maternal grandfather of Caroline Wolfgramm Irwin was known in government and religious records as Baula Lagi. After 1943, this same individual is known in written record as Paula [Paul] Langi. The slight difference in the sound of "P" substituting for letter "B". Other relatives' names were also subtlely changed going from Jio to Sio [Joe].


Dates

On outlying islands, people would often wait to get births, marriages, and deaths recorded at the headquarters of the place where they lived. Sometimes, people did not know the exact date of their birth. For instance, one man had an estimated birth date on his record that had been given by his mother a few years after his birth. The record also contained the date that he had been told was his real birth date. When the man had to decide which date to keep, he chose the one on the record that was an estimated birth date because it was the same as a favourite relative. His reasoning was to honor this relative by using the same birth date as his own even though it was not accurate. It may or may not be possible to be completely accurate with dates.

Case Study

I am Tisina Melila Wolfgramm Gerber. My husband is Roy Gerber.

My father is Iohani Otto Melila Wolfgramm. He was born in 1911 and died in 1997. His father was Charles Fredrick Wolfgramm, and his mother was Salome Fo`ou Afu. Dad’s grandfather, Frederick Gustav Ludwig Wolfgramm, emigrated from Pyritz, Pomern, Prussia in 1885 to join others of his family, who were copra traders. Frederick’s wife was Kisaea Sisifa, daughter of Afi`a Folola Havea Tu`i Ha`ateiho and Ilaisa`ane Pita Haveatuli.

My mother is Salote Lasini Fakatou, who was born in 1915. Her father was Penisoni Kaufusi Fakatou and her mother was Selu Vaia Mafi. My parents, Iohani and Salote, had 19 children, of which I am the 5th child born to them.

My father moved to the United States in 1960.

Following are some things I have learned in doing Tongan family history work:

1. Interview family members and write their information.
My father has worked and prayed a lot to get the information of his family, and so has my mom. We have talked for hours with my father and mother, and I helped them record in writing the things they have memorized and the records they have obtained. Also, I talked with my Aunt Edna P. Wolfgramm Burningham, to get information on the German lines. It is important to talk to the older relatives and make sure their information is recorded while they are still living.

2. Gather written records.
My mother wrote our family genealogy on a family map, or Hohoko. Many Tongan families have charts like this. She wrote on sail cloth with a ball point pen so it could be folded up and carried and not be torn or destroyed by the elements. The map is about 4 feet wide and 20 feet long. (See the picture in Step 5 of the Pacific Island Guide.) I used this map to copy the basic information I needed.

3. Enter information into Personal Ancestral File or similar computer program.
Family members helped me copy the information from the Hohoko into the Person Ancesral File computer program. From there, it can be printed out as pedigree charts and family group records preparing the names for publication and other work you wish to share.

4. Write what is learned and share the information with others.
We also compiled the stories of our family and published them in a book, Tisina Wolfgramm Gerber, Man of Faith and Courage [FS Library book 921.9612 G313i]. Testimonies, family stories and memories, as well as family history of our ancestors have been compiled in this book. You also could eventually compile your family stories into a book, if you have the time and the means to do it,

5. Share the information with others.
Before we came to America, my father was able to get permission to copy the royal lineage charts of Amelia Tamaha at the Kings’ palace, and several other charts of Royal ancestors. He brought these with him. The family donated them to the FamilySearch Library as the Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm Papers mentioned below.

Research Ideas and Resources

Most Tongans know the name of an ancestor who was a chief. Look for this ancestor in one or more of the following sources. Compare the different sources to get a more complete genealogy.

Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm Papers

Tisina Wolfgramm Gerber donated the information which was collected by her family and they were microfilmed. [Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm Papers] (Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2003) [FS Library film 1224623]. The papers on this microfiom include the charts of the royal families which Iohani gathered in the 1050s before he left for the United States.

  • 95 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs from `Ahoeitu and Tangaloa and his son `Ahoeitu (the first Tui Tonga, 950 A.D.) to Tui Ha`atakalaua, 1450, including the Ha`a Túi Kanokupolu line. (This is not a complete record, but only a few from the Genealogy papers of Iohani and Salote Wolfgramm).
  • Amelia Tamaha Records from the year 1844
  • Túi Latai Mataele (who came from the royal lines) book of records (copied from the Tongan Royal Palace).
  • Veikune book of records of Queen Matáaho’s father.
  • 77 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs from `Ahueitu and Tangaloa and his son `Aho Eitu, the first Tui Tonga 950 A.D. to Takulaua Tui, Ha`a Takalaua 1450, including the Ha'a Túi Kanokupolu line.These charts are in larger print, with some additional names than are found on the 99 Genealogy Charts of Royal Families, Nobles, and Chiefs in this same collection.

Kakolosi Tui’one's Tongan Pedigree Maps and CD

Kakolosi K. Tui’one, Tongan Pedigree Charts Including Royal Lineages (West Valley City, Utah: K. Tui'one, 2002) [CD-ROM no. 1125 supp.; PEDIGREE no. 2182 pt. 1-71]

During his life, Kakolosi Tui’one worked hard to collect the records of the royal family of Tonga. He was given permission in 1949 to copy the records of the royal family. These records are on “maps” or hohoko charts. They are on a Compact Disc that must be read by a Computer Assisted Design (AutoCAD14) program. (It is not possible to see what is on the CD by loading it onto a regular word processing program).

The maps are 32 by 41 inches and cannot be printed out by a regular computer printer because they are in AutoCad format. There are 70 maps in the set. You can callKakolosi’s children at 801-446-5362 and they will print out the ones requested. If you want to buy the CD with all of the files on it, you can also request it from the Tui’one Family. The family donated a copy to the FamilySearch Library, which has the call number CD-ROM no. 1125 - INTL Lib Att Win.

A printed copy of these maps is located in the bottom drawer of one of the large pedigree chart and map cases in the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. The call number is PEDIGREE no. 2182, pt. 1 - 71 INTL Pedigree File. Ask a Library Attendant for help in getting them.

Note: Because the maps are computerized, each map has a file name. The file name contains family names on the charts. They start with the letters of the alphabet contained in the map. Look at the index to see the file names for the maps and the name of the ancestral couple of the decendants on that map.

The Cole Jensen Collection

An important collection of copied genealogies for Tonga is found in the Cole-Jensen Collection: Oral Genealogies and Genealogical Information Collected from the Polnesian Peoples and from the Pacific Islands. These records were collected over a 50 year period and microfilmed in 1984 by the Genealogical Sociey of Utah. The original collection consisted of 51 binders. The original materials no longer exist as an intact collection. However, there are nine microfilms: 1358001 through 1358009, available at various FamilySearch centers. This collection contains family group records, pedigree charts, and oral genealogies collected from the lslands of Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands, and French Polynesia, including the Society, Marquesas, Austral Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago. The following microfilms contain Tongan information:

1358004: Newspaper article with pictures of Queen Salote Tupou III and Tongan genealogies from Binder 20.

1358006: Names, dates, and places for 1000 pedigree charts. From Binder 35.

1358007: Family Pedigree Charts of Hawaii,, New Zealand, and Tonga. (Not indexed); Genealogy from Tonga Islands, collected by Sinisa Fakalata

1358008: Genealogy of Tonga: Ko'e Tohi Hohoko Eni 'A Kingi Siaosi Tupou II. Written in 1903 and copy given to Rudy Wolfgramm. Tonga Genealogy; Family Records; Kingdom of Tonga and Island Families; "Koe Tohi Hohoko" with table of contents. Ko'e Tohi Hohoko Eni 'Ae Haa Tu'i Kanokupolu, 150 pages; Takalaua and Vaeleveamata Story, 121 Pages.

Government Death records of Vavau 1880-1941,133 pages; Niuatoputapu Births 1888-1944 and Deaths:1888-1939 with index of 78 pages, Copied by Sione M. Kauvaka and is only those related to Sione M. Kauvaka according to V. Hemaloto.

Birth and Death Rocords of Ha'apai District copied by Sinisi Fakalata, Islands mixed. Contains some from Niuatoputapu and Vava'u with an index.

Tohi Hohoko: Family Genealogies from Tongan Islands, including a summarized version of the Cole Jensen Binder 43, compiled by Etuini Tupou from the Tamaha records in 1844.

Tongan Oral Histories

Kalolaina Mapa and Tevita Mapa were commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to gather oral genealogies throughout Tonga during the 1970s. There are over 800 Tongan oral genealogical interviews, which they gathered on reel-to-reel tapes. The tapes were transcribed, and the transcripts were microfilmed. In 2006, the tapes were transferred to compact disc (CD) in order to preserve them. For more information about these oral histories click on Tongan Oral History.

Using the FamilySearch Catalog to Find Tongan Sources

The Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog will help you find and use records about Tongans. In the online Catalog click on each blue underlined topic or title to see more details about it. Click the View Film Notes button to see microfilm numbers. The sources on microfilm may be viewed at your local FamilySearch Center. To find a FamilySearch center near you, click here. Search the online Catalog for the records of Tongan ancestors at each of the following levels:

National level. Use the Place Search to find the records of for the whole nation of Tonga. To do this click here, and then click on the blue underlined topic of interest.

Island group level. Likewise, use the Place Search to find additional records at the island group level. Click one of the main three island groups below and then click on the blue underlined topic of interest within that group.

Island level. Some of the records of Tonga are about an entire island, for example, Niuafo'ou. To start, open the the Place Search by clicking here . Then find records at the island level by typing the name of the island in the Place field, and then clicking on the Search button. In the Place Search Results click the blue underlined name of the island. Then click the blue underlined topic of interest for that island to see titles under that topic. Click the blue underlined title to see more details. If available, also click the View Film Notes button.

Village level. Some records are only about one village, for example, Hoi. To start, open the the Place Search by clicking here . Then find records at the village level by typing the name of the village in the Place field, and then clicking on the Search button. In the Place Search Results click the blue underlined name of the village. Then click the blue underlined topic of interest for that village to see titles under that topic. Click the blue underlined title to see more details. If available, also click the View Film Notes button.

v • d• e
Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3: Table of
Pacific
Islands


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