***This page is ©copyright to author Anne Frandi-Coory. All Rights Reserved 2011.
No text or photos are to be copied or downloaded without the written permission of the author.***
…
Sketch by Khalil Gibran
><
…..But you should also be proud that your mothers and fathers came from a land upon which God laid his gracious hand and raised his messengers. – Khalil Gibran I Believe In You (1926)
******************
Khalil Gibran, the writer, artist and poet, was born on 6 January 1883, to a Maronite Catholic family in Bcharre in Mount Lebanon. Gibran was related through marriage, to my grandparents, Eva and Jacob Fahkrey (Coory), also Maronite Catholics, who emigrated from Bcharre in 1897.
*********************
To purchase copies of my memoir/Lebanese/Italian family histories: Whatever Happened To Ishtar? A Passionate Quest To Find answers For Generations Of Defeated Mothers…….
Updated 4th edition of my book (pub. 2020) now available in paperback and Kindle e-book here from AMAZON BOOKS
***************************
Lebanese Settlers Reunion, Dunedin, NZ
*****
I was recently asked to complete a survey on what I thought of the service and resources at Victoria’s Immigration Museum. The staff at the museum were very helpful.
During research for my book, I found that my Lebanese Grandparents, Jacob and Eva Fahkrey (Coory) left Bcharre, Lebanon for their final destination in New Zealand in 1897, but I couldn’t find any reference anywhere in New Zealand to the name of the steam ship they voyaged in. I knew that the the ship left Port Said in 1897 but that is all. I found the information in shipping lists at the museum after a couple of days searching, and what a thrill that was. One of the staff helped me to locate the relevant lists and my scrutiny began. She also explained that because my grandparents were unassisted immigrants, that is they paid for their own berths in steerage class, there would be scant information about them apart from their names and ages. Steerage class means they were ‘between decks’ and married couples slept in two tiered bunks in one large ‘room’, with women on one side and men on the other. Very basic! The entry I found was brief: Mr & Mrs Facri [sic] 25 yrs and 15 yrs respectively. The German SS Australien berthed on route at Port Adelaide and my grandparents later disembarked at Melbourne to learn English for one year before setting out for their final destination in New Zealand.
><
The Journey by Steam
|
Sources: Immigration Museum, Victoria State Library, Melbourne.
|
The first iron-hulled steam ships made the journey to Australia in 1852. However, these early steamers, known as auxiliaries, still carried a full set of sails, as their inefficient engines and the lack of coaling ports en route to Australia prevented the use of the new steam technology over long distances.
Whilst speed was not initially improved by the introduction of steam, comfort and strength were. The change from traditional wooden hulled ships to iron hulls enabled steamships to be larger and stronger, with much greater space below the decks.
In the 1860s the more efficient compound steam engine, in which steam was expanded in successive cylinders, was introduced. This enabled ships to make the voyage to Australia entirely under steam power. However, it wasn’t until the 1880s after the introduction of a government mail subsidy, that steam ships became profitable and began to carry the majority of immigrants. Less reliant on wind, they travelled at a constant speed and provided power for electric lighting, refrigeration and ventilation. Grand saloons were able to be provided for first class passengers, and small cabins instead of sleeping berths were provided in steerage class.
><
Updated 30 July 2014
For more information, family tree and stories about the Coory family, click on links below:
‘Whatever Happened To Ishtar?; A Passionate Quest to Find Answers for Generations of Defeated Mothers’ (15+ reviews)
Photos: Catholic Schools, churches, orphanages
***********************************************
*** All photos, text, © copyright to author Anne Frandi-Coory. All Rights Reserved 2011. No text or photographs to be copied or downloaded without the written permission of the author.***
****************************************
Eva & Jacob Coory (Fahkrey) Author Anne Frandi-Coory’s paternal grandparents. They left Bcharre, Lebanon in 1897
Read their story here: Immigration and The Promise
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Descendants of the Tannous Geries Fahkrey clan of the Nakhle line:
Page 1
1-Asaad FAHKREY
+Unknown
2-Munsurl FAHKREY
+Unknown
3-Youssef Khouri Abraham FAHKREY
+Unknown
4-Khunna Youssef FAHKREY
+Unknown
5-Eleishah Khunna El Khouri FAHKREY b. 1789, Bcharre Lebanon, d. , Bcharre Lebanon
+Unknown
6-Habib Eleishah El Khouri FAHKREY b. 1820, Bcharre Lebanon, d. 1910, Bcharre Lebanon
+Hunni (Annie) FAHKREY b. , Lebanon
7-Jacob Habib El Khouri Eleishah FAHKREY (COORY) b. 18 Aug 1872, Bcharre
Lebanon, d. 3 Jun 1956, 67 Carroll St Dunedin
+Eva Arida FAHKREY (COORY) b. 10 May 1882, Bcharre Lebanon, d. 21 Nov 1980,
Dunedin Public Hospital Dunedin
8-Elizabeth Jacob Coory MANSOOR b. 1898, Dunedin, d. 24 May 1971, Wellington
+Joseph MANSOOR
9-Madeline MANSOOR b. 5 May 1916, Dunedin, d. Aug 1997, Wellington
9-Frederick Joseph MANSOOR b. 4 Jun 1917
9-Amelia MANSOOR b. 21 Jul 1918
9-Wilford Anthony MANSOOR b. 27 Oct 1919
9-Richard (Dick) Michael MANSOOR b. 5 Jun 1921
9-Phillip John MANSOOR b. 12 Sep 1923
9-Dennis Michael MANSOOR b. 12 Apr 1925
9-Joan (Jewel) Mansoor MILICICH b. 20 Jan 1927, Dunedin, d. 19 Nov 2013,
Auckland
8-Amelia COORY b. 1900, Dunedin, d. 10 Oct 1917, Dunedin
8-Joseph Jacob Habib Eleishah COORY b. 21 May 1902, Dunedin, d. 16 Dec 1974,
Dunedin
+Doreen Marie FRANDI b. 27 Sep 1920, Watford Hertfordshire UK, d. 6 May 1995,
Wgtn
9-Anne Marie Frandi-Coory b. Dunedin
8-Michael Patrick COORY b. 1904, Walker St Dunedin, d. 1995, Dunedin
+Harriet (Topsy) Stokes Maxted COORY b. 1 Jul 1907, d. 13 Dec 1993, Dunedin
9-Yvonne Marie Coory TODD b. 21 Jun 1940, Dunedin, d. 1995, Dunedin
Page 2
8-Phillip George COORY b. 1906, Walker St Dunedin, d. 18 Sep 1987, Dunedin
+Flora Rosa Vassalo Benjamin COORY b. , Malta, d. Aug 2010, Wellington
9-Vas COORY b. 19 Sep 1939, Wellington
+Doreen Marie FRANDI b. 27 Sep 1920, Watford Hertfordshire UK, d. 6 May 1995,
Wgtn
9-Kevin Joseph COORY b. 5 Aug 1945, Christchurch
8-Neghia (Georgina) Coory DALE b. 1908, Dunedin, d. 1995, Dunedin
+Thomas Alexander DALE d. 1985, Dunedin
9-Beverley DALE
8-Frederick (Fred) COORY b. 1911, Dunedin, d. 2002
+Edna Huband COORY d. 1995
9-Phillip COORY b. 1944, Waimate
9-Pamela Ann COORY b. 1945, Waimate
9-Lynette Marie COORY b. Dunedin, 1948
9-Francis Jacob COORY b. 1949
9-Raelene COORY
9-Paul COORY b. 1960, d. 1967
8-Annie Coory COCKBURN b. 1912, Dunedin, d. 8 Feb 2003, Dunedin Hospice
+George Alexander COCKBURN d. 11 Apr 1972, Dunedin
9-Alan COCKBURN b. 1938, Dunedin
9-John COCKBURN b. 1943, Dunedin
9-Garry COCKBURN b. 1943, Dunedin
9-Ann-Marie COCKBURN b. 31 Jul 1953, Dunedin
8-Henry Michael COORY b. 1914, Dunedin, d. 30 Apr 1993, Dunedin
+Joyce Helena COORY d. 1996, Wellington
9-Henry Reginald Jacob COORY b. 1949, New Plymouth
9-Wendy Matilda COORY b. 1951, Wellington
9-Stephen Michael COORY b. 1953, Wellington, d. 18 Jul 1988
9-Gael COORY b. 1955, Wellington
9-Jeffrey COORY b. 1956, Wellington
9-Christopher COORY b. 1958, Wellington
9-Joy COORY b. 1959, Wellington
8-Maria COORY b. 1916, Dunedin
8-Pearl Coory CONEYBEAR b. 1918, Dunedin, d. 10 Aug, Wellington
Page 3
+Colin CONEYBEAR
9-Pauline CONEYBEAR
9-Colleen CONEYBEAR
9-John CONEYBEAR
9-David CONEYBEAR
8-Francis John COORY b. 1920, Dunedin
+Lois Fairweather COORY
9-Peter COORY b. , Dunedin
9-Christopher COORY b. , Dunedin
9-Louise Catherine COORY b. Dunedin
+Doreen Marie FRANDI b. 27 Sep 1920, Watford Hertfordshire UK, d. 6 May 1995,
Wgtn
9-Anthony Mervyn COORY b. 21 Oct 1949, Wellington
7-Joseph Habib FAHKREY (COORY) b. 1879, Mt Lebanon, d. 7 Jan 1974, Sacred Heart
Home Andersons Bay
+Fuhda (Elizabeth) Hunnah COORY b. 1887, Mt Lebanon, d. 7 Mar 1920, Dunedin
8-John COORY b. 1905, d. 1971
8-Mary (Watfa) Coory MORRIS b. 1910
8-Alma Coory BETRO b. 21 Sep 1911, Dunedin
+Les BETRO b. 1905, Broken Hill Australia, d. 24 Aug 1964, Dunedin
9-Martin BETRO b. 1 Nov 1938, Broken Hill Australia, d. Jul 2009, Sydney
9-Patricia Betro BELLAMY b. 4 Jul 1940, Wellington
9-Joseph (Joe) BETRO b. 5 May 1942, Dunedin, d. 17 Mar 2008, Dunedin
9-Denis BETRO b. 31 Dec 1949, Dunedin
9-Gerard BETRO b. 5 Jul 1953, Dunedin
8-Alexander COORY b. 1914
8-Michael COORY b. 1916
7-Hanifa COORY
7-Zarify COORY
7-Barbara COORY
7-Maria COORY
***A fully updated and comprehensive family tree is available to descendants free of charge from author Anne Frandi-Coory. If any family members have been omitted or their details are incorrect, please let me know in comments box below.
<><><><><
><
My daughter Gina and I visited Alma Betro at an aged care home in 2009. Alma is my father’s first cousin.
I always will remember Alma for her kindness to me and my father when I was a lost little girl.
><
Jacob & Eva with Amelia L & Elizabeth R. Phillip on Jacob’s knee, Eva holding Neghia. Seated L & R; Patrick & Joseph
><
Eva Arida Fahkrey (Coory) with her six sons. Anne’s father Joseph standing at rear on the left
><
Eva with her five daughters (Amelia died from TB at 17 years old)
><
Amelia Coory (died 1917)
<><><
Eva Arida Coory’s mother Marta Abdallah, Anne Frandi-Coory’s paternal great grandmother.
><><><
Jacob Coory (Fahkrey) Anne Frandi-Coory’s paternal grandfather (photo: Wendy Coory Gretton)
>><><>
Habib Eleishah Khunna El Khouri Fahkrey, Jacob’s father
<><><><>
Bcharre nestled in the mountains of Lebanon (photo: House of Ishtar)
><><><>
Ceiling is Habib Fahkrey’s house in Bcharre which he built himself out of Lebanon’s cedars well over a hundred years ago (photo: Wendy Coory Gretton)
><><><>
Wendy Gretton nee Coory, standing under Habib Fahkrey’s grape vine in Bcharre which he planted over one hundred years ago (photo:Wendy Coory Gretton)
><><><><
Habib Fahkrey’s cellar in Bcharre which he built himself (photo: Wendy Coory Gretton)
><><><>
Wendy Gretton, standing with a future Maronite Patriarch, Father Joseph Fahkrey, in the street in Bcharre named after Jacob Fahkrey’s (Coory) ancestors who lived there for hundreds of years (photo: Wendy Coory Gretton)
><><><>
The Fahkrey fountain built in Fahkrey Street, Bcharre, by Jacob’s ancestors (photo: Wendy Coory Gretton)
anne frandi-coory 
Hi, can you email me privately please, I have some names and dates I can add/fill in for you – Eva and Jacob are my great-grandparents. Kindest regards, Debbie Blair
LikeLike
Sorry to take so long to reply Debbie, I am presently with my daughter and grandson in Cromwell escaping the Christchurch earthquake. I will contact you shortly via my private email.
LikeLike
Hi my name is Julie Johnson (married name) Jacob is my Great Uncle. My Great Grandparents are Joseph and Elizabeth Coory. Joseph and Jacob are brothers. Joseph and Elizabeth had E. Alex Coory and Alex is my Grandad he recently passed away on the 13th August 2012 aged 96 years. so we are related as we must be great cousins.
LikeLike
Hello there, Julie. I remember Ummie Yusef; he and Jacob were so alike! My fondest memory is of them borh sitting side by side in the porch at Carroll Street puffing on a hookah pipe!
LikeLike
Hi I am curious about your family tree-as you can see I am a coneybear, my dad was john franklin son of savery f and grandson of colonel john f. any connection?-thanks, kim
LikeLike
Hi Kim
I am sorry I don’t know anyone else in the Coneybear family tree. Good luck with your search.
Anne.
LikeLike
Hello Anne
I have just come across your website by accident. I am the son of Alexander Coory who is still alive, and I live in Tauranga. I too have a Coory family history. Maybe we can fill some gaps.
Kindest regards,
David.
LikeLike
That would be good, and I could send you a finished copy of the tree. Your grandparents and cousins also feature in my book.
LikeLike
I LOVE your website. I’m of two worlds, too, in this case 1/2 Lebanese and 1/2 Irish. The Lebanese side arrived in the USA from Lebanon in 1892.
The photo of Amelia Coory looks so very much like one of my cousins (who is 1/2 Lebanese and 1/2 Italian). Similarly to Amelia, my sitoo’s brother Peter died of “exposure” in the 1890s. He was perhaps 10 years old. In the USA at least, there was a terrible depression (the “Panic of 1892”) that led to widespread unemployment. In my great-grandparents’ case, they couldn’t get work have to live outside in a lean-to in the winter- it probably led to my grandmother’s brother’s death.
I see you have a Kahlil Gibran – inspired drawing at the top of your page; interestingly enough, there are Gibrans in my family’s old parish.
LikeLike
Hi David, good to hear your story. Kahlil Gibran was born in my grandparents’ village in Bcharre and moved to USA when the Catholic Maronite minority were suffering persecution by muslims. We are related to his family through marriage. If your family came from Bcharre there is a good chance there will be a family connection because my grandfather’s sisters emigrated to the US. Lebanese/Irish combination would make for a volatile mix as does Lebanese/Italian, I would say?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi! Thank you so much for the reply.
Yes! Irish-Lebanese is a volatile mix! My Irish mother could be very much the unstoppable force where my Lebanese dad was the immovable object. When she got excited, it was like a tornado was set loose in our living room- and that Tornado came up against the Mt. Everest that was my dad!
My family isn’t from Bcharre. It’s from a very similar town not that far away to the west- a town called Ehden.
I hesitated- strongly- on telling you about Ehden as Bcharre and Ehden are two very similar towns – Maronite Catholic and set in the mountains- photos of both towns make them even look similar- but they historically are two rival towns as well. I suspect you’ve heard in your life how Italian towns are rivals- very similar thing.
Both Ehden and Bcharre are *very* ancient towns. Both rightfully can boast an ancient heritage- with ancient buildings and such. Bcharre, if I remember right, boasts the oldest cedars in existence (and among many things, of course being the birthplace of Kahlil Gibran)..while Ehden, for example, hosts Horsh Ehden, a very ancient nature preserve, and also the oldest Maronite church in the world.
Now, the reaction of many old Bcharre people on hearing from someone from Ehden is usually something like, “Ehden! Those people are NO GOOD.” Which goes back to the book, “The Arab Mind” and the author’s conclusion that there’s really not much middle ground between liking and dislike in the Middle East.
I hope (!) that my telling you I’m from Ehden (really Zghorta, which is its mirror town – Zghorta in the winter and Ehden in the summer) doesn’t give you a bad vibe!
LikeLike
I was a bit like your mum when I was younger-very fiery, not sure many people understood me. But I didn’t inherit the ethnocentricity that my grandparents brought with them from Lebanon because I spent my formative years in an orphanage. My mother bacame mentally ill (not surprisingly) and dad’s family didn’t want me because my mother was Italian. However, I love the Lebanese people and the Italian people and consider myself blessed, and I am proud, because of the wonderful positive traits I and my children have inherited. Writing ‘Ishtar?’ helped me to see that. So, David, the fact you are Lebanese is fantastic!
LikeLike
Hi David, I don’t know if you have read my post yet under ‘Lebanese Connections’ but if you click on link below you will see that young Lebanese just want to be ‘Lebanese’ and not specify what sect, which is a great thing for the future.
https://frandi.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/lebanon-pity-the-nation/
LikeLike
Hello Anne
I’m related by marriage to Jacob and Eva’s son Michael Patrick. My gg grandfather was the uncle of Michael’s wife Hettie.
I have used Jacob’s diary, published on the Cedars of Lebanon website (http://www.cedarsoflebanon.org.nz/pages/15-4/Jacob-Habib-Coory) as one of the sources for names dates for the family tree I am working on.
I notice that you have some different dates (e.g. Jacob’s year of birth, Eva’s year of birth, the month of their marriage). Can you disclose the sources of your information?
Thanks very much in advance, Susan
LikeLike
How lovely to hear from you Susan. Uncle Mick (Michael Patrick) was a darling and I loved Auntie Topsie (as we called Hettie) also Yvonne who was very special. I write about them in my book. I did 15 years research re Jacob and Eva Coory using museum and library records. I talk about this further in the history section of my book. I found the dates in Jacob’s diary didn’t tally with official records. We believe the translation from Aramaic into English was problematic. Would love to know about Dean, Grant & Miriam. Uncle Mick adored them. Kind regards Anne
LikeLike
Hi Susan,
I’m Harriet Stokes Coory ( nee Maxted ) grandson Grant Todd – I’m doing some research about my family. I am wondering if you can contact me via my email.
LikeLike
I forgot to mention that Michael Patrick’s second cousin lives here in Melbourne and she helped with dates etc as well. Her grandfather Joseph and Jacob were brothers and came out from Lebanon about the same time.
LikeLike
Hi My name is Josh, I am a Bcharre descendant, my great great grandparents Tobia Coory Isaac and Hala Jaboor Fahkri came to Dunedin in 1893 and settled in South Dunedin. I would love to get in contact with you if i could, because i have been very interested in my lebanese heritage.
LikeLike
Hi Josh,
Tobia and Hala are my great grandparents. There are plenty of family members around with loads of stories. Where would you like to start?
I can probably put you in contact with a family member who has been working on the family tree.
Tobia and Hala`s son Abraham was my grandfather, who are you decended from?
LikeLike
Riley – both sets of my mothers grandparents were from Bescharre. I have been trying to trace my Fakhry heritage and would like to know more about the information you have. The Fakhry families would be Hanna and Shaheen.
LikeLike
Hello Josh
I know how important it is for people like you and me to trace our family history. Unfortunately I have not come across any of the names you mention, and those people who could have helped you have long since passed away. Good luck with your search.
LikeLike
Hi Josh, my grandfather was Joseph (Yussuf) Habib /COORY/ (Fahkri) born 29 Mar 1879 in Becharre and his brother was Jacob (Yauob) Habib Leisha /COORY/ (Fahkri). they came to Dunedin about 1906. Kind regards, David Coory. Tauranga.
LikeLike
Hi Absolutely love this site & the poem you did for Jewel (she is my mother in law). My eldest son is named Jacob after his Great Great Grandfather as Jewel always talks of her Grandfather with the fondest memories.
I would absolutely love to get in contact with you & maybe get copies of the photos if you have them – they are very special! Thanks Sarah
LikeLike
I have sent you an email Sarah. Just wanted to say here, how much I loved your mother. She and her mother, Auntie Lizzie, were such amazing mother goddesses, and I think about them often. And yes, Granddad Jacob was a gentle, lovely man, and while he was alive, we children knew kindness.
LikeLike
Hi Joanne – I have just stumbled across this site today after googling mums name to see if there was a picture of her online. I was stunned to read the most beautiful verse you wrote -my darling mother to a t – everyone loves Jewel is what they say at the rest home where she now lives. I remember you fondly from our young days in Wellington and I am godmother to your daughter. I have been speaking with my sister-in-law Sarah and her and I were looking at the sight together – her in Christchurch and me in Auckland. I have only skimmed over it and never as a child did I realise the torment you suffered going up – unacceptable. I will share this with mum but it may be hard for her to comprehend as she has dementia. She is still her loving self and even in her state still thinks of others and wants to do for others – I am proud to call her my mother and pleased you remember her with fond memories. I will alwaqys remember you as a big cousin we used to come and visit when you had babies before you moved south. My family is your family. Paula xxxx
LikeLike
So sorry to hear about Jewel. The news has brought tears to my eyes. I am so glad she has you to watch over her care. Please do remember me to her, she may still have memories of the times we managed to catch up. I know she had difficult times too;she came to stay with me and my dad in Maitland Street after she was married, when things got particularly difficult for her in Wellington. I was still at secondary school then. I came home to find that dad had let her sleep in my bed, she was so tired. Jewel always had a soft spot for dad. Love Anne x x
LikeLike
wow this has brought tears to my eyes – the things we learn about our parents.
LikeLike
Hey I’m Jacob, Kevin’s son, where did you get these pictures from? Its cool to know who I was named after!
LikeLike
Hello Jacob
I have met you a couple of times; once when you were ten and Kevin took us to the movies, and once when you were about 20, I think. Anyway, lovely to hear from you. Jacob was a gentle man, and very kind, a good man to be named after. Regards, aunty Anne.
LikeLike
Hi Anne
My father’s name is Paul Hart Nutsford
He was born in 1929 and died in 1994. His birth mother was Harriet Stokes Maxted. She gave him up for adoption to Alice Grace and William Henry Nutsford. Do you have any information as to whether he was fathered by Michael Patrick Coory? We have no information at all as to who my grandfather was. I know that my grandmother Harriet didn’t marry Michael Coory until 1937 but I thought she might have been in a relationship with him from as far back as 1929 when my father was born. I would appreciate any light you can throw on the subject.
LikeLike
Hello Kevin, I am Harriet Stokes Coory’s grand-daughter Miriam Burke. I once met your father Paul with my mother Yvonne. Nanna was in a old peoples home where my grand father Mick, would visit her every day and spent hours at her side. Your dad had wanted to visit Harriet and I know mum had said that it wouldn’t be a good idea as Nanna had lost her memory and Michael knew nothing of Paul.
LikeLike
Sorry I have taken so long to reply but I did send an email in private to another person who hasn’t replied. Harriet and Michael never had a child together. Harriet had a small daughter, Yvonne, by a previous relationship, when she married Michael. He later adopted Yvonne and they had a very close relationship until they died. It was a very happy marriage. I doubt very much that Michael was Paul’s dad.
Good luck with your search. Anne.
LikeLike
Hello Anne, I never knew my mother was adopted until now. Grand-dad loved nanna so very much. I miss them all.
LikeLike
I have been doing some research via the net and noticed that Nanna and Grand-dad married on the 29th of March 1937. Mum wasn’t born then as her birth date is 21 June 1940.
LikeLike
Hello there Miriam, lovely to hear from you. I remember you well, and your brothers. I don’t know what is going on there with those dates, but Yvonne was definitely adopted, as Mick and Harriet’Topsy’ couldn’t have children of their own. We know that Topsy already had Yvonne when she married Mick. Sometimes adoption dates replaced birth dates on new cerificates after adoption. We also know that Harriet had another son before Yvonne who was adopted out possibly before Mick met Harriet.
LikeLike
Yes, they were a wonderful couple, absolutely devoted to each other. They even had room in their hearts for Kevin and I who were treated so badly by the Coory family. Uncle Mick used to take us for rides on his motorbike. One thing I can tell you for sure; Uncle Mick could not have loved Yvonne more if she had been his biological daughter. Yvonne was devoted to both her parents and nursed them until they died. Then I heard she was terminally ill. Very sad. Unfortunately the Coory family was not not kind to Harriet and she never felt she belonged. Yvonne told me this herself, and she felt the same. They treated my mother just as cruelly, more so in fact, because she had a son, Kevin, before she married my father. I do hope you find the time to read my book because there is much you will learn about your grandfather. Kind regards, Anne.
LikeLike
Hello Anne, just curious as to the possibility of you having a connection biologically to my partners boss in his employment at the moment, his name is Gabriel Khouri. Thanks Farrah.
LikeLike
Hello again, Farrah, always lovely to hear from you. How is your beautiful family?
Gabriel could well be a distant relative as only those families descended from a priestly line could use the name Khouri/y which means ‘priest’ in Arabic.If his ancestors came from the same village in Lebanon, Bcharre, as my family, then it is even more likely. My ancestors were Roman Catholic.
LikeLike
Thanks for the reply Anne, My family are all well at this time. All busy with school and work, I have been tapping into my own creative projects, and it was interesting to see that we have both created a painting of a tree, in a field of flowers, i have not however painted the children dancing around the tree, but have painted it for the children at my Preschool. Similar….. I will pass the information on to David, thank you very much. Keep well and creative, Farrah.
LikeLike
Oh wow – just stumbled across your website Anne. We only recently laid to rest a 115 year old mystery, via a cousin who went to visit Lebanon, fell in love with the place, stayed, and finally tracked down present day members of my paternal grandfather’s family in Zahle) as to how my grandfather Salem Wakem (original name, now confirmed at last, was Salem Wakeem El Karak) came to settle in New Zealand.
We know my mother’s father and his wife came from Bcharre (Bisharri) and settled in Dunedin – yes, in Walker Street (now Carroll Street) among the strong Lebanese community there – and his name was Butrus (Peter) Mansoor. His wife was Ruby and my mother’s was Sophie. After a trip by my sister to Lebanon and Bcharre, when, inquiring about the Mansoor name, kept being asked what was the family name. On returning to NZ she found some papers belonging to our mother Sophie, written in Arabic, and had them translated. Turned out to be my maternal grandfather’s Birth Certificate – and the familly name is Al Fakhry (or Fakhri – so many spellings lol). And googling that name led me here – to find a number of my mother’s relatives mentioned in your listed Family Tree!!!
We know Peter had two brothers here in Dunedin as well – John and Lahoud.
Cheers Neville
LikeLike
Thank you for your comments, Neville. I am so glad you found my blog.
LikeLike
Was so lovely to hear from you Anne..Paul Hart Nutsford is Harriet Stokes Coory’s first born out of wedlock. Paul’s son Kevin Nutsford had left a comment above about Michael Patrick may be his father’s father. No Grand-dad is not and didn’t know Harriet had given birth to a boy before they met…I am not sure but don’t think he knew. That’s the thing so much was covered up. I’m trying to put this all together..very confusing. I’m pleased you have written this blog and look forward to a good read of your book. 🙂 Grant has been also reading up your blog and says hello. x
LikeLike
If ever you are in Melbourne I would love to meet you all. I may be in Christchurch in April…maybe we can catch up then x x x
LikeLike
Grant lives in Brisbane, Australia. Dean is married,.two lovely children and living in Invercargill, and I’m still in Mosgiel. married and have two awesome teenagers. I’ll really like to catch up and know both my brothers would love to catch up too. God Bless and I hope we can keep in touch. ❤ xx
LikeLike
I just wanted to post you something beautiful and I know you love it 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSulONzgewQ
LikeLike
How did you know about the glass case…..you’ve already read my book! The ballet brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much xxxxx
LikeLike
I wanted to send you something you could keep and play over and over again without it getting taken off you. Yes Anne, I rushed out and got your book and I am part way through. It has touched me so very much, I only wish you had confided in my nanna Harriet, I’m so sad to know how very bad you and your brothers were treated. I relate to the screaming and yelling, I always remember I would get scared when all of a sudden one would start argueing and the rest would jump in like a pack of hyena’s attracting prey. Did you know your dad was my most favourite great uncle? I remember Mum took me to Cherry Farm to visit him and I was so disgusted the family had put him in such an awful place. I told Mum I never want to go back. Uncle Joe was so pale and thin looking, I didn’t want to believe it was him. 😦 I remembered Tim!!!! Oh how I loved him but when I think of Tim he was very old. I came across your blog by accident the other day. My sisterinlaw Charmaine Burke (nee Coory) Victor Coorys adopted daughter’s brother John had passed and I was looking on the net for details of his funeral. I was drawn here after names came up I was familiar with. I’m so very pleased I found you. 🙂 xxx
LikeLike
OMG you knew my dad. He and uncle Mick were very close and had similar lives until he married Doreen, and they never forgave him. . I know that uncle Mick was staying with the Coory family at Carroll Street when your nana was so ill and after she died. However he was so horrified by the way the family treated uncle Henry’s children after he died, Mick moved out and stayed with your mum. I am so glad you found me. xxxxx
LikeLike
Hi Miriam
So good to find someone from Harriet’s family
I don’t have any background information about Paul Hart Nutsford at all only that Harriet gave him up for adoption to the Nutsford family.
He had me out of wedlock and then went on to marry and have 7 other children.
I have no clue as to who my grandfather was, it would be good to at least get some information on my grandmother.
I noticed that you live in Mosgiel, my step sister Erin lived in Mosgiel, we were just there last month for her funeral. Next time we are over in NZ it would be could to catch up and get some family background.
LikeLike
I am glad you and Miriam will be in touch. One of the reasons I set up this blog was so desecendents can make contact.
LikeLike
Grant would love to also give you a call Anne and remembers a lot more than I about the past and the Coory family. If you would like tell me your phone number you can message me at miriambnz@hotmail,com. Grant is trying to help me piece together Nannas past. x
LikeLike
I’d very much like to see you Kevin next time you are over in New Zealand. I have so much to tell you about Harriet. Nanna was wonderful..I miss her so much. You are welcome to write me direct at my email address miriambnz@hotmail,com and I’m also on Facebook. 🙂
LikeLike
My brother Grant said he tried to call you the other day Kevin but it was the wrong phone number. If you can email me he would love to speak with you.
LikeLike
Hi Miriam
Not sure what phone number Grant has, I am in Sydney currently but my wife and I leave for 8 months overseas on Saturday. Will not really be checking phones or emails during that time unless it’s to contact our kids as it’s too expensive. Will check in when we get back in September.
LikeLike
Who could forget Uncle Joe, I was a young girl Anne when Uncle Joe died but he was someone in the house I felt I connected to and felt comfortable being around….he had sparkling eyes, a friendly smile and a gentle soul See my brothers and I are out casts also on the Todd side for the stupid reason our Mother and Father got divorced. when we were small children, why did we get the feeling we had done something wrong? Even now I’ve been in touch with my Dad’s side of the family and don’t feel I fit in anywhere. they look at me as though I’m an alien…I know they see Mum when they look at me, Mum did tell me they treated her so bad even when she was married to Bryan. I’ve been blessed with her looks and she lives on in me..oh and the other wonderful thing I’ve been blessed with is my Nanna Harriet’s nature..LOL She was a bit of a rebel, could stand up for herself and a wonderful sense of humor. I remember she did tell lies though, only to keep the peace but she would laugh and giggle like a small child at every time she told one. I remember.one day Great Aunt Georgina was yelling out to us and Nanna said to me “oh no here’s the fog-horn coming”..I started to giggle Nanna said just say nothing and go along with me. We were staying up in Wanaka at the holiday home and Nanna and I were in the small scamper on the section. Georgina came over and asked if we had been to church? Nanna said yes of course we did, we were sitting near the back of course we didn’t go to church that day. I wonder if they knew of Nannas tattoo?. A small butterfly she had on her thigh…hence my love of anything to do with butterflies. I have one hanging on my wall and when I look up at it I think of Nanna. She was too modern to be a nanna in those days…I thought she was just the coolest Nanna in the world! They both did so much for Mum and us children especially when Dad left,,,we were so lucky to have wonderful grand parents. Aunt Alma who really wasn’t our Aunt was Mum’s favourite to talk to..Aunt Alma we had more to do with and visit than the house in Carroll Street in later years when Nanna was in a retirement home, Mum and I would always make sure we called into visit Alma when seeing Grandad while he was living at Carroll St. You know Anne think of yourself as a caterpillar slowly crawling along in your youth, everything seems a struggle, you don’t feel good about yourself, you feel like you are going know where then one day you just get so tired of your struggle you just want to curl up into a ball and sleep forever away from the world then the moment you awake you feel different you have grown into a colourful butterfly that can now fly above all those struggles you once had…your beautiful..just keep spreading those wings! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have a wonderful holiday Kevin. You have my email address now and I’ll just wait to hear from you when you get back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Miriam, my name is Anne Russell, nee Peters. I just stumbled across all your comments on Anne Frandi-Coory’s blog and noticed that you mentioned your sister-in-law Charmaine. My family lived in Carroll St many years ago across the road from the Coorys. My father and Victor Coory were great mates and I grew up with John Coory, he was my age. The last time I saw him was at the reunion in Dunedin in 2011. I was so sad to hear of his passing, so young!
I’m actually getting totally confused reading all the names on these comments, but trying to piece it all together somehow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Anne Russell. Yes it can be very confusing. Yes Charmaine (nee Coory) Burke is my sister in law. Very sad for Char to lose her mum so young then Victor and now John (brother) but she is doing well and keeps in touch with everyone. Two different Coory families become one. I’ll pass your message on to her that you were sorry to hear of John’s passing.
LikeLike
Wow… I came here by following links on the internet. And I was shocked to find you guys who have lebanese ancestors bragging and happy. While we lebanese are looking for any chance to move out and settle somewhere else… any way.. am also a catholic maronite but I am from a coastal city called JOUNIEH but I know bcharre very well and Ehden and zghorta as well… loved your website and the info… I hope you guys to come snd visit us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Miriam, I left a message for Anne Frandi-Coory on here somewhere, but now I can’t find it. I’m just wondering if she saw it. I was telling her about myself and that I lived over the road from the Coorys in Carroll St. I’m not too good with all this technology and can’t even remember where I left the message. Could you let me know if you see it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Anne, I did get that message…you left it under “Letters To Anne Frandi-Coory”. So good to hear from you both xx (:
LikeLike
Dear Anne Frandi-Coory, Thank you for your great family link. Can you please tell me if Eva Arida Fakhrey Coorey is in relation to the Arida’s that came to Charter’s Towers, or are related to Patriach Peter Anthony Arida.
If so, how would she be related, as I can give you some details of the recent research into my wife’s family.
Thank you. and God Bless.
Simon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Simon, so nice to hear from you.💟
Yes, my grandmother Eva Arida Fahkrey (Coory) was either the cousin or niece of the Patriarch. I would dearly love to know more about my grandmother and her family in Bcharre. I have written quite a lot about her and her family as I knew them when I was a child, in my book ‘Whatever Happened To Ishtar?’ Eva spoke Aramaic and broken English and lived to almost 100. She was a very religious and supersticious person.
LikeLike
That is great to hear of the connection!!!
I am happy to send you the past few days of research, by email. Just drop me an email.
There must be over 100 megs of files so far!
I have accessed:
trove,
naa.gov.au
the births deaths marriages registers of each state
war memorial graves commission
The Maronite Community of South Australia will be hosting
an ANZAC event, in Adelaide South Australia,
Sunday 23 April, after mass services,
and the Arida family descendants (my new family) will be here.
All are welcome.
You’ll be amazed to know some of the extended descendants (through direct blood or marriage) from these family Arida:
– J.D. and R.D. Arida who built many institutions in Charters Town Queensland
– Bob Katter and family descendants of the Katter Party in Australia
– Simon George and Sons Business
– Asmar Families who helped with the Mater Mother’s Hospital Foundation in Brisbane
And many other familes. Toohey, Coorey,
Wishing all our new discovered relations the best.
Simon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you know of any Aridas in South Africa around 1900? I think there was a Saaid Arida living in the Germiston area. Would like to know what became of him??
LikeLike
No I am sorry, Elaine, but I know of no others with the surname Arida.
LikeLike
Thank you Anne, I will keep searching. My husband and I want to do the DNA test at some stage. We are in Perth Australia but were originally from South Africa. My maiden name is Rahme but my husband is Nofal. My great grandparents were from Lebanon (not sure if they were from Sibhel or Becharri). My husbands grandparents were from Tripoli. We are both Maronites. I find all this background very fascinating.
LikeLike
So many parallels to my Lebanese family history. I wish I knew more to help you. Good luck with your search, Elaine. xx
LikeLike
Hello Cousin. My 2x great grandfather was Mansour Fahkry. He was Habib Fakhry’s brother. Their Dad was priest, El Khoury Lichaa Fakhry. I might have mispelled it. Mansour married Saada Shakra and had Michael, Badr, Youssef, Jirjis, Annie and my great grandmother, Miriam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So nice to hear from you, Daniel. Yes, Eleishah Khunna El Khouri Fahkrey was a Maronite priest (they were permitted to marry) and he initially began instructing his grandson, my future grandfather Jacob Habib, to become a priest. As an oldest son, Jacob was required to go and live with his grandfather at age 7 years to begin his priestly scholarship. But of course Jacob didn’t study as he should have; he loved the single life in Beirut too much and his worried family eventually arranged for him to marry my future grandmother Eva Arida. Eleishah was not pleased, to put it mildly! I have written much of this Lebanese family history in my book ‘Whatever Happened To Ishtar?’ Kind regards, your cousin, Anne
LikeLike
I look forward to purchasing the book. Do you know what Mansour and Habib’s Mom’s name was? Do you have any information on Mansour’s family? God bless.
Cousin Daniel
LikeLike
I researched Granddad’s family history, Daniel, but I have never been able to find out Habib’s mother’s name. The only notes I have referring to a Mansour are: Mansour Boutros Samon Fahkrey who left Bcharre in 1892 aged 20 years, and he married a Lebanese woman called Yonsini. But this Mansour is of my grandfather Jacob’s generation. I hope this helps your research. Kind regards, Anne xx
LikeLike
Thank you Anne. Thank you for the work that you’ve done. I will be purchasing your book soon. Take care Cousin.
LikeLike
Hi! My great grandparents on my mum’s side travelled to NSW Australia in 1891. (Possible other family members were est. earlier.) They settled in Taree, NSW. My mum’s mum then ran a clothing factory in Sydney. The family names include Rizk, Mouhad, Khoury, Antoun, Bashir, Solomon and Abraham. Some from Zahlé, some from Bcharre. So much I don’t know. Can you offer any pointers? I live in NZ. I’d love a reply! Thank you, Anna
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Anna, lovely to hear from you. My grandparents arrived in Dunedin NZ c. 1898 along with many other Lebanese immigrants from Bcharre in Lebanon. The only name I recognise among your mother’s family names, is ‘Khoury’ which was a family name of my grandfather, Jacob, later anglicised to ‘Coory’. It means ‘priest’ in Aramaic, the ancient Syriac language he spoke. He came from a priestly family, his own grandfather,Eleishah Khunna El Khouri Fahkrey, a priest in the Maronite Christian sect which later aligned with the Catholic Church, much to the detriment of the inhabitants of Bcharre, in my view. My grandfather was training to become a Maronite priest, (they could marry) when he broke his grandfather’s heart by leaving for NZ after his marriage to Eva Arida.
There could be a familial connection in our ancestry, but we’d have to go back a lot further to check that out. Regards, Anne.
LikeLike
Hello.
I have just found out my ancestor Joseph Raphael from Aintourine married a Mary Coorey from Bsharii. I don’t know the date of marriage but their oldest son was born around 1860 so the marriage would be around this time.
Do you have any information on a Mary Coorey
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello David, I am sorry but I cannot find any reference to a Mary Coorey or her children around that date on my family tree; however that doesn’t mean Mary wasn’t related to my branch of the family. Bcharre was a very small village. My great, great grandfather Eleishah Khunna El Khouri Fahkrey (a Maronite priest) was born in 1820, this being the earliest date I have. All descendants of the Tannous Geries Fahkrey clan of the Nakhle line, Eleishah’s male line begins with Asaad Fahkrey and descends down three generations: Munsurl Fahkrey, Youssef Khouri Abraham Fahkrey, Khunna Youssef Fahkrey to Eleishah Fahkrey, my g,g, grandfather. Sadly, I could not find any records showing the names
of the above men’s wives. I hope these names are of some help in your research of your branch of the family.
LikeLike
Thankyou Ann,
It is going back a long way and we have only been notified the recent connection to Bsharii.
Thankyou again.
David
Adelaide Australia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello.
I am researching my family history and recently made a discovery one of my ancestors (great, great grandmother) name is Mary Coory from Bsharri. Mary would have been born circa 1860/70s. She married Joseph Raphael (Rafael).
They travelled to Australia in 1890 (approx). Returned to Lebanon unknown date. Is she on your family tree.
LikeLike
hello Anne.
I believe my great great grandmother was born Mary Fahkry maybe 1870s and from Bsharre.
She married Joseph Raphael from Aintourine
Have you any records about her.
Regards
David Raphael
LikeLike
Hello Anne, Wow, have just come across this website by chance. Amazing story and journey for you. Would love to catch up on the past 30 years sometime. Feel free to let me know your email contact details by return email. Lots of love, Paul Barrett.
LikeLike
Just sent you an email, Paul.
LikeLike
Hi Anne.
I’m another who came across this website by chance looking into my grandmother’s history.
All i know and can find is that my great grandmother was Jasmine Khoury. Buried in Taita Wellington, died in 1978 and my father tells me she was in a mental asylum for part of her life. Her two children were Marguerite (nee Khoury) Kristensen (my grandmother) and Odette (nee Khoury) Hammond (my great aunt). I know that my grandmother and aunt were bought up in Zahle Lebanon and so my nana said left Lebanon on “a holiday to Australia and a civil war broke out so they never returned” apparently when they were teenagers. Nana was born in 1922 .Don’t really know the details of how they ended up in Wellington where nana and aunty odette settled down and raised families. I also can’t find the details of my great grandfather, but my dad might know his name. I think there were some cousins of nana’s who lived on Thompson street in Wellington City, but i never met them.
Unsure if any of this would connect to your family tree. who knows. Just thought i’d leave you a message incase any of this fills in some sort of gap.
Thanks.
Vashti Kristensen
LikeLike
Dear Vashti, so nice to read your comment. I understand how important it is to know where we have come from, because I have been on a similar journey. My Lebanese grandfather Jacob, anglicised his surname, from the family name ‘el Khouri’ to ‘Coory’ when he arrived in NZ in 1897. As a genealogist, I have found that first names and surnames in a family tree are very important in tracing a family’s lineage, and unfortunately none of the names you have given me are recorded in my family tree or known lineage. My grandparents both came from the village Bcharre, close to the mountains of Lebanon, quite a distance from Zahle, but there could be an ancient connection. My grandparents were Maronites and spoke the ancient language of Aramaic. Good luck with your search, Vashti.
LikeLike
Hi Anne, I received a DNA match with Rafaella Marisi Mansi a few years ago. I had the Mitochondrial test done and Rafaella as well as Fortunata Teresa Longo come up as matches. I’ve been working on and off trying to find a connection for a few years but no luck. I’m in Australia so did any of their descendants come to Australia? Regards Robyn Golby.
LikeLike
Hi Robyn, thanks for commenting on my blog. It’s always good to make contact with descendants of Rafaella. The only descendants I know personally in Australia are my brother Kevin Coory, his children, and my children. Some live in Sydney and some here in Melbourne.
LikeLike
Does anyone know what village or villages in Lebanon the Mansours would have come from to emigrate to NZ and Australia in the early to mid 1900s.
LikeLike
As far as the Mansours I know, my father’s sister, Elizabeth Coory [Fahkery] married Joseph Mansour and both families came from Bcharri in the hills of Lebanon. Elizabeth and Joseph moved to Wellington after their marriage.
LikeLike
My maternal grandfather was Butrus (Peter) Mansour and came with his wife Ruby from Bcharri to Dunedin, New Zealand in the early 1900s.
LikeLike