AKA Ernest Edward Cameron AKA Ernest Albert Cameron AKA Edward Elisha Corkin
Alfred is one of my favourite ancestors. He was a complex man that was in and out of jail many times. I have pages of information on Alfred. He lead many lives with many names and moved around frequently.
A snippet from his death certificate sets the scene.
Alfred was born on the 24 February 1902 at Westport. His father was a miner, based in and around Granity at the time. His mother, was Josephine Channings. Her family were mainly from the Marlborough area at the time.
How Alfred’s parents met is unknown.
Alfred’s father married May Josephine Channings at the Registry Office at Waimanagaroa on the 2 December 1902. Waimangaroa is near Granity.
The implication here is that Alfred was born approximately 9 months before his parents married.
Electoral rolls give weight to Josephine moving to Lyttelton. At some point in 1903, a brother Richard was born to Josephine. We will talk to Richard on his own page.
Alfred senior remained on the West Coast, while (potentially) his 2 children are raised in Lyttelton and are adopted by their step-father. John Corkin.
Alfred junior is now going by the name Edward Elisha Corkin and he attends Lyttelton School. There is a hint that he may have been bound for a different type of home with the letters “R C” on his school destination. That could be Roman Catholic, meaning a boarding school or similar. It is unclear.
In 1913 under the name E Corkin, he gained Proficiency at Lyttelton District High School.
From 1918 onwards he is repeatedly in court and in jail for theft related charges.
In 1930, he married Gertrude Annie Anderson, but the life of crime continued with forgeries and theft.
Through the 1940s he can be seen in trouble for being in arrears with child maintenance and in and out of court.
The couple only had the one son together.
| Child | Born | Married | Children | Died | Comments |
| Jack Edward | 1 Apr 1932 | 1953 | 4 | 4 Nov 2004 | Hodgson |
By 1947 he is going by the name Edward Ernest Corkin.
In 1957 he is divorced by his then wife and changes his name to Edward Ernest Cameron. I am assuming he took his second wife’s name – Cameron. He also went by the name Edward Albert Cameron.
On the 16 June 1984, Ernest passed away at Waipukurau Hospital and is buried in Waipukurau Cemetery alongside his second wife.
