![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stark.gen.nz\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-22.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAlfred 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Alfred’s parents met is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alfred’s father married May Josephine Channings at the Registry Office at Waimanagaroa on the 2 December 1902. Waimangaroa is near Granity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The implication here is that Alfred was born approximately 9 months before his parents married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1913 under the name E Corkin, he gained Proficiency at Lyttelton District High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 1918 onwards he is repeatedly in court and in jail for theft related charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1930, he married Gertrude Annie Anderson, but the life of crime continued with forgeries and theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the 1940s he can be seen in trouble for being in arrears with child maintenance and in and out of court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The couple only had the one son together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By 1947 he is going by the name Edward Ernest Corkin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the 16 June 1984, Ernest passed away at Waipukurau Hospital and is buried in Waipukurau Cemetery alongside his second wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stark.gen.nz\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-23.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nChild<\/strong><\/td> Born<\/strong><\/td> Married<\/strong><\/td> Children<\/strong><\/td> Died<\/strong><\/td> Comments<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Jack Edward<\/td> 1 Apr 1932<\/td> 1953<\/td> 4<\/td> 4 Nov 2004<\/td> Hodgson<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stark.gen.nz\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-24.png\")
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