Giovanni Castalanelli (1874 - 1947)

Born 19 Nov 1874 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Husband of Jane (Nicol) Collins — married 30 Jul 1908 in Greymouth, West Coast, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 4 Nov 1947 at age 72 in Reefton, Buller, West Coast, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Greta Gordon [send private message]

Biography

Giovanni, was born in 1874, son of Bartholomeo Castalanelli (1838-1919) and Martha Jane Warburton (1833-1899).

At some point he adopted the name John Collins.

He married Jane Nicol in 1908 in Greymouth, New Zealand. They had three daughters:

1. Martha Isobel (Castalanelli) Huffam
2. Jane Castalanelli, 1912-?
3. Margaret Castalanelli, 1915-1915 (lived three months)

The Tomlinson-Duley family believe John fathered a number of Violet (Wilson) Tomlinson's children. They believe Violet and John lived together after her marriage broke down around 1920.

Edit: 11 Feb 2024: DNA testing has now proved that Giovanni fathered six of Violet's children in Waiuta. Huffam family history indicates that John did not live with Violet, but lived with his wife Jane Nicol throughout their marriage.

John passed away in 1947 in Reefton.

Sources

• "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27P-T8NG : 13 December 2017), Giovanni Castalenelli in household of Martha Castalenelli, Tintwistle (Cheshire), Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 7, Piece/Folio 4062/7, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,152.
• Marriage: https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs] Marriage Registration. Accessed 26 July 2022: 1908/6905 Jane Nicol John Castalanelli
• Death: Death: https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs] Death Registration. Accessed 17 August 2022: 1947/31291 Collins John 76Y. Coopy held by Kathy Viney.
• Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143811803/john-collins: accessed 19 August 2022), memorial page for John Collins (unknown–4 Nov 1947), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143811803, citing Reefton Cemetery, Reefton, Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by Claire Ward (contributor 48636138).
• My Heritage entry viewed 27 Apr 2022.