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About WISE FAMILY OF FIJI & CONNECTIONS
Ni sa Bula. To all who visit this site, "Information is for sharing. However if you do use  information from this site, some acknowledgement reference will be greatly appreciated". Please do not add names and details of living persons on publicly accessed sites.

I dedicate this  site to my beloved older brother, James Andrew WISE, who passed away in Feb  1993, as a result of a car accident. James was  passionate about family, and was forever  searching for family connections. He was determined to find the roots of the WISE Family of  Fiji. We were ever so fortunate in that our dad, Henry WISE (JP of Fiji) kept in touch with  many of the family members from around Fiji and overseas. This provided us with the opportunity  to meet and acquaint with them. I vividly remember most of the family that visited Wainiveidio,  usually stayed over at our home. This is one of the reasons, the family lineage formed part of  our conversations at home. Our mum, Tokasa WISE (nee KOROIVUKI: Tubou, Lakeba Lau. Mataqali Vuanirewa, Tokatoka Naivi) was also well versed in the WISE family history and took her time to answer any questions and explain the family lineage from both side of the family to us. So, this site is very much dedicated to our Beautiful Ma and ever so Amazingly Wonderful Dad as well.

My sisters, Ada SEETO (nee WISE), and Grace WISE, have provided a lot of information which has  assisted me in connecting the dots, and compiling this family tree. Our brother, James had many  a 'talanoa' (yarn) with our Grandma, Josephine (nee ROUNDS). From these conversations, as well  as in conversing with other older folks, and other family members: from Namosi to Levuka (those  who lived in Suva), and with our family on the Island of Tubou Lakeba, Lau. He had an abundance  of knowledge of our family lineage. He was a Genealogist in his own right. James put together  some of the information that he had gathered, in relation to our family lineage (Grandpa  Benjamin WISE and Grandma Josephine (nee ROUNDS)), which I had passed on to Uncle Bruce ROUNDS  in 1983, when I was living with Uncle Bruce, Aunt Angie and the family while attending Suva  Grammar High School. Years later, in 1992, as we were sitting celebrating New Year's Eve, James  asked me "If I had given away the family tree that he was compiling", which I could not deny.  My brother James just sighed and it was evident, that what I had done totally demotivated him  from carrying on and progressing the family tree. Notwithstanding all that, what transpired was well  worth it. James would be 'over the moon' that the information has been put to good use. This is  also another reason I have invested a lot of my time, searching for information, for the "WISE  FAMILY OF FIJI"- Family Tree. James also had a theory, that the WISE family may be of Jewish  descent, however we always had an inkling that the first Mr WISE who came to Fiji, was of  English descent.

From the information that Dulcie STEWART(Vinaka vakalevu) has provided, and from one of the  many books that I have read, it is possible that Charles WISE(I) father, came to Fiji from  America. It is highly likely (to be verified), that we are part of the WISE/WEISS Family that  migrated from England to America or as in accordance with my brother's theory, Jewish families  (Weiss surname)did migrate to New York in the early days, and changed their surname to WISE.  Dulcie  provided with the Marriage Certificate (M. Cert) for my Great Grandpa (GGP), George  WISE and Great grandma (GGM) Ada BOWER. The M. Cert records my GGP, George WISE's mother's name to  what looks like Emma KHAKRUSE??sp, possibly KRAUSE (pronounced-Khakruse? ). However I now think it is neither as it is smudged and could be one of many surnames (edited 1/12/2017).   I have sufficient information to make an inference that this surname is DECRUZ or DECRUZE (edited 12/11/2023).   I would also like to thank Dulcie for  providing some of the birth certificates(B. Certs) especially for Charles WISE (II) and Lice/Lizzie (nee WATKINS)side of the family, and other documents that have assisted us in putting together  the "WISE" Family of Fiji - Family Tree. I have also found more information in this regard.

I came across a "Death Notice" for a  Mr Charles WISE (of Levuka) in a digitized copy of  "The Brisbane Courier, QLD 1864 - 1933": TROVE.  This conflicts with a date of death which is  shown on "Carole's Family Tree" online, of 1866.(Edited: 23/09/14) - I now have confirmation  that one date is in relation to Charles WISE(I) and the other is the date of death for Charles  WISE(II)or Charles MAGOUN as according to literature, he was the son of James MAGOUN and  Caroline. However I have doubts that the 1866 date is spot on. It is of interest that WISE is noted  as 'WAI' ('kena vakaviti') and interestingly enough some of the MAGOUN/McGOON family have used the name 'WAI McGOON'. The question is whether this is a mere coincidence or does this hinge on what is  stated above? I would gladly welcome any information regarding this information.

Please note that any references to "Fijian" is reference to "Indigenous" or "i-Taukei". 

WISE Family Of Fiji

From the Information that I have gleaned from copies of birth certificates, some of the WISE  Family members were born in Naigani. This indicates that the WISE family lived in Naigani, as  well as Levuka before re-locating to other  parts of Fiji.  Little is known of the first Mr  WISE, who came to Fiji.(Information on hand that Charles (I)'s father was a Mr J WISE (Edited:  14/08/2015). Apart from references to Charles(I), the Interpreter's parents("European father and  Fijian Lady"), one book that I have read which Dulcie also mentioned, refers to Charles (I) as  the 'half-caste' son, of an American, and a Fijian lady "an American who had a child with a  Fijian lady and returned to America". Not much  is known of the parents of Charles WISE (I).

Charles(I) was "a Pilot on boats and had an excellent knowledge of the uncharted waters of  Fiji. He was also well versed in the Fijian custom" which assisted him in his role as the  Consular Interpreter to William PRITCHARD. William PRITCHARD, was the 1st British Consul to  Fiji: 1858-1863. William PRITCHARD was born in Tahiti and had already served  as a British  Consul taking over from his father in Samoa. Charles/Charley WISE was "a 'half caste' who had  been raised by the late Rev. John HUNT, "for whose memory he entertained a warm admiration,  justly shared by all who knew that excellent man". According to Thomas WILLIAMS "James Calvert  Mission history" by James CALVERT, Rev John HUNT, (who translated the Bible to the Fijian  language)"saw that the 'half-caste' children were the future of Fiji'. He knew that they needed  attention but could not get from their parents, and they could not be managed by teachers. He  took five of the boys from Ovalau to Viwa. He taught them English and trained them to become  interpreters. It is highly likely that Charles(I) was one of these boys.

Charles (I) was married to Emma DECRUZ or DECRUZE (edited 12/11/2023).  Emma is a sister of Caroline, who  was married to James MAGOUN. Caroline was apparently so called, as she had lineage to the  Caroline Islands'. This indicates that Emma and Caroline, had connections to the Caroline  Islands - John YOUNG  "Adventurous Spirits";and Caroline RALSTON "Grass Hutts and Warehouses".  Aunty Emma BOVORO (nee WISE) contends that Emma may also have lineage to Rewa. This is possible  as Emma is recorded as Emma BUNA on the M. Cert for Charles WISE = Emma. Caroline Islanders  (for example those who lived in the Caroline Islands like some of the DAVENPORT family for example) resided in Rewa during that period so, it is possible that great GGGM Emma is from Rewa with Caroline Island lineage (yet to be verified).  

Charles (I) and Emma's children include George WISE (verified). The other likely children are:  Maraia/Mary SHUTE (nee WISE); Caroline WHIPPY;PICKERING,(nee WISE), Lavenia WISE(unmarried as  per D.Cert. Edited 19/11/2014: Other documents found have established that she was a Mrs  SHACKLEY and she also married Benjamin TRAILL - confirmed by Grace and Dulcie (I have obtained  the WISE=TRAILL M.Cert); and Charles WISE(II)(who may have been adopted) - John YOUNG (1984)and  Caroline RALSTON.

The present day WISE Family of Fiji did not have any knowledge of Maraia SHUTE(nee WISE)(stand  corrected). This information only came to light when her grand-daughter Susan SPEERS(nee  CURTIS) and her great - grandson Steele McMILLAN contacted me in response to my post "seeking  information on the WISE Family Fiji" on the "KAILOMA" Facebook Site in Mar - April 2014. Their  family, in particular Steele's mum, Beverley McMILLAN (nee CURTIS) were also seeking  information, in relation to Maraia SHUTE (nee WISE). I also came across the name "Mary WISE" on  the Fiji passenger lists listed online. However I am not certain if the two are one and the same.  Sue and Steele have kept in touch and Steele has also been searching for further information on the  Family.

WISE Family of Wainiveidio  

The WISE Family of Navua are descendants of George WISE (son of Charles WISE(I)Pilot/Interpreter).  GGP George WISE married GGM Henrietta HENRY. GGM Henrietta was the daughter of Capt George Mathew  HENRY (Captain HENRY). Captain HENRY was born in Tahiti.  He was the son of William HENRY who was  born in Ireland to George HENRY and Sarah of Dublin. William HENRY was a Carpenter/Joiner and later  became a Missionary. In 1796, Rev William HENRY traveled on the 'Duff', to the South Seas, with a  large contingent of missionaries to Tahiti.  He spent some time in Sydney.  Later he and his first  wife, Sarah (nee MABEN) and their family returned to Tahiti. When his wife Sarah died in 1812, Rev  HENRY paid a short visit to Sydney, where he married Ann SHERPHERD (Sydney. Ann SHERPHERD was the  daughter of James SHEHPHERD of Kissing Point. Rev HENRY and Ann had six sons and four daughters.  One of the sons was Captain George Mathew HENRY. - (http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography)

Captain HENRY had a son to Mare/Marie REID, in Tahiti.  His name was George Tahumia HENRY. In  Fiji. Captain HENRY married Elizabeth PICKERING, the daughter of Charles PICKERING who resided in  Rewa. I have also found a record that GGGP HENRY later married Marama BREWER, and had a daughter Anne/Annie HENRY who married James THOMAS. Elizabeth PICKERING also remarried, to Abraham RYDER. More information on GGGGP Charles PICKERING can be found on:https://fragmentedidentities.wordpress.com/my-family/pickering/

Elizabeth PICKERING's sister,  Vani PICKERING was married to Charles ROUNDS. Charles ROUNDS and  Vani's son, William ROUNDS married Losalini (Rosaline)DANFORD. After Rosaline DANFORD's passing  at the age of 25, William married her sister Karolina DANFORD (Caroline).  William ROUNDS also  married Karaline SINCLAIR later in life.

Rosaline and Caroline DANFORD are the daughters of James DANFORD who married ..KOROIMARAMA  (to be verified). James DANFORD was the son of John Humphrey DANFORD.  "John H Danford was  known as 'Harry the Jew'.  He was so called as his transactions with the 'natives'(and Charles  PICKERING) were dubious. He came from London and not able to carry on as a trader or a sailor,  he lived in Tonga for 15 yrs.  He than came Fiji, ended up in Rewa.  He displeased the people  there, and moved on to the land of 'Chief KURUDUADUA; (Namosi) where he lived among the people  as if he was one of them.  He was able to command the Namosi dialect and  acted as a translator  for Chief KURUDUADUA.  He gained the Chief's respect and was given land and 'wives' by the  Chief".  He was also an "Apothecary" and as such also acted as a Pharmacist (finding a cure for  illnesses) - Sydney Morning Herald Tues 19 August 1862,(http://nla.gov.au/nla news-article,  downloaded 23 June 2014).  This interest in medicines is something our Grandma Josephine (nee  ROUNDS) may have inherited from her grandfather, as she also had great knowledge of  'medicines'(especially herbal medicine). She had a cure for every illness(Booboo PATEL had  taken notes of the names, of the various herbal medicine from grandma Josephine in the early  80s).

Grandma Josephine ('Bumbu'(pr),as the grand-children addressed her), was William ROUNDS and  Rosaline (nee DANFORD's) daughter. Josephine ROUNDS, married our Grandpa, Benjamin WISE (son of  George WISE and Henrietta/Ada/Etta (nee HENRY). It is interesting to note that Grandpa  Benjamin WISE and Grandma Josephine ROUNDS, are 2nd cousins (grandchildren of Charles  PICKERING and Burekaria TABUAKOVEI of Rewa).

The WISE Family who grew up in Navua are direct descendants of Benjamin and Josephine WISE  (nee ROUNDS). My Grandpa Benjamin/Ben and Grandma Josephine, first lived in Levuka. They later  settled in Wainiveidio, Navua where Grandpa William ROUNDS (Grandma Josephine's dad)resided. Great  Grandma Losalini DANFORD is the connection to Ratu Suliano MATANITOBUA ('Ratu Suli'), the  reigning Tui Namosi (son of Ratu Simione and Adi Vani MATANITOBUA). Ratu Simione called Grandma  Josephine 'his sister' and the children call each other "Tavale".  Ratu Suli was born at Grandpa  Benjamin and Bumbu Josephine WISE's Home in Wainiveidio. To this day the WISE and the chiefly  MATANITOBUA FAMILY remain as a close knit family.

George WISE =  Ada BOWER

George WISE also married Ada BOWER (daughter of Capt. William BOWER and Emily TRASK). Emily is  the daughter of Capt. George TRASK, an American (born in USA Wisconsin). He lived in Fiji for  around 53 years before he died in Levuka. He was married to Sara DAU. Capt. TRASK lived in  Moala and also in Bua("Capt McLIVER had bought a piece of land from the chief of Bua.  An  American of the name TRASK lived nearby") - "TROVE". George WISE and Ada's (nee BOWER) children  include Aralai (Caroline) WISE who was married  William PICKERING. William PICKERING's brother,  Arthur PICKERING (sons of Andrea/Henry PICKERING and Jessie SINCLAIR), married Karalaini  (Caroline/Karrie) ROUNDS, grandma Josephine's half-sister.

I note from the birth certificate of Thomas WISE (son of George WISE and Ada BOWER) that he was  born in Naigani. This again confirms, that the WISE family did live in Naigani, Lomaiviti,  before residing in Levuka. Edited: 23/09/14.I have now also sighted a record that yet again  confirms that Great Grandpa George WISE, was born in Naigani. This provides the evidence that  Great grandpa Charles and great grandma Emma had also resided in Naigani. So, Apart from living  on Naigani Island, Vagadaci, Wainiveidio, and other parts of Fiji, some members of the WISE  family now also reside in Vakabalea, Navua - refer to stories.

This website is not complete. The search is still on for the parents of Charles WISE (I). This  site is also being continuously updated. I have in my busy schedule spent many hours at archives  trolling through reels of films, documents and books to in my search for information. There has  also been many a discussion on the "WISE Family" Facebook Page which has assisted in connecting the  dots. In addition to those mentioned above, Iliesa WISE and Lina BOVORO played a vital role in  confirming some of the information especially in relation to the George WISE = Ada BOWER lineage  and in relation to our family who remained living in Levuka. Iliesa's dad, Uncle Charles WISE (V)  and Lina's mum Aunty Emma BOVORO (nee WISE) grew up in Vagadace, Levuka, where the WISE Family of  Fiji originate from. Iliesa and Lina have also been taking the time searching for information  in relation to the WISE Family of Fiji. A big thank you to Margaret WISE who has also been active in  this regard. Maire WISE (nee FONMANU), Stephanie WISE (nee DATT) and Samantha NACEWA (nee WISE) are  to be thanked as well for taking the time and making the effort in trying and locate records from  Fiji Archives and LDS Family History, Fiji(for the mini WISE family tree which was presented at the  mini WISE Family Reunion held in May 2014). I must also extend a 'big vinaka vakalevu' to Rachael  WILLIAMS who provided me with very good advice: "not to collect information based on 'word of  mouth'". Rachael advised me on how I could get a hold of copies of the source documents, which  would assist me with putting together the our family tree. This was very useful information for my  purposes and assisted me tremendously - THANK YOU TO ALL WHO 'ROSE TO THE OCCASION'.

If you have any information that will assist in progressing the "WISE FAMILY OF FIJI" Family  Tree, please use the discussion forum or inbox me on Facebook. Any contribution will be greatly  appreciated and humbly accepted. If you find any information in relation to the family that you   feel is incorrect and have evidence, please advise citing your source.   

Vinaka Vakalevu, Malo and Thank You... Asilika A WISE.
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Getting Around
There are several ways to browse the family tree. The Tree View graphically shows the relationship of selected person to their kin. The Family View shows the person you have selected in the center, with his/her photo on the left and notes on the right. Above are the father and mother and below are the children. The Ancestor Chart shows the person you have selected in the left, with the photograph above and children below. On the right are the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The Descendant Chart shows the person you have selected in the left, with the photograph and parents below. On the right are the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Do you know who your second cousins are? Try the Kinship Relationships Tool. Your site can generate various Reports for each name in your family tree. You can select a name from the list on the top-right menu bar.

In addition to the charts and reports you have Photo Albums, the Events list and the Relationships tool. Family photographs are organized in the Photo Index. Each Album's photographs are accompanied by a caption. To enlarge a photograph just click on it. Keep up with the family birthdays and anniversaries in the Events list. Birthdays and Anniversaries of living persons are listed by month. Want to know how you are related to anybody ? Check out the Relationships tool.

The latest information I have been able to find is that Charles WISE father was a Mr J WISE..highly likely John WISE.
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