Volume 3 Family History Book Project 2025-2027
It's Still a Very Long Way From County Cavan
NZ Rountree, Coleman,and McFadden Families
About the Volume 3 Family History Book Project
Following on from Volume One (1990) and Volume Two (2021), we are looking at doing Volume Three, which is outlined as follows:
In the late 1800s Reverend Walter Rountree travelled around the homes of his extended family, and conscientiously copied down the names and other data recorded in the family Bibles. He then produced the Rountree Genealogical Tree document (Rountree Family Scroll).
He tried to be as accurate as he could, with the information dating back to when Charles Rountree was born about 1710 A.D. In 1730 Charles left County Armagh, and married Mollie Coleman in Killigriffe, Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland in 1730. Charles and Mollie had eleven children, with all but one surviving into adulthood.
Their eldest son John (Jack) married Mrs. Peggie Ebbet (formerly McFadden) and had six children.
Jack and Peggie’s second son Alexander (Alick) moved to Campstown, County Cavan, and married Jane McFadden. They had ten children (nine survived to adulthood). Alick passed away in 1858.
Then in the 1860s, Alick’s eldest son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren decided to emigrate to a country a long way from County Cavan: New Zealand. First went his granddaughter Jane Rountree, newly married to Robert Coleman (1862). Then Alick’s grandson (Jane’s cousin) Joseph Rountree and his new wife (also named Jane) left in the same year. Then Jane’s parents John and Mary Rountree and four of her siblings emigrated in 1864. Finally, in 1868, John and Mary’s oldest son Alexander and his wife, Jane (née McFadden) made the journey.
Volume 3 of the New Zealand Rountree, Coleman, and McFadden family history focuses on the John and Mary Rountree and McFadden branches, which were touched upon in the previous two Volumes. It also has an updated and expanded section on County Cavan history, as well as what life would have been like for the newly arrived immigrants when they arrived in New Zealand in the 1860s.
We are now seeking contributions from Rountree, Coleman and McFadden cousins for Volume 3 (oral and written history, photographs, documents, Papers Past articles, etc.) as well as financial contributions to crowd fund the production and publication costs. This project is being managed by Deb Donnell, who is an independent author and publisher with a focus on colonial and contemporary New Zealand history.
Estimate Publication Date (Family Reunion and Book Launch) APRIL – OCTOBER 2027 see Crowd Funding Panel for more information about completion date range
Crowd Funding / Contributions
The completion of this project relies on crowd funding, and obviously the more funds we have, the quicker the book can be researched, collated, written and published. We did Volume 2 in 9 months as generous sponsorship allowed us to focus full time on the production and publishing work.
We want to take a more leisurely time with this book so are allowing 18-24 months (from October 2025) for completion. However, if funds permit, we may be able to get it done in less time.
The button below will take you through to Deb Donnell’s Stripe Payments Page. Deb is the driving force behind this project.
We recommend a minimum of $100 contribution, with a maximum amount being your choice. Note it is set at a maximum of $500 but if you wish to contribute more, please contact us.
ALL CONTRIBUTIONS OVER $99 RECEIVE A COPY OF VOLUME THREE WHEN IT IS PUBLISHED.
Thank you for your support!