French Polynesia Genealogy

Pacific Island Guide &gt;  French Polynesia: Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Society Islands (includes Tahiti), Austral Islands



Background Information
French Polynesia lies south of Hawaii and east of Tonga and Samoa. It is composed of 118 islands. From north to south they are Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Society Islands, and Austral or Tubuai Islands. Papeete, Tahiti is the capital. The population is about 92,000. About half of the people live on the island of Tahiti.

See also the Portal: French Polynesia in FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Customs
When we put our family history together, we may not have many dates to work with. Because of this, we need to study the history of the islands where our ancestors lived by starting with the historical background for the island group of our ancestors. Historical dates from these publications and from the Internet can be used to estimate the dates of our ancestors’ lives more accurately. See the Bibliography at the end of this guide for a list of Internet resources with further information.

“The Sacred Land of Hawaiki” which some Maoris refer to as the place where their ancestors came from is Raiatea, in the Leeward Islands. They call it “Hawaiki Nui” and it has a place on it called “Taputaputea,” which is a holy place. It is a small triangle of land and it contains a wooden platform which is built high and has three levels. The levels represent to the islanders what we think of as Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial glories. (There is a picture of one of these “prayer platforms” in Cole and Jensen’s Israel in the Pacific, Page 146.)

Each island had ataputaputea, which would face either north, south, east, or west. At the time when the Mamaia were in power, they destroyed many of these Taputaputeas in order to bring down the power of the priests.

Case Study: Gisele Maeva Takanga Buchin Tehaavi
My name is Gisele Maeva Takanga Buchin Tehaavi. My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. We are currently serving as missionaries in the Family History Department (May, 2004) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following is a description of how I have been gathering and working on my family history.

1. The first thing I did was to talk to my mother and ask what information she had. My mother kept her genealogy in a book. It was legal size, like the archive binders. She would read to me out of it, but would not let me borrow it to copy it down in writing. She wanted me to memorize it. There were 7 of these books. My mother gave them to some missionaries to bring to Church Headquarters to have them input for the IGI and Ancestral file. They were supposed to have been taken here. I have not seen them since. But, the information for my ancestors is in the IGI, so I am assuming the information got there.

2. I copied the information from the IGI and put in on a pedigree chart.

3. I looked on the Internet on Ancestry.com and got a lot of information. One line goes back to 1513. The Internet makes it possible. I copied that information onto the pedigree chart.

4. I remembered the stories my mother told me about my ancestors so I could put them together with other information I got as clues to lead me to more information. I saw that my cousins had submitted the same people for temple work, but with different dates and sometimes different spellings of the names. Some temple work had been done several times.I recorded the temple ordinance dates on my records so they will not be done again in the temple.

5. I’m writing the stories that go along with the names, dates, and places so other people can understand why my ancestors lived where they did, and what the sacrifices were that the ones who were early members of the Church made for their faith. The following story is what I remember of what my mother told me.

"My great grandfather was born in France ( See pedigree chart which records him as Pierre Jules Buchin, born in 1833. below).

He married a woman whose father was English. (The pedigree chart shows her as Elizabeth Moehauti P. Gibson, whose father is Andrew Gibson, born in Liverpool England in 1813 and her mother as Vahinerii Moehauti Pupa).

My mother’s people were born in Taega (pronounced Taenga), which is in the western part of the Tuamotu Islands to the east of the island of Anaa.

A powerful sect which combined Tahitian traditions with Christian ideas called the Mamia rose up in the island of Tahiti in about 1827. They were rebelling against the teachings and power of the Christian missionaries. They had Mana, or power. This sect did not keep the ways of Mana according to the Tup`una, who are our ancestors. Mana is like the priesthood, and they did not keep the rules of it. To gain more power, the Mamaia told people they had to join them or be killed. The other choice was to flee. This sect and others, along with drought and over-population and seeking for freedom caused many of the people to migrate to other islands.

Queen Pomare fought against the Mamia chiefs. They finally all died out.

My mother’s father’s family lived on the island of Anaa in the Tuamotos. In 1845, the Mormon missionaries Benjamin Grouard and Addison Pratt were having great success on the island of Anaa. They baptized almost every inhabitant of the island, and there were 3,500 members and 7 branches of the Church in the late 1840's. The members were strong and faithful, and by 1852, the Church had spread, scattered on 20 islands.

The Catholic Church, being the national church of the French Protectorate which was in power at the time, became concerned and started to persecute the Mormons. They passed a law against Mormons meeting together, even in family homes. They were forbidden to read, sing, and pray, and were continually watched.

At this time, Church Brethren were imprisoned in Tahiti and in Anaa. My ancestors hid in caves under the reef by day and got their food by night. They built canoes and provided them with food. The men worked on the canoes while the women got food and clothing ready and put water into gourds for drinking. Some gourds were several feet tall. They only grow on volcanic islands, so families had to trade for them.

They hid the canoe while they built it, and then they finally fled at night. There were two weeks when the sea was calm enough. They had to time their departure so as to not all leave at once. They could guide their canoes at night by looking at the stars. My mother could find places at night by doing the same thing, although I never learned the skill.

The missionaries (Pratt and Grouard) were deported by the government in 1852, and the members were forced to attend the Catholic Church at bayonet point. Six of the native brethren were killed by bayonet, rather than attend the Catholic Church. Finally, the imprisoned native brethren were allowed to return to their homes. But, no other church besides the Catholic Church can have meetings on the island of Anaa, even now.*1

The Church members populated the islands of ''Taenga, Fakaava, Faaite, Katiu, Makemo, Marutea, Hikuereu, Marokau, and Hao. They lived on their home islands for six months of the year, and then would travel to Hikueru'' to dive to get pearls and mother of pearl. This is why I was born in Hikueru rather than Taenga.

The members would travel and work together, keeping their organization as branches. They would meet once a month in a church house, and have regular gatherings more often. This kept them from the evils of gambling, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. that were around them. There is no school during the diving.

The fathers and the oldest boys go diving. The men would dive down, sometimes as deep as 30 yards, holding their breath from 3 to 5 minutes. My grandfather (Kaheke Mariteragi or Fakapeka) was one of the best divers. He could hold his breath for 5 minutes. He made 50 dives a day at the height of his manhood. There are sharks around, and they have to come up gradually after a dive so they won’t get the “bends” from the change in pressure. They have to stop diving at age 55 because it is so hard on them.

The women would make dresses, shirts, and bread to sell. They would dry the abalone meat and get the pearls and prepare the mother-of-pearl in the shells. They would sell the dried abalone meat, the pearls, and the mother of pearl to a Chinese owner. This owner would lend them the money to equip them for the diving voyage. They would dive for 3 weeks to earn the money to repay him. He would pay them for the rest of the things they had gotten from their labors. They lived for the rest of the year on this money, and would go to Tahiti to get the supplies they needed for the rest of the year. My Grandfather was Branch President at Faaite. When children are 8 years old they go to Makemo.

My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. His parents are from the Leeward Islands, Huahine. His family now lives in ''New Zealand. People of the Tehaavi family are in the Cook Islands ''also. And in the Mangaia Islands near Rarotonga. It took a fisherman 6 months to sail to Rarotonga from Tahiti a few years ago when he got lost. The winds and currents led him from Tahiti toRarotonga. My mother’s name was Teuruhei Kokura Mariteragi. I was born on Hikueru. Some of the people there have red hair. Some Stories about Hikueru are that the 5th king went to Bora Bora on his canoe to get his wife. It took him 5 months. The people had to prepare for long voyages, and had to navigate well to reach their destinations. Tumukiva, the 7th king, also went to Raiatea (near Bora Bora) to get his wife.

Instead of using a canoe, Tumukiva is said to have walked underground through a lava tube. His wife, Tiai Tau (which means Always Waiting), lived by a well. He saw her there. Her husband was always gone a lot on voyages, so he had a bird watching over her. Because Tumukiva came up through a well, the bird didn’t see him. He took her home to be his wife. She had red hair. The people on Hikueru who are of his family have red hair. Tumukiva said “Maehara, taku hinganaui” means “My wish has been fulfilled.”

My ancestors who built the chapel in Takaroa came from Mangareva. They learned to build gothic style churches using crushed coral. The Takaroa chapel was rebuilt, but in the same style as the original one. It is the pride and joy of the Members there. My Great Grandfather, Kaheka Mariteragi, took up the chapel the members of the Church had built in Fakareva and towed it to Takaroa on a platform between 2 canoes. There were no members in Fakareva any more, so he wanted it where the members would be. President Caumet published some pictures of the chapel in a book. He was one of the temple presidents in Tahiti.

There is also a picture of the Mission Schooner. It was in use from 1950 to 1956. I sailed to all of the islands with the mission president when I was a member of the Church Band. He organized it and I was in it for 3 years. I later became a teacher in the elementary schools of our Church. Our home is now in Moorea, Tahiti.

Marquesas Islands
These islands are known in Polynesian legends of the Maori, Hawaiians, Rarotongans, and Easter Islanders as the Sacred Land of Hava`iki, from whence their ancestors came. They lie ten degrees south of the equator, are 4,000 miles west of Peru, and are the northernmost of French Polynesia. Population is about 1,800 people, most of them living on Hiva Oa.

The Marquesan language is the ancestor of modern Polynesian languages. Tahitian and Hawaiian are dialects of ancient Marquesan. Though 1,200 miles further away than Tahiti, the Hawaiian ''language more nearly parallels Marquesan than Tahitian. It is also similar to ''Mangarevan (Gambier Islands) and Rarotongan (Cook Island) languages.

The islands in theis group are:

Mendana (southeast) group: ''Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Mohotani, Rouatoua, and Fatu Huka. Washington (northwest) group: Nuku hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Ituka, Eiao, Hiao, Hatutu,, and Motu-Oa.''

Historical Background
1595 Spaniard Mendana de Neyra and Quiros discovered the southeastern group of the Marquesas. 1791 Englishman Marchand Ingraham discovers the northern Marquesas 1792 Whalers visit the Marquesas 1837 Englishman Pritchard is appointed consul to the Marquesas. 1839 French commander Laplace intervenes to gain freedom for Catholic activities. War goes on in the Marquesas. 1840 Pritchard leaves for England to ask for British protection. 1842 French annex the Marquesas and land a detachment of troops at Taiohae, Nuku Hiva. Islanders kill 26 Frenchmen in Tabuate, Marquesas. 1843 The French protectorate of the islands is acknowledged by Britain, in spite of Pritchard’s return. 1849-50 French troops withdraw from the Marquesas. 1860 War begins in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, Raids of the Peruvian slave traders begin. 1863 Former slaves, returned from Peru, bring small pox to the Marquesas. There is a rapid depopulation, due to smallpox, drunkenness, human sacrifice, cannibalism, warfare, and prostitution. 1881 France establishes a civil administration in the Marquesas. 1914 German raiders are shelled at Papeete and exiled to the Marquesas. 1961 Taiohae is chosen as the site of the vicariate of the Marquesas.

Tuamotu (Low and Dangerous) Archipelago
Composed of 80 coral atolls, of which 50 are inhabited, the name means Islands Under the Clouds. Once heavily populated, the population is now only about 5,200 because people moved to better jobs.

The islands include: Ahe, Manihi, Takaroa, Tepoto, Napuka, Mataiva, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Takapoto, Tikei, Puka Puka, Arutua, Aaptaki, Aratika, Makatea, Kaukura, Toau, Kauehi, Takume, Fangatau, Fakahina, Niau, Raraka, Taenga, Raroia, Fakarava, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Makemo, Nihiru, Rekareka, Faaite, Tepoto, Marutea Nord, Tahanea, Motutunga, Tekokota, Tauere, Anaa, Haraiki, Hikueru, Amanu, Reitoru, Marokau, Hao, Ravahere, Akiaki, Pukarua, Negonego, Paraoa, Vahitahi, Reao, Manuhangi, Vairaatea, Nukutavake, Pinaki, Hereheretue, Ahunui, Anuanuraro, Anuanurunga, Nukutepipi, Vanavana, Tureia, Vahanga, Tenararo, Tenarunga, Marutea Sud, Matureivavao, Mururoa, Tematagi, Fangataufa, Maria, and Morane

Historical Background
1543 Magellan’s Portugese fleet discovers Puka Puka, northeast Tuamotu 1616 Dutchmen Jacob Le Maire and Willem Scheuten reached ''Puka Puka, Takaroa, Takapoto, Manihi, and Rangiroa, all of the Tuamotu islands. 1722 Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen reached Maketea of the Tuamotus and Bora Bora of the Leewards. 1765 Englishman John Byron reached Tepoto, Napuka, Takeroe, Takapoto, and Rangirao''. 1767 Englishman Samuel Wallis charted and claimed the islands for ''Britain. 1768 The French'' claim the islands. 1806 Pomare II extends his power on the northern and central Tuamotu Islands. His wife, Tetua, dies. 1826 Tahitians who will not accept the Mamaia religion flee to the ''Tuamotos. ''1831 Uprising of chiefs against Pomare Vahine IV, who is forced to condemn the Mamaia sect. 1833 First Catholic Vicar Apostolic in the islands. Defeat of the chiefs of the Taiarapu (supported by the Mamaia sect) heralds its decline. 1841 Last members of the Mamaia sect die because they refused vaccination. 1842 Establishment of a French protectorate on ''Tahiti. 1845 Mormon missionary Grouard has great success on the island of Anaa. ''1852 Catholic persecution of Mormons on Anaa. They are forced to flee, die, or attend the Catholic Church. 1860 Raids of the Peruvian slave traders begin. 1862 Slave traders captured in the ''Tuamotus. 1903 Hurricane in Tuamotu. 1905 Phosphates discovered in Makatea, Tuamotu. 1908 Leprosy spread to the eastern Tuamotu Islands. ''1918 Flu epidemic kills 20 percent of the population. Phosphates are exploited in Makaeta, Tuamotu. 

Gambier Islands or Mangareva
These atolls have a population of about 6,500 people. Whaling ships stopped here in the 19th century. One of the last strongholds of cannibalism, overzealous missionaries worked the population to death. The majority are Protestant. LDS Missionaries have begun to work here.

They are: Mangareva (Pearl), Taravai (Belcher), Temoe, Aukena (Elson), and Akamaru (Wainwright)

Historical Background
1823 Frederick Beechey enters the lagoon of the Gambier Islands. 1834 A Catholic mission is begun in the Gambier Islands. 1841 Hurricane in the Gambier Islands.