William Hennings

Our great grandfather WILLIAM HENNINGS was Imperial German Consul to Fiji during pre and post Cession era of the 1870s. William ran a cotton farm on Naitauba Island and also traded in copra, owning Makogai Island at one time. William (Wilhelm) later married Adi Mere Tuisalalo daughter of Ratu Kamisese Mara Tuimacilai Kapaiwai Vanaaliali and Adi Loaloakubou..d 1875. Adi Mere was the sister of Ratu Jone Madraiwiwi. Ratu Jone's wife was Adi Litiana Maopa (1864-1933), parents of Fiji's greatest statesman, Tui Lau and WW1 hero, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. Naitauba Island was bought many years later by American actor Raymond Burr ("Perry Mason").

William was born May 05 1837 in Bremen, Germany. He had 2 sisters and 4 brothers - Frederick, Charles, Gustav and Christian.

Tua Dr Samisoni Fotu's mother was Jimaima Olotomu Fotu.

The 5 brothers sailed from Germany to Australia. Then the eldest Frederick, sailed to Samoa and worked for a German shipping company, sailing between Samoa and Fiji. He started his own shipping company, charted a ship doing business between Samoa and Fiji when he was only 18 years old. He settled in Fiji and asked his 4 brothers to join him in Levuka and Lomaloma, Lau. Frederick and WILLIAM even charted out one of their sailing ships, which was involved in "Blackbirding", bringing slaves from the Solomons and Vanuatu to Fiji.<

On geni.com the brothers' parents are listed as: Heinrich Hennings father, and Freidricke Hennings mother.
On Ancestry their parents are listed as father Johann Hennings 1810 – Birth 1810 • Germany Death Unknown; mother Caroline Schutze 1810 - Birth 1810 • Danish

Death Unknown. Marriage in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany.

William Hennings Birth abt 1837 Bremen Germany. Death: 19 May 1914 • Fiji. Marriage: 1868 • Nayanuyana, Fiji Adi Mere Tuisalalo (1840–1926)

Frederick William Hennings: Birth abt 1833 Germany. Death

1891 • Levuka, Fiji. Marriage 1864 to Talolo of Western Samoa.

Johann Friedrich 'John' Hennings: 1835–1898 Birth 26 DEC 1835 • Bremen, Germany Death 13 OCT 1898 • Albert Park, Victoria, Australia.

Gustave Hennings: 1837–1887. Birth ABT 1837 • Bremen, Germany. Death 07 JULY 1887 • Fiji.

Charles Hennings: 1840–1896 Birth ABT 1840 • Germany Death 1896 • Fiji.

Christain Hennings: 1840–1906 Birth ABT 1840 • Germany Death 1906 • Naitauba, Fiji

It is commonly known that there were 5 Hennings brothers but in fact there was a 6th..Johann Friedrich 'John' Hennings who died in Albert Park, Victoria, Australia.

~ Credit Citations: [S46] Sir Bernard Burke, A genealogical and heraldic history of the colonial gentry (London, U.K.: Heraldry Today, 1970), volume II, page 673. Hereinafter cited as Colonial Gentry.

~ Ancestry.com.