Peerage Record – 16794

     Betty Jean Christian was born on 23 November 1943 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She is the daughter of Sterling Gifford Christian and Selina Agnes Coffin.¹ She married Thomas Coleman Christian, son of Frederick Martin Christian and Flora Clarice Christian, at Pitcairn Island^G.¹
     She was adopted by an unknown person. In October 1983 she is pictured on p. 516 of Howard: Pitcairn and Norfolk, National Geographic, October 1983. She is an experienced radio operator.¹ She lived in 1993 at Pitcairn Island^G.²

     Thomas Coleman Christian was born on 1 November 1935 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ He was the son of Frederick Martin Christian and Flora Clarice Christian.¹ He married Betty Jean Christian, daughter of Sterling Gifford Christian and Selina Agnes Coffin, at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ He died on 7 July 2013 at age 77 at Pitcairn Island.²
     He was appointed Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in 1983.³ He lived in 1993 at Pitcairn Island^G.⁴ He held the office of Governor of the Pitcairn Islands and High Commissioner to New Zealand.⁵
     Tom is an internationally known ham radio operator, and has been Pitcairn’s radio link to the world since the 1960’s. In the election of 1972, he was appointed to the position of Governor’s Councillor by the Governor. An island entrepreneur, he has a modest supplementary income from such things as postcards, mail-order filmstrips, and carvings. His communications training abroad was paid for by the island, and he is considered one of their most valuable citizens, maintaining their link with the rest of the world. In addition to his ham radio activities, he furnishes weather reports, handles 3-4 cables a day, and operates marine radio ZBP, which is the link with passing ships and distress radio for the island. (Ball: Pitcairn: Children of Mutiny).
He and his family are pictured on p. 516 of Howard: Pitcairn and Norfolk, National Geographic, Oct 1983.¹

     Jacqueline Beth Christian was born on 8 January 1970 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She is the daughter of Thomas Coleman Christian and Betty Jean Christian.¹
     She was educated in 1988 at Longburn College, Palmerston North, New Zealand^G.¹

     Raelene Karri Christian was born on 28 January 1974 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She is the daughter of Thomas Coleman Christian and Betty Jean Christian.¹
     She was pictured on p.516 of Howard: Pitcairn and Norfdolk, National
Geographic, Oct, 1983. In 1989, she traveled to New Zealand to study at
Longburn College.¹

     Sherileen Theresa Christian was born on 1 December 1975 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She is the daughter of Thomas Coleman Christian and Betty Jean Christian.¹
     She lived in 1993 at Pitcairn Island^G.²

     Darlene Michelle Christian was born on 28 March 1977 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She is the daughter of Thomas Coleman Christian and Betty Jean Christian.¹
     In October 1983 she is pictured on p.516 of Howard: Pitcairn and Norfolk, National Geographic, October 1983.¹ She lived in 1993 at Pitcairn Island^G.²

     Marie Christian was born on 2 March 1946 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She is the daughter of Sterling Gifford Christian and Selina Agnes Coffin.¹

     William Lee Elias Christian was born on 26 July 1951 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ He is the son of Sterling Gifford Christian and Selina Agnes Coffin.¹

     Samuel Eugene Coffin was born on 16 January 1886 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ He was the son of Philip Cook Coffin and Mary Jane Florence Warren.¹ He was buried on 13 June 1904 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹

     Esther Godfrey Coffin was born on 18 December 1887 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She was the daughter of Philip Cook Coffin and Mary Jane Florence Warren.¹ She married Walter Henry Oliver Petch, son of Henry Petch and Annie Wheeler, on 24 May 1905 at Pitcairn Island^G.¹ She married William John Ward in 1942 at Lewisham, New South Wales, Australia^G.¹ She died on 27 August 1958 at age 70 at Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia^G.¹
     Her married name became Ward.¹ Her married name became Petch.¹ They were married by the captain of the schooner, ‘County of Dumfries’, which
had stopped at Pitcairn for supplies. After the birth of their first child,
Esther and Walter traveled to various islands, finally arriving in Australia
about 1913.¹