Our ancestors, our legacy

Welcome to this section dedicated to the history of our family a true journey through time, carried by the memory and commitment of the members of our association.

For generations, our ancestors have shaped our story and forged the identity of our lineage through unique life paths. Each family branch has left its mark, carefully collected by the founders of our association. Thanks to the passion and dedication of our most committed members, this heritage is preserved with care and fidelity. It deserves to be better understood through stories and cherished memories, slowly revealed over time and through the dedication of each generation.

Here, each member will be able to:

  • Discover the history of their family branch, through authentic stories and treasured anecdotes.
  • Explore the genealogical wheel, to better understand their roots and reconnect with today’s cousins.
  • Reconnect with their family heritage by diving into the richness of our lineages and the bonds that unite us.

Our family is a living story, and together we preserve it and pass it on to future generations.

Welcome to the memory of our lineage.

Sarah Bambridge

01 – Roue de descendance de Bambridge Sarah (1834-1882)Download
Amelia Elisa Bambridge (1835-1905) – The Link between Tradition and Modernity

Birth & Origins

Amelia Elisa Bambridge, born between August 1835 and March 1836 in Papeete, Tahiti, the second daughter of Thomas Bambridge and Maraea O’Connor.

Marriage & Descendants

In 1849, in San Francisco, California, she married Thomas Stratford Adams (1824 – 1915), a British merchant originally from Bermondsey, London.
Together, Amelia Elisa Bambridge and Thomas Stratford Adams had fourteen documented children, though family oral tradition mentions up to seventeen, including several stillborn infants. Of these, seven continued the family line, with descendants spread across Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Rarotonga, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

  1. Elisabeth Adams (1851 – ?) – married George William Dexter.
  2. Louisa Maria Adams (1854 – 1856) – died in infancy.
  3. Thomas Stratford Adams Jr. (1855 – 1859) – died in childhood.
  4. Amelia Lydia Adams (1857 – 1918) – married Tefaumarama Taurua; descendants in Tahiti.
  5. Alfred James Adams (1858 – 1896) – no known issue.
  6. James Atkins Adams (1860 – 1926) – married Emma Lévy; numerous descendants.
  7. Louise Anne Elisabeth Adams (1861 – 1939) – known as Nani, had no children but raised her niece Jeannette Vonnegut.
  8. Tepuatefa Edwin Adams (1863 – 1918) – settled in Moorea; descendants.
  9. Teratu Sophia May Adams (1866 – 1964) – married Jean-Paul Gaston Brunaud; descendants.
  10. Charles Tutehau Adams (1867 – 1946) – married Alexandre Jérusalémy; descendants.
  11. Albert Ernest Adams (1869 – 1918) – descendants in Moorea.
  12. Francis Ariiura Adams (1872 – 1919) – married Louisa Bambridge; descendants.
  13. Christiana Tefaatuarai Temariihumatai Adams (1874 – 1874) – died shortly after birth.
  14. Terii Iteraahaumea Taurua Édith Adams (1875 – 1899) – died young, without issue.

Life & Legacy

  • A bridge between two worlds: Amelia lived between Polynesian culture and European influence.
  • A figure of respect: Her descendants settled in Polynesia, Australia, and the United States.

She died on August 9, 1905, in Papeete, Tahiti.

02 – Roue de descendance de Bambridg e Amélia Elisa Emilia (1835-1905)Download
Martha Bambridge (1836-1867) – A Destiny Marked by Love and Sacrifice

Birth & Origins

Born on December 5, 1836, in Orovini, Papeete, Tahiti, Martha Bambridge, also known as Mata Bambridge, was the third daughter of Thomas Bambridge and Maraea O’Connor.

Marriage & Descendants

She married William George Vairaae Wichmann in 1855 in Raiatea, with whom she had one son:

  1. Henry Tiniura Wichmann (1853-1932).

Later, she had a relationship with Léon Nicolas Antoine Armand, with whom she had a daughter:
2. Sarah Teupoohunarii Wichmann (1860–1922).

Life & Legacy

  • A Love that Defied Traditions: Her relationship with a French officer led to an unconventional inheritance.
  • A Bold Woman: Her influence extended to Tahiti and the Cook Islands.

She passed away prematurely on December 13, 1867, at the age of 31.

03 – Roue de descendance de Bambridge Martha, Pepi (1836-1867)Download
William Bambridge

04 – Roue de descendance de Bambridge William (1838-1867)Download
Jane Sophia Bambridge (1842-1910) – The Expansion of the Family in the Pacific

Birth & Origins

Jane Sophia Bambridge, born on June 3, 1842, in Mataiea, Tahiti, was the fourth daughter of Thomas Bambridge and Maraea O’Connor.

Mariage & Descendance

In 1857, she married Samuel Stratton Foster, an American. Together, they had ten children:

  1. William Watson Foster (1858-?).
  2. Jennie Alameda Foster (1860-?).
  3. Wesley Ladd Foster (1862-?).
  4. Charles Tilton Foster (1863-?).
  5. Samuel Stratton Foster Jr. (Narii) (1865-?).
  6. Francis Serii Foster (1867-?).
  7. Reuben Moearii Foster (1869-?).
  8. Paul Emile Foster (1871-?).
  9. Felix Robin Foster (1873-?).
  10. Walter Winifred Foster (1878-?).

Life & Legacy

  • A key role in the diaspora: Her descendants settled in Polynesia, the United States, and Samoa.

She passed away on May 24, 1910, in Pago Pago, Samoa.

05 – Roue de descendance de Bambridge Jane Sophia (1842-1910)Download
Matira (Mathilde Fara) Bambridge (1848-1918) – Love Above All

Birth & Origins

Matira Bambridge, born around 1848 in Tahiti, was the sixth daughter of Thomas Bambridge and Maraea O’Connor.

Marriage & Descendants

At the age of 18, she defied her family and ran away with Piu Ruahe to Taha’a. Together, they had ten children:

  1. Tefea Tefeatua Taarii Ruahe (1866-1948).
  2. Tunuitetamahaumea Piu Ruahe (vers 1874-1951).
  3. Teriiamarama Ruahe (vers 1878-1946).
  4. Imiura Piu Ruahe (1881-1960).
  5. Maraea Ruahe (vers 1885-1919).
  6. Marei Ruahe (vers 1887-1980).
  7. Faatauira Piu Ruahe (vers 1888-1946).
  8. Tetuanuipiritaaore Piu Ruahe (vers 1888-1910).
  9. Teriimatanoa Ruahe (vers 1890-1918).
  10. Temariitefaaiai Ruahe (1893-1973).

Life & Legacy

  • A rebellious love: She defied family traditions to follow her heart.
  • An inspiring woman: Her name is the origin of Matira Beach in Bora Bora.

She died on December 21, 1918, a victim of the Spanish flu.

06 – Roue de descendance de Bambridge Mathilda, Matira (1848-1918)Download
Esther Bambridge (1857-1927) – The Guardian of Family Traditions

Birth & Origins

Esther Bambridge, born on June 17, 1857, in Papeete, Tahiti, was the tenth daughter of Thomas Bambridge and Maraea O’Connor.

Marriage & Descendants

In 1903, she married Gaspar Coppenrath, with whom she had 13 children:

  1. Léon Teiva Arue Feetue Coppenrath (1881-1971).
  2. Jean Tehuitua Coppenrath (1882-1964).
  3. Helena Tetanuireiateraiatua Hilda Coppenrath (1883-1977).
  4. Théodore Alfred Albert Tuteraipuni Coppenrath (1885-1917).
  5. Marie Olivette Unuhireiarii Coppenrath (1886-1961).
  6. Clément Adalbert François Teupoohuitua Coppenrath (1888-1966).
  7. Anne Esther Hinaraiarii Coppenrath (1889-?).
  8. Pauline Auguste Tetapuimiarii Tevahine Coppenrath (1891-1974).
  9. Léonie Marguerite Teupoorautoa Coppenrath (1893-1963).
  10. Alfred François Maramataiaoa Manoarii Coppenrath (1894-1987).
  11. François Adelbert Tepeteariitautua Tuatahiariitataoapuai Coppenrath (1896-1936).
  12. Joséphine Anna Teriivahineetahaitetua Coppenrath (1898-1969).
  13. Frédéric Ariinohiva Albert Ferdinand Coppenrath (1901-1991).

Life & Legacy

  • A Central Role in the Family: After her husband’s death, she managed the large family home in Fautaua.

She passed away on April 5, 1927, in Pirae, Tahiti.

07 – Roue de descendance de Bambridge Esther (1857-1927)Download
John Maeha’a Bambridge (1859-1898) – The Pillar of a Dynasty

Birth & Origins

John Maeha’a Bambridge, born on June 20, 1859, in Papeete, Tahiti, was the fifth son of Thomas Bambridge and Maraea O’Connor. His Tahitian first name, Maeha’a, meaning ‘twin,’ was given to him because he had a twin brother, Luc, who died five days after their birth.

Marriage & Descendants

Before his official marriage, he had a relationship with Haamoura Roau, with whom he had four children:

  1. Jimmy Bambridge (1877 – avant 1989, Mataiea, Tahiti).
  2. Nancy Bambridge (born in 1879).
  3. John Bambridge (1882 – avant 1920, États-Unis).
  4. Esther Oliver Bambridge (1883-1918).

On February 5, 1885, he married Mary-Ann Tapscott, born on December 26, 1867, in the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati). She was the daughter of John Novele Tapscott, a British sailor, and Popoua Taurumi, a princess of the Gilbert Islands. Together, they had ten children:
5. Lucie Ha’amoura Vahine Bambridge (1886-1918).
6. Georges Tihoti Bambridge (1887-1942).
7. Richard Ariioehau Terahivero Bambridge (1888-1952).
8. Thomas Teriitaumatani Putoi Bambridge (1889-1950).
9. Lionel Louis Bambridge (1890-1960).
10. William Moari’imaiterai Bambridge (1892-1950).
11. Marcelle Mary Teri’i-ite-ra’a-haumea Bambridge (1893-1962).
12. Antony Pierre Tetuanui Pootahi Bambridge (1895-1964).
13. Flore Nui Tevahinetuehua Bambridge (1898-1902).

He also had a son with Vahine a Tevane

14. Tutu Pouaa Tevane MAAMAATUAIAHUTAPU (1891-1960).

Life & Legacy

  • A Man of Many Talents: John Maeha’a was a saddler, wheelwright, carpenter, transport entrepreneur, and painter.
  • A Hidden Royal Legacy: After his mother-in-law’s death, a chest containing a crown made of boar’s teeth, a royal symbol of Kiribati, was discovered.

He passed away on August 30, 1898, in Papeete, leaving behind an influential lineage that continues to carry on his legacy to this day.

08 – Roue de descendance de Bambridge Jean, John, Maehaa (1859-1898)Download
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