Savea - Geneology and Family History

Noa asked me for Tusi and Fautua’s birth dates. But I decided to post this for everyone. I will also include a little bit of our family genealogy and history from time to time instead of waiting for the reunion. If any of you find more information to please let me know and even something that’s needs correction. 

Birth dates for Tusi and Fautua:

Tusifolau Situa Fialuma To’alepai: 

Born 18 October 1922 Sale’imoa, Upolu, Samoa. 

Died 15 April 2001 Wellington, New Zealand.

Fautuaali’i Karl Edward Partsch: 

Born 02 October 1920 Sataua, Savai’i, Samoa. 

Died 30 June, 2003 Wellington, New Zealand.

Although Situa Fialuma is not in Tusi’s birth certificate, she would include this from time to time and this is a Samoan tradition of carrying family names for remembrance. To honor her, I went ahead and include them in her name. Situa Ofe of Falealili is the mother of Sa or Saito’atasi. See the information below.

Leivika Auliaimalae married Situa Fialuma Ofe of Falealili and born are:

1.   Fa’ataitaia Auliaimalae

2.   Alisi Auliaimalae

3.   Saito’atasi Auliaimalae

(Note: There maybe more on the above list but I’m waiting for more information from a distant relative.)

Saito’atasi Auliaimalae married Leota Ioane and born is:

1.   Lavalea Leota (*Tilialo).

Lavalea Leota married Luatua Vaolo and born is:

1.   Leota Aimeamiti Luatua (*Tilialo).

Lavalea Leota married To’alepai Meafua Muavae Aiono and born are:

1.   Taetu Ulutele To’alepai

2.   Tusifolau To’alepai

Lavalea Leota married Mulipola of Manono and born are:

1.   Fa’ataitaia Mulipola

2.   Ruta Mulipola

 (Note: Lavalea Leota also carried the last name Tilialo when she was adopted by her aunt Fa’ataitaia Auliaimalae and Tilialo Fiti, while Sopoitulagi, dauther of Fa’ataitai Auliaimalae and Tilialo Fiti was adopted by Saito’atasi Auliaimalae and Leota Ioane. There’s a beautiful story of this agreement between the two sisters, Fa’ataiai and Saito’atasi but I will touch on that later)

Uncle Leota Aimeamiti Luatua also carried the last name Tilialo when he was adopted by Tilialo So’i.  Tilialo So’i used to reside where Tilialo Pula Fiti later moved to when he took over the title Tilialo. I remember this Tilialo So’i when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Just before he died, he asked for some waters from the lake called Saveafuilala. As soon as he had some of that water, he passed away. Because he was the Tilialo at the time, I remember uncle Leota taking a rifle outside the malae and shot some rounds in the air to signify the passing away of a paramount teacher. People from all over the Tuamasaga district and family relationships all over Samoa gathered for this important funeral. This is the time when I was staying with grandma Lavalea from across the waters. I remembered Uncle Leota and Suisami trying to get me to stay with them when they were living with Tilialo So’i. This was during the time when Suisami was pregnant with Twins. Like the Samoan women do many times, she was in the shallow sea waters fishing for fole, fuga, tugane, small fish,sea cucumbers and other delicacies, a high wave suddenly crashed on her. She was rushed to grandma Lavalea for an early delivery of her babies. But, sadly, the babies didn’t make it. They were named Lavalea and Maima (Suisami’s mother). I would love Katie to ask Suisami to tell us her story and any other events for us. 

It was Tilialo So’i that that helped started the Mormon Church in Sale’imoa. His wife Faleo’o was still being taken cared by uncle Leota and Suisami when I eventually moved in with them. Then we moved inland where our dad Fautuaali’i Karl Edward Partsch helped build a nice two story Samoan/European style house for uncle and Suisami. I was given the task to care for Faleo’o as she also had her own faleo’o to live in nearby. Many times I would sleep there in the faleo’o to help her out. When uncle go to catch the bus to go teach at Pesega School, Faleo’o would wake me up and we sang hymns and have prayers in the early morning. She would tell many fagogos and she loves her adopted son, uncle Leota. She always prays for him. She  blesses me too for taking care of her until her last day on earth. One of her favorite hymns was about Joseph Smith.

Note on marriages like Lavalea’s three marriages: The marriages in those days were not like the marriages in these days. Some of these affairs are called ‘Usuga’. It was customary for chiefs of note to seek the daughter of a high chief for alliance and other recognitions. Since Lavalea was a (adopted) daughter of paramount High Chief Tilialo Fiti (father of Tilialo Pula Fiti) she was courted by other chiefs. But some affairs were plainly affairs that ended up in marriage or just living together. Pene, a son of uncle Leota from a lady of the Sami family in Salepouae used to live with us. He was a smart kid and I hope to connect up with him and family. Anyone born in our family clan whether by marriage, affair or ‘Usuga’ is our blood, flesh and bones. We need to include everyone with unconditional love.

(Last note: Levika Auliaimalae of Apia, according to my notes was assigned to care for a store in Falealili. And that’s now he ended up marrying Situa Ofe of Falealili. This is our Leapaga and other connections come from. Grandma Tusi told me that her dad used to drop her in Apia while she was going to school. She also said the family name in Apia is Thompson. Thompson is British. So if Levika Auliaimalae is from Apia, I wonder if he’s a Thompson.  I’m trying to find this connection since mom said that was our family she used to live with. Their chief title was Tamaseu in Apia. I hope some of you can work on that part of the family history too. If we can prove that we’re connected to the Thompson, then it will be easier to continue with our maternal side all the way to England. It also mean some of us are bloody British. I just want to make sure)

To be continued…

Much Alofa to you all,

Savea