Tracing Family Branches

Today’s post involves my 4th Great Uncle Joseph James Bell.  The son of William Bell and his wife Eleanor née Snead/Sneed/Sneyd/Sneid (see more posts here , here , here , here , here  and here ).  Joseph was born in 1853 and died on the 27 August 1928 at Cootamundra District Hospital from Erysipelas. In 1875 he married Mary Ann Jane Williams and together they had ten known children.  The Memoriam notice for him was placed in the newspaper by his daughter Ellen McDonnell née Bell and her family. Source:  Family Notices (1936, August 27).  Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 - 1954) , p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143971384 Transcript: IN MEMORIAM BELL. - In loving memory of our dear father and grandfather, Joseph James, who passed away August 27, 1928. The midnight stars are shining, On a grave not far away: Where they laid our darling dad Eight years ago to-day. - Inserted by his loving daughter, son-in-law, Ellen and Norman McDonnell, a...

Sarah Jane Smith nee Glitherow died on the 13th April 1898 at the Ovens Benevolent Asylum, Beechworth. Source: Family Notices (1898, April 16). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199743180 Transcript: SMITH.- At the Ovens Benevolent Asylum, on the 13th April, 1898, Sarah Jane Smith, formerly of Beechworth, aged 55 years.  Two years in the Asylum. Further research into Sarah's time at the Ovens Benevolent Asylum led me to these articles on Trove. Source: OVENS BENEVOLENT ASYLUM. (1892, October 8). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199731589 Transcript: OVENS BENEVOLENT ASYLUM The ordinary meeting of the committee of the above institution was held on Wednesday evening.  Present  - The President (Mr. C.J. Flower) in the chair, Messrs Ingram, Warren, O'Connor, Northeas...

As a result of receiving one of my favourite Christmas presents last year (my daughter and son in law gave me money for a birth, death or marriage certificate) I believe that I have made another family record search breakthrough.  My 4th Great Grandmother Catherine Rhall had a relationship with a convict named John Glithero/Glitherow and together they had at least three known children Sarah Glitherow who also was known as Sarah Baxter and Sarah Casey, William Glitherow and Richard Glitherow who was known as Richard Worldon.  Searching the Victorian birth, death and marriage indexes I came across this entry in the birth indexes and allowing for illiteracy and accents I believe that it is highly likely to be Sarah's baptism record. CLITTHEROW Given names Sarah Event Birth Father's name / Spouse's family name John Mother's maiden name / Spouse's given name Catherine (Rehill) Reg. year 1840 Reg. no 35931 Source: Victorian Baptism record for Sarah...

Going through Trove tonight and came across another piece of my family tree jigsaw puzzle!  As mentioned previously my Worldon Bell lines cross over in interesting ways at times.  My half 3rd Great Grand Aunt Sarah Williams nee Glithero husband Charles Williams had a long term defacto relationship with my 3rd Great Grand Aunt Mary Ann Green nee Bell.  No marriage record has been found for Charles and Mary Ann, although they had at least nine children together, which seemed reasonable as they were both already legally married to other people - Charles to Sarah and Mary Ann to Michael Green.  The information below from Trove makes me wonder if they did in fact go through some form of marriage ceremony (as they clearly intended to) or if circumstances conspired against them and their plans were thwarted.  I am so happy to have some progress with the research but why do finds always lead to more questions than answers? Source: Advertising. (1871, Ma...

This weeks obituary is for my 3rd Great Grand Uncle John Bell.  He was born on the  27th August 1847  to William Bell and his wife Eleanor (nee Sneed).  His wife Mary Ann was the daughter of Charles Williams and Elizabeth (nee Hall).  Mary Ann's brother Charles Williams was in a relationship with John Bell's oldest sister Mary Ann Green nee Bell and to further complicate things one of John's younger sisters Margaretta Jane Bell's husband James Baker Worldon was the half brother of Sarah Jane Williams (nee Gltherow), Mary Ann's brother Charles's legal wife (the marriage broke down and both moved on to other relationships without a divorce). So my 3rd Great Grandfather James Baker Worldon's brother in law Charles Williams was legally married to James half sister Sarah but living with James wife Margaretta's oldest sister Mary Ann.  While another brother in law John Bell was living with his brother in law Charles Williams married sister Mary Ann Ball and t...