Tracing Family Branches

This recent addition to Trove Digital Newspapers gives more details into James Baker Worldon's trial and conviction for the manslaughter of his partner Catherine Rhall.  The article produces a few interesting facts about the life that the couple were leading at this time and of their relationship.  James testified that he had been married to Catherine for eight years.  What proof other than his word was produced by James Baker Worldon as to their marital status, it had been under sufficient doubt as to move the trial to Melbourne from Beechworth, what changed?  The daughter referred to in the article as being fifteen years old would of been Catherine's daughter Sarah.  Sarah was born around 1840 to Catherine Casey (nee Rhall) and one John Glitherow, not James Baker Worldon.  The article however claims (as does his prison record) that they had four children, if so that still leaves us one child short, as we know that Sarah, Richard, William, James and Eliza...

Brickwall knocked down at last!  Catherine Rhall was murdered by her partner James Baker Worldon on the 14th February 1855 at Beechworth.  The Trove articles do involve my 4th Great Grandparents James Baker Worldon and Catherine Rhall!  I guess the family tree book will need updating now ;) I looked up the following record from the Public Record of Victoria and bingo the details match my ancestors records.  Catherine Rhall's fate is now known at last, she was murdered by her partner and he was only sentenced to two years imprisonment for it and by the look of it was released early in 1856!  I also found out he used the alias Milbank, which will give me new avenues for future research. Public Record Office of Victoria Series title: Central Register of Male Prisoners Sub-Item title: Worldon, James; (Milbank); (Jas Baker Worldon): No. 2265 Sub-Item number: Page 199 Date range: 1854 Public access: Open Format: Digital Source: Public Record ...