Tracing Family Branches

While searching for more information about my 4th Great Grandfather James Baker Worldon who was also known as James Baker Waldon/Walden and by the alias 'Milbank Jim' I came across the following newspaper item on Trove which mentions him and which it turns out I had been sent a copy of by another researcher some time ago and had forgotten (Thanks Brian, sorry I did not remember this sooner!). Source: Trove. OLD TOM GIDLEY, OH! (1872, August 15). Melbourne Punch (Vic. : 1855 - 1900), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174544366 Transcript: OLD TOM GIDLEY, OH! A REPORT OF THE CASE, GIDLEY V. REID. In the bush at El Dorado Curious games were lately played, oh! By a squatter known to fame, Which Old TOM GIDLEY is his name. GIDLEY, which there's no concealing, Twice was tried for cattle stealing, Twice, "not guilty" verdicts meant The accused was innocent; Than the Beechworth snow more pure he Seemed to that enlightened jury, Who returned him to t...

For many years I have been trying to track down a legal case involving a Worldon relative and child abuse from 1871. The information I had involved a reference from the Police Gazettes from 1871 in which it stated: MISSING FRIENDS Information is requested respecting Arthur W. Roscoe, a Londoner, a teacher or clerk, aged 24 years, 5 feet 10 inches high, slender build, between 11 and 12 stone weight, short fair straight hair, no whiskers or moustache, fair ruddy complexion, full eyes, high cheek bones, long features, large Roman nose, stooping gait, lame from bunions or corns ; wore dark coat, light brown trousers, stitched hat with straw under rim, and blucher boots.  He was clerk in the Central Police Office, Sydney, N.S. Wales, about three years ago ; and is an important witness in the case of Queen v. Worldon, for assault with intent on a child.  He will probably go to Sydney. 13th March 1871. Source: New South Wales Police Gazette dated 22nd March 1871, page 83. ...

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...