Tracing Family Branches

My son Matthew has recently come over to the dark side and is currently studying for his Diploma of Family History, which of course has made me very happy! While researching for a recent assignment he uncovered new information on my Grandfathers first wife Marie Rose Thomson who was known as Rose or Rosie to her loved ones. I have previously posted mentioning her  here ,  here ,  here  and  here . Matt wanted to find out what happened to Rose after her marriage to his Great Grandfather Mervyn James Donnelly and he has allowed me to share some of his findings.  He found that the information that I had been given on Rose's fate by her extended family members some years ago was incorrect.  I had been told she died in the 1940's, but her parents death certificates and Family Notices in the newspapers do not reflect this as being fact.  In fact she is not listed on either parents death certificate as being deceased prior to their deaths and they died i...

 Today’s post involves my 3rd Great Grandparents Henry O’Brien and Anne Smith marriage in Maitland in 1845.  After receiving a transcription of their Marriage registration from NSW Family History Transcriptions , I have now confirmed that they married on the 31st of March 1845 at Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.  Both were Roman Catholics and lived in Maitland at the time of their marriage.  Henry signed with his x mark, so he was more than likely illiterate.  Unfortunately their parents names, ages and occupations are not listed, which I had expected as it is an early church record.  I am hopeful that other family certificates may provide me with more leads on this couple in the future so I can connect more of the dots about their lives. I have previously posted about them here and here . Source:  Marriage registration transcription for Henry O'Brien and Anne Smith.  NSW BDM Marriage Index No. 329/1845 V1845329 94.  Received from ...

Today's post involves my 1st cousin three times removed Ada Edna Polsen and her marriage to Charles Smith at Gundagai in 1929.  A post about Ada’s parents wedding can be found here . Source: WEDDING BELLS (1929, April 8). The Gundagai Independent (NSW : 1928 - 1939), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224971872 Transcript: WEDDING BELLS SMITH-POLSEN A pretty wedding was celebrated in St. John's Church, Gundagai, on Wednesday last, when Mr. Charles Smith, of Moss Vale, and Miss Ada Edna Polsen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Polsen, of Hospital Hill, Gundagai were married.  Miss Flo McCarthy played the Wedding March, as the bride (who looked sweetly pretty) entered the Church, on the arm of her father.  The Rev. S.G. Davis tied the nuptial knot. The bride was gowned in a pretty frock of crepe de chene, and a beautiful long embroidered veil was arranged mob cap fashion over a wreath of orange blossoms.  She carried a beautiful b...

Today's post involves my third great aunt Ada Ellen Polsen nee Worldon. Source: GUNDAGAI (1937, October 8). Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143672731 Transcript: GUNDAGAI  A birthday party in honor of their mother, Mrs Arthur Polsen, was held by Mrs Henry Crane (Vera), Mrs. George Smith (Doris), and Mrs. Charles Smith (Edna) at the home of the first-named at South Gundagai.  Mr. Polsen and several friends of the family were also present.  A beautiful cake, which was made and decorated by Mrs. Crane, was much admired, and the guest of honor returned to her home late in the afternoon laden with a variety of beautiful gifts.

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...

In April 1938 my grandfather Mervyn James Phillip Donnelly was before the courts due to his committing bigamy and some of the articles reporting on this case are the subject of my Trove Tuesday posting this week. My grandfather Mervyn James Phillip Donnelly, commonly known as James or Jim was born in Bourke in 1905, the son of John Joseph (Jack) Donnelly and his wife Bridget Anastasia (nee Lambert). John Donnelly was a school teacher and the family, which included Mervyn's older half brother Frederick, moved around the state due to his employment.  In Sydney in November 1925 Mervyn joined the New South Wales Police as a Probationary Constable, but this was to be a short lived career as he resigned in April 1926.  Later in Sydney that same year he married Marie Rose Thomson (known as Rose or Rosie) who was born in 1906, the daughter of Thomas Thomson and his wife Mary Ethel (nee Smith).   Rose had been declared an uncontrollable child by the courts in June 1922 and admitte...