james peele look up please geelong

[jody 101]

After many kind people have assisted me in the last few months i hope you don't mind me imposing on your kindness once again. 
I am looking for the birth of James Peele presumably about 1846/47 in Geelong.  In 1869 he married Ruth Hunt in Prahan.
In 1871 the 1st of 6 children was born in New Zealand the next 3 were born in Victoria and the last 2 were born in New Zealand. When James died in New Zealand in 1905 he was a noted Australian Painter. The university of Wellington has a small writeup about him.
Any information on his parents and siblings would be greatly appreciated.
Jody

[tropicalj]

Hello  there

now according to the indexs for victoria
for the marriage  it shows both parties born  in London!!

there is no  birth record showing  for him in Victoria

even under the spelling of peel no birth matching around that time

regards Jenn

[JAP]

Jody,

So, from what Jenn says, it seems that your first step would be to get the marriage certificate of James PEELE and Ruth HUNT:
James PEELE (b London) m Ruth HUNT (b LONDON), Victoria, 1869, ref no 4527

If you have a credit card, this can be downloaded immediately from the Vic BDM site at:
http://online.justice.vic.gov.au/bdm/home

Otherwise it can be ordered through the post though this seems to be more expensive.  I presume you can find out from the site whether it is possible to pay by cheque or money order ...

The certificate should tell you the ages of the bride & groom, plus the names and occupations of their fathers, and the names and maiden surnames of their mothers.

Armed with this knowledge, you might then be able to find their births ...

JAP

[jody 101]

Thankyou both. That is odd though as i downloaded this from the net:

Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook
PEELE, James 1846/7–1905

Previous Section | Table of Contents | Up | Next Section
PEELE, James 1846/7–1905

Known for his oil paintings of scenic beauties. Born Geelong, Australia and had his first art lessons there. Put to business when 14 years old: worked as bank clerk in Adelaide then probably in about 1865 arrived in New Zealand and worked for the Bank of New Zealand in Invercargill; was branch manager in Rangiora and in Amberley 1883. In 1889 resigned on a pension owing to deafness, and having been an amateur painter in watercolours for some time now decided to take up painting as a profession. Went to Melbourne to study and won 1st prize and the gold medal of the Victorian Society of Artists for a painting of the Otira Gorge. Was expelled from the Society in 1892 for literally taking his paintings out of a show after show was hung, because the committee had rejected what he thought was his best work. Taught and painted in Adelaide and in Melbourne making three-monthly excursions to New Zealand in the summers, visiting the West Coast Sounds on the Tarawera and making many sketches to develop the rest of the year. He must have visited Christchurch 1898–99 as was listed as Christ-church artist in Wise's. In 1902 returned to New Zealand to live with his daughter and son-in-law H. E. Hargreaves at New Brighton, Christchurch, where he died. Exhibited: OAS and CSA 1881–87; NZ Industrial Ex Wtn 1885; Centennial Ex, Melbourne 1888–89; St. Louis Exposition 1904. Represented: CSA, Hocken, and National Library of Melbourne. 

I did find Ruth Hunt (as a 3 year old) with her parents and a sister on the assisted immigration to Victoria in 1849.

Jody
.

[JAP]

Yes, there are various stories/versions on the Internet.

Which is why it seems that looking at the actual marriage certificate is important.

Of course, the internet and the index are both secondary sources.  The marriage certificate itself would be a primary source.  But, even then, it may be that James did not tell truth.  However, armed with the name and occupation of his father, and name and maiden name of his mother (if all this information has been provided for the marriage certificate), at least there would be the possibility of trying to follow up further on when and where he was born.

Good luck,

JAP

[jody 101]

Thanks i will do that. Mum seemed sure he was known as one of the first Australian born painters but i will get the marriage cert to hopefully find out for sure. Mums family is enough to make one want to give up. New Zealand records seem very hard to find and the Aussie ones are hiding from me. They all died well before i was born and now all the grandparents (who didn't want to dwell on the past )have gone too its like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Now to order the cert.
Jody

[tropicalj]

Hello  there Jody

I  have had a look  in  the other States  but cannot  find a birth for him.

I am wondering  if  he was o f convict stock  and  he hid it  which  was not an uncommon  thing do to back  then.

I  am now very curious as  to  what  the certificate will  tell  you.   Please  let  us  know  so  my  curiousty will be  soothed

regards Jenn

[tropicalj]

Hello  there Jody

another interesting  thing  is  that  I  cannot  find  any  children  born  to them in Australia??  have  you?


I  did  find some marriages  for Peele  that lists their birth place as NZ though
regards Jenn

[sparrett]

Hello Jody,
Just adding a further thought to Jenn's idea that he may have been concealing a convict past.
At the moment Ancestry.com is letting you look at their data-bases for free including original records etc.
There may be something there that rings a bell with you.  Warning though. the lists are not complete.
Here is the link
http://www.ancestry.com/?irish=1

Just give your name and email .  no money required.
Sue