Hi,
I hope people don't mind me jumping in on this discussion, and please let me know if I'm violating board process/etiquette but I've seen quite a few names that might tie in with a brickwall that I've hit in my research.
Person in question: Ellen BRAY b. 1829 in Cornwall, she emigrated to Australia 1847 on board the Cressy. Died 26 Sep 1888 Sandhurst, Vic, Australia.
The problem is her parents information. I currently have two different sets of information.
1. Family record, no idea where the info came from which has her as the daughter of James Trewartha Bray, born in Kea, Cornwall around 1796. Married to a Joanna.
2. Information from a distant relative doing research, somewhat more reliable as their information is at least sourced. Gives her parents as William Bray, b. 17 Aug 1796 Helston, Cornwall, England d. 25 May 1868 married to Ann BARRET b. 1796 Gwennap, Cornwall, England.
Parents of Ellen Bray.- IGI Individual Record - Batch No M023563 1754-1875 Source Call No 0255477 Type Film
2nd source:- Cornwall County Council - Marriages in the Parish of Lanivet William Bray bachelor Ann Barrett spinster 23/05/1819 - Their marks - Witnesses Wm Barrett and John Mannell.
I've tried to verify the marriage and birth information via the Online COPC but I haven't been able to find the records.
Now the thing that is interesting is that the parents given to James Trewartha Bray in theory 1. are William Bray and Ann Trewartha, two people put together in one of the posts in this discussion. I am wondering if I have the right family but somewhere along the track, the individuals have gotten mixed up?
Unfortunately, her death certificate only lists her fathers surname of Bray, no information at all about her mother.
There was an Eliza BRAY on the Cressy with her, possibly a sister, as well as two William BRAYS, again, no positive idea of relationship.
An 1841 Census record has this:
Enumeration District 13 Civil Parish of Gwennap Book 11 Folio 13 Page 23
Tolcarne,1,Ann Bray,,55,Widow (Crossed Out),In county,
,,Josiah Bray,22,,Miner,In county,
,,William Bray,19,,,In county,
,,James Bray,12,,,In county,
,,Ellen Bray,10,,,In county,
,,Ambrose Bray,,7,,In county,
The issues are, how do I get a solid birth date for Ellen? How do I confirm her parents? Being on the other side of the world means I am limited in the leg work I can do myself. Is there anyway I can get this information online? My biggest problem is I am not really that familiar with how these various records were kept and what some of them mean.
Can anyone give me some ideas? Or should I be posting this as a separate request and not hi-jack this thread?
Cheers,
Michelle