Hi everyone,
Just an update on what has been an interesting search.
After exchanging emails, information and from what has been posted
here, Frank has come up with, what he/we believe is a plausible solution to some
of the riddles posed.
John Cross may have misled us by declaring Thomas and Harriet as
his natural parents. It is worth noting that on Harriet’s death, Henry who
was a lowly farm labourer, was left with 5 kids to care for and a newly
married 17-18 year old daughter (Mary Jane) who had a 2-3 month old baby.
With that in mind, we looked at the children as listed on Harriet’s death certificate in 1858.
Mary Jane 18 yrs Born Mary Jane Cross (illegitimately c1841), but
Henry Monro was her dad as named on her marriage record to William Bunting.
She used either Cross or Munro names on various records. She married Williams Bunting
in 1857 then married Michael Burns following Williams death.
John William 14 yrs Born John William Cross (probably illeg., 1844), but
may have used Monro surname at times until age 14. No records found of
this but his sister Mary Jane did exactly this. After his mother’s death, maybe
John and some other of his younger siblings moved into the care of family
members in the district. The guess is that John went into the care of Harriet’s
brother, Thomas Cross and his wife Harriet, nee. Williams. There is an
In Memorium notice 1897 in Euroa Advertiser to his ( John's) sister Mary Jane Burns.
This would explain how he is recorded as having different parents to his sister
in the records! So Thomas and Harriet Cross (his uncle and auntie) became
John’s adopted or foster parents. He declared them as his parents and he
dropped the use of his second name, William, on his death and marriage records.
Arthur 10 yrs Born 1848 as Arthur Munro Died 1859, (he was aged 10
at both events) and recorded as Henry Arthur in error, that being his father’s name.
Henry 7 yrs Born 1850 as Henry Munro It is possible that he was
the one who married Maria Underwood in 1872 (in Violet Town at 22 years old).
If so, his father’s likely birth place (Armagh) is stated as his in error on the marriage
record. Also his mother as stated on the record (Nancy Hall) may have been
his “step mother”, after Harriet’s death 14 years prior. This Henry had a daughter
Elizabeth Harriet Munro b. 1875, d. 1944, m. Andrew Mitchell. He died 1878 aged 29.
His birthplace is recorded in the index of death certificate as “unknown”, and his mother “Annie Hall”
Ann 5 yrs Born approx 1853 as Ann Munro.
Catherine 18mths Born approx 1856 as Catherine Munro
No further information available as yet. Aside from a possible early death, they may have
been adopted out/fostered to family or friends, and under gone a surname change.
Thanks to all of you who helped in this search and to Frank for making contact and
making everything seem so logical now
Raylen
