Researching: Henry William Stuart and Mary Stuart (born Kershaw)

[Echo_x]

I am looking for the ancestors of Henry and Mary Stuart..
I have most of his descendent. They are my great great great great grandparents.
Their daughter: Ella Purdy Michael (born Stuart) 1871-1950
Married (in fiji sep 16 1889) Henry Mowbray Michael 1852-1926
Their son: Henry William Michael June 16 1890-1974 -married: Emma Caroline Michael (born Hendriksen) 1888-1948
Other sons include: Ernest Augustus Mowbray Michael b.Fiji 1898-July 31 1916, Herbert Austin Seymour Michael Mar 23 1900-july 10 1981, Manly Michael July 23 1902-May 1986, Oswald Michael?, Cecil Kershaw Purdie Michael 1895-1982.

Henry William Michael
Wife: Emma Caroline Michael (born Hendriksen)
Children: Marjorie Petrea Webster July 8 1921-sep 20 2004, Erik Mowbray Michael apr 20 1915-feb 1991, Noel Kelvin Michael dec 25 1913-june 16 1986, John Peter Michael b.Sep 10 1924, Alan Linden Michael nov 26 1924?-1994, Rona Carol Alexander (born Michael) b.July 5 1930.

More info on Marjorie Pertea Webster's descendants, my grandmother. And Noel Kelvin Michael.

[Janette]

Hi Georgia,

Have you got dates for these people please and are the in NZ

Cheers Janette

[Echo_x]

I have moderated my original post to include dates etc.


Thank you!

Georgia x

[Echo_x]

I have come across new information regarding Henry William Stuart. Previous name 'MacDonald'.


Family oral history-

Parentage of Henry William MacDonald:
Probably born between the years 1830 and 1850. Family stories advise that he was born in Northumberland, bordering Scotland. He is reputed to be the offspring of the Duke of Northumberland and a servant girl who was the daughter of the head gardener. It is further claimed that his surname was originally MacDonald, presumably that of his mother and maternal grandfather who was of Scottish decent. The family story infers that he was sent to Australia to conceal the evidence of paternity.


Altercation or change of surname:
Became obligatory when, during an altercation with another officer, that officer suffered a fall down a quarry and was killed. Henry William MacDonald apparently decided that discretion was the better part of valour and consequently changed his surname to Stuart and immediately departed for California. It is not known whether the choice of surname has any significance regarding Henry William's ancestry.

Death of Henry William Stuart:
He was an accomplished trader and had established a number of stores in various towns (mentioned in family stories include Suva, Navua, Lautoka), along with these stores were a number of trading vessels. In those times it was essential to have gold in hand in the form of sovereigns or half quarter sovereigns.. most likely, Henry would at times be carrying large sums, particularly when conducting a trade. This was his undoing. On return home from a business he was set upon by Indians and murdered. The date of his demise and place of burial are yet to be determined as is also the date of his wife's death and burial (Mary Kershaw).


I am very interested in finding out more about Henry's death and the burial of both him and his wife Mary.

[Janette]

Do you have any positive information on Henry like where he died etc?

Cheers Janette

[Echo_x]

Unfortunately not.
The only verified information so far discovered regarding Henry William Stuart and Mary Kershaw appears on the certificate of marriage when their daughter, Ella Purdy Stuart, married Henry Mowbray Michael at Suva on 16th Sep, 1889. This certificate gives no further information about Ella's parents other than their name. Ella's age is noted as 18 years and her address is given as Suva.

There is fairly comprehensive oral account of the life of Henry Willliam Stuart but nothing is known about Mary Kershaw (spelt on marriage certificate as 'Kenshaw').

Accordingly, the family stories remain unverified.

[willsy]

Just wondered about this reference...Stuart-Virtue marriage

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH19070312.2.2.1

Alfred Wellington son of the late Henry William Stuart of Fiji, married 6th Feb 1907

[willsy]

Have you have come across this marriage?

Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950
Name:    Henry William Macdonald
Spouse Name:    Mary Kershaw
Marriage Date:    1864
Marriage Place:    New South Wales
Registration Place:    Goulburn, New South Wales
Registration Year:    1864
Registration Number:    2022

There are births in Goulburn till 1874

[willsy]

The mistake in the paper 1907 was that it was originally printed at McDonald

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01gp1/

so is this a family marriage too, father Henry deceased before 1899 if so

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01gp2/