I am going around in circles trying to locate the parents of John, Robert and William Speers who all immigrated to Tasmania, Australia between roughly 1866 and 1879. Obituaries / death notices I have located on Trove (Australian website) for the boy’s passing states the parents to be Andrew and Mary Speers of Castledawson, Derry or Belfast, Ireland.
I have located two Andrew Speers passing away, one 20 June 1900 at Ballyknocker, Farmer with probate going to his son Andrew Speers who passed away 14 February 1920 at Ballyknocker. This probate went to Isabella Dawson, sister.
I have also located Census for 1901 and 1911 for Andrew (died 1920).
John and Robert married in Christ Church (Anglican), Cullenswood, Tasmania. John in 1869 to Catherine Scott and Robert in 1877 to Elizabeth Handley.
Working out from dates given in their Obituaries and Headstones, John was born about 1846 and said to be the second son born to Andrew and Mary Speers. Robert was born about 1854.
William was born about 1860 and passed away in 1893 age 33, he never married. In his Obituary it states he was the youngest son born to Andrew and Mary Speers of Castledawson, Derry, with the parents being of “advanced age”. I believe this family may be Presbyterian but this is not confirmed.
In some instances I have also located information under the surnames of Spiers, Speirs, Speres in records for Tasmania.
Has anyone else researched this Speers family please or have the ability of researching areas I am unable to gain access to from here? I have just about exhausted all that I can think of to search.
Cheers Judi
