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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: Happy Searcher on Wednesday 20 December 23 11:14 GMT (UK)
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I've admitted defeat on this and am confident that you fantastic researchers will be able to help.
Christina Whitfield I'Anson was born 1892 in Leeds. In 1901 she was growing up with her family at the Talbot Hotel in Wednesbury, Staffordshire. In 1905 her mother [Christiana] elopes to new Zealand with her lover [Isaiah Oldbury] probably with the kids in tow, Christina likely among them but I've no evidence of this. Another researcher tells me they were in Tasmania by 1909 going under the name 'North'. By this time Christina's dad is suing for divorce and damages, hence the pseudonym. By 1911 Christina's mum has ditched Oldbury and adopted a new name - 'Maydwell' and they are in Sea Lake, Victoria where mum runs a Coffee Palace.
According to descendants of the family the tale is told that Christina was working away, got pregnant and wanted to come home to her mother but mum by now is a respectable Deaconess and said 'no'. Christina dies by taking poison but there are no records cos mum pulls strings to get it covered up. I think this would be between 1911 and 1914.
What do you think? Any help with any aspect of this would be massively appreciated. Happy Christmas!
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Lengthy newspaper article - Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 30th July 1909 about the divorce etc, presumably you have a copy of that
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Lengthy newspaper article - Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 30th July 1909 about the divorce etc, presumably you have a copy of that
Could you post a link as it could be useful to others who are helping to find more information.
Regards
Jennaya
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https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/C899E8DA-F1C2-11E9-AE98-99A3A15B6BF1?image=1
1913/401 Christina Vernon: Inquest
Christina Vernon… Lysol Poisoning… self administered… aged about 20 years… General Servant… deceased is said to come from Sea Lake where her mother resides… her mothers name is Madewell…
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https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241837832
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219177983
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/227854349
Several articles: http://tinyurl.com/yeb2mpe3
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Wow thank you so much. I have the article about the divorce. The Christine Vernon thing is news to me. That's my Christmas present received. :)
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Lengthy newspaper article - Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 30th July 1909 about the divorce etc, presumably you have a copy of that
Could you post a link as it could be useful to others who are helping to find more information.
Regards
Jennaya
Link would only take you to BNA registration page. It is the first result if you search Christina Ianson here https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/advanced
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Christina VERNON is buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery:
https://smct.org.au/deceased-search/9649?cemetery=Springvale%20Botanical%20Cemetery&cemeteries=&givenName=christina&surname=vernon
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Is this her death?… it doesn’t help when vic bdm has age 46 ::)
2696 / 1913
Family name: VERNON
Given name(s) Ctina
Place of event: Melb E, Australia
Mother's name: Unknown
Father's Name: Unknown
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I think that is her death. Astonishing to think her mother allowed the error in her name to go uncorrected. Christina's belongings were returned to her as it states in the inquest documents. There is also a comment from the coroner that basically says it would help if it wasn't reported as a suicide. Nowhere does it say she was pregnant.
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I think that is her death. Astonishing to think her mother allowed the error in her name to go uncorrected. Christina's belongings were returned to her as it states in the inquest documents. There is also a comment from the coroner that basically says it would help if it wasn't reported as a suicide. Nowhere does it say she was pregnant.
She wasn't.
Look at page 9 of the inquest.
The report from Surgeon Crawford Henry Mollison who conducted an autopsy on the body.
The third last line.
quote-
'The genital areas were virginal in appearance'
Sue
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Thanks, Sue. I couldn't actually read the coroner's writing! I wonder what the motive for the suicide was...very sad. Fascinating, also. I am really grateful for this expert help.
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You have "green ticked" this thread meaning you do not wish to have further informaton.
Is that correct?
There will be more to find about Christiana, the mother, and others involved, but maybe you feel your query is settled sufficiently??
Sue
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Hi Sue, I ticked 'complete' because my specific query about Christina was resolved. I've done a lot of work on Christiana and her children but my research is far from complete I'd be the first to admit.
Problems I've experienced include particularly their travel movements from UK to New Zealand (1905) then Tasmania (1909) then Australia (1910-11). They seem to use a lot of different names including Whitfield, I'Anson, Oldbury, Maydwell. I'm told they went by the name North in Tasmania.
I have a particular interest in Christiana's daughter Irene b. 1888 - I didn't know if I should start a new topic for her? She remains a life-long spinster and appears not to work ['home duties' in the electoral rolls] but always seems to have plenty of money. How is what I wonder?
I will alter the status of the topic and see what happens. Thank you for your interest and support for my research. Jo
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Hi Jo,
I would continue on with this thread for Irene, as there will be overlaps of information.
Regards
Jennaya
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Thanks - will do.
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Irene Whitfield Oldbury lived at 1 Fitzroy St Killara in 1943 and 1949. (Electoral roll NSW).
In 1945 there was a death at that address for Newton Reed Johnston late of Christ Church NZ. He had been the widower of Victoria Mary and 3 sons are mentioned in his death notice. Victoria Mary died in NZ about 1906.
Looking at the NZ Electoral Rolls.. From 1914 Irene Whitford I'anson lived with Newton Johnson at his addresses in Canterbury NZ and stated spinster.
She last voted in NZ in 1938 at their shared address of 2 Gwynfe Ave.
From her first E.Roll registration in Australia, her surname changed to Oldbury.
She died in 1951. Death Notice
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18235799
She was the ex-nuptial child of Christiana (nee Whitfield) born 1885 EDIT 1888 and on the 1891EDIT 1901 UK census she is with William I'anson and Christiana and is listed as a daughter. Along with Anthony, another of Christiana's pre-marriage births.
Birth
WHITFIELD, Athony Atkinson -
GRO Reference: 1887 Sept AUCKLAND. MMS -
Volume 10A Page 171
He died in Australia with the surname Maydwell-
MAYDWELL Anthony Atkinson
Mother Christina WHITFIELD
Father IANSON William
At MYRTLEFORD
Aged 69
1956/23829/
Irene must have visited England and is recorded returning to Aust in 1939
https://www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/66909:5378
Sue
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Sue
I'm speechless. Thank you for solving my long-time Irene puzzle. Hats off to your amazing research skills and thank you RootsChat for existing to help us hapless researchers. ;D
Jo
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Couple of little bits:
Newton's will is in the NZ probate records (presumably because despite living in Australia he still had property in his name in NZ)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ND-JCN4?i=3&cc=1865481
Irene Whitfield Oldbury was bequeathed outright the furniture, household belongings, plate and linen plus 500 pounds.
In addition, he left 12000 pounds into a trust to provide her with 300 pounds a year for the remainder of her life, and the right to occupy the house.
The use of a trust was possibly to ensure that the property went back to his descendants?
Anthony Ianson (l'Anson) arrived from England into Victoria in 1909:
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/42D2B4BF-F96C-11E9-AE98-7702640455C2?image=231
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That is very interesting Jorose.
I hope Happy Searcher is back soon to comment.
Over the last days I have put some time into trying to locate travel pathways and records for this runaway couple and whether or not the children went too. The 2 exnuptial chn seem not to be included in discussion.
I've not had huge success, but of interest the NZ newspapers kept up with the court in England proceedings on the matter.
Attached below some very relevant snips regarding departures and whereabouts.
This NZ paper item adds to the picture
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19090312.2.92
It states that in 1905 Isaiah Oldbury handed his business over to his son, Arthur, due to family disagreements and divested property through deeds of gifts disposing of his assets and property and kept only personal effects and cash.
Oldbury was about 63 years when the I'anson affair happened and had been married to Sarah Ann (nee Halford) since 1861. There had been children and prosperity.
Isaiah died in England in 1922 and the National Probate calendar gives an address of 53 Torrington Sq. Middlesex and assetes of 160 pounds to widow Sarah Ann.
She died in 1924 aged 86 W. Bromwich 6b/701.
In 1911 Sarah Ann was separated from Isaiah who is registered to vote on the NZ elector’s roll in 1911.
In the 1911 census she is with a son-in-law and her daughter Emily Tonks and their family, and she is household head. The home is very large and I am guessing it is her marital home and she remains resident there.
Portland House, Wood Green Wednesbury. (I think it is a childcare centre now).
Her 1924 death notice states "at her home Wood Green"
Isaiah died in 1922 back in England but clearly not at the same address as Sarah Ann..
Anyhow, given the information in the NZ News clips, this is one possible shipping record.
It shows some WHITFIELDs (a likely substitute name ;)) and OLDBURYs departng for Natal in Oct 14th 1905. It is an Ancestry link. Can you see it?
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/2997/?name=+_oldbury&count=50&departure=1905-8&departure_x=0-0-0&name_x=1_1
I feel a little uncertain about it as the gender and titles and number of the people do not add up to the runaway couple and 3 children :o
Clips
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It doesn't help that a lot of the arrivals into NZ of the time would just have surnames with Mr/Mrs (ah, but which surname!)
It looks like "Empire Bridge, Chaney's" was the location of the farmland, which Isaiah Oldbury owned near Christchurch but was being sold up in 1908.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19080509.2.110.3?query=%22I+Oldbury%22
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19090306.2.64
- 97 acres of farmland, plus also a house and land at Tuam Street, Linwood.
This may be the ad for Tuam Street. Oldbury is not named but owner is "leaving for england" and the timing goes along with the farmland being put up for sale.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19080512.2.71.3?query=%22Tuam+Street+Linwood%22
Additional records I can think of that might help would be:
1) land records that might show exactly when Isaiah Oldbury purchased property in NZ, giving a bounding for when they went in NZ and whether they might have stayed in South Africa for a short while.
2) school records, that might show when the kids (particularly Basil), joined and left school in NZ
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This may be the ad for Tuam Street. Oldbury is not named but owner is "leaving for england" and the timing goes along with the farmland being put up for sale.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19080512.2.71.3?query=%22Tuam+Street+Linwood%22
Just building on those findings jorose, this item confirms the owner by name and lists a mind- boggling selection of high-quality furniture :o
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19081104.2.52.3?items_per_page=10&query=++empire+bridge+oldbury&snippet=true
Seems to be no shortage of funds.
Sue
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And a stuffed albatross. Imagine how much room that took up!
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And how disgusting it looked :o
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Good morning,
Sorry to have been away for a few days over Christmas. Sincere thanks to Jorose for the will information regarding Irene. She lived on for a further six years after Newton's death and was clearly well provided for. I am sure your theory about the Trust is correct - keep the funds in the family!
I am indebted to Sparrett for the painstaking research about the travel. I know Isaiah Oldbury sometimes travelled as John Wilson and this is even the name on his death certificate!
One definitive date I have is when Basil Oldbury [I'Anson] was admitted to Phillpstown school - 3rd July 1905 - earlier than I'd supposed they'd be set up in NZ.
The reference to travelling under the name Whitfield is interesting as that is the maiden name of the eloping mother [Christiana]. Thanks again guys. I will mark the topic complete. Best wishes for 2024