RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Australia Lookups completed => Topic started by: hallmark on Thursday 04 March 10 17:29 GMT (UK)
-
Hi
I have the death date and some bio for Nathaniel W Swan, writer and newspaper editor, he was editor of Ararat and Pleasant Creek Advertiser, wrote "Luke Minver's Harvest" and a few other books.
He is mentioned in "Dictionary of Australasian Biography" Page 451.
He died 31 July 1889 but I don't know where he is buried. I'd appreciated some help on locating graveyard please.
Thank you.
-
I've found a newspaper article announcing his death but it is in 1884.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 1st August 1884.
The death is announced of N W Swan, editor and part proprietor of the Pleasant Creek News and a well known writer of stories.
He died on the 31st July 1884 of an aneurism at his home in Main Street, Stawell. I wonder if that is where he was buried
Tressle
-
Thank you very much. The date I posted was from "Dictionary of Australasian Biography", thought he died young in 1889 but 1884 is probably correct if in newspaper.
Haven't a clue as to where Stawell is. I think he owned a hotel after leaving the newspaper, possibly in Stawell.
Any idea of what cemeteries I should be searching for please? He married an Irish girl and is buried in a RC g/yard apparently.
-
Hi
He was Irish himself, born in Monaghan in 1834. There is a wonderful summary of his life - and I am not sure if this link will work as it is a pdf file.
http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/ozlit/pdf/p00083.pdf
I just cannot find out anything about his burial.
Tressle
-
There is a Stawell Historical Society with details of cemetery records that they hold here..
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~shsinc/research.html
Says they only deal by snail mail though but might be worth writing.
Tressle
-
Yes, Stawell was a good clue, looking at http://home.vicnet.net.au/~stawgeny/research.html but nothing on him there.
1884 seems to be correct..just Googling "Stawell" now
-
Hi
He was Irish himself, born in Monaghan in 1834. There is a wonderful summary of his life - and I am not sure if this link will work as it is a pdf file.
http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/ozlit/pdf/p00083.pdf
I just cannot find out anything about his burial.
Tressle
Yes, a good summary but as he moved around so much it's hard to track him down!
-
Found a birth in Stawell Sept 1872 in The Argus newspaper;
"On 26th inst, at her residence, Stawell, the wife of N Walter Swan of a daughter"
and realized my typo 1884 is correct (Dictionary of Australasian Biography" Page 451 shows 1884!) oops ???
Just browsing through Results 11 - 20 of 59390 for N Walter Swan on http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/search?searchTerm=N+Walter+Swan&textSearchScope=full&startFrom=10 :o :o ;D
-
Hi ,
Stawell has a population of around 6500 and is 123 kms NW of Ballarat in Victoria.
Nathaniel Walter SWAN d 1884 aged 49 Stawell - parents James SWAN and Elizabeth GREACEN # 10713
Regards
Alison
-
Hi again,
Nathaniel and Mary Helen O'Brien were married in 1863 and had 4 children between 1866 and 1874 at Ararat and Pleasant Creek .
regards
Alison
-
Thanks Alison,
Yes, you have the correct marriage. Not sure where they married or the names of the children. I think Walter Blakley Swan was one of them. I have Walter plus 4 sisters as their children, (from website write up on N W Swan!)
Mary Helen O'Brien was from Ireland too, but judging by the dates etc they must have married in Oz.
There are a few marriages between the Greacens and the Swans here in Ireland. I'd love to find where the grave is.
-
Hi
An item in the ARGUS newspaper in Victoria tells us the HELEN ELIZABETH SWAN dau. of The late Nathaniel Walter SWAN married JAMES HICKEY in 13th May 1893.
http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/search?adv=y
Sue
-
Thanks Sue, didn't have that!
-
Hi again,
1 Walter Blakeley b 1866 Ararat # 19038
2. Helen Elizabeth b 1868 Ararat # 13436
3. Mary Rachel Margaret b 1870 Pleasant Creek # 25344
4. Lilian Femola b 1874 Ararat # 6546
Will be back later with marriages { if my computer behaves itself >:(}
Regards
Alison
-
Thank you very much Alison, have been searching newspapers, found the Swan/Hickey marriage but nothing on the others.
Emaled Ararat Advertiser hoping they would have a photo of their ex editor...none to be found!
St Patrick's RC Church is where the marriage was but no luck yet with burial. Have emailed the church there! It's great to get the next generation! Thanks again.
Dave.
-
Hi
The wills of both NATHANIEL and MARY HELEN are digitised for reading.
http://proarchives.imagineering.com.au/Index_search.asp?searchid=54
Have you seen them?
NATHANIEL (1884) mentions his "interests" in the local newspapers among his assets and appoints his wife and son WALTER as executors.
In hers, MARY HELEN (1890) mentions her son WALTER and 4 daughters whose names seem to be HELEN, FRANCES, MARY and LILLIAN .
She commends their care to someone associated with the Church of Scotland and to someone who may read "sister" or "mother" Bridget O'Brien.
you may have more success with the deciphering ;)
Sue
-
Walter Blakely SWAN d 1899 aged 33 Hawthorn # 9748
Helen Elizabeth SWAN m James Hickey 1893 # 2762
1. Leonard Swan b 1894 Hawthorn # 21279 d 1953 aged 59 Camberwell # 8984
2. James Walter b 1897 Hawthorn # 11586 d 1972 aged 75 Heidelberg # 18282
3. Helen Mary b 1901 Kew # 20157 d 1981 aged 80 Brunswick # 10883
4. Clair O'Brien b 1905 Kew # 26929 d 1956 aged 51 Camberwell #15412 { married name FLEMING}
Lilian Fenola SWAN m Charlie Stuart Frn SMITH 1908 # 3709
1. Mary Josine Stuart b 1910 Horsham # 11967
Helen Elizabeth SWAN d 1913 aged 72 Hawthorn - John RAMSBOTTOM and Tabitha FLETCHER # 13538
Lilian Fenola SMITH d 1952 aged 77 Fitzroy # 202
Frances Alic SMITH d 1948 aged 75 Stawell { will have to go back and look for her !}
Mary Rachel Margaret HASSETT d 1941 aged 70 Camberwell { Will have to go back and look for her marriage !}
Helen Elizabeth HICKEY d 1943 aged 75 Camberwell # 10500
Regards
Alison
-
Thanks again! This is very very much appreciated!
-
Hi Dave,
May SWAN m Michael Matthew HASSETT { b Geelong} 1910 # 3920
I can't see any children
Lilian's husband Charlie was born in India.
Frances Alice SWAN m Fleetwood SMITH { b India}1901 # 5134
1. Pauline Fleetwood b 1902 Kew # 27258 d 1984 aged 81 Ballarat { married name MORNANE} # 25520 m Gerard Joseph MORNANE 1936 # 13583
2. Walter Fleetwood b 1904 Stawell # 21520 d 1961 aged 57 Stawell # 17793
3. Leslie O'Brien Fleetwood b 1908 Stawell # 14946 d 1971 aged 62 Fitzroy # 6145 m Mary Gertrude ELLIOTT 1935 # 1434
I dare say Fleetwood and Charlie were brothers.
Fleetwood SMITH d 1956 aged 82 - Bradford and Anna Josine unknown # 21885
I can't find a death for Charlie .
Gerard Joseph MORNANE d 1972 aged 69 Stawell - Michael and Annie DYNON # 28144 { he had at least 6 siblings I can see death s for }
Micahael Fleetwood MORNANE d 1983 aged 44 Camp - Gerard Joseph and Pauline Fleetwood # 09633
Mary Gertrude Elliott SMITH d 1977 aged 80 Kew - Henry ELLIOTT and Mary Gertrude O'MEARA # 13944
Regards
Alison
-
Hi Dave,
There was an inquest into Pauline MORNANEs death
Year 1984 Reference : 1540 Inquest date: 31.10.1984 it doesn't give a cause of death on the CD.
You can obtain a copy of the inquest if you want here
http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/PROVguides/PROVguide008/PROVguide008.jsp
Regards
Alison
-
There are a number of mentions of his death in the National Library's digitised newspapers including family notices and a short bio of him - The Argus, 1 Aug 1884. (this one is on p5 although the site will direct you to p4)
http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home
Use Goolemap to see an arial view of Stawell. Mary's probate papers say she owns a house on cnr Main and Scallon Sts Stawell. The address is still there but there's a roundabout road layout now so not sure whether the actual house is there.
Sue, I think the people mentioned with regard to the chn in the will are: Samuel Kelso? Minister Church of Scotland, Peter Galbraith something manager and I think it is 'my sister' Bridget O'Brien.
Judith
-
Hi hallmark
My great grandfather is buried in the Stawell Cemetery and a very kind volunteer photographed the grave.
http://www.raogk.org/victoria.htm
Scroll down to Stawell and click on the volunteer's name to email her your request. She will require the grave location which can be obtained from
shsinc[at]netconnect.com.au Replace [a] with @
Cheers
Cando
-
Another one rounded up...so Samuel Kelso was with them, his wife Jane was Nathaniel's sister! I hadn't even started looking for her yet.
Again Thanks!
-
Hi hallmark
My great grandfather is buried in the Stawell Cemetery and a very kind volunteer photographed the grave.
http://www.raogk.org/victoria.htm
Scroll down to Stawell and click on the volunteer's name to email her your request. She will require the grave location which can be obtained from
shsinc[at]netconnect.com.au Replace [a] with @
Cheers
Cando
Thanks Cando, looks like there might be a couple of graves to look up!
-
To help you on your way with the KELSOs have a look at Samuel's digitised will which lists his children and his wife.
http://proarchives.imagineering.com.au/index_search.asp?searchid=54
;D
Judith
-
Thanks Judith, great to get so much help!
Dave.
-
Hi Dave,
Children of Samuel KELSO and Jane Elizabeth SWAN { no marriage}
1. William b 1859 Pleasant Creek # 20244 d 1861 age 1 Portland # 7520
2. James Swan b 1860 Portland # 20701 d 1861 8m Portland # 7514
3. Edgar Willie b 1862 Portland # 22975
4. Henry Irving b 1864 Portland # 24054
5. Mary Agnes b 1866 Portland # 17052
6. Isabella Findlay b 1869 Pleasant Creek # 10755
7. Samuel b 1873 Pleasant Creek # 11700
8. Esther Stewart b 1878 PLeasant Creek # 18114 d 1885 age 7 Stawell # 14061
Henry Irving KELSO { b Portland} m Mary Dorothea WAYMAN { b Stawell West} 1895 # 6303
May KELSO { b Portland m Thomas John WRIGHT { b Ballarat} 1890 # 1301
Isabella Findlay KELSO { b Portland} m Richard Reginald ROBERTS { b Yorkshire} 1892 # 7091
Jane Elizabeth KELSO d 1920 aged 83 Malvern E - SWAN and Elizabeth unknown # 2372
Mary Dorothea KELSO d 1937 age 69 E Malvern - Wilkinson WAYMAN and Ann DAWKIN # 331
Mary Agnes WRIGHT d 1944 age 77 E Malvern _ KELSO Samuel and Jane Eliz SWAN # 1761
Jean Elizabeth WRIGHT d 1972 age 80 TOOR - Thomas John and Mary Agnes KELSO # 13615
Eleanor Hailes FRAYNE d 1954 aged 57 Malvern - Thomas WRIGHT and Mary Agnes KELSO # 4677
Regards
Alison
-
Thank you yet again, the marriage between Samuel and Jane Elizabeth took place in Ireland, which was all I had on her, (plus them going to Oz with Nathaniel and having 1 child.).
They certainly seem easier to find in Oz than here in Ireland!
-
They certainly seem easier to find in Oz than here in Ireland! DAVE
You know, I think this is true and it would not be the first time I've heard this sentiment.
So it looks as if, we are bereft of records in many ways- census in particular- but very lucky in others. :D
Sue
-
Well I think people who stayed in Ireland knew the family history, knew where the various grave were, even if unmarked and even to this day just presume everything instead of writing it down.
Luckily my cousin knows where all the graves here are, but even he hasn't made any notes, so if anything happened to him a lot would be lost. When families left Ireland the "chain" was broken. I can go to an old g/yard with very few g/stones as he can tell me the family names of many of these unmarked plots! Now that is history...but it's all in his head at the moment!
If whole family units left, they took this history with them to Oz etc...but seldom wrote anything down on their family history, some passed down their history verbally, others took it all to the grave and is lost forever.
I'm very lucky in that they owned their properties here and thus have Title Deeds etc which documents them. So many left Ireland having owned no property etc and are just so difficult to track down. Nathaniel's books etc make him so much easier to find. Even his Eaglehawk Mining Co share issue was findable. (Thanks to Internet), wouldn't like to have been trying to do this 20 years ago! We think it's frustrating now trying to trace people but we take so much for granted in this information age. At least Australia have documented so many people and it seems so much information is now available for them.
-
If you know your ancestors' religions, townlands, parishes etc. it should be possible to trace them through parish records. Gosh I wouldn't be wasting any time in encouraging the cousin to record what he knows. Perhaps you could interview him and record the information.
I have researched my ancestors in Ireland on the net and have been quite successful. Of course I received much help from various family history societies/groups.
Cando
-
He is supposed to be working on this, now I'll be meeting him and going around g/yards in summer mapping them. Parish records have only worked back to 1750 era for some of them. Now it's time for physical legwork, filling in the blanks, hence this search for Nathaniel etc, which he probably wouldn't know. His gran and my gran were sisters. My gran married a Hall, his gran married a James, whose daughter married a Hall, but a different Hall line.
So he's doing his line, I'm doing mine plus getting names dates for extended Swan lines, within this is a Swan marrying a Swan, a Swan marrying a Graham whose daughter married a Swan...great fun!
It's all circles within circles within circles, even though I've a pile of different surnames marrying various people in my tree, many are actually cousins when each surname is researched, sometimes 2nd/3rd cousin which would have been missed had I not researched every family. Filling in Nathaniel and his sister Elizabeth etc will actually save time when we meet up, I've over 1200 people on the tree so far and I know for sure it's only the tip of the iceberg, so by the time were finished it will be a history of half the families in Co Monaghan as I've so many more Swans to track down yet.
-
Well Stawell sure opened a lot of doors!
-
A little more
http://www.rootschat.com/links/086b/
I would suggest reading How to shrink links. :)
http://www.rootschat.com/links/
Link also at the bottom of each page
Links have been given to the Stawell groups....there may be a fee for research but I would certainly advise contacting them. My great grandfather was a general practitioner and surgeon in Stawell from 1884 to 1892 and the local history and genealogy groups were most helpful.
Cando
-
SWAN, N Walter.
Gazetted 6 May 1864 Victoria Page 1006
Gazette item sub title heading - Application for Mining Lease Refused
SWAN, N.W.
Gazetted 12 Feb 1869 at Ararat. Page 313
Application for Mining Leases - Business - Albion Gold Mining Co
SWAN, N W.
Gazetted 16 Apr 1869 Ararat Page 619
Mining Leases Etc.
SWAN, N W.
Gazetted 14 Jan 1870 Ararat District Page 43
Mining Leases Declared Void
SWAN, N Walter.
Gazetted 22 Jan 1870 Pleasant Creek [later named Stawell] Page 187
Private Advertisements - Business - British Empire Quartz Mining Co
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~shsinc/stawell.html
My 2nd great grand uncle was the Government Mining Registrar and Surveyor based at Ararat during 1864 and 1870.
Cando
-
Thank you!
Links shrinkage used from now on...! ;)
-
OK ;) ;D
Cando
-
Nathaniel and family are buried in Ararat Cemetery. :) Thank you Judy Barry if you read this! I now have grave number, inscription and location map
-
Thank you everyone who has helped me, I had a reply from Ararat with cemetery details, burials, inscription and names of those buried there.
The key to all this was "Stawell" and I've managed to trace many people from here, Swan/Hickey/O'Brien etc pretty much up to present times.
If you attend a dentist by name of Hickey in Stawell then you can say Hi from me! ;D ;D
Again a BIG THANK YOU!
-
Hi everyone,
I know this has been marked as completed, but I've just made the discovery that my family is related to Nathaniel Walter Swan. His mother Elizabeth Greacen was the older sister of my 3xgt-grandmother Rachel C Greacen. Their father was Nathaniel Greacen, printer of Monaghan and Armagh (still working on their mother).
Rachel married Robert Black and they immigrated to New Zealand via Brisbane in the 1860s with their 7 children.
Blakely (or Bleckley) was the surname of Elizabeth's second husband Richard. He would have brought up James Swan's 4 children after James' unfortunate death in 1839. Richard was a witness at Rachel and Robert's wedding.
I haven't gotten much further back on the Greacen family. Current evidence suggests they were Quakers although John Blakely/Bleckly who presided over both Elizabeth and Rachel's weddings was doing so in a Presbyterian Church.
Would love to make contact with any of Nathaniel's descendants.
Thanks,
Sarah