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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: jennywren001 on Saturday 21 February 15 20:48 GMT (UK)
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I am, as you will no doubt be aware a huge fan of ScotlandsPeople but I do rather grudge paying to see the original census returns - I'd rather spend my limited funds on certificates. :)
Anyways, I'm having a wee look at my Fearns in Kirrie and up the Angus glens and a certain James Fearn's age in 1851 is transcribed as 50 at FindMyPast and 56 at A*cess*tryharder. If I was a betting person I'd go with the 50 but how to check? I know where he's living - so at SP I just put in his name and where he's living then age from age 56 to 56 (no one showing) down to 50 to 50 one hit....can't see this working with very common names although you could add a second person to narrow it down a bit.
Now wondering if DC Thompson is using the same index as SP given they're in partnership....if they are that might give one more confidence in F*M*P transcriptions and I wouldn't have to resort to the above in the first place.
Jen
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Wait until FreeCEN has the parish(es)you are interested in, and see what they reckon it is.Or see if someone with access to the microfilms of the relevant census would be willing to look on your behalf. Or go to an LDS Church Family History Centre and arrange to rent the microfilm. Or bite the bullet and look at the original yourself.
If I recall correctly D C Thomson (not Thompson with a 'p') was involved with Scots Origins, the predecessor of Scotland's People in its present incarnation, and Scots Origins became part of FindMyPast. The index, as far as I know, was based on the original index used on the old terminals in New Register House before the whole thing went online. I do not know whether or not D C Thomson and/or Scots Origins and/or FindMyPast retained access to that index when SP was taken back in house or not.
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Why it is important to know his exact age in 1851? If he died before the 1861 census, then you can pay to download his death certificate from SP. If he was still living in 1861, then you can check his given age and see which one of the 1851 ages it most closely matches.
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Only his birth register will guarantee his true age. Baptisms were not always carried out as babies.
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Thanks Forfarian, I must really remember to take the 'P' out of D C Thomson. FREEcen always first preference but unfortunately this parish is not yet available. Perhaps soon as Angus records for 1851 steadily progress. :)
Why it is important to know his exact age in 1851? If he died before the 1861 census, then you can pay to download his death certificate from SP. If he was still living in 1861, then you can check his given age and see which one of the 1851 ages it most closely matches.
Well, James Fearn (my 4 x great grandfather) is not to be found on the 1861 census and I can't find a death for him on SP. So I'm currently working on the assumption he died between 1851 and 1855. On the 1851 census his place of birth is listed as Tannadice.
In 1795 there's a James Fearn born to a William Fearn and a Jean Linsey
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYVS-CVK
and in 1800 there's a James Fearn born to a James Fearn and a Margaret Ogilvie
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYVS-CVG
I'm currently trying piecing together all the Fearn's in and around Tannadice to work out family connections. Now as James Fearn (shoemaker) is transcribed at A*try as age 56 in 1851 this has lead to a good number of people coming to to all sorts of conclusions. OK, rant over :-[
Jen
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What year did he marry?
His baptism may not have been recorded
Any hints using the naming tradition?
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Jen
James 50, Shoemaker, employing 5 men born Tannadice
Ann, 56 born Tannadice
Agnes 19, Hand Loom Weaver, brown linen born Kirrie
Ann 12, scholar born Kirrie
Send me a PM with your email and I'll send you the census.
Don
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FamilySearch for baptism for James Fearn and Ann Gall or Gauld are, in order of birth, Helen, Stewart, Robert, Martha, Betty, Mary Milne, Agnes, David, William and Ann.
1841 census has James Fearn shoemaker and wife Ann with children, in order of birth, Robert, Martha, Agnes, David, William and Ann. In 1851 only children Agnes and Ann are still with them.
If they followed the naming pattern, James' parents would have been Stewart and Martha, and Ann's parents' Helen and Robert. Which doesn't match either of the James Fearn baptisms you've found. Of course, they may not have followed the naming pattern - and not all the baptisms of their children may have been recorded. Also James' baptism may not have been recorded - many weren't back then.
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Hi Sancti,
No marriage for Ann Gall and James Fearn as of yet. First boy child probably called Stewart (like his sister Helen not with parents in 1841)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYJN-Q6L
I say probably as Ann 'Gauld' is down mother and these two are born in Kirriemuir not Lintrathen.
Robert is my direct line - he looks to be the next born son (much discussed on Rootschat):
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYJ2-421
All the other children showing at FamilySearch align with the family on the 1841 census. (except Mary Milne born 1830 early death? or Betty born 1828 - she looks to be working for the Lawsons)
All listed as born to James Fearn and Ann Gall at Lintrathen. Robert's death certificate give his mother as Ann Gall as does his sister Agnes's DC.
1841 the only Fearns living in Tannadice parish appear to be the offspring of William and Jean (she's still living) or the offspring of James and Margaret (they are both still living). Everyone is living within spitting distance of each other. William and James both called their first son James - neither of whom are living in Tannadice in 1841.
Naming pattern for my James does not help in as much there does not appear to be a son called James and a William comes after Stewart, Robert, and David!
I believe Ann's parents were James Gall and Helen Watson....so you'd expect a James!
Sorry I'm too slow!
Jen
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Can't see a baptism or marriage record for a Stewart/Stuart
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Sancti, this is him here:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYJN-Q6L
Can't find him in 41...going out for a run now as had way too much family history for one day ;D
Don many thanks for your kind offer.
Jen
ps Sancti do they do that frock in bigger sizes - I want one!
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Hi Jen, I was looking for a prospective father under the naming tradition but it doesn't look like they followed it
Is size 8 OK ;)
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Sancti - sorry misunderstood realised now you meant as a potential father for James. If that's an American size 8 I might just squeeze in - else no way!
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Is size 8 OK ;)
I wish!
Does it come in blue or green instead of red?
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She looks beauuutiful, Sancti ;)
Monica
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Jen, with your extended new post here www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=713884.0 wanted to keep things still a little under this post for now if that is ok.
Son Stewart/Stuart for James and Ann, thought this might be him in 1841:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VY8J-HHS
He is showing as an agricultural labourer working at a farm in Chapleton, Kirriemuir in the Ostler household.
Monica
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Hi Monica,
I've got them typed up - will I attach the list to the other post? I'm stuck on Martha - post marriage, Ann and Betty - I think I've got the others sorted as best I can for now.
Jen
Sorry, Monica meant to say thanks that is Stewart I think his sister Helen is with another Ostler family in 1841.
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Not sure, Jen. Either/or. It will be the one that is the best to let people pick up the thread and then be able to add more detail and info now.
I only added on this post because it was mentioned a few days ago here that you were missing Stewart/Stuart in 1841. See you have him now from what you say.
Monica
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It might be worthwhile looking at the 2 baptisms with mother Ann Gauld to see if it records father James as a shoemaker.
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I really should brush up on my BB language! I've added what I know about James Fearn and Ann Gall's children as an attachement here: www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=713884.0
And asked to keep the discussion on this thread. My main problems are:
Ann Fearn born 1838 - no sign of post 1851
Betty Fearn born 1828 - no sign of post 1841
Martha - I can find no members of the Henderson family on the 1861 census.
Stewart - agricultural labourer to druggist - not happy with that one little bit! There's an inventory for Euphemia but not sure if I'll learn anything about her husband?
Fearn/Feeron/Farn/Ferns/Feanis/ I've taken to looking for these people by F*!
Time for a glass of wine I think...
Jen
Sancti - I was going to do that but I've now got Helen's death certificate and it lists James Fearn (shoemaker) and Ann Gall as her parents.
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Jen, you are going fast ;)...trying to keep up...which is good!
Monica :)
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Martha - I can find no members of the Henderson family on the 1861 census.
New Zealand? http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/17373132/person/20007509231?ssrc=
Monica
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Nice find Monica, that's looking good. I've checked the NZ index and things appear to tie in :) Martha's grandchildren get Fearn/Fern as a middle name or as a first name. I can't find another Jessie Allan Henderson anywhere and the Martha Henderson death in NZ is spot on for her DoB.
I didn't have John born in 1856.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQB6-N55
Have you seen Annie?
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/63427040/person/30106455021?ssrc=
Wonder if David left Scotland I can't find him after 1861 when he's with his sister Helen?
I'm going back to my coloured highlighters and bits of paper - but first a run. Getting told off for too much sitting at the computer ;D
Jen
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A Stewart Fearn left an inventory in 1853 - it's long and I've only started to read through it but it's him :o The clip shows his nearest relative brother Robert in Kirriemuir. Looks like Stewart might have married into some money...excellent 10 credits ;)
Jen
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Stewart - agricultural labourer to druggist...is this his entry?
Sounds like you have the additional verification in the document. Happy 10 SP units ;)
Tried with David, but couldn't see anything further for him so far.
Hadn't seen Annie's likely details, that is great.
Who is left in this line of siblings/children?
Monica
Added: Betty Fearn born 1828 - no sign of post 1841 - Is this the last one to find, together with any details on David?
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Stewart - agricultural labourer to druggist...is this his entry?
amazingly so Monica by heart skipped a beat as soon as I saw the word 'Kirriemuir' let alone his brother Robert's details. The inventory from 1852 is very exact down to counting the spoons! Euphemia, Stewart's wife also leaves a will - it's on my list. Interesting how Stewart upped his age maybe to put it a bit more in line with his wife's!
If that's Anne in Australia :o (evidence is a bit scant from what I've been able to gleen and I don't like the naming of the children) that leaves Betty and David. At SP I searched 1833(+- 5) year for David Fearn (variants) - there are not that many - I'll see if I can eliminate some of them through the census - I've spent my monthly allowance already so I'd best whittle them down a bit ;D.
The David Fearn living Newtyle - married to Margaret White is the son of William (potential brother of James married to Ann Gall). None of the William Fearn /Jean Lindsay children use the name David.
Except for Helen the family seem to have decamped for Glasgow or left the country.
Betty - did notice Robert called his 2nd daughter Betty born abt 1853 wonder if was after his sister? Perhaps she died young like her brother Stewart?
Jen
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The entry for Robert in 1851, if I am looking at the right one, who was the 19yr old Agnes Fearn in the listing showing as a domestic servant in the house. Robert's sister Agnes, also aged 19, showed with her parents James and Ann from what has been mentioned I think.
Monica
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Monica, I've no idea -they are both showing born Lintrathen in the same year? On Freecen for 1841 I can only find one Agnes Fearn born around 1832 in Angus. There is an Agnes Farnie but she's living in Arbirlot and she's three years older. I've also tried Agnes F* in FindMyPast with similar results.
Just finished the David's - none of the deaths showing at SP are him :( Maybe he too went abroad. Starting to flag....
Jen
EDIT: just tried Freecen/Agnes/Lintrathen/1832 - came up with two girls Agnes Forrest - father's a HLW and our Agnes Fearn.
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Not surprised you are flagging ;D This lot are so tight, it is hard to make out the very individual lines isn't it (given the lack of records in the OPRs)! Wouldn't surprise me if the eldest James (wife Margaret) and William (wife Jean) were brothers/cousins really...
Monica
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Monica - I've had to resort to colour coding it's the only way I can keep track of multiple generations with the same name. TV treat of the week starting ;D
Jen
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Go and enjoy ;) Fearns jigsaw will still be here waiting.... ::)
Monica
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Had to share this - just found this snippet in the Fife Herald, July 1851, under the strap "Leslie, Cottage Gardening Society"
Mr Stewart Fearn -2nd best for six pansies!
The earliest documented competitive gardener in the family ;D
Jen
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A David Fearn arrived in South Australia 1863 on the ship "Morning Star", born c1836 Forfar., occupation shepherd. Can't find anything else on him.
Jill
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Hi Jill,
Thanks for looking and posting the information that certainly appears to be Robert's lost brother David. As you'll have seen the last I know of him is from the 1861 census when he's living with his sister Helen and her family and his occupation is down as - shepherd. Another bit of the jigsaw :).
Many thanks
Jen
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Jill with the information you posted I found David listed here:
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/morningstar1863.shtml
I now think the Annie Fearn married to William Bowman may indeed be David's sister. David arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia 14th February 1863. Port Adelaide is where Annie is reported to have arrived in 1852. In the November of 1863 Annie gives birth to a son whom she calls David Fearn Bowman. When Annie died in 1914 she's living at a place called 'Kirrie Cottage'. :)
Again, many thanks more loose ends tied up....
Jen
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Hi Jen,
I haven't found any records for David in South Australia, but did find a death in Victoria in 1872, aged 34 years. Unfortunately no further details given on-line.
Ann Fearn / Bowman is a possible relative of mine. Agnes Fearn / Gowans was my g-g-grandmother and her son John came out to South Australia date unknown but before 1880, - Ann Fearn would have been his aunt. Have been trying to positively link the Bowmans and Gowans for years.
Jill (Australia)
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Hi Jill,
With Annie naming her son David Fearn Bowman in 1863 I wondered if it was a tribute name and he died soon after arriving? Given David's occupation, I thought perhaps he too went to work at Kanyaka where Annie was living, according to the time frame it would be after they made the transition from cattle to sheep raising.
Have you read this?
http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/kanyaka.htm
"There were many other children born at the station during these early years. Among them were, James, son of Alfred Charles Simmons, teamster, and Betsy, nee Fern, on 16 August 1857. James Talbot was born twelve days later. His father was employed as a shepherd. On 3 May 1859 James Miller, another shepherd, and Jeanette, nee Nevin, had a daughter Ellen. A few months later on 18 September William James, overseer, and Annie, a sister of Betsy Fern, had a son William.
I have no idea of the provenance of the web site - but if what is written is true than Annie Fearn had a son to the overseer rather than her new husband Bowman and Betsy Fern was also in Kanyaka :o
Bit of a girl Agnes - she took some sorting out....
Jen
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Hi Jen,
Looking at the Kanyaka article, there is a bit of confusion. Annie Fearn, wife of William Bowman (not William James) did have children born there, including their first child, William James Bowman b. Sep. 1859. Betsy Fern who married Alfred Charles Simmons, also had children born there - John 1856 (mother Elizabeth Fern) and James 1857 (mother Betsey Fern). Annie and William remained at Kanyaka until about 1870, Betsy and Alfred were at Saltia by 1859 where son Henry was born. They had at least one other child before Kanyaka, Charles 1851 (mother Betty Fearer), perhaps others.
Alfred Charles Simmons and Betsy “Fearon” married 6 June 1850 at Gawler, SA. Betsy appears to have arrived in SA March 1849 with the Bowman family from Kirriemuir, passengers of “Calphurnia”. She is listed as Fern, B. – no other details provided and is listed under “single men and children”. Her marriage took place at Gawler where the Bowman family first settled. Betsy died at her son’s residence at Mount Bryan East on 2 November 1891 aged 61 years. Alfred died 2 March 1884 Ulooloo (near Mount Bryan) SA, aged 54.
David Fearn who died in Victoria on 8 June 1872 was aged 34 and died at the Sandhurst (Bendigo) hospital, cause of death was dysentery (3 yrs) and burial took place at White Hills Cemetery (Bendigo). No other details were recorded, the undertaker being the informant.
Jill
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Hi Jill,
Something wrong, I think, with all those Bowman/Fearn tree(s) at Ancestry they seem like very elaborate constructs. I've got visitors for the next couple of days but I'll try and note down all the discrepancies I can see....
Do you have any idea why John Bowman had to pay the full fare for the voyage? Have you seen the actual manifest of that 1849 arrival?
Jen
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Hi Jen,
I had no idea John Bowman paid full fare or why. Was that for the whole family? Perhaps they did not fulfill the requirements of subsidisation which varied from time to time, depending on the requirements of the colonial authorities. I did not know that the ship’s manifest was available for perusal, I get my information from the Shiplist site or newspaper reports.
Misinformation posted on family trees is rife, and those American connections to the Fearn family really put me off track for some considerable time. Had me believing my information was all wrong when it wasn’t, so it was a relief to see some of the actual OPR records included in some of those trees, hopefully some of the wrong assumptions will be corrected, but I doubt it. Also your own research that you generously put out there has helped enormously, so thank you so much for sharing.
Enjoy your visitors.
Jill
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Hi Jill,
I'm really struggling to find any convincing evidence that the Annie Fearn linked to the Bowmans is the child of James Fearn and Ann Gall. There are plenty of transcripts but they should just be a starting point really. The only original document I've seen would appear to indicate John Bowman traveled alone in 1849.
William Bowman Mills/Milton/Milne not sure where the confusion of middle names comes from or indeed why he has a middle name?
In 1849 Betty Fearn would have been about 21 so I'm not sure why she'd be in with the men and children. Also, no way of knowing if B. Fern was not a Benjamin - plenty of them on the 1841 census. I've written to someone in Australia asking if they have any hard evidence to support the theory that the Annie who married William Bowman was the daughter of James Fearn and Ann Gall.
There were 35 Ann Fearns born in Ireland in 1840, 3 in England and none in Scotland...not saying it's not her but the odds don't look great....
Jen
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Hi Jen,
Shipslist has passengers on Calphurnia 1849 with Bowman family
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/calphurnia1849.shtml
Also mentioned on son's obit. but as "California" - mispelling of Calphurnia.
Jill
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Hi Jill,
I have looked at what I believe to be the original list of the passengers (at least most of the pages). Throughout the document nowhere could I find anyone referred to as 'child' everyone is named and their age is listed except those under one year old. I have attached the Hill family as an example. According to the ship's list there are two more children with this Hill family.
The page with the Hills is here:
http://calphurnia1849.angelfire.com/C3A.JPG
Other pages here:
http://calphurnia1849.angelfire.com/
The only way to confirm that the Bowmans arrived on this ship is to see the original document in full but I'm not sure how to go about that. OR I may add up the fares and see if they tally with the grand total and then I'll know if everyone is accounted for or not ;D
I'm now thinking none of my Fearns ever went out to Australia...
Jen
PS The small print at the bottom of the shipslist website is worth a read.
EDIT:Totals tally which mean everyone is accounted for NO Bowman family and NO B.Fern on that ship only a single John Bowman who could have been from anywhere!
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Hi Jen,
Your list of Calphurnia passengers was interesting but it is only a partial list, a reckoning of financial contributions rather than a passenger list. There are no single men or women listed which seems to indicate the list is on those who did not qualify for “free” passage, were acceptable but had to contribute at least part of their fare. The list at the end seems to be for those who had to pay full fare and were not subsidised at all, such as John Bowman, (age would have come into it I would imagine). The list does not mention the rest of his family because they would have qualified for free passage and were not required to make a financial contribution. This is how I understand it.
According to a newspaper report (South Australian Register, Tues. 3 Apr. 1849 p.2) there were 289 immigrants in steerage on the Calphurnia. The passengers list was printed in the following Saturday’s edition, (7 April 1849, p.4).
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/71623424?searchTerm=calphurnia&searchLimits=l-state=South+Australia|||l-decade=184
Jill
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Hi Jill,
So where is the full list with the other 145 (ish) people? I count 144 people paid something towards their fare - the folks 'in cabin' obviously had a different tariff and are not included with the 289 steerage folk?
If we take the Hills as an example you have the husband and wife plus five children all of whom pay a fare they can be seen on the original together. On the transcription two more children have been added with no names given - are these supposed to be the William Hill and Maria Hill who appear in the singles section? Why would an 18 year old clerk (William Hill) get a free fare but an 18 year old carpenter (James Quick) have to pay - this makes no sense to me.
Jen
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Hi Jill,
Losing the will to live with this lot!
I've looked at the Trove newspaper accounts for the B. Fern and lots of Bowmans in 1849 and the David Fearn in 1863 but they only list the names, no age or occupation. From what I've read there are no surviving records from the Waterlily which like the Morning Star appeared to have sailed from Liverpool.
I think Betty, David and Ann are still in my 'not sure' pile. If I could find evidence of David's age and occupation on a ship's manifest (rather than on an index) I'd be inclined to think it might be him as I can't find him post 1861 in the UK.
Jen
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Hi Jen,
Thought I'd add to this conversation rather than just back to you. I came across this after you asked me about proof for Ann FEARN in South Australia being the daughter of James FEARN and Ann GALL.
I was in the process of revisiting my reasoning behind Ann (it was all done about 20 years ago - there seemed to be plenty of people doing the BOWMANs in SA so I had left it for my German families).
As extra (possibly) info:
Ann FEARN appears in the records of South Australia in 1858 in a marriage with William BOWMAN (District of Port Gawler Book 36 Page 175 25 Dec 1858 at the residence of the groom’s father [Gawler Hills]). Ann’s father is listed as James FEARN, and her estimated year of birth is 1839. William’s father is listed as John BOWMAN and estimated year of birth is 1829.
In 1914, Ann appears in the South Australia death register, listed as Annie Fearn BOWMAN, estimated year of birth 1840, widow of William Milne BOWMAN (District of Adelaide Book 385 Page 44 20 Jun 1914 at Nailsworth)
Not sure why William gained a middle name. I have always stuck with MILNE as it seems to come up in Kirriemuir and nearby families (Mary Milne FEARN for example). The MILLS was on his gravestone, but this is the only time it seems to come up. The MILTON I have never seen outside of some very old research that my aunt gave to me years ago. it seems to be linked to Milton Bank, the property name of these BOWMANs in South Australia.
As noted earlier, the SA Register lists the whole family but with older children as individuals. So the BOWMANs on the Calphurnia were:
• John Bowman, wife and 3 children
• James Bowman
• Alex Bowman
• John Bowman
• William Bowman
• Agnes Bowman
This family matches the Bowmans from Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland in the 1841 Scotland Census Parish: Kirriemuir; ED: 19; Page: 5; Line: 1380 and Parish: Kirriemuir; ED: 17; Page: 5; Line: 910.
Re the J and Ann FEARN on the Waterlily in 1852 - I think this is James and Ann FEARN who later have a son registered in 1859. Ann is nee TOTHILL. No real research done on this though.
Just for completeness, there is also a marriage registered in South Australia for a James FERN and Ellen BATH in 1867. The estimated year of birth for the groom is 1809 with no marital status entered.
I can't identify the death of any other Ann FEARN in SA, or indeed any James FE(A)RN.
The main reason for the belief that my Ann is your Ann is the family is:
- The link with David FEARN at Kanyaka - seem to be siblings
- Family always identifed Annie as Scottish
- Kirriemuir/Linrathen families sticking together in South AUstralia
- Of all the Ann FEARN births and baps in Scotland for the 1838-1840 period, this fitted best
Mostly negative proof and circumstantial evidence, but it does seem to add up. Of course no documents as they seemt o be thin on the ground this end. Always happy to be proved wrong!!
BTW, you mention that Ann is said to arrived in SA in 1852. Where did you find this? And Port Adelaide was our only port, so everyone came in through there afterthe first couple of years of just landing on the beach at Glenelg (Holdfast Bay). PA was also know as Port Miserty.
Cheers
Ben
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Hi Ben,
Just back from Germany (holiday not family) hence tardy response. I think I'm coming down on the side of Ann being James and Ann Gall's daughter. By now I must have read everything on Trove that relates to this family. I've attached a clip from the marriage announcement where it states she's from Kirriemuir. Her obit mentions that she arrived on the Waterlily in 1852 (also attached) so either it's her or the newspaper is constructing early settler histories.
Having said that I've still got niggles and just to name a few...
The Waterlily records are either lost or destroyed (or so I've read) so the only thing to go on is the newspaper list of names. The Waterlily left from Liverpool in the January of 1852. Our Ann Fearn would have turned 13 about 2 months previous. The 1851 census was taken on the 31st of March when we know Ann and both her parents are still alive. Her shoemaker father James is employing five men so we know they are not destitute and presumably making a decent living. If he was reading the Scottish papers he'd not be inclined to let his youngest daughter upsticks on her own to Australia! What would inspire him to go?
On Trove the passenger list for the Waterlily shows no obvious Scottish names (compare this to David Fearn's ship which is full of Scottish and Irish names). The list shows 'J. and Ann Fearn' I found two other incidents in the list with this pattern "R. and Ann Little" and "J. and Sarah Hill" - I think they are pairs of sisters. There are sisters Ann (14) and Jane Fearn (26) living in Liverpool on the 1851 census. IF our Ann was travelling with a 'J' it would have to be her father and I can't see a father being reduced to an initial while his child was given HER full name. Also, why Liverpool? The same day as the Waterlily arrives at Port Adelaide the 'Caroline Agnes' arrives from London and Plymouth these are the ships with the assisted passages and folks from Scotland sailed from Leith for free to London. (At this time the government refused to have ships sailing directly from Scotland with assisted passages so they had to embark from London).
I suspect part of the problem is the name Fern/Fearn/Feron/Ferme/Ferm/Ferns/Fernie/Phern plus a long list of other variants. Also, the name is much more common in England than in Scotland. You can see using the link below that in 1881 there were 2089 Fearns in England and only 129 in Scotland that's why I think a speculative Annie Fearn leaving from Liverpool is more likely to be English.
http://forebears.co.uk/surnames/fearn
"Re the J and Ann FEARN on the Waterlily in 1852 - I think this is James and Ann FEARN who later have a son registered in 1859. Ann is nee TOTHILL"
If this is the case then the obit can't be true and it starts to feel like a house of cards.
Jen
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IF our Ann was travelling with a 'J' it would have to be her father and I can't see a father being reduced to an initial while his child was given HER full name.
Why not?
When I registered for a library card many years ago I asked them to put my full given name on my borrower's card, because I absolutely detest it being reduced to an initial. They told me they didn't put full names for adults, only for children. I insisted, pointing out that no-one, seeing me, was likely to confuse me with a child, and they did as I asked, but with a modicum of reluctance.
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Given the way the lists are written I think I would have expected to see J Fearn and child. Maybe the abbreviations were only about ensuring the justification of the column? Much more exciting than the Fearns I've just had a Death's head hawkmoth in the living room!
Jen
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Old post I know but for completeness - from the Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin review; and Forfar and Kincardineshire Advertiser. 01 April 1859 - a marriage notice for Miss Annie Ferns of Kirriemuir to Mr Wm Bowman of Kanyata ;D