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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: victoriajoule on Tuesday 02 May 17 09:46 BST (UK)
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Hi Guys
I have come across a little challenge and need some help ! Please be patient as I explain and hopefully someone can come up with some ideas :-))
My 3x great grandfather was called George Frederick Usher. He was born 1836 in Sunderland, Durham to Edward Harvey Usher and Jane Symm (Simm). George was the youngest of 8 children but unfortunately he died in the workhouse :(
I have traced all of George Frederick Ushers siblings with the exception of 1 - his older brother Thomas Usher who was born in 1830 in Edmundbyers, Durham. Now, in 1851 Thomas is living with an older sister Mary Ann (Hodgson) in Bishopwearmouth in Durham and after that I cannot find him....
I recently purchased a copy of his fathers will (dated 1864) where Thomas inherits a small sum. He is obviously still alive (or thought to be) as there is no reference to him being deceased as with other siblings. There is also no mention of him residing overseas. In 1887 his Uncle, Joshua Robinson Symm - brother to mum Jane, dies and whilst his probate is proven, there are newspaper articles looking for next of kin. In this article it states that they are looking for Thomas Usher who was last known to be residing in 1871 in either Adelaide or Kooringa Australia. Thing is, whilst there are lots of Thomas Ushers, I can't find any who have a corresponding date of birth, place of birth, or parents listed (e.g. in a marriage or death).
So - can anyone help me shed any light on what happened to Thomas ?
Thanks !!
Victoria
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Looks promising?
SA BDM marriage
1873 95/137 USHER Thomas Robinson m. CULLINAN Johanah @ Adelaide
death
1890 184/224 USHER Thomas Robinson @ Norwood
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The Advertiser 10 Mar 1890 p4
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/24495367?
..death notice...aged 46 years.........
Possibly NOK to your Joshua Robinson Symm?
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Looks promising?
SA BDM marriage
1873 95/137 USHER Thomas Robinson m. CULLINAN Johanah @ Adelaide
death
1890 184/224 USHER Thomas Robinson @ Norwood
[Parents] Edward Harvey Usher and Jane Symm (Simm)
Thomas Usher who was born in 1830 in Edmundbyers, Durham.
Victoria
Not the right Thomas. This Thomas born c1844
Marriage
USHER Thomas Robinson 29 years Status Single Father William USHER
CULLINAN Johanah 33 years Status Single Father John CULLINAN
14 Apr 1873
At the residence of Samuel Bradley, Kilkenny Ade 95/137
Cando
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This appears to be his birth
Births Jun 1843
USHER Thomas Thrapstone 15/378
Baptism
USHER Thomas Robinson
Baptism 27 Aug 1843 Thrapston, Northamptonshire, England
Parents William and Mary Ann.
This appears to be his parents' marriage.
Marriages Sep 1842
ROBINSON Marianne Thrapstone 15/435
USHER William Thrapston 15/435
Cando
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death
1890 184/224 USHER Thomas Robinson @ Norwood
He could still be the next-of-kin, the story does not say the NOK is brother Thomas, b. 1830, or his descendant.
If NOK is thought to be in Australia, should there be a notice in Australian paper?
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Good Morning !
Yes, sorry I should have probably said that I had discounted that specific Thomas Robinson Usher. I was initially very excited about him as the name Robinson comes from his grandmother (Joshua Robinson Symms mother), however looking back through the UK census and baptisms etc they are not related (at least in the time frames I am looking for!!!).
Its an interesting point about the advert in the Australian papers. I have looked in Trove and not found anything but perhaps will look specifically around the time it was in the UK paper (1939). I will also try and put the article up this evening.
Thanks !!
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There are notices in the UK papers
Newcastle Evening Chronicle 07 March 1939
Giving the details you mentioned for Thomas, Mary is now McFadyen, have attached the bottom part referring to the family
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Truth 7 Dec 1947 p63 column 3 ( a Sydney, NSW, newspaper)
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/168782230?
I read your story to be that the newspaper article was contemporary with the death...1887?
Can you confirm please that you are referring to a newspaper article, 1939, which relates to the death 1887.
Can you show all of the article that you are seeing.
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Hiya
Sorry sorry sorry - I didnt' make myself clear !! Only excuse is that it was late and my life was getting in the way of my family history research !! So yes, the article which Willsy posted from Newcastle Evening Chronicle 07 March 1939 is the one I am talking about, but the death occurred in 1887. I tried to upload it but my file is too big - the one Willsy posted, shows everything though.
Its interesting however that though Joshua Robinson Symm lived and worked in Oxford, he died (according to the probate index) in Catton, which is near Allendale where all of his family comes from and many who still lived there, which is why I don't understand why they were looking for heirs.
His wife had died in 1881 and his daughter in 1875 (both Oxford) so no immediate lines there. According to my research:
- his brother William Symm had died in 1881 in Healeyfield, however had left 6 children (which I haven't traced yet)
- his sister Jane Symm (m. Usher) who is my 4 x great grandmother, had died in 1850 however a number of her children are still alive, including Mary Ann Usher (who became Hodgson, and then McFadyen as noted in the article) as well as George Frederick Usher who is my 3 x great grandfather. They are siblings to my missing Thomas Usher. Why they mentioned Mary Ann McFadyen and brother William, but not my 3 x great grandfather or the other brothers Joseph I don't know. I also don't know why they didn't look at the children of any other siblings ?
- his sister Dorothy Symm (m. Bell) who had died in 1873 but had 6 children (not traced yet)
- his sister Caroline Symm (m. Glenwright) who had died in 1872 but had 7 children (not traced yet).
- all other siblings died childless.
So as I said, I don't know why they were looking for NoK 50 years later when there is such a large family around in the location he died, and why was some of the children of my 4 x great grandmother looked for and not others ? I was surprised to see that Thomas was possibly in Australia as I didn't know that, and I myself emigrated to NZ just 6 years ago. I guess thats why I would like to know what happened to him !!
Question though - if I purchased his will, is it likely to tell me anything I don't already know ? I am confused as to why they are looking for people 50 years later....
...hope there is nothing else I have forgotton to tell you !!
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Just looking back - they were looking for people to claim the estate in 1887.... it was in the London Standard. I don't seem to be able to upload it though!
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Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, September 24, 1887 has the usual probate notice asking anyone who has any claims against the estate to contact the solicitors handling the estate - Brook, Freeman and Batley of Huddersfield and London.
Identical notices in The Standard (London, England), Tuesday, September 27, 1887,
Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, October 1, 1887,
The Standard (London, England), Tuesday, October 04, 1887
Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, July 23, 1887, has a death notice for him:
DEATHS
July 19 at Catton, Northumberland, J. R. SYMM of 34 St Giles St, Oxford, aged 78
It's possible that there was some residual of his estate which needed to be tidied up. Perhaps the people being searched for were beneficiaries of his will, in which case they would not necessarily be next of kin.
His will, if you can access it, may explain the circumstances.
Judith
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Thank you Judith. Its an interesting one and whilst I was initially interested in what happened to Thomas in Australia, the more I have looked into Joshua, the more I find myself fascinated with the man himself. I used to live near Oxford in the UK and to find out he built many of the awesome buildings is really mind blowing !!! Oxford is truly a gorgeous city for architecture!!!. I will take your advice and see if I can get hold of his will. I have ordered a couple through the UK govt. site and they generally come within a few weeks.
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He is an interesting chap for sure. By coincidence my husband worked at 37A St Giles in the 70s, with the Oxford University Press cartography section so the building had been converted to offices. 37A is in the same terrace as No 34 where Joshua lived.
Yes, Oxford is just lovely and we enjoyed living there.
Judith
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There was a Thomas Usher arrived in Port Adelaide 24 Jan 1860 aboard the Phoebe Dunbar. Not sure where (or if) you might find more information on the passengers.
On another note that may or may not help - I had an elusive ancestor who was also a blacksmith. When I finally located him, I found that he moved around following the gold-rush as blacksmiths were in high demand in the gold-rush towns and he did a bit of prospecting on the side. Kooringa was a mining town, which might just be a coincidence.
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Victoria
I have JR Symms will! I bought it when I was tracing one of the beneficiaries. Then I was in contact with another beneficiaries descendant, who lives in British Columbia!
I'll get it out tonight, the name Usher is on my SIMM database.
Gen in NBL England
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Hi Gen
Just revisiting this - don't suppose you or the other descendant ever found Thomas ?
Cheers
Victoria