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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: khdavies on Wednesday 03 January 18 12:03 GMT (UK)
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My Gr-Gr-Grandfather, James William Kendall, traveled from London to Wellington in 1874. While there he had 2 children and married their mother between the 2 births. The Mother, Ruth (Stoneman) Kendall turned up in Jersey, Channel Islands by 1881 census and stated her status as married for the rest of her life although husband, James William, was never seen again until he turned up in the 1901 census: Chertsey, Surrey
RG 13/590 pg. 33
Farley Villas
KENDALL, James W. Head, M, 46, Carpet Planner, Worker, Born London Hoxton
KENDALL, Mary, Wife, M, 37, Tailoress, Worker at home, Born South Australia Adelaide
I cannot find a marriage in England and wondered if anyone might be able to find one in Adelaide or elsewhere in Australia? I don't know either, if he ever divorced his first wife, Ruth Stoneman Kendall.
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The Mother, Ruth (Stoneman) Kendall turned up in Jersey, Channel Islands by 1881 census and stated her status as married for the rest of her life
What year did she die? Was it before 1901 when husband turns up with a new wife?
It could be that James never married Mary. Are you certain this is the same James William Kendall?
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When did Mary die? It seems that she was still alive when her husband died, but I can't pinpoint her after that.
Sylvia
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Hi, thank you for your response. Your questions caused me to do some further checking and I found both in the 1911 census! Ruth E (Stoneman) Kendall was still living in 1911. She still states she is married and has been for 36 years. She was married in 1875 and 6 years later turned up in Jersey.
There was family lore which had James William hanged as a sheep thief but that story may have arisen to protect Ruth.
After re-reading notes on lookups I had years ago in New Zealand, I see that he always stated his birthplace as Dorking Surrey (his family lived there after he was born)
I'm not absolutely certain that James William living with Mary in Chertsey is my James William, however, I believe due to his age, occupation and the proximity to Dorking that he is mine.
I have actually found him now, in the 1911 census and I'm even more convinced. He and Mary stated that they have been married for 30 years - so married (if really married) in 1881. Mary was born in Adelaide but could have been in Wellington.
Thank you again. Anything you might find would be greatly appreciated!
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RG 13/590 pg. 33
Farley Villas
KENDALL, James W. Head, M, 46, Carpet Planner, Worker, Born London Hoxton
Looking at the image place of birth could also be London, Hopton
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As you have found him in 1911 could you please post the details
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1911 Census
RG14/07845/0415
Slough, Buckinhamshire
Postal Address No 3 Harewood Place, Upton Rd Slough
Husband: James William Kendall, Age 54
Birth Place: Hoxton, London, England
Married 30 years
Railway Carriage Cleaner
Wife: Mary Kendall, Age 47
Birth Place: Adelaide South Australia
Married 30 years
Tailoress
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I would think it is extremely likely that this is your James. Hoxton is consistent with the family in Dorking when he was young.
I don't have access to incoming Australian passenger lists but there is a James W Kendall born c1854
Kendall James W 1854 — 1872 Victoria Inward Passenger Lists 1839-1923
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Probate calendar for 1929
James William Kendall of 15 Park Street, Slough died 13 March 1929 at Albert House, Slough.
Admin to Mary Kendall widow £7.10s.
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Thanks, Rosie
I found this in the passenger lists:
Ship "La Hogue" - set sail from London, England 20 Feb 1874 and landed at Wellington, New Zealand 26 May 1874 KENDALL, James W, single man, aged 20, from Middlesex, Carpenter
This is in line with his first child's birth in Dec 1875
I think need to look for him going back to England in the Passenger lists - possibly a new request?
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A new request for passenger lists may be a good idea
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers
There are several mentions of your person of interest including a bankruptcy in 1878 with occupation upholsterer.
Evening Post 14 Jan 1879 Page#2
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT
Before Mr Mansford RM
THIS DAY
WILFUL DAMAGE
C W Nicholson was charged with committing wilful damage, to the extent of 5s, upon a window of James William KENDALL.
Complainant alleged that defendant came to his house at night, battered at the door with a tomahawk, threatened to “do” for him, and broke the window.
In reply to the Magistrate, witness admitted that he had in his house a woman who formerly lived with the defendant.
Mr Mansford said that there was evidently something in the case which had not been fully disclosed, although he believed he could pretty well see through it. He did not think it a case for a severe penalty, and ordered the defendant to pay 1s and costs, together with the amount of the damage, 5s.
Cando
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Hi, thank you for your response. Your questions caused me to do some further checking and I found both in the 1911 census! Ruth E (Stoneman) Kendall was still living in 1911. She still states she is married and has been for 36 years. She was married in 1875 and 6 years later turned up in Jersey.
There was family lore which had James William hanged as a sheep thief but that story may have arisen to protect Ruth.
After re-reading notes on lookups I had years ago in New Zealand, I see that he always stated his birthplace as Dorking Surrey (his family lived there after he was born)
I'm not absolutely certain that James William living with Mary in Chertsey is my James William, however, I believe due to his age, occupation and the proximity to Dorking that he is mine.
I have actually found him now, in the 1911 census and I'm even more convinced. He and Mary stated that they have been married for 30 years - so married (if really married) in 1881. Mary was born in Adelaide but could have been in Wellington.
Thank you again. Anything you might find would be greatly appreciated!
Is this the couple in the 1911 census?
Marriages Mar 1882
HILLS Mary Farnham 2a/103
KENDALL William James Farnham 2a/103
KENDALL William James
HILLS Mary
Marriage Date 11 Dec 1881 Bromley, Kent, England
FHL Film Number: 2145342 Reference ID: item 6
Added I think the above record is for Banns. I've attached a parish record which shows they married in 17 Jan 1882 at Holy Trinity, Aldershot.
Do you still think it is your man? I think it is a different couple.
Cando
Edit...definitely not your couple. Back to finding a marriage, ie if one existed.
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There's a marriage indexed at the NEW ZEALAND bdm :) for 1876 :)
Ruth Elizabeth STONEMAN and James William KENDALL #1470
Also a birth NZ BDM for 1877 :) Julius William KENDALL #12566
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/dataCollected/birth
IF ordering from NZ BDM, please consider to order the cheaper PRINT OUTS as these have the depth of info for family history buffs.
JM
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New Zealand death for a James William KENDALL in 1950 #18073, aged 85 years.
JM
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I have not found a likely marriage for James William KENDALL to Mary at any of the BDM resources listed on the various resources boards for the Australian states. :(
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/australia-resources-offers/
JM
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Also, I have not found mention of a possible (Australian) divorce for Ruth Elizabeth from James William KENDALL,
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?q=
One of them would have needed to be residing in one of the Australian colonies prior to seeking a divorce...
JM
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J.W. KENDALL mentioned 31 October 1881 Wanganui Herald (New Zealand) as a signature on a petition.
Mr J.W. KENDALL mentioned as part of the Hunterville Rifle Assn 21 August 1893 Wanganui Chronicle (New Zealand).
Mr J.W. KENDALL (of Auckland) attended the (NZ) High Commissioner in LONDON ‘recently’ as per Evening Star (New Zealand) 2 February 1909
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
IF (and it is a big IF) this is our OP's James William KENDALL, then he was in London late 1908...
Passenger lists may be available at familysearch. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1927083?region=New+Zealand
JM
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A possiblity :-\ :-\
Arriving at Southampton 11 May 1897 on the NORMAN from South Africa, Mr Y W KANDELL, 42 years, upholster and Mrs KANDELL, 36 years. Port of embarkation Adelaide, South Australia.
Cando
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Thank you, CANDO, for all of your searches!
Some years ago, an extremely helpful lady, called Christine, found the marriage license (5 Aug 1876-Masterton, NZ) of James William KENDALL to Ruth Elizabeth STONEMAN, his occupation Upholsterer (He stated he was born in Dorking, Surrey, England). She also found the birth of my Gr-Grandfather, Julius William Kendall, confirming his parents names and ages and father's occupation as Upholsterer.
I suspect that the legal things you found in the newspapers were my James. It would be very interesting to read of his bankruptcy!
I agree with you that the marriage to Mary Hill was not the correct pair.
If the New Zealand records are as accurate about age at death as British records, the death of JWK in 1950, at aged 85, would not be mine as he would have been 96.
Ruth, declaring herself Married until her death, was also living on her own means, and in 1911, private means. James W may have supported her. Things I'll probably never know for sure!
Thank you again for your help! I think my next move should be the passenger lists.
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A possiblity :-\ :-\
Arriving at Southampton 11 May 1897 on the NORMAN from South Africa, Mr Y W KANDELL, 42 years, upholster and Mrs KANDELL, 36 years. Port of embarkation Adelaide, South Australia.
Cando
That looks very good Cando :)
The 'Y' on the image has a long tail and looks just like the J in John a few lines down ;)
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Thank you, again, CANDO, for the Passenger list entry. I was going to say it is very possible due to age and occupation and the fact the transcriptions are not always accurate and ROSIE99 has confirmed my thoughts - thank you to ROSIE99 as well!!
I suspect this is my JW with new wife, Mary, which would suggest a marriage in Adelaide. I'm not sure how easy it would have been to divorce with only one signature or how easy it might have been to conveniently leave out the first marriage as it had been in New Zealand.
I have just realised that a number of responses yesterday were from MAJM. I do apologise! Thank you very much for your contributions. You said that you had not found mention of a divorce in Australia. I think I should now focus on an Adelaide marriage.
Again, thanks to all of you who have posted to this string!
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ROSIE99 - it sounds like you are able to read the passenger list that you were commenting upon.
Are you able to see KENDALL rather than KANDELL when you look at it
and Are you able to see 33 rather than 36 as the age of Mrs K? I've seen both of these transcription errors before!
Thanks.
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To me it could be Kendell /Kendall /Kandall or Kandell
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Thanks, ROSIE99. I see what you mean! I also see that Mrs K's age could not be read as 33.
Off in search of Adelaide marriage now!
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Hi khdavies
I'm guessing that you don't have a copy of the 1876 New Zealand marriage ???
I ask because, if your man James William KENDALL had divorced (or rather been divorced by his first wife Ruth STONEMAN) then any copy of the NZ Marriage record, would be officially endorsed to show the date the Decree Absolute was handed down.
~ Lu
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Similar procedure existed in NSW when Divorces were heard by NSW Supreme Court (so from 1873 until 1976ish). The NSW Supreme Court's Registrar required to Registrar Generals Office (NSW BDM was a part of that office) to endorse the register with the NSW Supreme Court File No.
An image is available online at NSW BDM.
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Documents/m1924-3913.pdf
ADD,
Official transcriptions (full ones) of NSW BDM marriages also included the endorsement as a note.
JM
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Thank you to all of the helpful souls who have posted to this thread. I think I can safely say that James William and Mary did not marry in Australia and possibly never married at all! It is possible that they sailed from Adelaide but some research into passenger lists would be a good idea.
I truly appreciate all of the assistance that has been offered to solve my rather confused query!