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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: mcvicars on Wednesday 12 June 19 02:26 BST (UK)
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I have spent many years tracking down an elusive great aunt, who may actually be my g/grandmother. Finally found her buried at Waterfall Sanatorium Cemetery (for TB). She was born Margaret Elizabeth MATTHEWS in Sofala, 1884 to Henry and Annie. I've just received her death certificate which lists her as Elizabeth Margaret MATTHEWS died age 64 in 1949 at Sanatorium & is buried there. (nb there's no public access to this disused site.) It states she was married to William MORRIS at the age of 19 in Balmain, NSW (so about 1903). Cemetery records say she was also known as MAY MORRIS. It lists her address as 21 Shellcore Rd Chullora NSW but it doesn't seem to exist & think it may be Shellcote Rd Chullora? I can find a William Morris living at no 10 with a Lillian May Morris, but Lillian is still listed on electoral roll at that address in 1963 so that can't be her. I can't find any marriage record on NSW BDM nor anything on ancestry. Can anyone give me an idea where else I can locate info on her marriage to William Morris etc. (forgive long post - family rumour is that she was ostracised for illegitimate child, which may actually be my grandfather, Walter. He's listed as child of Henry & Annie too, ie her youngest brother (born 1907) but it was common back then to “pretend” you are the parent when in fact you are the grandparent if your daughter had child out of wedlock).
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Can you please list all the information on the death certificate, 1949.
".. Cemetery records say she was also known as MAY MORRIS.?"
What cemetery is this. Can you list all details on the cemetery record that you have seen.
"It lists her address as 21 Shellcore Rd Chullora NSW?..."
Where do you see this address.......death certificate....cemetery record....where?
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She was born Margaret Elizabeth MATTHEWS in Sofala, 1884 to Henry and Annie.
Her birth record does not state mother as Annie ???
MATTHEWS MARGARET E
14262/1884
HENRY
ROSANAH
SOFALA
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NSW BDM birth
14262/1884 MATTHEWS Margaret E parents Henry / Rosanah @ Sofala
16215 / 1888 MATTHEWS Amy parents Henry / Rosannah @ Sofala
NSW BDM death
6231/1957 MATTHEWS Walter Newnes parents Henry / Roseanne @ Lithgow
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MATTHEWS WALTER N
41164/1907
HENRY
ROSANNAH
WALLERAWANG
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What is the name of the informant on the death certificate.. if it is not a close relative that information ( ie when she was married) could be incorrect.
shume
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There is lots of information regarding the Cemetery , Waterfall also known as Garrawarra on the
Australian Cemeteries Index Site
Cass
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Thanks for responses. Rosannah was called Annie in many records. Yes I have all of Walter Newnes Matthews records so no need to post on him - all records have Henry & Rosannah (Annie) as his parents. I’m after marriage info on Margaret Elizabeth. On her fathers death certificate she went by the name Elizabeth, (hence confusing searchers!) The information on her death certificate was provided by the staff at Waterfall Sanitorium. She was named as Elizabeth Margaret Matthews, aged 64. Married at 19 in Balmain to William Morris. Her normal address was given as 21 Shellcote Rd Chullora.I have since found electoral records that have her as Elizabeth Margaret Morris at Shellcote Rd in 1930, 32, 33, 34. Sadly in 1937 she’s listed as Margaret Morris at Waterfall Sanitorium, then 1943 she appears at Newington State Hospital & home for aged & infirmed women, then she was obviously sent back to Waterfall where she died and is buried in 1949. Historically many were sent here against their will, and many died of tuberculosis & were buried at site ( around 2000 graves). On the Australian Cemeteries Index of Waterfall Cemetery (also known as Garrawarra) she is buried in RC section, row V, plot 3. The transcriber for the site (Peter Olsen) notes “ AKA May Morris” on the same plot. The site is closed to the public. What I can’t find is any marriage record over a span of years for her and William Morris (or any Morris); although obviously she was using Morris as surname from 1930 on in electoral records. Hope this clarifies my question?
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Thanks Cass. See my original post, Lillian May Morris is still alive in 1963 so William David George is not the right Morris - unfortunately.
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On the death certificate, 1949, what do you see for -
Place of birth...........
Father's name and occupation.......
Mother's Name.........
Children..........
Informant...........
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On death certificate place of birth is Bathurst (of which Sofala is part). Fathers name as Harry Matthews (Henry was often called Harry), a labourer and Mother Annie McPeake (Rosanna McPeake is her full name). Children - no issue. Informant- is assistant manager of the sanitarium-J.Sheridan
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So this is what you may expect to see on a NSW death certificate
Deleted a information already given ;D
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Thanks Sue, yes I’ve put all that info in earlier post. There were no children of the marriage. To clarify, I’m not overly obsessing with the illegitimate child story, she’s been such a mystery for so long I’d like to find out about her marriage to William Morris and maybe connect with Morris trees on ancestry. I’ve got some great tales over the years from distant rellies. She is my great aunt and so I’d just like to flesh her out.
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I do not have concrete information to offer, but some thoughts.
There was no need for her to pretend a marriage as she did not have children who may have needed 'social protection' so to speak.
Because NSW only makes avalaible limited E Roll details before 1930, it is hard to know her whereabouts or what she was doing.
However the fact that she states home duties on the E Roll findings you have, suggests there was some kind of financial support.
Do you have the E Roll details of any of her siblings over those years?
Was she in fact living with a family member named Matthews or another surname by marriage?
What is the location of Walter, (the son or the brother :-\) at this time?
Have you explored deaths of the name William MORRIS in the area as there seems to be no indication on the DC as to her status widow etc ?
Still thinking ;D
Sue
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Apart from a NSW BDM death cert, the other most obvious place to read of a NSW marriage is on a NSW BDM birth certificate... So, did your elusive Great Aunt give birth in NSW? If so, do you have an official transcription of that birth certificate? The information on the d.c., provided by a staff member at the San is likely drawn from info gleaned that staff member's recollections of conversations with the the patient.
You note that her death is registered in the name of Elizabeth Margaret MATTHEWS, in 1949. (#11079). I have checked the online index from NSW BDM and I note that Elizabeth Margaret MATTHEWS is how it is indexed, and it is indexed only the ONCE.
To me, that is indicating that she was known by the surname MATTHEWS .... which you have as her maiden surname. How certain are you that the lass who died at the San is your lass? A search for the formal ending of a marriage can be exhaustive, afterall it may have ended interstate or overseas....
Have you sought the d.c. for her husband as per the d.c. info ... when/where does it have him marrying your lass ... and does it have any children of their marriage? I cannot see any born to the couple via NSW BDM online index...
Here is the guide for NSW marital matters prior to the 1976 changes moving these matters to Federal jurisdiction... https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/divorce-records-guide
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/search_form?id=16
Here is the online index for those NSW matters
I have requoted your Opening Post, and spaced it to separate each of the facts you have found.
I have spent many years tracking down an elusive great aunt, who may actually be my g/grandmother.
Finally found her buried at Waterfall Sanatorium Cemetery (for TB).
She was born Margaret Elizabeth MATTHEWS in Sofala, 1884 to Henry and Annie.
I've just received her death certificate which lists her as Elizabeth Margaret MATTHEWS died age 64 in 1949 at Sanatorium & is buried there. (nb there's no public access to this disused site.)
It states she was married to William MORRIS at the age of 19 in Balmain, NSW (so about 1903).
Cemetery records say she was also known as MAY MORRIS.
It lists her address as 21 Shellcore Rd Chullora NSW but it doesn't seem to exist & think it may be Shellcote Rd Chullora?
I can find a William Morris living at no 10 with a Lillian May Morris, but Lillian is still listed on electoral roll at that address in 1963 so that can't be her.
I can't find any marriage record on NSW BDM nor anything on ancestry.
Can anyone give me an idea where else I can locate info on her marriage to William Morris etc. (forgive long post - family rumour is that she was ostracised for illegitimate child, which may actually be my grandfather, Walter. He's listed as child of Henry & Annie too, ie her youngest brother (born 1907) but it was common back then to “pretend” you are the parent when in fact you are the grandparent if your daughter had child out of wedlock).
Have you checked the birth cert for Walter to confirm that his older siblings are listed there, and that your great aunt is listed there with her then age as at the time Walter was born?
Have you checked the d.c. for both Henry and Annie to confirm that he is listed there as their offspring?
Are you certain that 'there were no children of the marriage' of William MORRIS and your great aunt?
NSW ER 1902 DALLEY,
polling Annandale
William Prosser MORRIS, 195 Parramatta Road, Bootmaker
polling Leichhardt
William MORRIS Paling St, labourer
NSW BDM 'Balmain District' 1900s - far larger than just the suburb 'Balmain' ...
JM
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NSW electoral rolls are available at the NSW State Library, and occasionally via Ask a Librarian :) I have CD for 1913, but I do have hardcopy of 1902. The 1903/4 rolls are uploaded to Ancestry. Balmain and the district of Balmain was in the DALLEY electorate in 1902.
If you are familiar with main roads into Sydney CBD : the southern border of Dalley electorate was Parramatta Road. The western boundary was 'the Canal' (the one that still runs from down near Dover St all the way through to Parramatta River. The Eastern boundary was 'Glebe Point Road' (from where it starts near Sydney Uni, all the way to where it ends, at the water, Rozelle Bay and then the boundary follow the waters edge all the way around, White Bay, Morts Bay, Long Nose Point, White Horse Point, Fig Tree Point, Long Cove (Callan Park,) back to that Canal.
JM
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Electoral Roll NSW
1930 MORRIS Elizabeth Margaret Shellcote Road Chullora
1933 MORRIS Elizabeth Margaret Shellcote Road
1934 MORRIS Elizabeth Margaret 21 Shellcote Road
HOOD William John, labourer 21 Shellcote Road
1935 MORRIS Elizabeth Margaret Shellcote Road
Elizabeth Margaret MORRIS has several admissions to hospital during the 1930s....during the depression when housing was difficult to find. Elizabeth goes back to the same street....same house?
There would seem to be someone living with her for Elizabeth to have the sort of housing security that this suggests?
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This could be the William John HOOD. He died in 1936
HOOD William John
6353/1936
Parents William & Elizabeth Mary
At GRANVILLE
A funeral Notice
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17316657
He did live at Chullora. In the estate of......
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17258404
Sue
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Thanks for all the suggestions; I’ll follow up on a few leads and if it’s ok, pop back in here if I’m still stuck. You guys are great
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The man HOOD was 59 years old according to cemetery records at Rookwood.
Sue
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The only suggestion I have is that they did not officially marry and this was/ is much more common than previously suggested. Its just a fact of family history research.
shume
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It is entirely possible that the Reg Gen Office :
:) Did not process the marriage registration
:) Did not receive the quarterly return
It was the clergy's responsibility to lodge the paperwork at a deputy registrar's office .... it did not need to be one nearest to the Church. If the marriage was at the Registry Office near to Balmain, it still needed to be in the quarterly return to HQ ...
The clergy would hand to the bride the loose decorative certificate on the day .... and he would keep the register record in tact and the loose leaf registry copy separate. So at least 3 sets signed. End of the quarter, forward the loose leaf copies to HQ.
The bride and groom marry 1903, bride's brother born 1907 ... even if that was her child that is still a lengthy time gap ....
Common law marriages have been recognised in NSW law matters since at least Macquarie era... and prompted much of the Colonial law.
JM