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« on: Saturday 28 May 11 10:06 BST (UK) »
Margaret Elizabeth Matthews born 13 Jul 1884 in Sofala, New South Wales, Australia
(NSW BDM 14262/1884 MATTHEWS, MARGARET E to HENRY & ROSANAH )
Father: Henry John Matthews (1859 – 1923), mother Rosannah McPeake (1865-1937). She was the eldest of their 9 children. When one of her sister’s was born in 1900 she was listed by her middle name “Elizabeth” and was 16 years old, and as “Elizabeth” age 23 when her brother was born in 1907. On her father Henry’s death certificate in 1923, she is listed as Elizabeth M aged 38; but when her mother dies in 1937, she is not listed as one of the 6 remaining children and it notes that 1 male (Henry Jnr) and 2 females are deceased(she had a sister die in 1916). So it may be she died between 1923 and 1937. In 1900 the family lived at Wattle Flat but by 1907 were in Lithgow, NSW.
Here’s the big mystery though, a family member recalls stories of her having an illegitimate child and being ostrasized from the family. So was she deceased or just “ignored”? This “illegitimate child” story is critical in my family research – it will change my whole lineage if the story is true.
But I can’t find any trace of her, a marriage or death, only these references to her as Elizabeth in birth & death records. I would LOVE to find out where she went; if she had other children, and maybe with some luck, find someone tracing her who may have also heard this family story and has more information on it to share.
I have tried everywhere with no luck, please help if you can; so that I can discover if she’s an “ gt aunt” or my gt g/mother!