RootsChat.Com

Hi Eileen, it's great to see a reply to this topic after so long,

I've also been down the same path that you've laid out so well but (there's always a but) the Thomas I'm interested in, although supposedly born in Donington, was married a second time after his first wife died, who was possibly the Mary Dean you mention.
 This second marriage to Martha Stubbs produced a statutory certificate which names his father as John Picken. Now that immediately throws up a couple of possibilities, either Joseph was not his father, the certificate is wrong or both. Like you I'd decided the only Thomas of the correct age was born to Joseph and Mary and I have all but discounted the John named on the certificate as a clerical error. There are a myriad of possibilities as regards my Thomas' parentage and I would be grateful if you have any other documentary evidence other than entries in the parish register that may point to his birthplace, I would also be interested in hearing what became of Jemima Picken if and when you have the time, great hearing from you,
regards Chris

Hi Sam,
Sorry to come into this discussion so late. Archibald Cooper was my grandmother Clara's brother. You have already found his 2 wives. 1st wife Mavis died very young and is buried in Burwood cemetery Victoria with Arch's mother Louisa. Louisa nee Wilkins and Arch's father George Alexander were married in Cullenswood, Tas in 1881. After George died in Zeehan in 1920 Louisa moved to Vic. You may find a birth Registration for George, but after over 10 years of looking I haven't been able to track it down but everything points to the fact that he was the son of George Cooper and Bridget Scanlon both convicts and 1 of at least 8 children. His obit states that he was born in Bicheno abt 1856 There is a distinct lack of documentation at this point and everything that I've found is based on conjecture with a healthy understanding of the geography and the other facts surrounding the family. They had some small farm holdings in the Long Point area of Seymour before George jun. and Louisa moved to Zeehan after the death of their son George abt 1900. Louisa was the daughter of William Wilkins, as far as I know a free immigrant, and Hannah Russell. Hannah's father was also a convict Robert Russell from Lincolnshire. Don't really know what else to tell you at this point but am happy to see if I could answer any other questions surrounding this family.
>cbeasley>@> club>telco>.>com regards Chris

Hello Chatters,

would appreciate a lookup if anyone has the East Sussex Bastardy Papers CD for any mention of a Harriet Kemp or children Thomas and Susannah originally from Burwash
in the period say from 1833 through 1845. Harriet possibly appears in a Hastings workhouse (1841) before she is ordered back to Burwash but I lose track of her after this time.
Thanks in advance

Chris

Hi Helen,
I have paraphrased a reply I received from a descendant of Elizabeth Wheeler/Harris my own line is through Elizabeth's brother James who was also a silversmith in the Barnard firm. titania- @- aanet- . -com .- au

"Samuel James Harris and his wife Harriet (nee Barnard) had 12/14 children
and of these:
Samuel - was a gold and silversmith in Hatton Garden, London. His wife used
to come home drunk and batter him, he left her to live with someone called
Milly . This must be either a sister of
Samuel or possibly a wife of one of Samuel's brothers! He made two small silver thimbles which he probably made while working for Barnard and sons
Charles - had 2 daughters Elsie and May. May had a son called Colin who went
to Australia.
Edith - married an Alf Ingle and emigrated to New Zealand. They had 5
daughters Flossie, VI, Winnie, Chrissie and Ivy. Vi married someone called
Jack who was the son of Hollywood star John Bunny. When Ivy died, her
husband married her sister Chrissie.
Charlotte - married someone with the surname MacDonald, there were no
children.
Harriet - had a son called Arthur, he went to Australia. Her daughter Carry
married a sailor and she mysteriously disappeared and was never found,
her husband on his deathbed confessed to murdering her and putting her body
in a geyser (in New Zealand presumably).
Edward - married Alice and had 2 children Edward and Ethel.

Samuel James Harris had a brother who went to Africa or India and was mauled
to death by either a lion or tiger. This brother was also twisted out of his
estate by his manager.

The Barnards went to South Africa and worked in the gold mines, there
may be a link with gold and silversmiths. I also have some photos of the
Barnards."
 Do you have any pictures of either the Harris or Barnard families regards Sue