RootsChat.Com

Hi Ruskie

I was a little surprised to see 1985 listed - I would have thought there may be at least a 30 year closure - but perhaps there is NO closure on wills - I really don't know the law in regard to such things.

 The latest will I have looked at in the archives was 1952, so I can't speak with any authority past that date - but if the records are available at the archives, I assume they can be accessed - and there is certainly a death certificate with wills - so there it is. The registry demands 50 years for unrestricted access to death certificates - Wills (same department - justice) apparently does not. Should one say "The law is an ...."  without ID Victoria provides death certificates  to 1985, NSW to 1978 and I don't know about the other states. Mish mash probably describes it.

I have tried to find something on the justice web site as to applying for a copy of probate, with no joy. I can find how to apply for probate of a will

Trish

Edit: Quickest option may be to call the archives and ask them what is available.

The images are back

Very frustrating the way the Ancestry images come and go - I sometimes think I am going crazy - but I still can't get the immigration images back 

It would seem the indexes simply pick up the starting point of the ship as opposed to each passenger - guess that is how they are done so quickly. Less is always better when searching I think

Trish

Hi Ibi

Wouldn't it be easier for everyone reading the summary, if you added the information you have, rather than say "see above" . Above is quite a few large posts and a summary makes it easier for other folks to help. Based on your "see above" comments, I find the following which I hope will help JAP update her summary.

I have not added further where you said such things as "That's what's clearly said in this thread" - a summary will obviously gather information previously given in the thread.

1870
Son Thomas born.  Registered by his father whose name is recorded (and signed?) as Thomas
I can find nothing above that states whether father Robert/Thomas was the informant & signed as such, so it seems a good question. if he signed his name as Thomas, then he wasn't Robert (at that time) If he signed with a mark or the registrar wrote his name, different story perhaps.

1874
Mary dies.  Husband's name given as Robert.
Who was the informant?

Informant: Robert FITZSIMMONS  - information given on reply #11 from Ibi
(I assume IBI downloaded some SP images - I must start asking questions about my folks  )

ca 1877
Annie dies aged 9.
Who was the informant?  What name is recorded as her father?
I've also found the death of Thomas's sister Annie at 9 years old, the information again fitting, but still leaving this double identity Thomas/Robert wide open !  - reply #13 from Ibi - this is the only comment I can see about the death of Annie. What information fitted?

1897
Thomas jnr (b 1870) marries.  His father's name is recorded as Thomas
I think i have now found Thomas's marriage in1897 aged 26. It do's say his father was a Robert  instead of Thomas but it do's have the right mothers name. reply #8 from Scully

Did Thomas jnr ever know his father?  As a baby in 1871 he was with his mother and sister (but not his father) at his SCULLION grandparents.  In 1881 and 1891 he was with his Uncle John O'HARA and Aunt Ann (FITZSIMMONS) O'HARA.
Date??
At Thomas jnr's death (informant?) and/or burial, his father is recorded as Robert, an engine driver.

Did Thomas/Robert ever, himself, give his name as Robert?  Or only as Thomas?
I am unsure as to what the reply Yes - see above means as a response to multiple questions.

Or only as Thomas?
Thomas was apparently given (if the father was the informant) in 1870 - reply #11 by Ibi gives parents on birth record - but not informant that I can see.

I hope this helps with your update JAP.  My apologies if I missed something among the replies (not uncommon when lots of information given). The 1851 census looks interesting

Trish

Ancestry have just released a data base of Convicts permission to marry for NSW but 1826-1851 only. No sign of this couple, but quite a few Joseph Smiths born c. 1818

Trish

Hi Les

I hadn't checked when the convict arrived. Being 1836, like you I would be extremely doubtful that he would have died and had a gravestone so soon after arrival. My original comment was based on him arriving much earlier.

Do hope Tom finds a burial record 

Trish