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Messages - Derwentwater

Pages: [1] 2 3 4
1
Australia / Re: Old Government Cottage, Adelaide
« on: Sunday 15 April 12 15:04 BST (UK)  »
Hi Trekpenchant

not sure whether you've find what your looking for in the way of Sappers Cottages but I think I have figured out from Cando's first post on this topic that the Sappers cottage was also on the Torrens Parade Ground.  It seems to me that the road there has had a name change from Military road to Victoria Rd.  Cando's link to a pdf document explains the Sappers connection.  I've also found on NLA Trove other references to multiple cottages for Sappers & Miners on the Parade Ground behind government house such as this one below.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5302221?searchTerm=cottages sappers&searchLimits=l-title=34

So J. Fairlie may have occupied the same cottage after T. Watkins died in 1878 or there were simply more than one cottage on the same site.  The later is the one that I favour as there is very little time between the two deaths for them to be referring to the same build by different names.

Derwentwater

2
US Lookup Requests / Re: NY births 1865-1871 & Troy Steel Industry
« on: Wednesday 11 April 12 05:39 BST (UK)  »
Hi shellyesq

thanks for your reply.  The Merrick family did return to Gloucestershire, England by 1881 & appear in the census there.  Their fourth child being born Gloucestershire in 1873.  I will checkout the 1865 census as you suggest.  What is the best route to search the vital statistics for these births?

Derwentwater.

3
US Lookup Requests / NY births 1865-1871 & Troy Steel Industry
« on: Tuesday 10 April 12 13:50 BST (UK)  »
Greetings

I have been searching for details about the family of Frederick C. MERRICK (1843-?) his wife Maria (her maiden name I do not know).  They travelled from England to the USA & had three children while there. Annie Emily 1865, Agnes Louisa 1869 & William G. 1871.  As I have located the 1871 census of the family living in the 9th Ward of Troy NY I know for certain that the two daughters were born in NY the son I have no reference other than 'America' as place of birth.  I have not been able to find passenger lists for the family either for entering or leaving either the USA or the UK?

Frederick C. Merrick occupation was listed as a 'Machinist' while at Troy & while in Gloucestershire, England he was a saddler his Grandfather was an early industrialist & Forge owner in the 'Forest of Dean & perhaps he had knowledge of Iron/Steel manufacture.  This family intrigues me because of his occupation & the proximity to the civil war.  Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Derwentwater

4
Australia / Re: Old Government Cottage, Adelaide
« on: Tuesday 10 April 12 13:19 BST (UK)  »
G'day Trekpenchant

Thanks for your interest in my post & thankyou for your enquiry.  My ancestor whom I didn't previously name was Thomas Watkins 1805-1878.  It would appear from newspaper references that your guess that your ancestor John Fairlie was mine's replacement at Government House is correct.  I've found a reference in the committee meeting discussing Thomas' case that his replacement was already on his way from Scotland.  Please see the following link to NLA Trove.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/39265940?searchTerm=aide-de-camp AND "case of Thomas watkins"&searchLimits=exactPhrase=case+of+Thomas+watkins|||anyWords|||notWords|||l-textSearchScope=*ignore*%7C*ignore*|||fromdd|||frommm|||fromyyyy=1871|||todd|||tomm|||toyyyy=1910|||l-title=174|||l-title=45|||l-title=276|||l-title=59|||l-title=172|||l-title=40|||l-title=41|||l-title=171|||l-title=34|||l-title=44|||l-title=75|||l-title=89|||l-title=90|||l-title=7|||l-word=*ignore*%7C*ignore*|||sortby

From what I can tell the gardener was employed by the state government & not by the Governor hence couldn't be dismissed by him.  So it would appear to be a case of 'jobs for the boys' but I wont hold that against you Trekpenchant.  ;)  I did speak with the state archives about the petition of Thomas Watkins as it was printed in the offical records but it couldn't be found.  It was suggested that I could look into the papers of Mr Townsend but as I would have to visit Adelaide to do so I haven't proceeded.  As far as details regarding employment & compensation I know how it turned out for him it was more if his petition revealed any family details that still interests me.  Living in NSW I'm not sure I'll get around to dropping by a SA state archives office.

The cottage which Thomas Watkins occupied as part of his compensation appears to have been on what is now called the 'Parade Ground'.  From what I saw of John Fairlie's obituary he died at 'Sappers Cottage' which as you say must have been Military Rd.  I can't say I've come across that in my research but it does kind of sound like it has some reference to mining (Sappers)?

Isn't it amazing that the descendants of these two men have found each other!

Jared.

5
US Lookup Requests / Oregon Wrestling 1904
« on: Friday 19 August 11 14:01 BST (UK)  »
Hi

I notice that the Oregonian issue Feb 2nd 1904 makes mention of a Watkins of Australia who won a wrestling match in Baker City Oregon.  My great grandfather was in the state around this time & he did do wrestling while there.  His name was Edward William Watkins.  Is there any chance somebody could do a look up for me for more details?

Derwentwater.

6
Australia / Re: Old Government Cottage, Adelaide
« on: Wednesday 27 July 11 14:23 BST (UK)  »
I just found this map of government house domain from 1880 which shows two smaller buildings adjoining King William street.

http://mapco.net/adelaide/adel10.htm

Derwentwater.

7
Australia / Re: Old Government Cottage, Adelaide
« on: Wednesday 27 July 11 13:54 BST (UK)  »
Thanks Cando for the link to the 1876 print of Adelaide.  The building shown on the parade grounds area is definately closer to the ford than any staff cottage on the Government House domain.  From reading what was said in parliament about this matter I can see that my ancestor would have likely have had to vacate any gardeners cottage in 1871 as he was told that his replacement was already on his way from Scotland when he was told of his dismissal.  Because of this I believe he must have relocated to another cottage which was also under the control of the Adelaide corporation.  Perhaps that's the one.

Thankyou Nenny4 I would like to get to Adelaide sometime.

Derwentwater

8
Australia / Old Government Cottage, Adelaide
« on: Tuesday 26 July 11 14:36 BST (UK)  »
I'm wondering whether anybody out there has done research into the grounds of the Adelaide Government house.  My particular area of interest is the cottages which where upon the Government house domain.  From about 1862 to 1871 I understand that an ancestor of mine was the Gardener for the Governor's residence.  After being dismissed then subsequently compensated for the loss of his position by the State government it would appear that my ancestor & his family continued to live on site as one of his children is recorded as born at 'Government Cottage, near Ford'.  I understand that the 'ford' was the crossing over the Torrens River.  Later my ancestor died in 1878 & his obituary records that that he passed away at "Old Government Cottage, King William Street".  Having consulted the old SA papers I'm a little confused as it would appear to me that the expression "Old Government Cottage" was used for more than just one building including the previous Governor's residence built before the present one.  Would there have been more than one cottage on the Gov house domain at one time?  At present the best reference I've been able to find is "A House for the Governor Vol 2" by Gordon Copland.  Also I've got from the NLA a photo dated 1880 which does show a building behind Gov house adjoining King William St.  I'm not sure that this would be close enough to the river to be 'near the ford'.

Any input on this topic would be appreciated.

Derwentwater.

9
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Decipher Occupation 1841 Census
« on: Wednesday 28 October 09 02:38 GMT (UK)  »
I cannot make out what the occupation for Thomas Wiggins is in the 1841 census (see reference: HO 107/657/10 Parish of Great Stanmore).  Any comments would be appreciated.

Derwentwater

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