Dear Jenn and Johngirl,
My ggrandfather died in Inverell NSW in 1946. His 2nd marriage was to Hilda Mary Adcock in 1912 at Redfern, Sydney.
Johngirl has found that the hospital Ellen was admitted to was for the mental patients, so that might explain her long absences from the family. She also could have died at the hospital, but I feel that she would be listed as a death somewhere. I am waiting for the hospital record to come from Tas Archives. As they lived in Emu Bay/Waratah at the time of her hospitalisation and the hospital is near Hobart, he must have been very ll for them to have made such a journey in 1891!
As the family story is that she disappeared and abandoned the family, I feel that she has now been vindicated......she was in hospital! I feel now that John Thomas abandoned his family to the nuns.
I have searched Tas, Vic and NSW divorce records of the day, and there is no divorce listed, so I have to assume John Thomas was stating the truth that he was a widower when he remarried.
I also suspect that as two of the children, Mary and Jack never talked about Frederick that perhaps Frederick was adopted out or died very young. I think the adoption angle has some merit.....another thread to chase, and the housework is still calling loudly.
Susie