Wilkinson family help needed

[ian-nz]

Hope someone can help me trace my GG Grandparents Margaret and Edwin Wilkinson. They came to N.S.W. in about 1826 with daughter Margaret born about 1819 from Scotland. Daughter Margaret married in 1833 in Sydney and I have all her history but the parents I can find no trace of. I cannot find them on a shipping list and I cannot find their deaths on the N.S.W. or QLD  BDM.Maybe they moved to another state. I havn't been able to access the Vic BDM and I hope someone could do this for me if possible. Would be very grateful for any help or suggestions.
Many thanks
Pauline

[regross]

Ian,

I have searched the Victorian Pioneer index and found the death of a Margaret Wilkinson aged 78 in 1880, rego 5944.

 Her parents were listed as William Burnip and Ann Todd.  No other's could fit  as they were way too young and/or their birth places were not in Scotland.

Est DoB 1802 certainly old enough to have had a daughter in 1819. Place of birth was unknown. Could not find an  Edwin or its variation.

good luck

Robyn in Australia

[ian-nz]

Hi Robyn         Thank you for looking up the Vic B.D.M. for me. Much appreciated. I should have said Margaret's maiden name was Wilson so that can not be her on the Pioneer index unfortunately. They really are a mystery this couple and I don't think I'm going to solve this one. Thanks for your help.
Merry Xmas      Pauline and Ian

[regross]

Ian,

Was Edwin Wilkinson part of the military personel who accompanied the convicts to Australia?

Many stayed for several years and then moved to other parts of the world as the forces were deployed elsewhere. If this is the case then there is unlikley to be any record of them arriving or leaving Australia. If you are lucky enough to know which regiment they served with you may be able to track where they went in and out of Australia.

 I have spent 3 years looking for my soldiers record of arrival and he and his wifes's deaths as they stayed here when his regiment moved on.

The Australian Joint Copying Project  has copies of the army files of most regiments that spent time in Australia pay books etc. Only available in major stste libraries unforunately and not on line at all.

These sites
www.freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com~garter1/tobegin.htm
www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/other/british_army-in-aust.htm
www.hotkey.net.au/~jwilliams4/military1.htm

may give you some information of where to look.

good luck

Robyn in Australia

[ian-nz]

Hi Robyn       Thank you for replying so quickly. What a brilliant suggestion. That is quite possible he was in the forces. Did families travel with the husband? I guess they must have.Well that's given me something to think about and work on.
Many thanks for your help
Pauline and Ian

[regross]

Ian,

No problems.

I looked everywhere before starting to explore this avenue. Thought I might save you some years hunting!!!

It is an overlooked field of research and little seems to be easily availble.

Some families did come with their husbands.

I read the diaries of Captain Collett Barker who commanded the 39th Regiment in Raffles Bay which was abandonded. (Now Darwin ) Found my soldier mentioned and his wife and child. Ships manifest from Raffles Bay to King George Sound listed the soldiers by name but only plus wives and children.

Try the rootsweb mailing lists and rootschat. Some very helpful people out there!!!! many whom I owe great debts for their assistance.

good luck

Robyn in Ausrtralia