http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2862632?lookfor=stratford doherty&offset=1&max=1
I've been and had a read of this document which details Stratford's life up till the date of the document, 1903 - except that there is no mention of any marriages or children, although I must admit I didn't read all that carefully.
His parents were the late Rev Charles William Doherty late Vicar of Worle near Weston-Super-Mare and Julia nee Pearson dau of the late Samuel Pearson.
Siblings: Amy died as an infant
John Lionel Wyndham Doherty
Madeline Julia Haultain Doherty now wife of Thomas Guest.
He came to Australia on the Grassmere (no date given) as an apprentice and ran away from the ship in Melbourne. He worked on a couple of stations in Sthn NSW - Tooma and Borambola. Brother Lionel arrived in Oct 1880 on the Aconcagua. Stratford went to UK using his brother's return ticket on the Cotopaxi 16 Nov 1880. Then to Halifax on the Durham, bought a farm, not successful, returned to England, then to Sydney on the Potosi beginning 1882. Sworn in as a Cponstable 4 July 1882, resigned 1887.
In Tassie 1888 and 1889, back to Melbourne......... etc etc.
I think the stat dec may have been to gain some of an inheritance from his mother. He is quite a name-dropper and one wonders if all of this is true. However it does explain what he has been doing, back and forth across the world!
John, I am happy to photograph the document for you but the National Library will do it and post it for $13.20 or you can have it scanned by them. This way you will get a good copy and not need to rely on my amateur efforts!!
Go to the item in the catalogue with the link above and click on the "Copies Direct" button at the bottom of the page. I had no idea they are so reasonably priced - having had quotes from record offices in UK for items to be copied.
It is a fascinating story and I wish some of my lot had left such a wealth of information.
Cheers, Judith
