Author Topic: Naughty Anna WARD (nee BEST)  (Read 5896 times)

Offline majm

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Re: Naughty Anna WARD (nee BEST)
« Reply #9 on: Thursday 10 May 18 01:54 BST (UK) »
Just noticing that on Anna’s 1834 marriage record, (#56) there’s no mention of any X mark signatures, but that other marriages also on same page and conducted by R R Davis DO show X marks.   To me, the absence of an X mark for Anna is likely indicating that Anna was literate.    I notice that a Mary BEST was married by that Rev, that same year, (#60) on same page, and a witness was Thos Ward.   Mary was also without an X mark. 

https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD36-1-2p168j2k

I suspect RR Davis would likely be Rowland Robert DAVIES, who was the chaplain at Longford (Norfolk Plains) from 20 May 1820 – 1853.  He was C of E. http://anglicanhistory.org/aus/cci/index.pdf
And
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/davies-robert-rowland-1962

Following on from http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=793060.0  :)
I do not doubt that Vol 128 may well include RC burials, but I am wondering if the burials are only those from Devonshire St Cemetery OR if they include transmitted records from outlying parishes throughout all of the then NSW colony and its territories. 

JM
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Offline Rufous Treecreeper

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Re: Naughty Anna WARD (nee BEST)
« Reply #10 on: Thursday 10 May 18 07:21 BST (UK) »
I believe all of the children of James Best, including Anna and Mary in the marriage records, where literate.  Even though James was an agricultural worker, he was educated to a very good level (as his letters attest).  He taught his children to read and write, and his wife too I believe.  He even worked as a teacher for a few years in the Norfolk Plains area.

In regards to Rev Davies (I'm fairly sure) James writes in July 1852:-
 "When you write or send either to Jabez or Caroline tell them that after near two years combatting [sic] I have beat the Parson at last."
At chess I would think.

Marlene  :)
Best (Sussex/Australia)
Brown (Kent/Australia)
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