Hi Kim, Angela and Rick,
A get together sounds great. Just let me know a time and place.
Went to State Archives and viewed both Hannah and Barkers probate.
Fantastic to see original paperwork but dissapointing content.
Although he did only write his will on 30/11/1871 and died on Christmas Day same year.
He must have known something was wrong.
No property involved, both estates around 100 pounds.
Great to see original signatures, clarifying spelling of names e.g. Willis Allatson has been spelt in many ways. Also Hannah was in contact with her brothers in Sydney as one witnessed her will and during insolvency a piano was listed as belonging to a Vandervord.
Insolvency/Bankrupcy records were also good and a little more informative.
In the 1843 case for Barker, his possessions were listed as surgical instruments and the wearing apparel of Barker and his wife 30pounds, as well as store goods 100pounds and Abraham Parkinson's wearing apparell 5pounds. Barker was the senior partner and so seemed more liable. It seems Barker's father helped with the debt in this case.
For Barker's 1867 Insolvency, he lists the times (depression) and subsequent falling off of business, supporting a large family, and him being frquently laid up with gout stopping him running his business as a surgeon in Brisbane Waters. It also mentions that his wife and children have been sick for a considerable time.
Even though Willis is not your direct relative, his divorce papers were an insight into the man. He had 2 children with my great great grandmother(2nd wife), whilst still married. When his wife questioned him about it , he said that he would cohabit with as many women as he liked and started to treat her cruely, hitting her with a clenched fist, kicking her, and even holding a knife to her.
Carna
