Thanks Sue!
Some help would be amazing. This is a complicated trail that keeps getting more convoluted! I am currently searching for the following:
Marriage /Divorce records for:
Albert Edward Cotton and Maria Gertrude Reidy Beckman, NSW
('Gertrude' divorced John Beckman in 1922 and seems to have been with AEC at the time and had children with him, she is noted to have died in 1969 but AEC married again in 1942, I can't find any marriage or divorce records of AEC to Gertrude?)
AEC is listed to have been born in Derby, Tasmania circa 1900, and to have died in 1979, Erskineville
Marriage and divorce records for:
Albert Edward Cotton and Delphine Robeson, NSW
I believe they married in 1942 Chatswood but I suspect divorced within ten years?
Any information on Delphine Robeson in Australia? Possibly Delphine Shirley Robeson. Or Delphine Cotton?
I have seen a reference on myheritagecom that she was listed on QLD Electoral roll in 1959 in Charlton, via Toowoomba, QLD, home duties but I can't find a record of it so can't verify that.
I can't find Australia birth records for Delphine, before her marriage to AEC it's been zip. I can find a Delphine Robeson in Texas but no record of her arrival in Australia, so unsure if this is the same person.
A birth and a death certificate for Albert Edward 'Alf' Cotton?
I've seen mentioned that AEC was born circa 1900, perhaps in Tasmania, and there is a Sydney Morning Herald death announcement I haven't been able to access, June 2 1979 Sydney Morning Herald, noting death date of May 31 1979, late of Erskineville
Any clear birth and death records for a John Beckman, born circa 1890-1900.
I suspect 'my' John Beckman was an alias so am not expecting these to be him but if I can rule out any other John Beckmans that would be helpful!
If John Beckman was indeed an alias, I am also curious to find where the 'John' came from, as I know where the Murray and Beckman came from. For anyone who knows about historical aliases (I am new to this), would 'John' simply have been an easy name to assume at the time, or is it likely he would have had to have 'aquired' it somehow?
This is a lot, thank you for anyone who can help me unravel any of these mysteries!
EPB