Joseph Christopher Columbus

[veryoldgal]

Hi,
I have been searching for this man for a very very very long time.  His name is Joseph Christopher Columbus AKA Guiseppe Christophano Colombus.  I have his marriage and death certificate and all the information about his children in Queensland.
He married Kate Beard in Queensland 23 December 1882 - he was aged 24 years at the time
He died 28 July 1914 Brisbane aged 56 years.  The record states that he was born in Rome, Italy and that his father's name was Joseph Christopher Columbus.
I can find no record of him arriving in Australia and have searched every website that I can think of including Ancestry and findmypast, passenger lists, newspapers etc.
Can anyone suggest where else I can look to find this man.  All suggestions are very welcome.  Thank you Lesley.

[majm]

Born in Italy, would usually indicate he was not born a British Subject.   Have you checked for naturalisation papers for your chap?  This usually include the stated ship of arrival.    On his 1914 dc, does it give any information as to how long in the colonies/states?

ADD,  there's 1913 electoral roll entry for a Joseph Christopher COLUMBUS a mariner, residing Fortitude Valley Qld, so I guess if that's your chap then he had become a British Subject   

Cheers,  JM

[veryoldgal]

Boy, that was quick.

I have found a Certificate of Naturalization for Joseph Colombo who was living in Tabulam, N.S.W. in 1898.  He was recorded as being 54 years old at the time and having arrived in Australia in 1876 and that he was a native of France.  This matches up with a Columbus who was a ships steward working on the "City of Sydney" at the time.  That is the only Certificate that I have found that comes close, but my Joseph was living in Brisbane Queensland at the time.

My Joseph is on the Electoral Roll in Brisbane for 1903, 1905 and 1913.  So, he was either not from Italy at all or he did become an Australian Citizen.  But, I just cannot find anything about him before his marriage to Kate.

Thank you so much for your quick reply.  I am still happy for any suggestion.

[veryoldgal]

Oh, I forgot to mention that on his death certificate it states that he has lived in Queensland for about 30 years, nothing else.  So I don't know if he lived in any other state in Australia or not.

[cando]

Someone else researching the family
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01e11/

Cando

[veryoldgal]

That is me on another website.  It would be nice if I could find another researcher for this family.  I have noticed that there are some on Ancestry but I have not renewed my subscription for that site.  It looks like those researchers are stuck at exactly the same spot as me.

Thanks for looking.  All suggestions are very welcome.

[jorose]

Can you give us all the information you have from the marriage certificate? Were there no details of birth/parents on it? Normally this will be more accurate than the death record.

http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/indexsearch/keyname.aspx
 shows that the man who naturalised in 1898 died in 1899 (there is an interstate estate case paper for him, district Emu Creek near Tabulam Casino).  He was aka Colombini.
Perhaps a relative? (father?), perhaps a red herring.

[Aussie1947]

Hi.

He qualified to be on the Qld State Electoral Roll in 1900

Queensland State Electoral Roll 1900
The Electoral District of Fortitude Valley
Columbus, Joseph Christopher, 40, Clay street, New Farm, second house on right from Ann street, fireman, qualified by residence on 19th June 1899.


Gerry
 

[Aussie1947]

Queensland Police Gazette
RETURN OF PRISONERS TO BE DISCHARGED FROM HER MAJESTY'S GAOL, BRISBANE, DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1886

Joseph Columbus, Brisbane, 30, tried for Larceny, 9 month HL. born Italy, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches, sallow complexion, blue eyes, black hair, remarks, Italian standard right arm ; Garibaldi left am.

Gerry