Antoni Melzer from Prussia who immigrated to Australia 1855

[kristasis]

Hi Everyone,

I am hoping someone may be able to help me, or give me some pointers in the right direction with my family history research. I've been trying to find information on this line for a long time with no luck. Just hoping some fresh eyes may be able to help! My GGG Grandfather, Antoni Melzer, immigrated to Australia in 1855 on the Daniel Ross from Hamburg. On the Passenger Lists, his place of birth is listed as "Grichnitz", Prusseun - the note written by those who transcribed this document says "Can find no town of this name". His death certificate states that he was born in Germany. He was born in 1828, according to his death certificate & his marriage certificate to my GGG Grandmother in Australia. He was in the local newspapers a lot and in one article, it mentions that he worked on the Olde River is Breslan (Breslau) Germany. (Which is now Wrocław, Poland).

His marriage certificate & his obituary do not mention any parents names.

In my research, I have noticed on Ancestry that many others have listed his mother as Elizabeth Gudoba, who was born in 1765, meaning she would have been 63 when she had Antoni - I just don't feel this is correct, and while a bunch of others have listed her as his mother, I can find no evidence of her being his mother...

I have, however, found on the Gedbas database, an Anton Melzer, born 24th February 1828 in Tschentschitz, Hsaunr (Teplice) (Now Czech Republic). His mother was Maria Josepha Melzer. There is no father listed.

I guess, my questions are:

1) Does anyone know where Grichnitz could be? Is there somewhere near Breslau or Tschentschitz that could be known as/written as Grichnitz? (Could there be any links between my Antoni Melzer born 1828 who came to Australia in 1855) & the Anton Melzer listed on Gedbas being born 24th Feb 1828.

2) Are there any census records (I've looked and can't find ) that would show his movements, around Breslau where the Australian newspaper he was in said he worked?

3) I'm trying to either link the two Antons or discount the link so I can move on.......!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm struggling a little with trying to navigate some of the German/Czech/Polish Genealogy sites.

Thanks for reading,
Many thanks!!
Krista

[Ruskie]

Hi Krista,

Sorry I can't be of any help, but I just wanted to say that it is possible that the obviously incorrect trees showing the mother, aged 63 when she had Antoni, are likely to have been copied by others who do not care if their research is incorrect.

Although it appears that there are many who have the same information which makes you wonder if they have all come to the same conclusion, it is unlikely to be the case, and you are just looking at copied trees.

You are right to question or ignore this, and continue with your own research. 

Most of us have similar examples in our trees, of inaccuracies copied over and over ...

Added: do you have his Australian naturalisation certificate? These usually give place of birth, though I am not sure if that is the case in this era.

[majm]

Hi there,

Have you read through the following ?
http://boards.ancestry.com.au/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=506&p=topics.immigration.australia.general


Here are the free to search scanned images of the passenger list for the Daniel Ross, to Sydney April 1855.  I think the surname has been transcribed as MELLA.   (Scoll down through the transcribed list to the Scans and click on those). 
http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1855/04/069dan.htm


Here is the link to the NSW State Records Naturalisation Index.
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/indexes-online/naturalization-records/index-to-naturalization.  I wonder if the surname may be transcribed on that index as MULLNER, if so, the index has his place of birth as in Austria. 

If that is not your chap's naturalization, would you please check the index and let me know under what surname it has been indexed.  (He is on electoral rolls as early as 1870, and that should indicate that he was already a British subject, either naturalised or naturally so, but I cannot find a naturalisation entry at NSW SR that may match apart from the 1893 one mentioned above as Mullner).

You mention that his marriage certificate does NOT mention any parents names.  If the marriage was in NSW prior to 1895, it is not unusual for there to be information NOT recorded on the summary documentation that NSW BDM hold.   They actually note this on their website, and they make suggestions as to how to overcome those blanks.  I think it would be NSW BDM reference  1895/1861 indexed as  Antone MELZER and Mary MARONEY registered Gundagai.  Here's an RChat thread I did up about how to overcome those elusive blanks (details about parents of the bride/groom, occupation of groom, age, place of birth etc).   

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,546609.0.html

If you don't want to go down that research path, then may I suggest that the information on NSW BDM birth certificates is in depth, and may provide some help too.   NSW BDM births include responses to questions about the parents, including their respective place of birth. 

From the 1875 Grevilles Post Office Directory for GUNDAGAI
Antonio MELYER, farmer, Spring Flat.

NSW Electoral Roll 1870 The MURRUMBIDGEE.
Anthony MELZER, residence, Brawlin.

NSW Electoral Roll 1878 The MURRUMBIDGEE.
Anthony MELZER, residence, Brawlin.


ADD
Red Post,  Yes, Ruskie, NSW naturalisation applications required place of birth  and ship of arrival and loads of other info too.

JM



 

[kristasis]

Hi Ruskie & JM,

Thanks for your replies. Yes, I feel as though there are a bunch of copied trees with regards to his parents names...

I have seen that thread on Ancestry and followed the ideas listed there but had no luck with any of those leads. I also noticed that another member stated that his naturalisation certificate said he was born in Hesobists, Westprussuen, but, my copy of the naturalisation certificate just says Prussia... I have a copy of his naturalisation certificate which states he was born in Prussia, was 43 years at the time & arrived on the Daniel Ross ship.

I also have a similar list of the passengers that you showed me the link too, but my copy has Antoni Melzer AS WELL as, the Antoni Mella that you've pointed out. Any idea why Antoni Melzer would be on my copy but not on the list you showed me?

I'll try and attach some pictures to show you what I mean... (its not letting me - saying the files are too large).

 I also had his and Marys marriage certificate transcribed and there was no parents on that for either Antoni or Mary.

I'll check out your link abput overcoming the blanks on the certificates. Thanks!!

Thanks again for all your help.

[majm]

http://www.familytreecircles.com/antoni-melzer-became-a-an-citizen-11-jan-1872-migrated-from-central-prussia-19500.html


This link has Antoni MELZER becoming a/an Citizen 11 Jan 1872, migrating from central Prussia.

   so it is indexed at NSW State Records as " MELZER   Antoine, Prussia   16 Jan 1872"

ADD
It is my understanding that Ancestry have uploaded the completed naturalisation certificates, but NOT the actual applications seeking naturalisation.     The certificates do not always have the full details about the place of birth, date of birth, family relationships etc.

JM

[kristasis]

Oh ok! That's good to know!

So, does that mean if I purchased the record from here, I would possibly get more information?

http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/indexsearch/searchhits.aspx?table=Naturalisation&ID=30&query=Melzer&frm=0

If not, where could I find the application for naturalisation?

My other question  ( thanks so much for your help) is, there is also an option to buy a picture of his mugshot on the NSW Archives when he went to Young prison in 1897 for Sheep Stealing. It says the picture includes the mugshot as well as details of the convictions. I wonder if it would also have his DOB... do you know? (I'll probably buy the picture anyway!). I feel like if I know his DOB I will at least be able to rule in or out, if he is the Antoni Melzer born in Tschentschitz Teplice on 24th February 1828.

Thanks again.

[majm]

Are you sure it is him, and not his son also named Antoni?

JM

[majm]

http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/guides-and-finding-aids/archives-in-brief/archives-in-brief-3

Have a good read through that archives in brief put together by NSW State Records.   I have had a quick look, and notice that on some of the items, that the holdings seem to skip much of the 1870s.

JM

[kristasis]

Thanks for all of your help.

Yes, I'm sure the gaol records are from Antoni and not his son Antoni Charles. There are quite a few entries written up in the Police Gazettes and also the Cootamundra Herald, one article in particular quotes Antoni asking the witness of him stealing the sheep to not tell anyone as he's almost 70 years old. Which in 1896, Antoni would have been nearing 70 having been born in 1828. Some of the articles written about the sheep stealing also refer  to his son Antoni. Sounds like he was well known in Cootamundra for many years!!