Albert Joseph Derrick, son of Harriet Williams

[Rodney53]

Thanks giblet.
The idea of trying to get some asylum records is well worth pursuing, even with a 100 year seal.The 1907 report gets around the seal.
We have also struggled to follow our man in S.A. and Vic. There are references to Albert J. Derrick in N.S.W. as well. (Whether they refer to ours is unclear).
I am yet to get clear in my head that his mother's death notice in newspapers in 1920 listed him as deceased yet he may have lived for many years beyond that date. It may well be that his family had no contact from him for years if he were in W.A., and concluded that he had died. This is plausible if he was held in an asylum in W.A.
I am very grateful to you, as to all other contributors as well. The story of our Albert Derrick is both livelier and sadder for these new bits of information.
Rodney53.

[giblet]

Hi Rodney, i have been checking this out further today and come across a connection which shows other family members were in Western Australia as well, see what you think.

The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) 
Sat 3 Dec 1938

Meatheringham, David , (commonly known as David Derrick), late of West Midland, laborer, to Morris Crawcour, of Perth, as attorney for Grace Grey and William Meatheringham , value £571.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/85015443

~~~~~~~~---------
WA death index
Meatheringham   David,     District  Swan,   Reg #78,   Year 1938

~~~~~~~~---------
BURIAL
First Name   DAVID
Last Name   DERRICK
Application #  KB00060188
Karrakatta Burial
Aged (Years)   54   Date of Death   24/09/1938
Suburb   MIDLAND JUNCTION
Area or Denomination Anglican
Section LB
Gravesite 0209
Grant Number   K0031700

[Rodney53]

This is intriguing, to say the least, giblet.
David, Grace and William Meatheringham were some of Harriet Williams's children with her third husband, John Meatheringham. Albert Derrick was her second husband who died before her marriage to Meatheringham. It is bewildering that David Meatheringham chose to call himself David Derrick.
Grace and William were both in Benalla, Vic. It looks to me like they may well have hired a W.A. lawyer to act on their behalf?
What also intrigues me is that if David M. was in contact with his family, and had gone west to meet up with his half-brother Albert, then the Benalla family in 1920 would have known most likely of Albert's whereabouts if he were still alive yet they list Albert as deceased in their mother's death notice. (No death record in Victoria or S.A. it would seem).
Many thanks for this find. Much appreciated, and very thought-provoking.

[Rodney53]

The plot thickens .... this doc. applies to David Meatheringham.

Name:   David Derrick
Age:   30
Birth Year:   abt 1884
Birth Place:   Bendigo, Victoria
Dossier Year Range:   1914-1920
Enlistment Place:   Helena Vale, Western Australia
Service Number:   164
Mother:   H Weatheringham

(The original has Harriet Meatheringham's name and address: no mistaking this document)

[giblet]

Rodney do you have Harriet's 1920 death cert?

Her death cert. should note her children and some do state if that child is deceased. Im wondering if her death notice has a error with stating that Albert is deceased and wondering what is on her death cert. regarding him.

[giblet]

There is a will / probate index in the VIC archives site for John Meatheringham dated 1932, it is not available online but can be ordered, not sure if it would mention Albert?? It might not even mention any of them.

250/590
John MEATHERINGHAM Date of grant: 01 Sep 1932; Date of death: 26 Jul 1932; Occupation: Ex Station Hand; Residence: Raywood
PHYSICAL ITEM   Not yet digitised
DATE:1932
SERIES:Probate and Administration Files
AGENCY:Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court
CITATION:VPRS 28/ P3  unit 2352,  item 250/590
-----------------------------------
250/590
John MEATHERINGHAM Date of grant: 01 Sep 1932; Date of death: 26 Jul 1932; Occupation: Ex Station Hand; Residence: Raywood
PHYSICAL ITEM   Not yet digitised
DATE:1932
SERIES:Wills
AGENCY:Master of the Supreme Court
CITATION:VPRS 7591/ P2  unit 879,  item 250/590
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/wills-and-probates


There is also a article in Trove dated 1889 concerning John Meatheringham, he was jailed for 2 years so there is also a prison record with a photo of him in the VIC archives as well that is available to see online.

[Rodney53]

Thanks, giblet, for these findings and suggestions.
I do not yet have a copy of Harriet Meatheringham's death certificate. i agree it's probably worth a look.
Re: John Meatheringham, Harriet Williams's husband number 3.
My hunch is it is unlikely that he would be including children of her earlier marriages in his will, given that she had several children with him to consider. (And at least one of them he would NOT have viewed kindly).
The jail term ... he was taken to court by his wife's daughter of a previous marriage, one Catherine McCourtie (who was known until her marriage to Thomas Henry Roberts as Catherine, or Kate Derrick). She had John Meatheringham charged with common assault and he was found guilty.
Said Catherine Derrick was my great grandmother, our Grandma Roberts.
(I have wondered whether the guilty verdict against his father may have been the reason David Meatheringham chose to know himself by the different surname of Derrick and moved away from Victoria).
Very grateful for your help.
Rodney53

[giblet]

There is a David Derrick in WA on the electrol roll from 1910 through to 1937. I dont have access so not able to see if there are any other Derrick's or Meatheringham's with him at the same address.

[sparrett]

Hi Giblet and Rodney,
I cannot see other DERRICKs with David.
I will look for the MEATHERINGHAM name in a moment.

David DERRICK
1910
Lucknow, Timber hewer
1914
Holyoake Bush Camp. Hewer
1918
Wuraming. Hewer

1925
Holyoake. Labourer
1936
50 Byers Road Midland Junction. Labourer

Also living at that address in 1936
BEGLEY, William Francis Robert. Butcher
BEGLEY,, Michael. Brick Burner
BEGLEY,Emma. Housewife
BEGLEY,Eileen Margaret. Stenographer.

This family occupied this address before and after 1936.

An image of the house in available on Google Street View.

Perhaps he was a boarder or such.

Sue