Thankyou JM
I didn't mention that I also looked at the 1851 baptism of a John Murray, the only
birth for a John Murray between 1837 and 1852 on NSW BDM. This baptism was in Sydney with parents John and Margaret with John's occupation recorded as Mariner. On the death cert. of
John and Margaret's daughter Anne Jane Murray his occupation was Sheep Overseer. There is too
much disparity between these two occupations so I am not convinced that this is the correct baptism. The 7 year gap between the birth of Alice and this baptism is also noteworthy.
The records that I looked at yesterday were the registers of St. Mary's Cathedral Sydney and were
the quarterly returns you mentioned in your reply #1. I assume these were copied from a register
held by the clergyman or in the church. Grasping at straws here ... but it is possible that the
missing 1844 quarterly returns could still be found in the West Maitland church register.
The family history librarian suggested that I contact S.A.G. for information and a possible
microfilm of Maitland church registers. The quarterly returns of St. Mary's held by the Qld.
State Library were filmed in 1985, it is possible S.A.G. and Mitchell Library have improved on the
quality of the images in their joint copying project with NAA.
Regards,
Jen.
