Hi All,
On all the records I have found for Sylvinia Emily Adams, she has been consistent in stating that she was born in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Her birth years on all records range from 1850 to 1855. The actual names of her parents on her marriage certificate are James Adams (a farmer) and Jane Elizabeth McLean. I mentioned Janet as I know that this is more common than Jane in Scotland.
When Sylvinia came to Australia there was also a G. W. Adams, a Catherine Adams and one other Adams that I cannot recall just now, on the same ship. They may possibly be related to her, maybe not. I have not been able to make a connection between them, and they were all in different classes on the boat, so possibly not related. The archives in Queensland stated they do not have the individual passenger papers anymore as they had been lost or never kept.
Yes, I've always thought that Sylvinia was always an interesting name for someone supposedly born in Scotland. I've never seen it used there, other than my ancestor's name.
This particular ancestor is proving to be very elusive before she came to Australia. I am hoping that some day I will be able to get a lead however, as Adams is a main branch of my family tree. It is rather disappointing to run in to a brick wall so early on this branch. I cannot find a birth record, nor does she appear on any census in Scotland before arriving in Australia.
The only other lead I have had, is a couple who have the same names as Sylvinia's parents, who were married in Barony in 1850, then moved with their children to the USA, settling in Alabama. However, there is no record of a child with the name of Sylvinia being born to them. Still, they have the correct names and correct time of marriage.
LOOBY, I too have wondered if Sylvinia was actually her true birth name. Her children's names are mostly taken from her husband's family, except for Janet. The only child that had a different name was the little boy, George, she had before she married. I can only imagine that it must have been a difficult and sad situation for her being a very young, single girl, in a new country. On the ship the young girls had a chaperone and when they first arrived in Australia, but after that they were on their own for the most part. The little boy died before the age of one, and a few years later Sylvinia met and married her husband.
Sylvinia arrived in Rockhampton, Australia on 19 November, 1870, on the ship Royal Dane.
Thank you to both of you, loobylooayr and wivenhoe. All are very good suggestions and points. I know there is a chance, depending on the exact year that Sylvinia was born, that I may never find a birth record for her. There are so many James Adams' in Aberdeen also, that were farmers. The James (Mc)Adam I found who married a Janet McLean were the ones who moved to the USA. I haven't found another couple with those names so far.
Wivenhoe, the other information on the marriage certificate is as follows;
Date: 26th September, 1876, Rockhampton, Queensland. Names: John James Carlton (Bachelor) Liverpool, Lancashire, England, and Sylvinia Emily Adams, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Spinster). Married in the house of Hugh Lawbie Morton, Kent Street, Rockhampton according to the rites and ceremonies of the Presbyterian Church. John Carlton was an iron moulder, Sylvinia was a domestic servant. Both state their ages to be 21. Place of residence: Rockhampton. Parents names: James Carlton and Mary Peebles, James Adams and Jane Elizabeth McLean. Fathers professions: Iron dresser (Carlton), Farmer (Adams).
Sylvinia is the mystery person in my family tree. I have often thought that she must have another name, or a different birth place.
I appreciate all the help and comments. Thank you, all.
