Author Topic: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879  (Read 1098 times)

Offline jonw65

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #9 on: Sunday 02 August 20 20:50 BST (UK) »
South Africa Magazine: Domestic Announcements 1/9/1915

DEWSBURY-On January 3, in Maritzburg Hospital, of enteric fever, whilst on active service
with "Botha's Horse," Conrad Burford Dewsbury, aged 32.

Did Emma remarry shortly after?
June 1915 Lambeth 1d 965
Dewsbury, Emma E. - spouse Harkins
Harkins, Daniel H. B. - spouse Dewsbury
Harkins, Howard B - spouse Dewsbury

A couple of Harkins births up in Halifax later, mother Colman, one was Howard John in 1918.

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #10 on: Sunday 02 August 20 20:56 BST (UK) »
Death
HARKINS, DANIEL  HOWARD BRACHER    
Age at Death (in years):  52 
GRO Reference: 1925  M Quarter in MANCHESTER SOUTH  Volume 08D  Page 236

Probate Calendar
Died 10 January 1925, Royal Infirmary Manchester
Administration to Emma Eliza Harkins, widow
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=harkins&yearOfDeath=1925&page=2#calendar

Offline jonw65

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #11 on: Sunday 02 August 20 21:00 BST (UK) »
Marriage
June 1929 Manchester South 8d 395
Harkins, Emma E. - spouse Withington   
Withington, Samuel - spouse Harkins

Lancashire BMD
Ref CHO RM/356/94
Chorlton-on-Medlock Register Office or Registrar Attended
HARKINS Emma Eliza + WITHINGTON Samuel
COLEMAN Emma Eliza + WITHINGTON Samuel

Online jonwicken

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #12 on: Sunday 02 August 20 21:01 BST (UK) »
Am reading with my mouth open! This looks like it is her. And this is absolutely amazing! Thank you!


Offline jonw65

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #13 on: Sunday 02 August 20 21:31 BST (UK) »
Hi
Some more work may be needed to verify things after the death of Conrad
He is in the probate calendar too
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=dewsbury&yearOfDeath=1915&page=1#calendar

And 1915 South Africa death notice / estate documents here
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS7P-6WDM-L?i=857&cc=2573604

Good luck
John

Offline Mabel Bagshawe

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #14 on: Sunday 02 August 20 22:09 BST (UK) »
Interesting death, even if the age is a bit out

Emma E Withington
Death Age:    46

Registration    Q1 1931
South Manchester Vol 8d p325

Online jonwicken

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #15 on: Tuesday 04 August 20 20:24 BST (UK) »
Thanks again to everyone in this thread. It never fails to surprise me how amazing rootschat is.

I have ordered Emma Eliza Colman's birth certificate which shows she was born on 7 April 1879 at the Bull's Head pub in Clapham. This is where she was in the 1881 census.

I have also ordered the 1915 marriage certificate to (Daniel) Howard Bracher Harkins which will show her father's name to definitely confirm this is her.

There appear to be two sons: Howard John Harkins born in 1918 and Patrick G. Harkins, but I can't find them in the 1939 register.

I have found thanks to the South Africa probate document previously posted here that there was another daughter Hilary Sara Dewsbury born to her first husband Conrad.

I have also found the 3 daughters and where they ended up which was living in Dover, Kent, where they all died between 1970 and 1982:

Joyce Dewsbury|Smith married Alexander D. Smith in 1930 [no children in 1939 register]
1907–1970

Marjorie Dewsbury|Gotliffe married Maurice Lee Gotliffe in 1935 [had one son who died in 2017]
1909–1982

Hilary Sara Dewsbury|Green married Frederick L. Green in 1950 [but using the name Green in the 1939 register]
1911–1980

I am hoping I might actually be able to make contact with the descendants of Emma Eliza Colman after all these years which is very exciting.

My re-interest in her was created as last week DNA identified an unknown illegitimate niece of Emma whose father was previously unknown with the father's name blank. Now I know they are part of the Colman family and it got me doing more digging into the Colmans.

Thanks again for all the help and I will update here when I know more!

Jon

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #16 on: Saturday 12 September 20 03:49 BST (UK) »
I have also ordered the 1915 marriage certificate to (Daniel) Howard Bracher Harkins which will show her father's name to definitely confirm this is her.

Hi I just wanted to update this thread to say the marriage certificate arrived. It names Emma Eliza's father as Alexander Colman, licensed victualler. This shows it is definitely her!

I really can't believe how this has been resolved and so again thank you very much.

It states Alexander was dead on the certificate. He wasnt actually dead, but had actually left Emma's mother 29 years previously for someone he met in the pub he then managed - The King Lud, so the story goes.

He married her bigamously, but for six months kept two marriages going. It is all revealed in judicial separation papers his first wife filed along with the certificates.

Anyway thanks again for helping me crack a long standing mystery.

Online jonwicken

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Re: Ancestral Aunt Brick Wall - Emma Eliza Colman born 1879
« Reply #17 on: Saturday 23 January 21 02:38 GMT (UK) »
Just wanted to update you and let you know that thanks to all your help I am now in touch with one of Emma's grandchildren. Thanks again, everyone.

Jon