Hello everyone,
Thank you all for your help and comments re this puzzle! I did try and reply yesterday but when I hit "send", my computer said not connected, so lost the lot!!
Although the wedding notice said Mr and Mrs Malcolm McDougall of the Carrington Hotel, I feel this is a misprint as their names were definitely Dougal and Janet (nee Robertson) McDougall. Dougal was the Licensee of this hotel for many years and 3 other hotels in the inner city at various times. The Carrington is the only one that is still operating as a hotel in Surry Hills.
My husband has located a couple of articles on Jane Moss in Trove, one showing that she had been gaoled for horse stealing I think in the Tamworth area. Thomas Moss was her husband and I think they and their little daughter migrated to Australia as a family. I have not found anything further on Thomas. Did he die and she became involved with other men??
Their daughter Mary Emily Jane certainly did marry John William Sweedman and I have made contact with a distant relative in Qld. on the Sweedman side. I did know that Mary died reasonably young. Sadly this relative could not give me any info on my little Louisa/Maud/e.
Louisa's full birth name was Louisa Jennings Cunneen McDougall - Illegimate. She was born on 7 Feb 1896 at 563 Bourke St. Surry Hills, NSW, (her parent's home). Her father was not listed.
Mother's maiden name was Agnes Urie McDougall who was aged 19 at the time. Agnes was born in Glasgow, Scotland. She was the Informant of Louisa's birth. Witness was Mrs McKenzie and she was registered 14 March, 1896, Sydney. Reg. No. #00606
I have a death transcript for Jane Moss too :
Reg. No. #10400
Death - 11 June, 1927
Place of Death - Thomas Street, Northmead, Blacktown Shire (daughter's home I believe)
Old Age Pensioner, Aged 84
Cause - Chronic Myocarditis
Father's name and occupation - both unknown
Mother's maiden name - Henrietta Roberts
Buried 13 June 1927
At - Church of England Cemetery, Rookwood
Born - Coates, England
Her place and age at marriage - both unknown
Spouse - Thomas Moss (does not indicate if still alive at time of her death)
Children of Marriage - Maude 31, Living, None deceased!!
Maude was not actually a "child of the marriage" and why wasn't Mary Emily, her biological daughter mentioned - unless the informant was not aware of her existence or there had been a rift in the family and no contact either before/after Mary's death!
Jack McDougall was one of 6 sons of Janet and Dougal McDougall of the Carrington Hotel, 4 of whom served in WWI. Only one returned. Jack killed in Gallipoli.
I did look at Ancestry for an Edward Cunneen and found a William Edward Cunneen whose wife's maiden name was Jennings! As both Cunneen and Jennings are surnames, I feel there is a definite clue here as to who the father of Louise might have been. Not necessarily William though!
Jane Moss was obviously known to Edward Cunneen as per the Court article sent, so did Louisa go to Jane Moss so she could be near her biological father? As the McDougall's lived in Surry Hills and Jane in the Hawkesbury/Riverstone area, how did they know each other?
It was only through doing my DNA that all this came about - there was a very close match to me and the only one it could have been through was Agnes, which has turned out to be correct. Whether my mother was aware that she had a half sister (two as it turned out!) is something I will never know. This lady and I have had contact and was in fact a granddaughter of Louisa/Maude and she did know that Louisa had been brought up by Jane Moss but had no idea of the McDougall connection. At least I could confirm one parent for her and with photos.
Many thanks again for help and if anyone can add anything, I would be very grateful.
Dunscore