Australia/Van Diemen's Land: Mrs Wardley 1870s

[Dumfriesdelving]

I think it was a common or paupers' grave. His family (siblings/uncle) can't have known or surely someone would have paid for a grave. Grandmother, 3 sisters and uncle all lived to 'good' ages.

[matthewj64]

Could this unidentified drowning be him?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197035682

[judb]

Excellent finds, Matthew. The drowning inquest looks a good possibility.

TROVE has an account of the actual drowning on 4 Jan
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87929271

As to notifying his family in UK there was no overseas telegraph service until much later so the only way they could be told would be by sea post.

Just another question, Elizabeth - you have mentioned 'Mrs Wardley' as being in Tasmania but the letter from RT just says 'Australia" so do you have some further information re her whereabouts? 

Judith

[Dumfriesdelving]

Very interesting articles, well done and thank you to both! A complete surprise and a sad end, if that is the case .4'6" is very short; I did hear that Turnbulls (he was 50%) were tall!
He said he was working at an outfitter's and was staying at Rose of Melbourne hotel in Young St,when he wrote to his sister in August 1864. The landlady's name could be Falkington or similar and the area of Melbourne Telford, but it's too hard to decipher and the attachments keep being rejected..

No, I don't have any more information about Mrs W. It's a Turnbull relative with a (still) locked tree who has tried to investigate.

[judb]

Another account of the inquest gives his height as 5ft 6in which seems more likely than the other report. There was a suggestion that the drowned man could have been a suspect being sought for a murder but that suggestion was proved wrong.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245505743

Judith

[Dumfriesdelving]

I'm glad he seems not to have been a murderer! The 5'6" sounds a more likely height. From tweeds to skinny dipping implies that he was not quite acclimatised....

Fascinating finds, anyway. I'm very grateful.
I did notice reference to 'Uncle Jardine' in his letter. An old photo came up with that unfamiliar name, linked to Liverpool and New Brunswick (timber dealer/ship owner). Will check for Wardleys.

[matthewj64]

Comfortable Bedrooms, for single gentlemen. Rose of Melbourne Inn, Young-street, Fitzroy.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6483936

Licensing Bench 1863
Rose of Melbourne Inn, Young street, to Jonathon Falkington, from Thomas Evans.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155020244

M

[Dumfriesdelving]

Astonishing to see what you have found!☺ Thank you so much.

[judb]

Couldn't figure out how we got to the boarding house quote from Matthew but this comment on an on-line tree gives the answer!
1864 - Robert wrote to Mary Jane Hope (Sister) on 26th August referring to her planned marriage that year, and stating that he worked at an outfitter's in Collins Street. His address was c/o Melbourne Hotel, Young Street.

Still no help with Mrs Wardley - and the mention of her is nearly 20 tears after Robert's death.  It sounds to me as though she is not a relative as she's referred to as MRS Wardley.

Judith