A strange case of Bigamy & desertion - Burrell/Turrell in VIC

[sparrett]

Ah!
Ancestry has it as Js BUNNETT.
It would seem to be BURRELL looking at the original document.

Probably looking again at
"A possibility is Eliz'ah TURRELL arr Mar 1855, age 27 on "Caldera" but she's a "Spinster" "
In your Original post.

MAybe
Being   unwilling to commit bigamy (at his stage anyway) she kept and used her married name for the voyage and for the registration of the children.

In the Collingwood community she was probably called Mrs. BURRELL with the population none the wiser.
Arriving in search of her a little after, her husband was perhaps confronted with the facts and may well have seen his wife with child.

Seeing the writing on the wall, he retired to the country and did not marry again.

Sue

[Lady Di]

Oh you write a good story Sue 

Interestingly - or maybe not - on Henry birth's cert it says that there were 2 children prior to Henry's birth. Both deceased.
I only know of 1 child George James Turrell born 1856, died 1857.
The other Turrell child (unnamed, died 1 day old in 1860 - Mother = Burrell) This was AFTER Henry's birth.

So who was the other child and where was she/he born/died?

[sparrett]

Mmm...
The records left relating particularly to Elizabeth suggest she was strong and competent woman.
Her estate at death was sizable and the wording of her will was quite exacting, covering every contingency for protection of the funds

I think there was planning in all this TURRELL/BURRELL business.


Sue

[Forguette]

May I ask about the witnesses 1865, Thomas Parker and Mary ??
Would it be possible to post here an excerpt of their signatures please?

[Lady Di]

Apologies Forguette, I'm having computer problems and can only show the complete marriage cert in  .pdf format. I don't think that's allowed but happy to send you a copy off board if required.

Had another look at the signatures and the surnames appear similar so possibly Thomas & Mary Parker.

Sue - I was surprised at the money & value of real estate Elizabeth had. Presume it came from James years earlier but she did something right in the following 25-30 years. Good luck to her.

[sparrett]

Interestingly - or maybe not - on Henry birth's cert it says that there were 2 children prior to Henry's birth. Both deceased.
I only know of 1 child George James Turrell born 1856, died 1857.
The other Turrell child (unnamed, died 1 day old in 1860 - Mother = Burrell) This was AFTER Henry's birth.

So who was the other child and where was she/he born/died?

In this situation there is ambiguity in the way the record could be interpreted.
The required information is previous children of the union.
So stating the child Henry was TURRELL she says there were previous TURRELL births,
But actually being with BURRELL were the children of that union?

My feelings are they were likely BURRELL, but is it possible they were English births?
Had you searched for births to Elizabeth as TURRELL or as BURRELL in Gov Reg Office?

Civil registration in Victoria started n 1853, so I would have expected  to find them if they had been in Victoria.

Sue

[Lady Di]

Yes, you're right - obviously could be either name. I've checked both in Vic, NSW & UK and nothing so far. Don't know what happens in the case of a stillbirth but she did have a child who died at 1 day old and that death was registered.

Thanks for your thoughts on the matter

[Forguette]

Thank for the offer LadyDi, unfortunately pdf files are a no go for me. My phone doesn't do them. Thanks, anyway.