Coleman's

[Emily Syer]

OK The whole family including John coleman Bertha and kids left for Australia except for L Coleman whom was adopted I haven't be able to find birth records for either of them

[Lola5]

On 1871 census   which  I cannot find  what are John and Bertha s birthplace.

Maybe Lester was frail....else why was he baptised privately at  the Ridgeway  first.

 And so they left him with friends.
There was   no legal adoption then.

[Emily Syer]

My question is why would you leave behind a child if you leave for Australia

[CaroleW]

Emily

Where did you find John Coleman & Bertha in 1871?  There is no marriage?  If you are referring to the John & Bertha living in Sussex  with children Bertha, Carlos & Frederick -  her maiden name was Johnson not Balkwill

Legal adoption was only introduced in 1927

Do you have a copy of Lesters birth cert?

[Mabel Bagshawe]

There's a Bertha G B Balkwill b c1867 in Great Torrington on 1881 - a servant

I think she's Bertha E B Bright on 1871, living with grandmother Mary Balkwill. She's Bertha Elizabeth on her birth registration, no mother's maiden name

Still Bertha Bright on 1891, and marries under that name in 1893 in Bideford. I wonder whether Lester was her son, given the surname of his father at registration, then adopted by the Lashbrooks

[Mabel Bagshawe]

To add to the confusion, granny Mary Balkwill was  previously Mrs Mary Bright and had a couple of daughters with her first husband, one of whom presumably was Bertha's mother. Not surprising Bertha swapped between surnames

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Even better, Mary Balkwill is enumerated twice in 1881, once with granddaughter Bertha  and once with daughter Mary Ann Bright, who is unmarried with a number of children

Ignore me - got my census years mixed up

[CaroleW]

Emily

Your reply #9.    You need to give more info in your replies.  When did they leave for Australia   

What were the names & birthyears of the "and kids"

You refer to her as Bertha A - were did you get that from?

The illegitimate Bertha Elizabeth Bright b Torrington 1866 married John Charles Andrews 1892 & died in England as per a tree on Ancestry

[rosie99]

No Bertha did not die from what I have found out they left my 2x great grandfather and the rest got on a ship to Australia
Coleman - Bertha - 1866
—
1887 - Australia, Inward, Outward & Coastal Passenger Lists 1826-1972 - Australasia
Coleman - Bertha - 1866
—
1887
Australia, Inward, Outward & Coastal Passenger Lists 1826-1972 - Australasia
Coleman - Bertha A

1887 - Australia, Inward, Outward & Coastal Passenger Lists 1826-1972
New South Wales, Australia

Is this the family you mean 

Coleman group arriving in Sydney 18 Sep 1887 on the Hubbuck
John - age 49
Bertha A -age 51
Bertha (jnr) - 21
Fred - 16
Anna - 15

They tie in with the family that Carole has mentioned in reply 12