RootsChat.Com

Research in Other Countries => Australia => Australia Lookups completed => Topic started by: kjb51 on Tuesday 17 June 08 13:05 BST (UK)

Title: Blackwell Family in NSW?
Post by: kjb51 on Tuesday 17 June 08 13:05 BST (UK)

I am trying to trace my Great Grandfather and his parents. On his marriage certificate in 1870 in Victoria, William Nathaniel Blackwell states that his birthplace is Sydney NSW.  Since his age is listed as 21, this would make his birth about 1849.  His parents are given as Nathaniel Blackwell, mason, and Susan Nott?
However, I have a shipping record in 1859 listing "Nath Blackwell 39, Susan Blackwell 40, and Nathan Blackwell 11" arriving on the Champion of the Seas from England.

I have searched extensively in England/Scotland and Ireland( where I can) and can find no census, birth, marriage records for this family.   The other complication is that all three have gone off the radar in Australia as well....no death records for any of them!!

Could Nathaniel the father have been a convict in NSW?  Or a soldier?  Could they have travelled back to England at some point and then returned in 1859?  Any suggestions on variations of the surname?

Any ideas would be very much appreciated as this is my "brick wall" at the moment.

Thanks
kjb51

Title: Re: Blackwell Family in NSW?
Post by: Les de B on Tuesday 17 June 08 14:29 BST (UK)

Not going to be much of a help to you but can let you know. Birth registrations were not compulsory in NSW until 1856, so any birth record before then would relate to church baptism record. Nathaniel could have been born in Sydney around 1849, but not baptized. I have a couple of pre-1856 that have no birth records for that reason.

Though, I know that doesn't help you with the arrival of the family 10 years later?

Les

Title: Re: Blackwell Family in NSW?
Post by: kjb51 on Monday 23 June 08 11:44 BST (UK)

Hi,
My thought is that maybe the family took a trip to England and the shipping record is them returning to Australia?

Is there any way to check church records in Sydney around 1849?  Also marriages of Nathaniel and Susan?  If Nathaniel were a soldier, is there any listing that I could check out?  Is there an online index of NSW immigration going back to the early 1800's?

Hoping someone can help.

Cheers

kjb51

Title: Re: Blackwell Family in NSW?
Post by: Les de B on Monday 23 June 08 13:19 BST (UK)

Don't know whether this is a "help or hinderance". Found on the following search site

http://proarchives.imagineering.com.au/index_search.asp?searchid=42

From Melbourne to London December 1858 aboard "Angelsey"
Mr Blackwell 30 old
Mrs Blackwell 25 old
Nathaniel Blackwell 8 old

Les

Title: Re: Blackwell Family in NSW?
Post by: kjb51 on Tuesday 24 June 08 00:05 BST (UK)

Thanks Les,

I found that one too and wondered... the parent's ages are out but the son's is close enough. Is there any reason why they would change their ages I wonder? 
I am going to be on the move for the next few months so may not reply promptly, but I will have internet access fairly often so keep up the clues if you find more.

Thanks again,

kjb51