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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: Billy Anderson on Friday 26 February 10 05:45 GMT (UK)
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Hi all,
I had a great Aunt Agnes Anderson who i presumed was married to Varie Keane,
The lived in Durban and she returned to Scotland( after his death) were she spent her last years.
On her death cert it says she was single?
She used her maiden name so maybe they were not married.
Were do I start looking for info.
I think they were in Durban from 1949-1985, though i am guessing here.
Any help would be most appreciated in trying to find info.
I suppose i should be looking for his death cert.for starters!
ta much,
Billy Anderson.
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Hi all,
This is my first time on the South African page and a point in the right direction would be fantastic.
I do not mind doing the research on my own I just need to be pointed in the right direction,
ta much.
Billy.
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Hi all,
It,s me again so it is!
Any chance of a wee point in the right direction for breaking into research in South Africa.
A reply would be fantastic!
ah feel am speakin tae ma sel!
Cheers,
Billy.
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Hi Billy
If your aunt was married, do you think she would have been married in South Africa?
If she died in Scotland, perhaps in the UK there was no record of her South African marriage, hence on her Death Certificate, she was recorded as "Single"?
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Hi Danchaslyn,
Thank you for you reply.
I have just received an email from my aunt to say that my great aunt did not actually marry Varie!
He was already married and he left his wife and eloped to South Africa with my great Aunt Agnes.
I know Agnes was in Glasgow in 1948 as she was a witness to her sisters Wedding but i do not think she was at her other sisters wedding in 1956.
I think i have to back track and find Varies birth and marriage in Britain then i can start looking for him in South Africa,
cheers,
Billy.
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Hi Billy Anderson
Great idea of yours..................also, is his first name 'Varie', as you have it, or is that an abbreviation for another name?
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Hi Danchaslyn,
I am not sure if Varie /Varry is short for something else,
I have very little info to go on,
have had a look for Keane family websites on rootsweb but no joy,
I may try shipping lists to South Africa to see if anything turns up,
thanks for you help and interest,
cheers,
Billy.
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Hi Billy Anderson
Try finding out from family members what "Varie's" possible first name could be, if it's not Varie?
I've been searching through various websites for you, UK marriages etc and no luck with a "Varie" Keane. Quite a few Victor and Vincent Keanes though.
Also, if we can have a better idea of dates, something is bound to turn up....
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Hi Billy Anderson
Have you seen from the shipping lists, G. V. Keane, male, b. 1907, departed London, for Cape, South Africa in 1936?
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Hi Danchaslyn,
Your a treasure,
thanks for that.
Were do I find the shipping lists .
The 1936 departing throws up more questions,
And now i have a date of birth for Vary.
If you let me know were to look i will look for A. Anderson to see if my great Aunt was on the ship at the same time.
she was born in 1912.
many thanks,
Billy.
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Hello Billy Anderson
In the shipping lists it's a lot easier to try to find Varie Keane, as the Keane surname is so much rarer than Anderson!
Have a look in findmypast.com, in the Migration section, shipping lists and not many V Keane's either male, or female emigrated.
For the Andersons its a different story! And there are many, many "A.Andersons", both male and female. Some of the A Anderson females are obviously spouses of Anderson males.
Haven't yet been able to find Agnes, b. 1912, have been looking.
There are of course several other shipping lists you can check, just google in "Shipping Lists".
Also, they were not always entirely accurate, some have initials "missing", and ages may not be exactly correct.
Keep searching......as I will
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Hi Danchaslyn,
Thank you for your on going help.
I will check out the shipping records.
My Great Aunt
Agnes McInnes Black Anderson (Nessy)
was born 26/04/1912.Glasgow
Parents
Father: William Anderson.
Mother: Catherine Mary McIntyre Black Anderson.
many thanks,
Billy.
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Hi all,
Have just downloaded the details of Mr.G.V.Keane's trip to South Africa from the 'find my past' website.
Mr.G.V.Keane age 29
Occupation Gardener.
traveled on 28th August 1936 from London for Cape,South Africa.
The ship was called 'Garth Castle' of the Steamship line
Union Castle.
There were 264 Passengers on board final destination Beira,Mozambique
Vary,s address was given C/O S.A .House WC2
marital status undisclosed.
Thanks to all for help getting this far,
cheers,
Billy.
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Hello Billy
Well, the details you've downloaded for Mr G. V. Keane are very interesting.
The Garth Castle, was of course, as you say, one of the Union Castle Line. These were "the mail ships". They ploughed regularly between the UK and SA, and from this particular trip, Mocambique, with passengers, mail and cargo on board.
They would arrive in Cape Town, then on to Port Elizabeth, then East London, and on to Durban.
As this Mr Keane passenger gave his address as c/o South Africa House (near Trafalgar Square), WC2, London, I would assume, he was in transit, to settle in SA. He had neither a British address, nor yet, a South African one.
He may well have travelled on to Durban, on the same ship, 'the Cape', just being logged as his destination?
Right on Billy, we need now to discover more....
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Hi Danchaslyn,
Were next do you think i should look?
Should i try and find a birth cert, in the UK or look for him in Durban after he landed.
Would love to find out his first name.
G.V is giving me more questions than answers.
cheers,
Billy.
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Hi Billy
Perhaps if you are able to contact any archivists at various current city municipalities, such as Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and so on, to seek help with a "look-up", for the period roughly 1936 - 1985, to check their Ratepayers for a V. Keane?
Also, as you have a hunch that he and Agnes Anderson, may well have lived in Durban 1949 - 1985, perhaps that would be the most sensible municipality to check first?
"Old" Durban in particular Telephone Directories may hold something for you to?
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Hi Danchaslyn,
Thanks for the info will seek and hopefully find,
cheers,
Billy.
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Hello Billy
Well, the details you've downloaded for Mr G. V. Keane are very interesting.
The Garth Castle, was of course, as you say, one of the Union Castle Line. These were "the mail ships". They ploughed regularly between the UK and SA, and from this particular trip, Mocambique, with passengers, mail and cargo on board.
They would arrive in Cape Town, then on to Port Elizabeth, then East London, and on to Durban.
As this Mr Keane passenger gave his address as c/o South Africa House (near Trafalgar Square), WC2, London, I would assume, he was in transit, to settle in SA. He had neither a British address, nor yet, a South African one.
He may well have travelled on to Durban, on the same ship, 'the Cape', just being logged as his destination?
Right on Billy, we need now to discover more....
Hi Danchaslyn,
I was wondering is it possible to access the archives at South Africa House.
I need to get a date of birth and address for G.V Keane .
cheers,
Billy.
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Hi Billy Anderson
Thanks for your question and you will know by now that I've sent you a personal message.
Best wishes
Danchaslyn
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Latest update.
I have now come to the conclusion that the name 'Varrie' is a family name as i have found more info.
George Victor Keane aged 29 Gardener traveled from Beira,Mozambique on the 'Garth Castle' arriving at Southampton on the 4th Aug. 1936.
According to Ancestry.com
Will now check for an Agnes Anderson going back with G.V on the trip back on 28th Aug.1936. from London to Capetown.
Genealogy= you solve one question and 3 more pop up!
Billy.
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Hi Billy
You certainly seem on the right track.......well done!
As you say, you reach one goal and then so many more paths open up to follow. All part of the magic!
Cheers
Danchaslyn :D
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Hi Billy,
Maybe you have already tried this databases. I found some KEANE names there.
Pietermaritzburg archives:
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300ds?20101127075954CB86ED84
Durban archives:
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300ds?20101127075605CB86ED84
Hoping that you will find your answers soon.
Regards
Johann
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There are also some KEANE names here:
http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=43
Regards
Johann
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Well done, Johann! ;D
Hopefully one of the Keanes, or more, will be links to Billy's GV Keane and Agnes Anderson?
In the meanwhile, Billy, have you had any luck with finding Agnes Anderson on any of the shipping records?
Good luck with your searches
Danchaslyn
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There are also some KEANE names here:
http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=43
Regards
Johann
Hi Johann,
Thank you for the info provided.
As far as looking for George Victor Keane,s gravestone i really do not know were to start looking.
I think he died in early 1980,s as his partner Agnes left and returned to Glasgow were she spent her last days.
I will send you a PM,
kind regards,
Billy.
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Hi all,
Still searching for the last resting place of George Victor Keane.
Another question i have is would George have been called up for service in WWII
He would have been approx 31 years of age ,
cheers,
Billy.
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Hi Billy :)
Variously I have the upper enlistment age for recruits during WWII, as 41 - 45 years of age, so your George Keane, quite likely would have been a possible candidate?
So sorry you are still searching.
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Hi Danchaslyn,
Thanks for you reply.
I have been other work on the family tree and only got back onto the elusive George Victor Keane.
I am going to order the marriage cert Keane/Walsh April,May,June 1927.
Volume no.8c Page 942.Bolton
George Keane and Margaret .T.Walsh.
I think this could be him,the only other one is Sept 1935 which is a bit close to him leaving for South Africa though i have not ruled this out yet,
Still looking ,
Billy.
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Hi all,
I have found a Thomas Francis John Keane who died on the 2nd of Dec 1987.
He is stated as Divorced.
9742/87.South Africa,Cape Province Probate records of Records of master of the high court.
This maybe the elusive Varie Keane i found this info in Familysearch.
Any help were i take it from here would be awesome,thank you,
Billy.