RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: oldcrone on Tuesday 27 April 10 19:04 BST (UK)
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I'm hoping someone might be kind enough to look up information about my grandfather's immigration to Australia, and also his marriage certificate.
The details: his name was William Robert Stanley Llewellyn Davies, born 1903 in Harrow, Middlesex, UK. He emigrated in the late 1940s/early 50s (sorry, I don't have a more specific date) and I know that in 1954, he is on the electoral register in the state of Victoria (district: La Trobe, subdistrict: Croydon). He is living with his wife, Elizabeth, in Ferndale Rd, Mt Evelyn (source: Ancestry).
Some years ago, my mother managed to get a copy of his death certificate - he died on 23 April 1958. I know that he suffered a heart attack fighting a bush fire in Millicent, S Australia, and someone from this board a few years ago managed (quite incredibly!) to get me photos of his gravestone.
In short: my grandfather deserted my grandmother, moved to Australia (c. 1950) and married bigamously. I would really appreciate any information anyone might be able to find on: his move to Australia and the bigamous marriage. I have very little information about my grandfather, or even photos, as he was persona non grata within the family, for leaving my gran. My mum was really hurt when she got a copy of his death certificate, as under the section which says 'children', it was recorded as 'none' - presumably this had come from his second wife, Elizabeth, who probably had no knowledge of his previous life in England.
Many thanks for any help.
Clara :)
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Hi again Clara,
I remember this one. ;D Fascinating - Links to previous threads
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,160615.0.html
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,163139.0.html
departed London 14 Dec 1848 aboard the ORCADES. He was ticketed to Melbourne.
DAVIES WRSL - He was aged 45, English, a Farmer, address in UK: The Flat, Home Farm, East Hampstead Park nr Wokingham.
Cheers Kris :)
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Thanks, Kris - absolutely brilliant that you've found his immigration details so quickly - thanks so much for that. Haha, a 'farmer' - no way! But great to have his address at the time.
I'm stunned that you've managed to find this information so quickly. Thank you so much.
Clara ;D
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By the way: just wanted to say, I'm revisiting information I was seeking 4 years ago.
Sadly, I didn't get some of the answers I was looking for at the time (esp about my grandfather's bigamous marriage), but I'm very aware that so much more information has become available online (eg Ancestry) over recent years. Kris's information about my grandfather's immigration is a first for me.
Clara ;)
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Hi Clara,
Unfortunately marriages for that period are not available. Cut off point for SA is 1937 and Vic 1942. I will try the newspapers when I am at the library next for anything on the fires or an obit - Don't think I did 4 years ago as you had the SEFHS helping. I will only be able to check SA papers so may be no obit here if he was living in Vic. Perhaps someone else can try Vic Papers.
Cheers Kris :)
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Hi Clara
I've had a look at the Adelaide Advertiser for the period April 5, which is when the fires were at Wandilo where eight people were killed, and others injured. According to the newspaper report they were all employees of the Forestry Commission of South Australia. 6 were named at the time but not the other two and obviously Lou did not die till later.
http://www.forestry.sa.gov.au/history.stm is the contact for the Forestry Commission who may be worth an email.
There was no death/funeral notice in the Adelaide Advertiser up to April 28.
As has already been said, his grave caused someone to go to some trouble and expense. I'm surprised the cemetery doesn't have some record of who it was or who the undertaker was.
I'm waiting on copies of the Border Watch, the local newspaper to be brought out for me. Will let you know!
Perhaps he and Elizabeth weren't married at all. Also he could easily have been living in S A as it's four years after the electoral roll entry.
Judith
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Hi Judith,
Can you check Vic? At the time of his death he was living at Fernvale, Mt Elenlen. He was in SA fighting the fires so I would expect any Obit from family would likely be in Vic papers.
Cheers Kris :)
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There does not appear to be a place or locality called Fernvale in Victoria.
I know that in 1954, he is on the electoral register in the state of Victoria (district: La Trobe, subdistrict: Croydon). He is living with his wife, Elizabeth, in Ferndale Rd, Mt Evelyn
Clara
The electoral roll listing for 1954 shows Fernvale not Ferndale Road.
Australian Electoral Roll
1949
DAVIES William Robert L 61 Blackwood Street, Yarraville Packer
there wasn't an Ian in his name
Clara
He enrolled with Ian in 1954.
1954
DAVIES Elizabeth 12 Collins Street, Melbourne Clerk
DAVIES William Robert Ian Llewellyn 12 Collins Street, Melbourne Caretaker
1954
DAVIES Elizabeth Fernvale Road, Mt Evelyn Clerk
DAVIES William Robert S Fernvale Road, Mt Evelyn Labourer
A listing on an electoral roll does not confirm that the person enrolled was actually at that address on the day of the 1954 election eg the 1949 electoral enrolment for William at Yarraville was crossed out and Croydon and a date entered. He had also moved twice in the period before the 1954 election.
It would appear whoever gave the information for his South Australian death certificate may have confused the names.
I also find it a little odd that the cemetery can give you no further details from the burial register.
Perhaps your mother could make contact with the Victorian bdm's...email address on their website even if they would do a search between 1948 and 1954 for a marriage. Of course he may not have married Elizabeth.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/08jt/
7.5.0 Children (applying for parent’s information)
7.5.1 Conditions of Access
In general, for children of the registered person to be granted access to information they must:
• For the marriage certificate:
Note - only a child of the marriage or one of the parties to the marriage will be granted access to the marriage certificate.
* Submit an application in the approved form,
* Provide reasons why they seek the information,
* Provide a copy of their birth certificate to verify they are a child of the marriage or that they are a child of one of the parties to the marriage,
* If either of the parties to the marriage is living, provide written authority from one of the parties to the marriage allowing the child to access the information along with three forms of POI documents from the party to the marriage. (Note: if no written permission can be provided the marriage certificate is restricted for 60 years after the date of marriage or after both parties to the marriage are deceased, whichever is the later); and
* Provide three forms of POI documents to allow BDM to verify their
identity.
Cheers
Cando
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Have done already Kris - how are we sure he was in Vic in 1958? I thought the last mention was 1954 census? I could not see him on the 1958 census in Millicent - but he could be in another divison. The early ones are hard to look up as they are recorded by Division.
There is no mention of him (not that I could see, anyway) in the local paper Border Watch, either in the news section or the paid Death/funeral notices up to 29 April. The local Undertaker at the time seems to be Ern James of Mt Gambier.
The April 5 fire when the nine men were killed was in a State Forest and was out later that day so it does not seem as though it would have needed firefighters from other States being sent. He was certainly not one of the victims nor mentioned as being in hospital.
So sad - one of the men who died had only been married less than a year and his wife had a baby about a week after the fire. :'(
Judith ???
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how are we sure he was in Vic in 1958?
Judith
Judith the death reg in SA - and he didn't die in hospital.
DAVIES William Robert Stanley Llewelyn
23 Apr 1958 55 years Status Married
Residence Fernvale Vic Death place Mount Muirhead Gre 874/2538
Cheers
Cando
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Judith I wonder about the South Eastern Times 1900 - 1970
Clara
http://www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=934
has the Millicent Burial Register in its holdings.
The library -
http://www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=724
Cheers
Cando
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Wow, thanks for all this extra info - I need some time to digest it all and follow various links, etc....
(Cando: yes, the address was Fernvale Rd, not Ferndale - my mistake.)
Clara :D
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Thanks for that Cando - duh - I should read more carefully!
I did look for the South Eastern Times but the ANL unfortunately only holds the following dates
(1918:Mar.:01 - 1919:Aug.:08)
(1968:July:01 - 2009:Sep.:03)
(2009:Sep.:08 - 2010:Apr.:01)
and is 1958 there? NO >:( >:(
I wonder if the library at Millicent might have it, or perhaps when Kris may find it when she is next at the SLSA.
At least I tried ::)
Judith
Grouch for this week - why are places so provincial - South Eastern Times indeed, Border Watch!!!! Don't they realise there may be other places that are South East of somewhere else or on a border. Albury is the same - Border Morning Mail. Just like the UK road signs that proudly announce you are on the road to The South!!!!!!! Well I suppose if you kept going and your car didn't sink........ Rant over. :-X LOL
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The Millicent Library would be able to help...see above links.
Microform
South Eastern Times: 1900 - 1970
Cando
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Just wanted to say, thanks again for all this information - a pity about the marriage certificate being elusive, but as you've all said, perhaps my grandfather didn't actually marry Elizabeth (the long-standing bigamy story blown out of the water!).
Cando: thanks for the information re: my mother applying for a (potential) marriage certificate: I'll have to put this to my mum when I see her.
The info about my grandfather's passage to Australia, and the electoral roll registers are fantastic. I'm visiting my uncle (mum's brother) tomorrow and I'm sure he'll be interested to see this info about the father he hardly knew.
I'm away for a week, so if anyone adds to the thread, sorry if I'm a while responding. Thanks everyone for your brilliant help - I appreciate it alot.
Clara ;D