RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: phipps1 on Thursday 17 February 11 06:56 GMT (UK)
-
My paternal grandmoter is Mary Jane Hunt,born or christened in the Wesleyan Church,Uitenhage,Sth. Africa in 1892.
Her parents are Peter Hunt and Mary Jane Hunt, maiden name is unknown at present.
At some point,the Hunts may have moved to Northam,Limpopo, Sth Africa.
At some point,Mary Jane Hunt ( 1892) with or without her parents came to Fremantle on a ship and settled in Perth , Western Australia.
In January 1916,Mary Jane Hunt married my grandfather, Thomas Horatio (Horatio Thomas) Milward and they had one child,Trevor Sidney Harding Milward,born at Subiaco 26 December 1917.T.S.H.Milward is my father,and he died in 1995.
Subsequent to my grandfather,T.H.Milward divorcing Mary Jane Milward (Hunt) in 1925,she married a Richard Burke or Bourke in Perth,western Australia in 1926.
I am trying to trace the roots of the Hunt family from Uitenhage,South Africa.
I am hoping someone has a connect to the Hunts of South Africa or can give me advice/leads to follow.
Any assistance is gratefully received.
Thank you !
phipps
-
I wonder if Marys family didnt show up because there legal name may have been Schlemned and they used or changed it to Hunt ?
-
I wonder if Marys family didnt show up because there legal name may have been Schlemned and they used or changed it to Hunt ?
Hi Michael,the Mary Jane Hunt,born 1892,Uitenhage,Sth. Africa who married Thomas Horatio Milward ( Horatio Thomas) Milward in Perth,Western Australia in January 1916, was the mother of my late father,Trevor S.H.Milward,born Subiaco,Perth 26 December 1917.
My grandfather,Thomas H. Milward divorced Mary Jane Hunt in 1926.The co-respondent,Richard Burke married her shortly after her divorce.
Does this help you ?
I am anxious to try and work out what ship she came to Fremantle,Western Australia on and what year . Do you know ?
Kind regards,
phipps
-
I wonder if Marys family didnt show up because there legal name may have been Schlemned and they used or changed it to Hunt ?
That is a new focus for me Michael.The marriage certificate is Hunt and her parents names are shown as Hunt, and the divorce papers show only "Hunt". Also the communication I got from the Wesleyan Church in Uitenhage clearly had her baptised as "Hunt" in 1892 so any name change would have to have been no later than 1892 I think.Her emigration to Australia should be in the name "Hunt"
I am struggling to find a ship but she must have come to Western Australia at some point.
Any clues ?
If we are related,how is that relationship described ?
Kind regards,
phipps
-
I have many of the same questions ? Wow Its amazing though. Our family was always quite secret about it all. My father talked vaguely of hidden jewish ancestory and a name change somewhere. Today earlier I found your link and rang my Cousin who confirmed some of the rumours and gave me that name Schlemned. I can't find anything on it. I have just contacted friends in Germany and Israel to see if they have any clues but not feeling confident at this stage. I too would love to find ship they/she came on. the name change appears to be much earlier maybe before south Africa.
-
My cousin apparently found some document somewhere from a time when Mary worked for a period as a legal secretary and had to provide earlier family names. Schlemned is the name she used. With my family history I have to wonder if that was what she recalled but my father definately mentioned a similar sounding name but said Mary didnt wish to talk about it much. He also talked of the name change due to the fact of people not likeing Jewish names. I think it was 1972 When Mary Died, dad always talked of a step brother & he gave me the picture of a young boy on a seat (curly hair I think from memory).Pleasae keep me in touch. In which country do you live now ??
-
You will find Barrymore Richard Burke On FACEBOOK under that name.
-
I have many of the same questions ? Wow Its amazing though. Our family was always quite secret about it all. My father talked vaguely of hidden jewish ancestory and a name change somewhere. Today earlier I found your link and rang my Cousin who confirmed some of the rumours and gave me that name Schlemned. I can't find anything on it. I have just contacted friends in Germany and Israel to see if they have any clues but not feeling confident at this stage. I too would love to find ship they/she came on. the name change appears to be much earlier maybe before south Africa.
Hi Michael, you mean the Hunts may have emigrated to South Africa from a european country at some point ?
Wow ! That really opens things up. I assumed that The Hunts had probably been descended from English settlers in South Africa.
Kind regards,
phipps
-
You will find Barrymore Richard Burke On FACEBOOK under that name.
I can't get "facebook" here in the P.R.China-it is banned and disconnected by the authorities Michael.
Kind regards,
phipps
-
My cousin apparently found some document somewhere from a time when Mary worked for a period as a legal secretary and had to provide earlier family names. Schlemned is the name she used. With my family history I have to wonder if that was what she recalled but my father definately mentioned a similar sounding name but said Mary didnt wish to talk about it much. He also talked of the name change due to the fact of people not likeing Jewish names. I think it was 1972 When Mary Died, dad always talked of a step brother & he gave me the picture of a young boy on a seat (curly hair I think from memory).Pleasae keep me in touch. In which country do you live now ??
Micheal,I have seen that photo you are talking about.I may even still have it somewhere.My father was young, curly haired, and sitting.Must be the one.It was a studio portrait. done in Perth.
You can imagine my father felt totally abandoned by Mary Jane so her name is still not spoken of openly,even within my generation.My father was about 8 when she walked out on him.In the threads,you will have read that Mary Jane wanted to reconnect with my father afterThomas Milward died,so I am talking 1948/1949.My father refused to reply to her letter.
The complete disconnect was in 1925.
Kind regards,
phipps
-
Thats ashame , the photos may have been interesting.
-
In which country do you live now ??
I live and work in Mainland China Michael
-
Thats ashame , the photos may have been interesting.
Photos like that are not with me in China but at sometime later this year,I will be able to confirm whether I have them or not.
I will send you a picture of my grandfather when I email you but it will have to be tomorrow.
The photo is of him in Perth in c 1908 and I don't know when or where he met your grandmother but certainly they married in 1916 so the photo I send may be interesting to you.I will try to send it tonight but can't promise
Kind regards,
phipps
-
Yes ! I want to find it now , thats the pic on a chair with his knee up or something like that. It was in a studio somewhere most likely Perth. Yes sorry to say Mary was one tough cookie. We would have to sit at attention at the table not to say a word. I remember her saying " children art to be seen and not heard. She spoke very well ,a plum in her mouth we say. I wouls like to see more pictures of your dad. What happenned to him, I always wanted to find but couldnt find any imformation. We didnt know up until now Mary attempted contact with your dad.
-
Yes ! I want to find it now , thats the pic on a chair with his knee up or something like that. It was in a studio somewhere most likely Perth. Yes sorry to say Mary was one tough cookie. We would have to sit at attention at the table not to say a word. I remember her saying " children art to be seen and not heard. She spoke very well ,a plum in her mouth we say. I wouls like to see more pictures of your dad. What happenned to him, I always wanted to find but couldnt find any imformation. We didnt know up until now Mary attempted contact with your dad.
I think you are right- elbow on knee or similar.I am going from memory,seeing it a very long time ago.I might be wrong except for the curly hair,sitting down,young age ( must be before 1925, and Perth.I absolutely remember those details.
Did your gran live in Melbourne at some stage ?.
My Dad was hardened by his experience at age 8 and absolutely wrote your gran off.He used to say he would see your gran wheeling a baby in a pushchair after the divorce-That must have been your dad.It affected his relationship with women,he said.
My Dad served in the RAN in WW 2 and died in 1995 aged 79.
My father literally hated your Grandmother I am sad to tell.
I have no pictures of him on my date base.
I have sent you a couple of emails with pictures,Michael.
Kind regards,
phipps
-
Apparently (Katherine my cousin believes ) Mary Jane Hunt came over on the boat with her sister.Its believed her mother died on the boat or quite shortly after. After marrying your Grandfather Mary had an affair maybe even became pregnant married Richard Burke but shortly ran off to the country to get away from him and his drinking. As I said Richard was seen by my father ( Barrymore Richard Burke, known as "Peter" ) a few times but then just seemed to dissapear.Apparently after finding God & sobbering up he attempted contact with my Aunty Pamela dads sister but she wasnt interested due to his past abuse. Maybe we have found his grave, still checking. Kathy says Mary Listed Schlemned as her mothers surname before she changed it and that Mary said her Grandmother was jewish and converted to Wesley for the man she loved.
Did Mary meet your Grandfather while working as a law clerk? This is what we believe.
-
I wonder about the name of my Gramothers sister & what happenned to there father Peter Hunt? Did he stay in South Africa ? My father spoke of perhaps his Grandmother being buried in thge Roebourne cemetery W.A. and that she spent time in Robuck bay. I also wonder about the name Schlemned? Could that be how she remembered it ? I find very few listing of that name but many similar Schllemm for instance.
-
Does anyone know of any families with the name Schelmned or schlemm or similar migrating to South Africa and on to Australia?
Mary jane Hunt My paternal Grandmother,Mary Jane Hunt was born in Uitenhage 22nd 1892,daughter of Peter and Mary Jane Hunt.
November 1892,daughter of Peter and Mary Jane Hunt.
The above records came from the Weslyan Church in Uitenhage.
At some point she emigrated to Perth,Western Australia, with her sister. Her mother may have died on the voyage or shortly after??? We dont know what happenned to Peter Hunt .
-
Does anyone have any news of any (weslyan Church ) " Hunt Family" members travelling ot South Africa & Australia. Hunt family of hidden Jewish decent? former name Schlemned or similar could it be schlemm??? Mary Jane Hunt & Peter Hunt.
-
Why did the schlemned( or similar name)later changed to Hunt family previously Jewish later weslyan go to South Africa and Australia ?
-
Hi. My great grandmother was Mary Jane Hunt and she had a daughter Dorothey. I believe Mary married John Randall and they were in Canada or New England. But.... John also then married a Mary Grace Goyett and I'm not sure about the whole story. The Sutherlands in Nova Scotia did have a boat that came from Australia because of the fishing industry.
Could this be the same family? My mother was abandoned at birth but she knew her mother due to the aunts.
Mary-
-
Hi
I may be able to help in a small way. My husband's great grandmother was Mildred May Hunt whose sister was Mary Jane Hunt and whose parents were Peter and Mary Jane. Mildred was married in 1916 in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Unfortunately I don't know any information about when she moved to Au or what happend to Peter and Mary Jane (Snr).
If anyone discovers any more I would be very interested.
Kind regards
Hana
-
I've done a bit more hunting based on the information in the post and have found the following:
> Entry #246
> Child: Frederick John SCHLEMMER
> Parents: Peter John and Mary Jane
> Born: 6/9/1876
> Baptized: 5/1/1889
>
> Entry #247
> Child: Alfred Ernest SCHLEMMER
> Parents: Peter John and Mary Jane
> Born: 9?/9/1878
> Baptized: 5/1/1889
>
> Entry #248
> Child: Eleanor Ethel SCHLEMMER
> Parents: Peter John and Mary Jane
> Born: 12/18/1883
> Baptized: 5/1/1889
>
> Entry #249
> Child: Norman Glendowe SCHLEMMER
> Parents: Peter John and Mary Jane
> Born: 5/12/1881
> Baptized: 5/1/1889
All of these children were baptised on the same day in one case 12 years after being born (converted from another religion?). The last name is Schlemmer. A Peter and Mary Jane Hunt then had two children, Mildred May b. 1890 and Mary Jane b. 1892 both baptised relatively soon after birth.
> Entry #427
> Child: Mary Jane HUNT
> Parents: Peter and Mary Jane
> Born: 11/22/1892
> Baptized: 2/19/1893
Entry #321
Child: Mildred May HUNT
Parents: Peter and Mary Jane
Born: 3/20/1890
Baptized: 11/18/1890
What also makes me think this is connected is Mildred's second son's middle name was Glendower (this appears to completely unconnected to his father's family). Therefore is the Glendowe above a transcribing error?
All this seems to tie into the story that the family had been Jewish and changed their name at some point and still explains why Mildred and Mary had the family name Hunt but seems to also relate to a Schlemmer/Schlemned family name!
I'm not sure how to track down anything official to support this and would be interested in your opinions.
Regards
Hana