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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: CarolineLittle on Monday 13 March 23 01:02 GMT (UK)

Title: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: CarolineLittle on Monday 13 March 23 01:02 GMT (UK)
I've been working on a great uncle today and found him named in the will of someone who named him as his oldest son.  That's not what official records say?

Roydon James Moffatt Marshall
ABT 1895 • Netherby, Victoria
DEATH 1968 • Sydney, New South Wales,

Mother - Martha Hannah Barnes
28 APR 1866 • Aldinga, South Australia
28 APR 1926 • Brighton, Victoria

Father - John Marshall
25 APRIL 1861 • Burnbank, South Australia
20 JUNE 1900 • Moonta, South Australia

Martha married John Marshall on 11 Mar 1890 in Tooan, Victoria.

Stepfather - John Bennett
20 APR 1857 • North Hill, Cornwall
1930 • Warracknabeal, Victoria

Martha married John Bennett in 1906 in Warracknabeal, Victoria.

Half Brother - William Hicks Bennett (my great grandfather)
1910 • Warracknabeal, Victoria
19 NOV 1994 • Sutherland, New South Wales

Named as sole legatee and oldest son of...

William Bowey, farmer
The Gables, Barker's Road, Prospect, South Australia
Formerly of The Cedars, Maitland, South Australia
Will dated 21 July 1910 when Roydon was 15.

Did Martha perhaps fall pregnant to William but not marry him or even use his surname for Roydon?  Or have I somehow messed up somewhere?  Please help!  All my records match John Marshall as his Dad.  His mother used Marshall as her name when marrying John Bennett.

I've attached the notice of William Boweys will.  It wasn't executed for 16 years, the notice was placed in The Melbourne Argus on 27 August 1926 noting the appointment of Roydon and Walter Richards of Turiff as executors.

Um, that's the same year his Mum Martha died.  Did she wait until her death to reveal who his real Dad was?

Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: CarolineLittle on Monday 13 March 23 01:13 GMT (UK)
John Marshall was registered as his Dad officially on VIC BDM, record 5851/1895.
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: maddys52 on Monday 13 March 23 01:43 GMT (UK)
I think you have made an error - not sure whose will it is in the clip, it doesn't seem to say. William BOWEY of Maitland and Prospect died 1940.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92400399

My reading of the clip is that William BOWEY is another executor.
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: CarolineLittle on Monday 13 March 23 01:44 GMT (UK)
This would be the correct William Bowey I believe.

William Bowey
1860–1921
BIRTH 3 JUN 1860 • Clifton, Moolap, Victoria, Australia
DEATH 14 NOV 1921 • Leopold, Victoria, Australia
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: CarolineLittle on Monday 13 March 23 01:56 GMT (UK)
Oh I've misread it haven't I?  The 3 named in the notice were the executors of the will of unknown person?  Strange the deceased is not named isnt it.
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: maddys52 on Monday 13 March 23 02:03 GMT (UK)
It is strange, normally notices say "the last will and testament dated  ...  of ...", but this one says " dated ... annexed". I'm not a legal expert, maybe a printing mishap, or someone forgot to put the name in for the advertisement thinking it was attached?
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: maddys52 on Monday 13 March 23 02:05 GMT (UK)
Oh, if this is the year his mother died, is it her will? Roydon would be her "eldest child". The will may have been dated 1910, but she didn't die until 1926.
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: CarolineLittle on Monday 13 March 23 02:08 GMT (UK)
Bingo!  Yes that's it for sure.  TYSM. 
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: maddys52 on Monday 13 March 23 02:09 GMT (UK)
Her will here:
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/84FD68DA-F566-11E9-AE98-EB5DF0B67B7F?image=1

 :D
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: CarolineLittle on Monday 13 March 23 02:19 GMT (UK)
Thank you!  Will read now.
Title: Re: Son named in fathers will but he's not recorded as his dad, help!
Post by: Dalet on Wednesday 15 March 23 01:17 GMT (UK)
No one has made the comment that

"William Bowey married Sarah Anne Barnes - the sister of Martha Hannah Bennett nee Barnes and formerly Marshall"

Would explain why he was an executor also.

Dale