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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: Newtogene on Sunday 13 July 25 07:32 BST (UK)
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I'm new so please be gentle, Im trying to find details on a palmist named Stephanie Wallace Bruce married to a Bruce. She used many different names in her profession but I'm trying to find more details on her and her husband as Ive no dob or death but they lived in London in 1930s where she would do her palm reading.
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1933 Electoral rolls Kensington and Chelsea has
Barry Wallace-Bruce and Georgina Stephanie Wallace-Bruce
At Collingham Place
1939 Electoral rolls Westminster has
Stephanie Wallace-Bruce and Barry Wallace-Bruce
Added - in 1930 Electoral rolls, there are living in Oakdale Rd, Putney, London
Georgina Stephanie McDonald Wolfe born abt 1898 possibly in Australia?
The daughter of Helen Grant MacDonald and John Reissberg Wolfe (a doctor of medicine)
The 1911 census shows the family in Scotland in Bellie, Moray. (Stephanie is 13)
Stephanie Married Barry Wallace-Bruce in Perth Scotland in 1920
Barry was born in Wick Scotland 1894; and he died 30 June 1956 Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6C1P-QW5M?lang=en
Stephanie also died in South Africa in 1988.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6NBX-41R1?lang=en
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Welcome to Roots Chat. :)
I’m not sure how much family detail / background you are looking for.
The Scottish marriage certificate, and the 1911 Scotland census record would give you much more detail.
They are available from here.
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
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Thank you so much I really appreciate your help on this
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20519703/
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The Scotsman
1. 24 Jan 1920
2. 13 Oct 1920
Added - bottom line 1. = Garmouth, Moray
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1928 and 1929 Electoral Rolls
Barry Wallace Bruce and Georgina Stephanie Bruce, 372 Moss Side East (1929 includes "Flat 4"), Manchester - Moss Side Division
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Edinburgh Evening News, 15 Apr 1927
They were in Manchester in 1928 - BWB the "author"?
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This is fascinating , I would love to find what he had written. Thank you so much.
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John Reissberg Wolfe (1823-1904) was a well-known ophthalmologist, with numerous publications. There is plenty to find on him with a simple “google” search.
He must have spent a couple of years in the the mid-1890s working in Australia, since at least 2 of his children were born in Melbourne.
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I tried looking for newspaper ads for palm reading in the north west in 1928 (following on from HT’s findings) and I was surprised to see articles about prosecutions for fortune-telling.
Some AI-based research revealed that the Vagrancy Act 1824 was used in these cases. The focus was not on the mere act of palm reading, but on whether the practitioner aimed to mislead or defraud others.
Authorities and courts considered several factors to establish whether there was an intention to deceive:
- **Nature of Representations**: If the practitioner made specific, false claims about the future or supernatural abilities, this could indicate intent to deceive.
- **Exchange of Money**: Charging a fee for fortune-telling or palmistry, especially when coupled with promises of special powers or guaranteed outcomes, was often viewed as evidence of intent to deceive.
- **Dishonesty**: The prosecution would look for evidence that the practitioner knew their statements or acts were false or misleading, and that they intended others to rely on them.
- **Vulnerability of Victims**: Targeting vulnerable individuals (e.g., those grieving or seeking comfort) was a strong indicator of intent to deceive, as the law aimed to protect such groups from exploitation.
- **Pattern of Conduct**: Repeated or systematic behavior suggesting a scheme to defraud, rather than isolated or entertainment-based readings, could support a finding of intent.
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I tried looking for newspaper ads for palm reading in the north west in 1928 (following on from HT’s findings) and I was surprised to see articles about prosecutions for fortune-telling.
AB,
Same here - started casting around for keyword "palmist" associated with other key words that linked to the subject of the post - including addresses (did they advertise?). Bit of a long shot but, like you, quite surprised to see the court appearances. Also, plenty of reference to the "gullible" who paid for their services.
Am intrigued by BWB - whether checking out full name, Barry W Bruce or B W Bruce - they tend to "smack" of the same individual. Haven't had time today to cross check.
Newtogene,
Rack up 3 posts (just reply to this) and I'll send you a Private Message and, belatedly with apologies, a very warm welcome to Rootshat.
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Thank you so much. I think this is about to get very interesting
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Same here - started casting around for keyword "palmist" associated with other key words that linked to the subject of the post - including addresses (did they advertise?). Bit of a long shot but, like you, quite surprised to see the court appearances. Also, plenty of reference to the "gullible" who paid for their services.
hanes teulu, Are you able to share any of this?
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An item in the South African Archives
ILLIQUID CASE DAMAGES - BREACH OF CONTRACT
STEPHANIE WALLACE-BRUCE VERSUS AFRICAN ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS LIMITED.
Identifier: ZA TAB WLD_0_1275/1939_1
Repository: National Archives Repository (Public Records of former Transvaal Province and its predecessors as well as of magistrates and local authorities)
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Same here - started casting around for keyword "palmist" associated with other key words that linked to the subject of the post - including addresses (did they advertise?). Bit of a long shot but, like you, quite surprised to see the court appearances. Also, plenty of reference to the "gullible" who paid for their services.
hanes teulu, Are you able to share any of this?
"... the court appearances ..." and "... their services ..." applies to palmists and clairvoyants in general, not Georgina. I didn't find an item that I could link to her.
Is this how you read my post? If so, sorry for the confusion.
Good find on NASA.
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Dr WOLFE married an Australian woman who would become the mother of Stephanie and her siblings.
A news notice of the marriage of Dr J R WOLFE to Helen Grant McDONALD. It was placed in The Argus (Melbourne ) in March 1889. Her father had been living in Melbourne at Alphington but was deceased at that time.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/6243517?searchTerm=%22dr%20j%20r%20wolfe%22
In May 1889 Dr J R WOLFE,applied for naturalisation in Glasgow and it is noted there were children from his first marriage listed on the application. He states married which he was. An online tree has a scan of this application.
As mentioned, he had a thriving business in Collins Street Melb. into the mid 1890's.
Sue
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"... the court appearances ..." and "... their services ..." applies to palmists and clairvoyants in general, not Georgina. I didn't find an item that I could link to her.
Thanks, that's clear now. :)
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An item in the South African Archives
ILLIQUID CASE DAMAGES - BREACH OF CONTRACT
STEPHANIE WALLACE-BRUCE VERSUS AFRICAN ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS LIMITED.
Identifier: ZA TAB WLD_0_1275/1939_1
Repository: National Archives Repository (Public Records of former Transvaal Province and its predecessors as well as of magistrates and local authorities)
I wonder what happened?
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The Wolfe family returned from Melbourne to London in May 1901. Stephanie is the youngest child, recorded as 2 years old. Mother and children travelled on one ship, and Dr Wolfe (father) travelled on a different ship, but in the same month. Separate ships - Odd?
I could not find a birth record for Stephanie in Australia, but there are birth records for her 2 older siblings.
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I can find no shipping record of Barry or Stephanie travelling from England to South Africa, under the surnames Bruce or Wallace. Might they have travelled under a different name?
Also I could not see them in the British 1939 register (taken in Sept), so they may have left the UK earlier than that.
Added - the 1921 census has them living in Edinburgh.
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I wonder if his was slightly grander and paid for by the employer, and the other ship was a little more affordable? Or did he want total peace and quiet? :D
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I can find no shipping record of Barry or Stephanie travelling from England to South Africa, under the surnames Bruce or Wallace. Might they have travelled under a different name?
Also I could not see them in the British 1939 register (taken in Sept), so they may have left the UK earlier than that.
It wouldn't surprise me a different name , I had been told they went on the first day of the war but I've not seen anything .
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I wonder if his was slightly grander and paid for by the employer, and the other ship was a little more affordable? Or did he want total peace and quiet? :D
They were all travelling Saloon (1st) class. I think Dr Wolfe may have been a through passenger from Sydney to Melbourne and then on to London, whereas the wife and children boarded in Melbourne.
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I wonder if his was slightly grander and paid for by the employer, and the other ship was a little more affordable? Or did he want total peace and quiet? :D
They were all travelling Saloon (1st) class. I think Dr Wolfe may have been a through passenger from Sydney to Melbourne and then on to London, whereas the wife and children boarded in Melbourne.
That is very odd
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A nurse travelled with Mrs WOLFE.
So she certainly had support to assist with the children.
Sue
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Scotlands People, Wick Births, County of Caithness
Barry Wallace Bruce, born 10 Dec 1893, 9hrs 30 mins AM, Sex F (sic), address Gowrie House, Parish of Wick,
Father William Bruce, Merchant Draper, Mother Barbara Bruce, née Thomson
Caithness Courier, 23 July 1886
At Gowrie House, Wick on the 15th inst, the wife of William Bruce, jr., draper, of a son
John O'Groats Journal, 15 Dec 1893
At Gowrie House, on the 10th inst, William Bruce, draper, of a son
John O'Groats Journal, 15 Dec 1893
DEATHS - At Gowrie House, on the 13th inst, Barbara Thomson, beloved wife of William Bruce, draper, age 35
The couple married 25 Jun 1885 at Inverness
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The son born 1886 was Benjamin Thomson Bruce.
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The 1891 Census has William 30, Barbara 30 and Benjamin T 4 at Janetstown Gowrie Cottage - Head of Household is Catherine Thomson 52
The 1901 Census has William 42, new wife Lizzie 28 and children Benjamin 14, Harry (sic) 7, Gladys 3 and Edith 1 - address 37 High Street, Wick,
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William died 1912, age 47.
John O'Groats, 23 May 1913