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Hi everyone who has helped me on this , and thanks for all your thoughts, which have been noted.

Transcript of Margaret's Death Certificate has arrived, but Probate Packets not yet. Name of Margaret is given as Maragaret Hunt, widow, female, age 88 and death 26 Oct 1906, all of which tallies with what I have been told. (1906-88 years makes her born roughly 1818.)

No previous names given, no previous children given, father's name and occupation and mothers also not given.  Alfred, aged 42, is listed as the only child of the marriage, living or dead.  SHe is said to have married Charles at Young,  in the transcript and her age is given at marriage as 43 years, which tallies with a marriage date of 1861, which in fact is apparently written on the certificate and then crossed out.

 She is supposed to have been born in county Limerick, Ireland, and to have spent 70 years in the colony, which tallies with  arrival at age 18 in 1836-ish. Governor Bourke resigned on 30 January 1837 which means that IF Margaret did come out to be a companion to his daughter Elizabeth she was faced soon after with the choice of staying here or returning pdq to Ireland. Hmmm. Would she have stayed here without family?  Possibly, if she had a husband or other means of support.

More digging required.

Have noted other research suggestions, and will be reporting back - thanks again .. Trisha in beautiful sunny Port Augusta South Australia

and in case it helps anyone else:

According to the New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 (Governor) General Richard Bourke arrived on the ship Margaret (how confusing!)  on 2 Dec accompanied by his wife (Elizabeth nee Ryan) sons   (John)  and Richard, and daughter (Elizabeth)  .. the bits in parentheses are not on the actual image.

There is no extra Miss Bourke, which isn't evidence really, as the wife died a few months later, and  it's possible that a cousin was asked to come out to be a companion  to the daughter.

Will endeavour to find a way of consulting those correspondence papers ...  though the microfilmed copies still seem a good chance, as according to the Trove record they contain odds and end of correspondence, including some from MIss Bourke to someone on religious matters, i.e. personal stuff.

Happy searching and pondering, all! Trisha

Thank you all very much for these further clues! Alfred was the only child (by the name of HUNT) of Margaret and Charles ...  "Charles the Mysterious", I call him, but that's another story, which I will ask about one of these days.


I gather there was another Charles HUNT family in Gundagai in the mid-1800s, some or all of whom were swept away in The Big Flood of .. um .. 1850-60-ish. There were a few Big Floods!

I don't think Marguerite Mary HUNT, Riverview Cottage, domestic duties was connected, but have tucked her away.

The Probate information might well be really helpful -  thank you for that suggestion ... I will contact them immediately.

Thanks, Trisha

Thanks, Majm .. I have not been able to spot any mentions of his niece, but had many a happy hour reading the old papaers .. what a boon!  I am feelign more and more doubtful about this claim ... but thought I'd try in case there was a crumb of truth in it.   Have not given up yet ...  but the papers' position in the NSW State library is not all that convenient, being 1500 km away.

Will keep plugging away .. now waiting for Margaret's birth certificate to arrive, though of course, as we know, it will ony tell us what somebody said after she died.  Just had a thought .. since my name has changed a couple of times, too, just like Margaret, I might be wise to draft out the information needed for my death certificate, in case  my ghostly promptings are not clear enough for those left with that sad task when I am gone. I found when my dear Dad died recently that I was the only one of we siblings absolutely on top of all details of Dad's mother's name, etc.  Another benefit of this hobby!

Thanks for all assistance, Trisha

Wivenhoe, you are right, I need to see the certificates. Was just hoping someone had preceded me down this track, particularly re the relationship to Gov Bourke aspect.