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Hi BAC3/Tony
We are still very confused as to which Charles Walker married Esther Davidson.  What we know for sure is that "a" Charles Walker married Esther Davidson.

We have MC which shows Charles James Walker born Middlesex, married Esther Davidson on 10/1/1859. It shows Charles' father being William Walker and mother Rachel maiden name Nightingale.  It shows Charles born in Middlesex, England.  Occupation for Charles is Farmer and his father's occupation is Farmer.

Death certificate shows he died 10/5/1901, parents unknown - probably because the informant was Charles son in law Arthur Doherty.  It also shows that Charles had been in Victoria for 45 years meaning he arrived in 1856 about 3 years before he married, but again the son in law may not have known exactly. Arthur was married to Charles daughter Esther (4th child of Charles).

Children on DC are Rachel 41, Charles James, Mary Ann, Esther, Emma, Martha, Elizabeth 27, William.  DC shows wife Esther Davidson.

We have a copy of his will however it does  not give much info other than he left everything to  Esther his daughter.

Will scan everything and send to you asap.

Would be very interested to read your biography - we are leaning towards it being Maitland Charles and would love to have definitive proof so we can tie up loose ends.

The certificates are extremely difficult to read however we will send them to you.

We are certain of Esther Davidson - she is my GG grandmother on my fathers side.
 
Cheers John

Hi Chempat,

Yes we saw Harriet in the census and that was one of my questions, was Rachel too old to have a child of 1 so also assumed she was a granddaughter.

We are beginning to think that Charles may have coloured the truth a bit on his marriage certificate, perhaps thinking that he could hide his "travels to Australia" by giving different location of birth and occupation of his father, never for a moment thinking that 100 or so years into the future all would be revealed.

In Australia he is quite a prominent person in local family history as a pioneer of the district in Willow Grove so if this is the correct person, then he made good the error of his ways.

There is another census in 1841 showing a Rachel Walker and a few children including a Charles but no William Walker and some people have noted this family as Charles' family so there is a bit of confusion running rife about him.

We need to find information about him during the period between his arrival in Australia and the marriage in 1859 so will keep looking. 

Thanks again for all your help. Cheers John

Hi Chempat,

Certificate clearly shows Middlesex and father farmer.

Thought it might have been Middlewich but it is clearly Middlesex.

Mind you that does not mean that who ever wrote out the cert wrote it correctly.

Hi Dawnsh, Thanks that means we might not glean anything extra from the certificate.

Hi Rosie, Thanks for clarifying and letting me know re the Church staff part of it. Great help.

Kay99, We think that the Parkhurst Boy Charles Walker is the one connected to us and we are trying make sure we have it all correct and trying to find confirming documentation. It is the Middlesex on the MC that has thrown us!  Everything else points to Cheshire.
Thanks everyone for your continuing help.  Cheers John