When did he arrive in NSW?

[fek33]

Ozybob has given me some very helfpful info, but wonder if anyone can give me some advice about Gordon Alexander Merrall (Gouge-Merrall)?

What is confusing me slightly (doesn't take much!!), is that on his birth ref he is listed as Gordon A Gouge, but on his death ref he is listed as Gordon Alexander Gouge-Merrall, and on his memorial as Gordon Alexander Merrall.   

Is it possible that Alfred Merrall adopted him, as his real father, Raymond died when he was only 1?  If so, how would I go about finding this information out please?

Ozybob has since found Gordon's brother's (Sydney) death, 2707/1910, Gouge, Sydney A, father Raymond G, mother Daisy, Paddington.  So Sydney died young, but appears to have only the surname of Gouge.


So does anyone think Gordon would have been formally adopted at the Merrall marriage or did he just casually take on the name???

Ask are there ways to find out.??

I look forward to some advice!!!!

FEK33 

[fek33]

Hi, I have today received the NSW Marriage Registration Transcription for Alfred Merrall and Daisy Gouge (Doig).

It has confirmed that it IS my Alfred Merrall and am really pleased.

It confirms that they married in 1916 and his residence was 71 Hargrave Street, Paddington, Sydney, NSW.  They married at St Matthias Church, Paddington.

That has enabled me to narrow it down to arriving in Australia between 1901 and 1916.

Now I have my confirmation, is anybody able to tell me how I find out if Alfred did in fact adopt Gordon A Gouge?

Thank you FEK33 

[trish251]

Hello Fek

It is nice when certificates prove what think is the story - so much nicer than spending money to find you are following the wrong path 

My thought would be that he simply took on the name of his step-father, as he was very young when his father died - perhaps on the death certificate the family thought they should use both names, but decided they didn't need both for the burial.  By the time of his marriage, he definitely was using both names and the registry is unsure how to index him as there are 8 index records for the marriage. It is to Ethel in 1939 - as you thought - and the surname is probably GOUGE-MERRALL

Presumably the young Sydney died before his mother remarried, so his name would not have changed.

http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/Index/IndexingOrder.cgi/search?event=marriages

There should information online about when formal adoptions started in NSW but at the minute I can't find it.

Trish

Re the immigration - If he arrived into NSW there may be information at the State records, but I haven't seen any that late online as yet. You could look at their website for details of what immigration is available for that time period.

They do have an index to ships arriving 1837-1925, so there may be shipping lists for your time period - but the passengers may not be indexed.
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/

Trish

[fek33]

Hi Trish,

Thanks for that (hope you have seen the PM's!!) - I have now been able to confirm that Gordon married Ethel Newton.   

Yes, Sydney Gouge died when he was about 1.

Look forward to receiving info re formal adoptions.

Have looked at your link re ships arriving, but unfortunately passengers don't appear to be indexed.

Thanks once again.

FEK33 

[trish251]

Look forward to receiving info re formal adoptions.


FEK33 

Hi FEK

Try using google to find details re adoptions in NSW. There are lots of hits, so one of them may have the history of same. Alternatively if you email the registry they may be able to tell you when adoption officially began.

If the birth certificate is showing in the original name, I think it unlikely that there was a formal adoption.

Trish

[Ken Doig]

I have the tree of Daisy May Doig at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=doigf&id=I5898. Any additions or corrections appreciated.
Ken Doig, Bass Lake, California www.doig.net