Donna,
That is a very sad piece of information but perhaps the inquest proceedings might throw some light on Hector jnr?
Elsie,
I wonder why Annie (if it is the same person) used the name Matilda at the marriage to Hector? Who were the witnesses - family members? Perhaps the family did not approve?
Jenn's idea that Hector might have deserted his wife who then had to wait for a statutory period before he could be declared dead is a good one - I wonder whether there would be any record of such a case. Another possibility might be that the marriage was annulled - records?
The photo of three sisters - Annie, Rebecca and Ellen - is interesting.
Only one of those - Ellen - is a first name of one of the children of James WILLIAMS & Mary YEO as registered.
The family seems to have had something of a history of changing the order of given names, and introducing other given names.
1. Mary Anne Elizab b & d 1853
2. Alfred James b 1855
?
3. Mary Anne Elizabeth b 1858, d 1859
4. Elizabeth Rebecca b 1860
I guess we are assuming (dreaded word) that this is the Rebecca of the photo.
Seems to have married Richard KNOWLES in 1879 as Elizth Rebecca Wright Hearly (!)
And died in 1947 as Elizth Rebecca Wright Hurley KNOWLES aged 88.
5. Edward Robt King b 1862
Seems to have married (as Edward Robert King) Louisa BARTLETT (sister of Hector?) in 1884.
And died in 1926 (age 63) in Ballarat as Edward Robert King WILLIAMS, parents James & unknown YEO.
6. Mary Anne Matilda b 1864
I guess we are assuming that this is the Annie of the photo.
Probably the Matilda who married Hector BARTLETT in 1885.
Probably the Annie who married John BURNS in 1899.
Probably the Annie who died in 1952 (age 86).
7. Francis Peter Yeo b 1867
Elsie, Is this the person you refer to as Peter James Phillip William? Do you have other records of him.
8. Ellen Sarah Florence b 1870
Died as Ellen Sarah Flor HOWITT in 1961, aged 91.
An interesting puzzle.
JAP
