Hi Tanya
I may be able to help a little. It sounds like your Joseph Howard Graham is also my Joseph Howard Graham - my great great grandfather. How are you related to him? He was married twice the second time to Marion Edith Wells. I assume that the first marriage to Elizabeth Foster was in Antrim not long before the moved to Australia in about 1875 which was when their first child was born. Joseph and Elizabeth had 7 children - David (b.1874), Margaret (my line b.1877), Jenny/Jeanie (b. 1881), William (b.1884) Mary Howard (b. 1886), John Foster (b.1889) and Eliza (b.1892). Joseph worked as a fencer in Brisbane. From the names I think it is possible that Joseph's mothers maiden name was Howard, may be Mary Howard? The names William and Margaret were related to Elizabeth's parents so I assume that two of the other names probably relate to Joseph's parents. I think the death certificate would show the parents if they were known but I haven't seen it yet. They cost $33 and I'm going to order one for another relative who I've hit an absolute brick wall with so will let you know what's included.
Elizabeth died in 1893 and the following is a copy of the related newspaper article:
MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.
STRANGE AFFAIR AT RED HILL.
An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Elizabeth Graham, who
dropped down dead in a store on Red Hill on the 3rd instant, was held before Mr. G. P. M. Murray, P.M., at the City Police Court on Wednesday.
Joseph Graham said be was a fencer, living on Red Hill. Deceased was his wife. He remembered Thursday last. On that day he left home about 8 o'clock and returned a little after noon. Deceased was a strong woman. At breakfast that morning deceased said she was not hungry. She was not ill so far as witness knew. She had had her tea the previous
evening the same as on any other evening, but had not complained of being hungry for
the past month. She had her three ordinary meals daily as far as he knew. Witness had been out of employment for about two years, except for a few odd jobs which he had done. They always had plenty to eat and drink, and they had seven children alive. There was always plenty to eat. One of witness's sons was earning 12s. a week and a daughter -5s. a week. Witness had earned about £2 in the last month. He never knew any of his family to be hungry. He had not been continually drunk for the past two years. He could not say how many times he had been drunk. It might have been twice. About seventeen
months ago he got Government relief for five weeks. Up to three weeks ago his children
were the main support of his family. His wife did not complain of being ill before her
death. On the day of her death there was not a penny in the house. She had been
eighteen years in the colony, and was 39 years of age. She did not drink, and at the time of her death there was an order in the house for 181b. of beef.
Jane Cruickshank said that she was a storekeeper. Deceased went to her store on Red
Hill on the 3rd instant and asked for threepence worth of potatoes. Deceased held the
bag open whilst witness put the potatoes in. Deceased fell on witness's back and knocked
her down. Deceased never spoke, and died about five minutes afterwards. Witness sent
for Dr. Comyn, but deceased was dead before he arrived.
Constable Hogan produced a certificate of death handed to him by Dr. Comyn, in which
the causes of death were set down as valvular disease, insufficient food, and syncope.
The inquiry then closed.
The Brisbane Courier Thursday 17 August 1893
In our report of the inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Elisabeth Graham who dropped dead in a store of Red hill it was stated that the inquiry had been closed. This was incorrect. The following additional evidence was taken on Friday last.
David Graham son of deceased stated that on the 3rd instant he left home about 8 o'clock in the morning. He returned about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and found his mother was dead. He did not see her have breakfast, as he left before breakfast. She had supper the evening before and never complained of not having had enough to eat. They had thee meals every day. Joseph Graham husband of deceased was always at home at night. They had never had Government relief until about three weeks before the death of deceased. Maggie Graham, daughter of deceased said she last saw her mother about 11 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd instant. She then complained of feeling ill. Witness then left. Deceased told witness that she had had breakfast. Deceased had a baby year and 7 months old, and it had been weaned about a fortnight before the death of deceased. Bidelia Lindo stated that she lived near the deceased. On the 3rd instant witness gave her some food. She had been washing in the sun, ad did not appear to be well. There was always plenty of food in the house. The inquiry then closed.
Joseph's second marriage to Marion produced three children to my knowledge - James Wells, Marion Josephine and Joseph Ferderal though I haven't really looked into this as its not my line.
I've attached a photo we have of Joseph with Margaret and John taken in the early 1890s.
Regards
Hana
