SAWERS family NSW and Vic

[aspicer84]

Desperately trying to solve this puzzle....
my grandmothers brother Norman Stocks SAWERS and sister Harriet Robina SAWERS are simply a mystery. 

All I know for sure is their birth record, and they were both alive as children when my grandmother was born in April 1895, Bendigo. 

Their father (Henry James Sawers) left Australia (sometime between 1896 and 1904) and settled/ "boarded" with a married woman and her daughter in Manchester, UK.  They had 3 children together - Norah b.1905, Henry 1907, and Robert 1911.
(How could a father leave his children in another country never to return???

Their mother Charlotte is still a mystery, however there has been a recent rumour that Henry left Australia to avoid a murder charge!!  Perhaps thats why I can't find a death record for Charlotte or her 2 children Norman and Harriet?

I found it sad that when "mother and father both dead" was written on Cecil (the other sibling)'s enlistment card from WW1.  Why would they of been told/think that?

If anyone can help me in any way I would be so very grateful!!
I have attached the only photo of Henry James Sawers available.



 

My grandmother was born:

SAWERS Beryl Eliza Sarah
Father Henry James Mother Charlotte Ann COFFIN
At Bendigo   1895   Reg#9512

Her sister: - What happened to you Harriet?

SAWERS Harriet Robina
Father Henry James  Mother Charlotte Annie COFFIN
Port Melbourne  1889  Reg# 24969

Her brother - what happened to you Norman?
     
SAWERS  Norman J
Father Henry J  Mother Charlotte   
at  Sydney 1892      2664/1892

Her other brother (He served in WW1, lived in Leongatha and lived until 1960)

SAWERS Thomas Cecil
Father Henry James  Mother Charlotte COFFIN
At Carlton  1891  REg#10184

[sparrett]

aspicer84
Are you also aspicer, the original poster of this thread?

Quite confusing

Sue

[aspicer84]

Hi Sue,

Yes I am, thought it might be good to be able to refer back to the original information.

Was that not the right process?  Sincere apologies if it was....

[sarah]

Hi aspicer,

I will merge your two profiles together for you, welcome back

Regards

Sarah

[wivenhoe]

"..my grandmothers brother Norman Stocks SAWERS and sister Harriet Robina SAWERS are simply a mystery". 

He is Norman J SAWERS at birth 1892. Where are you seeing him as Norman Stocks SAWERS?


"...Attached is my grandmother's birth certificate.  She was born Beryl Eliza Sarah Sawers "

We need to know all the information on this certificate please.


".....Their father (Henry James Sawers) left Australia (sometime between 1896 and 1904) and settled/ "boarded" with a married woman and her daughter in Manchester, UK.  They had 3 children together - Norah b.1905, Henry 1907, and Robert 1911.
(How could a father leave his children in another country never to return???

How have you identified this man, and this family, to be your Henry SAWERS?

Sydney Benevolent Asylum
SAWERS Charlotte Annie 26yrs         
admitted  15 Sep 1892      discharged 10 Oct 1892    26 yrs

SAWERS Cecil                 19m       
admitted  15 Sep 1892      discharged 10 Oct 1892     20 m

SAWERS Norman Stocks  3 weeks   
admitted  30 Sep 1892     discharged 10 Oct 1892   3weeks

Is this where you are seeing Norman with second given name Stocks....do you have the file from the asylum about their presence there?

If you have more information relevant to this family it would be useful to here to work with.

[aspicer84]

Thankyou so much for the reply!
I have attached Normans birth record which has his name as Norman Stocks Sawers born 1892 Sydney Benelovent asylum. Not sure why it had been recorded as 'Norman J Sawers'

It took me years to figure out that Henry Sawers was 'my henry' so I cross referenced every Henry Sawers born in Victoria around 1863 give or take 20 years either side and the only other Henry Sawers was born about 1875 and he sure confirmed didn't fit.
I then obtained Henry's marriage certificate to an Ann Derrick in Manchester, his father was correctly listed deceased Robert Sawers - occupation Stockbroker. I have recently been in contact with descendants of Henry, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of which confirm he came from Australia. One chilling account was the 'murder' story which has me thoroughly engrossed in finding out the truth! Why else would you flee the country to a foreign land, leave your children behind and have them told you had died!?

I don't have the original documents from the benelovent asylum I wish I did!!

I even went to the prov and went through lots of old ward registers to see if Any of the children became wards of the state but came up empty handed...

If this theory is true, could it be possible that Henry murdered his wife Charlotte and 2 of their children Norman and Harriet, and got away with it???! Looked through trove newspaper articles and can't see any police warrants for his arrest??

I truly hope someone can help me get closer to finding out what in the world happened here to my family! X

[redmr2red]

I have Sawers in my family tree (well adopted Sawers) in Tasmania and Bendigo, Victoria.

Robert and James Sawers came to Australia as orphan young lads after the death of their parents James Sawers and Elizabeth Alexander in Stirling, Scotland.  They came to Tasmania to be raised by their Aunt, Margaret Alexander (who married John Boothman).  The Boothmans had no children of their own and although the boys retained the name Sawers they saw themselves very much as Boothman boys.  They farmed Hope Island (about 65 acres) near Hobart, never married and lived to a ripe old age and were well known and respected in Tasmania.

Another brother John Sawers came to Australia later settling in Bendigo, Victoria making many trips to Tasmania to visit his brothers.  He married Louisa Williams and had 4 children. Margaret, John (middle name Boothman), Gladys and Albert, all long since passed away.

There may be a connection way back in Scotland.

Red.

[aspicer84]

What a nice story Red, Thankyou. Perhaps there may be a connection! Henry James Sawers father was Robert Sawers born 1831 Linlithgowshire Scotland son of James Sawers b.1776 Cumbernauld and Janet Marshall b. 1778 Denny Stirlingshire. Robert had siblings

George Sawers
Agnes Sawers
Henry Sawers
Margreat Hay Sawers

I'm still unsure of James and Janet's death as Scottish records are just as confusing as they are expensive!

Wierd thing was too that Robert listed his fathers name as David and not James! Perhaps as he would have died when he was a baby and never really knew him? As for Janet I really don't know when/how she died... Another mystery to be solved!

I must say putting together the jigsaw of the past excited me all the same! X

[aspicer84]

Dear Wivenhoe,
 
"...Attached is my grandmother's birth certificate.  She was born Beryl Eliza Sarah Sawers "

We need to know all the information on this certificate please.

Please see the record attached and transcription below

BIRTH RECORD

Name: Beryl Eliza Sarah SAWERS
Born 25 April 1895
Bendigo Lying-in Hospital

Father Henry James Sawers, Clerk, 33 years old,Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo
Mother  Charlotte Anne Sawers formally COFFIN, 28 years old, South Melbourne

Married 17 December 1886 Sydney, New South Wales

Siblings: Ernest Robert - dead
             Harriet Robina - 5 years
             Thomas Cecil - 4 years
             Norman Stocks - 1 year

Informant: "" - Authorised Agent - Barnard Street Bendigo
Doctor - Dr James Boyd and Miss Kittern


I hope this information might assist in finding out anything you can, particularly on Harriet and Norman....

Thanks so much for your help!  Look forward to your response

Amy