James NELSON - COMPLETED

[dalek39]

Can someone help me with James Nelson .born 1836 England ..was convicted at Malta.and court martialed in.1859 for shooting at a senior officer, received 10 years transportation to Western Australia..arriving on the ship Palmerston..1861 Perth West.Aust...He later married a Mary Jane Donovan in Perth 1869 and moved to Adelaide South Australia.. They had 2 children in Perth..and four children in Adelaide....I am unable to trace him from there, or, where he was born, and where they are buried..in South Australia...He is my Great Grandfather..Dalek39.

[celia]

He later married a Mary Jane Donovan in Perth 1969,

Presume you mean 1869

[dalek39]

Celia....................Yes thats right....sorry about that..  I received a message re looking in the Army records...we have emailed..AND written to the Archives about one month ago..heard nothing, apart from a receipt of our email...thats why I'm here....asking you good people for help.'Unfortunately, I dont have much on him apart from his conviction notice. and his connection to Perth Western Australia..
.I am guessing he may have been in the army to get court martialed...
Mary Donovan (wife) was also born in England 1845  she is also hard to find..at this moment in time....
I have a couple of death notices for a James Nelson in Adelaide, checked them out, and am doubtful from the dates it is him...so...I know he died,    but where.
 

[cando]

I am unable to help you with army records.

I cannot identify a death for either James NELSON b.1836 or Mary Jane NELSON b. 1845 in the SA death indexes.

Do you have James and Mary's parents' names?  They would be listed on their marriage certificate.

1869
NELSON James
DONOVAN  Mary   
District Perth  Reg#3023

I have searched the 1909 South Australian Electoral Roll and there is no listing with James NELSON and Mary Jane NELSON at the same address.

I cannot find any marriages for their children in the South Australian Marriage Index to 1937 - Emily Rose, Mary Jane, Ellen, Annie, Flora or Henry.

From whom are you descended?  Perhaps if you had your grandparents' place of marriage it may help

Cheers
Cando

[dalek39]

Thanks Cando..but before I fill you in on the details, I am getting other peoples posts sent to me..Have contacted a moderator, so will see what happens...
Now... I think I told you the details of his transportation to West.Australia, if not let me know... I have their marriage certificate, and its dated  22 Nov.1869..Perth Western Australia....James Nelson..Saddler..his.father, James nelson..publican.. Mary Donovan..spinster..servant...Perth...father..John Donovan..Painter...
Had two children in Perth...Mary Jane..born Perth 1872..certificate No.13728.
                                           Emily Rose..."       "      1874.        "       No.10654
                Adelaide.............Ellen Nelson.   17 Mar 1877 (Bk 180.pg 421)I doubt if they left Adelaide
                                          Annie nelson    13 FEB.1879 (215..pg 147)
                                          Flora Nelson     3 Oct.   1881  (Bk.270 pg38)
                                          Henry nelson    18 Dec. 1887.....Bk 408 pg122)
                                          died                  22 July  1888..aged 8 months (bk 172 pg229)

 Flora Nelson was my grandmother..she married  Alfred Henry Donovan ( Alice Hankins son) 14 Mar. 1905..Christchurch NZ...
That is all I have......  sorry I cant help you any more with dates....

[dalek39]

Cando...is there a possibility that they could have gone to NZ to be with their daughter  Flora, whos' husband died at 47, and the family came back to Australia...and lived in Adelaide...

[cando]

The details of James' transportation to WA in your initial posting on this thread.

I will leave you to search in NZ.   Have you traced Flora's siblings?  If so, did they marry in NZ?

I suppose you had noted the 3rd birth [stillbirth] registered to James and Mary in WA?

Cheers
Cando

[dalek39]

Yes I did know about the still born in WA.. but did not put that in, sorry...and Floras' siblings are, Norman Donovan..Inez.Donovan /Soloman/.and Nola Donovan/ Adams.., my mother..so I have their DOB and DOD which were all in NZ...and there are no other rellies living over there that I know of...well, not of their generation to ask...I have a cousin, in Adelaide,  but all his documents re the family were unfortunately destroyed by a "hostile" member of the family. anyway..will see what I can come up with...and get back to you 

I do have all the information of his records in Western Australia. not much on that, except time of detention etc...and his marriage certificate..do want any details on that?
Also. we have written off to the National Archives, one month ago..and...are still waiting to "hear" from them

[dalek39]

The only one of Flora's children to marry in NZ was Norman..both girls married in Adelaide..Australia.
They came out to Australia..with my grandmother,  when my grandfather died in 1926, my mother was 10..Norman who was 9 years older, stayed behind, most likely working at that time...that is a mystery why he didn't come with the rest of the family...we were never told...
Ihave searched most of the cemetries in South Australia..coming up with a James and Mary Nelson buried at a place called Burra...SAust..but the dates dont appear to be them...but, who knows...Burra is north of Adelaide... There are two other James Nelsons buried in Adelaide Cemetries, but they are also questionable. I cant believe they left no trace...One thing, I do have a photo of old James taken in Adelaide. with a child, most likely one of the grandchildren, but, who , I dont know.....where and he looked about 80,
I'll rattle my brains for any more, but..    anyway...thanks for your help..much appreciated