Marriage in Berlin, NY 1861-1864

[ShaunJ]

Jim, It's been a while since I looked at this but I seem to remember that the first reference I found to  Marion as his middle name was around 1877, after he arrived in Australia. Have you found any earlier references?

I did wonder for a while if he'd borrowed it from Trollope's "Marion Fay" but that seems to have been first published in 1881 ( so perhaps Trollope was inspired by WMF!).

[ShaunJ]

perhaps Trollope was inspired by WMF

Maybe that's not such a cockeyed idea - apparently Trollope visited Australia twice in the 1870's

[AlbatrossIV]

Hi ShaunJ,

I hadn't thought of that. You're right, the only official documentation was when he entered Australia. However, I do beleive the 1870 census has William M. Fay but I may be mistaken. All the newspaper articles are Prof. Fay generally.

I'll wait to see what a gentleman in Buffalo can find as well as my lady in germany.  This puzzle may not be solved as there are too many unknowns.

Thanks for the thought!

[ShaunJ]

There are certainly some earlier press references to Mr W M Fay.

[Bert h-W]

William Marion Fay was my great-great grandfather.  The family tree sheds no light on when he and and Elizabeth Lydia Meakes were married. 

[AlbatrossIV]

Hi Bert,

I am doing work for a colleague here in Tasmania, whose great great grandfather was also William M. Fay. based on the death certificates for both William and Elizabeth, they were married about 1862-1864 in Berlin, Wisconsin. This was also indicated I believe on William's naturalisation record.

Happy to connect offline.

Regards,

Jim

[carmo]

I have picked up this conversation in my traling;


My family has a connection to the Meakes. My great uncle married Grace Kathleen Meakes, a daughter of Alfred Moore Meakes and Elizabeth Meakes(nee Quinn).
Here is my summation.
Benjamin Meakes was born in Hampshire in about 1837. His death notice of 1902 gives his age as 65.
Melbourne The Argus 21 April 1902-MEAKES.-On the 20th April, at "Omro," Park Street South Melbourne, Benjamin Meakes, late of Paris, brother of Mrs. W M Fay of Kew, and A. M Meakes of Hay NSW., aged 65 years.Paris papers please copy.

He has a brother named Alfred Moore Meakes, born around 1845. His death notice of 1918 referring to his age of 73.
Melbourne The Argus 31 May 1918-MEAKES - On the 29th May, 1918, at his private residence, "Woodlands," No. 11 Marine Parade,St. Kilda, Alfred Moore Meakes (formerly of Hay,N.S.W.), the dearly beloved husband of Elizabeth Meakes, aged 73 years. (By request, no flowers.)
The parents are Thomas Meakes and Elizabeth Moore.

Both arrived in Australia-The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) Tuesday 23 February 1886 reports on the arrival Messageries Maritimes S.S. Yarra in Adelaide. Having left Marseilles on 13 January, the MMSS Yarra was bound for Melbourne and Sydney and beyond. Bound on the passenger list  for Melbourne is Alfred Meaks, and J.Benjamin Meakes.

The will of Benjamin Meakes: look up Victorian Public Records Office....Wills and Probates

http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/veo-download?objectId=090fe273802d5d15&format=pdf&docTitle=Image&encodingId=Revision-2-Document-1-Encoding-1-DocumentData
 
refers to:
His nephew Franklin Ethelbert Fay, his “natural born son” Alfred Moore Meakes, son of Nellie de Bouge of Bournemouth, England. His nieces Maude and  Maybelle Meakes, both daughters of his brother Alfred Moore Meakes and Elizabeth Passmore Meakes(nee Craze).
An inquest into the death of Elizabeth is detailed in The Argus of 19 October 1877-page 6, and includes reference to Eliza Quinn, a domestic servant in the service of Mr Meakes since August 1876, and evidence given by Elizabeth Emily Lydia Meakes, 15 years of age.

I have other info on the Meakes .

[waukau]

William Fay was listed in the 1858 Directory for Berlin Wisconsin as a blacksmith. Berlin and Omro was also a hotbed for Spiritualism....By 1869 He was listed as William Fahy, blacksmith and buggy manufacturer in the same location.
Hope it Helps
Dan

[kblackmore]

See Marriages column here:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11651317?afterLoad=showCorrections

Shows Fay and Meake's 50th wedding anniversary and names February 5, 1862 as their marriage date at Berlin Wisconsin, by JN Rogers.  "William Marion Fay of Buffalo NY to Eliza Lydia Meakes (Lizzie Beckwith) of Berlin Wis.