Hi mariac,
Sorry I can't find another thing about these children. As you say different information in each mention but alas no names.
Looking at the destitute asylum one even IF the 3 boys are those we know of there has to be a daughter somewhere. I can't find anything on any of them. I expect that some may go missing but all of them. Even if she had other children who were not registered normally we would find marriages or deaths to help but I see nothing. (under any of her names.)
Peter had been previously married and had 4 sons. His BISA entry is very like Donald's - really just information from shipping.
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/eliza1856.htmI see the lines from Ezra and Samuel continue but not seeing the other two.
Looks like Peter deserted her at one stage also.
23 Aug 1860List of women receiving relief on Jun 30 1860 who's husbands had deserted them or were in gaol
HOLLINGSWORTH Christina residence Highercombe 3 Children arrived on the Hercules period of husbands absence Five weeks.
I know McDONALD is terribly common and Alexander could prove difficult but the other two I had hopes for. I even wondered if that death in 1885 age may have been wrong age in index but no - that Rory was in the asylum also. When I saw that I realised what DDA from the record you found meant. Deaths in Destitute asylum. I think the returns went in quarterly so probably in Jan 1886 the returns were lodged for Oct, Nov, Dec. 1885. Rory died in the asylum in Oct. He had been brough down from Pt Pirie and his arrival in the colony was into Vic. He had senile decay so certainly a different Rory. There are many mentions of McDONALD's from the
HERCULES in the asylum records - some were children but no first names in first year one saying mother in gaol. I wondered until I saw just how many McDONALD's were aboard that ship so I think these were other people. Sorry I've gone through it all again and I still see nothing at all on the children.
Cheers Kris
