Caroline GEALE/ Richard John THOMPSON of New South Wales

[kirstieleigh23]

Hi all

Im looking for some information with regards to Caroline Agnes Geale (1878-1943) and her first husband John Richard Thompson. I don't have any information on John except that he married Caroline in 1897 in Temora, New South Wales. They had two sons, Thomas Henry Thompson and Arthur James Thompson.

Caroline and John divorced in 1904 and she remarried in 1906 to Harold Thomas Gaffey. SHe changed the last names of her two sons to Gaffey once she was married again.

Anything on John Richard Thompson would be much appreciated as that is my true line and not the Gaffey line

[majm]

Hi there,

You can get copies of the 1904 divorce papers from the NSW State Records Office .... the online index shows the file number 5188 of 1904 with the petitioner being  John Richard THOMPSON and the respondent as Caroline Agnes THOMPSON and the co-respondent as George MATTHEWS .... 

I obtained the divorce file for one of my forebears and found it very informative ...  I think it cost less than $45 and I have around 120 x A4 pages and several A3 pages as well .... Copies of marriage certificates, birth certificates for children, statements of the witnesses and the parties, the solicitors letters for both parties, even the full itemised accounts for the costs of the divorce ...  and in the decade immediately before WWI ....

http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/indexsearch/keyname.aspx


NSW ELECTORAL ROLL 1903 ... Electorate of BLAND, polling place Temora

Caroline Agnes Thompson, at her domestic duties, resident of Junee Road
John Richard Thompson, a carrier, resident of Junee Road

NO others with that surname listed as resident of Junee Road, HOWEVER some only show as resident of Temora, without giving a street/road etc address...
Seven listed with surname as GEALE, including William Thomas G, a farmer of Junee Road, and Caroline at her domestic duties residing at Junee Road, and Mary, also at her domestic duties and also at Junee Road ...

I did not see anyone named George Matthews (or Mathews etc) on that particular roll


Cheers,  JM

[majm]

Hi there,

Sydney Morning Herald newspaper cutting showing the 1897 marriage was 21 June 1897 at Roman Catholic Church, Temora...  There's further details regarding the divorce ...

Wednesday 8 March 1905  SMH
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14672114

Cheers JM

[majm]

Hi there,

At the National Archives of Australia's online website there's digitised records for WWI servicemen and women.  One of the many records is for a John Richard THOMPSON, who stated on his enlistment in 1915 that he was aged 42, giving a possible birth year of about 1873.....  He nominated his next of kin as his sister in law at Burwood NSW.   This particular JRT stated he was born at Corowa NSW... 

Do you think he could be your chap?

http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/recordsearch/index.aspx  search as a guest

Cheers,  JM

[majm]

1875 Grevilles Directory COROWA

John Thompson, innkeeper
William Thompson, farmer at Brocklesby

Cheers,  JM

[kirstieleigh23]

Hi JM

Thank you so much for all your research. it has helped significantly. i too found the records on the NAA website and i do believe that is him. i will continue researching but if you find anything else please let me know as up until now he has been a mystery to me and the family

[majm]

Hi,

Have you searched for the next of kin (a sister in law) to the WWI enlisted chap?  I noticed on the digitised record that there was activity on the file in 1932 ....

"Polly" may be a nickname .... Mary, Margaret, Meg, are some of the names that come to mind ....

Cheers,  JM

[kirstieleigh23]

not yet but that is my next step. ill search for a polly marrying a Thompson. hopefully i will find something