Hi there,
For several days I have been considering the cutting that Neil posted at reply #39 and thus looking at the names of that Mr TANDY’s fellow passengers. They include the surname DAWSON, which of course is the surname of one of the witnesses to the May 1853 marriage for Bertha TANDY. Perhaps it is just one of the co-incidences that crops up in many trees, but it is a tantalising find of course.
I have also looked at the NSW BDM online index, in particular a marriage in 1842 where the bride’s surname displayed at that index is TAUDY ... I believe it is for Edward S Hall and Emily TANDY (Vol 76, line 1261) and St Andrews Presbyterian. .... And the likely baptism for that couple’s child Burton R (Vol 33A, line 377, 1843) and sadly the likely death of that lad in 1848 (Vol 33B, line 20)
I have also wondered about your comment that perhaps Isaac Dawson was aged 13 when he witnessed Bertha Tandy’s 1853 marriage. My reply #29 gave you information about a Frank Allwan Blomfield, who was aged 13 in 1853, and his likely forebears. While I doubt I have any family connection to any of those families, I do have a fair understanding of NSW records/indexes/documents/private family papers from first settlement right through to federation, simply because by Gov Macquarie’s time in NSW there were at least three couples who were married in Sydney who were having children in Sydney and without those couples, I would not be here. Consequently I have a respectable collection of certificates for baptisms, burials, marriages as well as many other items of interest, land grant applications, probate packets, etc. And of course a fair understanding of how the various institutions (Church and State) were meant to operate and how they actually operated.
You will recall that I suggested that Frank Blomfield’s middle name would be ALLMAN. I am convinced this is correct, basically because I can see that his father was associated with the 48th Regiment of Foot, and so too was Francis Allman. You will recall that I mentioned “seriously wealthy families” and so I can confirm that Frank’s parents were indeed seriously wealthy, particularly after the death of Richard BROOKS. So, to me, when I learn that a lad of 13 signed as a witness to a marriage in 1853, I find I ask myself a question ‘WHY, what was the connection? ” was he a godson, perhaps .... The clergy only needed two persons for the official witnesses. Your mc has three, one of whom you have suggested may have been aged 13..
So, apart from my speculative thoughts re the Mr Tandy and the Dawson family may I also offer the following?
(Thanks of course to Mr Geggle and his search engine Google)
Emily TANDY, mother of Burton Robert HALL, was the third wife of Edward Smith Hall. They were married 3 March 1842 (he was a widower, she a spinster). Edward Smith HALL was the proprietor of one of the Sydney NSW newspapers, The Sydney Monitor. Emily TANDY had quite a number of brothers and sisters, and at least one of her brothers was in Sydney before heading off to the California Goldfields, the brother’s name was Burton TANDY. I can see there are family history buffs currently researching this Emily Tandy and her brother, Burton. After the death of Burton Robert HALL, in 1848, Emily TANDY’s NSW marriage fails and she returned to England. But as to Burton TANDY, her brother ..... Well I leave it up to you to make contact with those other current researchers and validate or eliminate Burton TANDY as a possible for your Bertha's first husband....
Cheers, JM
