HELP pls, with birthplace and father of Edward Imlay AIKEN

[iforani]

  It appears that yes, the  :(1858 baptism in Geelong is that of William and Sophia (nee Flowers) AIKEN, not our Sophia (as she is nee ATKINS), daughter Betsy Ann, not Edward. Leonie was right.

I will attach a transcript of the marriage referred to in this thread, of Edward's sister, Caroline, to Alexander Johnston. If anyone can make out the names of the witnesses, this would be great. Caroline names her father as Adolphus William Aiken, profession, doctor. This is in line with Edward's story that his father was a naval doctor/captain.  Guess that if their father was an exconvict they wouldn't want to write this up as such. 

Adolphus's father was a Lieutenant, an officer in the British army in Nottinghamshire...but it's stretch to state that the father was a doctor. Unless there is still an undiscovered Dr Adolphus William Aiken out there, highly unlikely!!! 

On Adolphus's record it states that he couldn't read or write which is odd given that he was a partner in a business (colour & varnish) that went into receivership in 1840. One would think that he would have needed some literary skills in business.

The place given as birth place is simply Tasmania, which implies that Caroline may not have known where she was born. The age is given as 24 which implies she was born in 1848 (or after 2 Oct 1847), which means she was not Edward's twin sister.

Cheers, Deb 

[louisa b]

witness names
Antonio WARLUS  (maybe)
Ellen BROWNE
that's what they look like to me 

Lou

[iforani]

  Thanks, Lou. I think the Ellen Browne is right & I think the Antonio is right but I think the last 3 letters are ier as there is a dot over these (so an i) ...could also be Antoine, but more likely Antonio.
Ta,  Deb

[iforani]

  I think the witness is Antonio Woolier. There was such a person at that time in Melbourne, must have been  a friend.
Thanks, Deb

[EdithCulnane]

I've just found this thread whilst looking up Antonio Woolier who married a relative of mine.  Perhaps this discussion has concluded.  However, Antonio was in Melbourne from approx. 1870.  His wife gave birth to a child whilst they were living in Gore Street Fitzroy.  They were still there in 1872 at No. 124, and Antonio had a tobacconist business in Bourke St Melbourne in 1872, on the south side about half-way between Swanston & Elizabeth Streets (approx opposite what is now Myer).

From research on Woolier and his wife and her family, I believe he wasn't related to either of the people who married.  He may have lived near them.

He has a claim to fame as the person who rescued the only survivor of the Dunbar wrecked near the entrance to Sydney Harbour in 1857.

Kathleen

[iforani]

Thank you for replying. Well, Antonio sounds like a nice person. I am pleased that some ancestors of mine had the pleasure of knowing him.
Deb

[MichaelDeLambert]

Hi Deb
re Adolphus Bodill
He is my great grandfather and I lost track of him when he was transported to Australia.
I have some old papers which I must go through again.
If you are still searching I will look again.


Regards from Michael Bodill
Preston UK

[iforani]

Michael, that would be amazing, thank you!! I would appreciate this very much. I do believe that Adolphus William was my great grandfather's father even though the supporting evidence is circumstantial. In summary, he did work for Sophia prior to the birth of my great grandfather; an Adolphus William Aiken was named as the father of Caroline Aiken on her marriage certificate (way too coincidental) & death certificate; my great grandfather also claimed that his father was an A.W. Aiken during a newspaper interview, even though he said he was a doctor/ship's captain (& French!).

This means we are related!

I have no idea what happened to him (as you may have gathered by reading my posts on this site?) but I believe that he may have moved to Victoria with Sophia Atkins/Aiken & most likely changed his name to Randolph Aiken as Aiken was the name that Sophia took on. It was interesting reading the Old Bailey records of the trial, have you found these online..just google, easy enough. He was literate & I guess you've also read that he had his own business, in partnership (in Glasgow) that went bankrupt, as many did back then, very hard times.

I know that his wife, Elizabeth (who was a school teacher) remarried in 1857 & I have speculated that maybe Adolphus made his way back to England & married her with the alias of the guy she married (Lysaght); some of my reasons for thinking this was that Adolphus just falls off the radar over here (which you would I guess if you were an escaped convict) but also the fact that Elizabeth's second husband didn't live for long & this was the case with many of the unfortunate convicts who were put to work, hard labour. In saying this he was commissioned out to people, rather than working on the road gangs which would have been harder. I think the fact that he was literate would have helped him.

I have photos of my great grandfather who I am pretty sure was the son of Adolphus William Bodill. Any paperwork would be great.

 It would be interesting to compare photos of him to Adolphus' other children if you have them, ore even of you or your parent who is descended from Adolphus. My great grandfather was a very good looking man with blue eyes. I am happy to share photos. I'll pm you my email address.

Thank you so much. This is just great. 

It's interesting that you come from Preston as this is where my mother's family (Aldreds) also come from.

Deb