NSW Address but no name

[Vectis2]

Hi Judith  'Doris' is a wild card I have a photo, with writing on back "Dad & Doris 1948", but in same hand writing as the other photos. in another photo there are 3 boy and it looks like a 'girl' in the picture on the door step, but the writing on the back of that photo is the directions to Northcote St.  Not sure how to go about showing the photos as I feel RAh32 should be a part of the decision to do so, or perhaps see them first before deciding

[sparrett]

Hi Vectis,
I too think it would be good if you and RAh32 could have a nice chat (offline if preferred) and then get back to us if/when you need help or support.

RAh32 has shared some interesting items of research with me by PM.  I am sure many here would be interested to learn more if all parties are agreed.

So really, the next step is up to you and RAh32.

Sue

 

[Ruskie]

Please keep us updated on any offline developments Vectis. 

[Vectis2]

Hi all, well true to the thread so far it appears that a few more twists and turns have cropped up and there are still more questions than answers I am sure it won't be long before we can share them with you and push on.

[judb]

There is some further information which RAh32 and Vectis have come up with - some answers, some more questions about Eileen/Nellie HARRIS/HARRISS/HARRILL's earlier life.

The records for her from the time she left for Australia in April 1920, having married John Ingleby LEE in Warminster UK on 22 December 1919, (transcription in NAA WW1 records for John LEE) all use the name Nellie LEE or Nellie Eileen LEE and paint a good picture of her life through 3 sons, death notices and electoral rolls etc.  These details also correspond with family knowledge of her here in Oz.

The family has another marriage certificate:
442654 . August 7th 1918 St Barnabas Church parish of Little Ilford.
Marriage between William Stanley Gray 28 Bachelor Lieutenant HM Forces c/o The Orwell Hotel Felixstowe, father Alexander Gray (deceased)
Eileen May Harriss aged 23, Spinster, 24 Byron Ave Little Ilford, father; William Henry Harriss (deceased)
Witnesses: Henrietta Alice HARRILL and Albert (illegible - could be ALLEN)

Henrietta HARRILL was her mother.  She seems to have used the names Nellie/Eileen/Aileen and surnames HARRIS and HARRILL and now HARRISS  at verying times in her earlier life.

Family lore has it that there had been an earlier marriage and a child born who died at age 3.

The only FreeBMD birth and death which seem to fit are these:
Birth:   Dorothy E R Gray December quarter,1920 Camberwell  - indexes have mother as Harriss

Death:   Dorothy Gray 1923 Lambeth

However there is a GRAY/HARRISS marriage in Camberwell in1914 which may be the parents of Dorothy E GRAY, given that Nellie had a boy registered in South Australia (as found on rootschat)  in the same quarter as the registration of the Dorothy GRAY birth in England.  So it looks as though Dorothy E R GRAY is not Nellie's child.

Possibly Eileen had a child with Lt GRAY before she married John LEE and which she left behind when she came to Oz . 

And what happened to Lt William Stanley GRAY? I started a thread on the Armed Forces board but had no joy.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=690743.0

Judith

[RAh32]

Thank you Judith. What would be the odds of 2 people having the same name and a daughter! John and I have had some great chats and I saw a picture of nana when she was young. Hope we get lucky with the LT Gray.
Regards Roz

[Vectis2]

Hi everyone, just an observation or two on the Grey wedding, first off the address given of 24 Byron Avenue, is one I know as where the family lived, not sure when they moved there, but my mother told me about the effects of the Silvertown explosion which I believe was January 1917. Secondly the witness is Nellie's mum using her Harrill alias, my grandfather probably would not have been there as he was at sea ["W J HARRILL, aged 50, born London, crew, 2nd Cook on the CALULU, from the U.K. via Melbourne to Sydney 10 Sept 1918"] the other signature might have been from a Grey family member. Because Nellie used her maiden name on the second  Warminster marriage could the first marriage have been annulled ? maybe Grey returned from the war 'damaged'  these are only thoughts as the Grey marriage is a complete bolt out of the blue to me  

[judb]

The two marriages sure add to the mysteries.  The GRAY marriage was certainly known to the family.  This marriage could well have been annulled or Lt GRAY may have been killed/wounded/missing in action (or just missing!) in the 15 months between the marriages.  Perhaps Nellie had not told John LEE that she had been married before.

Judith

[RAh32]

Hi Judith, The rumour my mum heard was both the husband and the daughter died!!
regards Roz I think pop new!!
It looks like it might be the other gray's who had Dorothy.
The plot thickens!!
The writing in the Needlework Encyclopaedias is definitely Nellies!! Even though it says Eileen May Harriss 1918!! I have the same writing in the Coronation Book Nana Gave me in 1953 and I have a few cards and postcards in the same handwriting!! I also noticed the same writing on the back of John's Photos!!
Regards Roz