I love trove, on occasion! I find it hit and miss with how I choose to spell things. I will try again though now that I know there is something in there. Thank you Donna.
State records has uploaded the pdf:
http://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=1815059&O=IIt was not a standard form applying for naturalization, but a letter to the Governor of Victoria (Sir Henry Barkly?) asking for naturalization under the act of council "Victoria 39".
The letter notes that he was 28 years of age, and a quartz miner. He arrived in the Colony of Victoria on the ship 'Gem of The Ocean' in 1854, and plans to settle for life in Australia. The letter is dated 7 June 1861 ( and I am reading it EXACTLY 155 years later) which makes his estimated date of birth 1833
I have the stupidest grin right now. How COOL IS THIS?!?!?!?!
Onto the wedding certificate:
Arrrgh! There is a stamp on it saying 'best quality image/damaged document'. I can't even read the names properly
Here is my best guess, and I might use the 'help with reading documents' forum at some point.
Date 11 August 1862 in the House of Andrew Ross Hungas......... (that is a really long name with unreadable letters)
Names unreadable, though I know what they are suppose to say and they sort of look like that.
Condition Bachelor and Spinster (yeah, THAT part was written clearly!)
Birth place Moningsberg/Houngsberg (
) Prussia and Hobart Town
Rank Miner (nothing for Elizabeth)
Age 29 and 19 (this matches for Ferdinand, but I suspect Elizabeth lied. Her birth record is in a list of births from 1845, so she would have been 17 in 1862.
Residence Present Queenstown and Queenstown
Residence Usual Milfrozen (??) and Queenstown
(So I am going to guess that they met on the goldfields here
http://www.goldgemtreasure.com.au/content_common/pg-head-queenstown-st-andrews-and-the-caledonia-goldfield.seo This is also supported by the fact that Elizabeth's younger brother Thomas died at these gold fields in 1860. I have written about the Skinner family previously, here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=747976.0 )
Parents and occupation...
Ferdinand Le Juge, custom officer
Louisa, nee, Machlingburg (or Mich-fiss-brug according to what I can see)
Thomas Skinner, miner
Harriet, nee, Hutchisen
In the presence of Joseph Freitag (not sure about that "i") and Charlotte Ness
By David Boyd, Minister of the Presbyterian Church, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of Scotland/Factland (why do running writing letters look the same??)
And a note written on the bottom of the certificate: The father of the bride gives his written consent.
Since I know now how Ferdinand arrived in Australia, which was the information I was after, I will cease this search for now. If I get a chance later, I may reopen the search by applying for Ferdinand's death certificate from NSW BDM.
Thanks for all the help
