The HEMPSEEDs in Victoria, circa 1870s

[cupoflife]

Not sure about this one?
1872 #24289 LEWIS, Margaret; Father-William; Mother-Susan (Maddigan) Place of birth MAJO

[PeteMacca]

Hmmm, yeah I saw that one myself. Not sure yet??? But thanks for looking, CupOfLife!

[PeteMacca]

On second thoughts, CupOfLife, I think you're right!

I just found the marriage record:
1871,01829,M,Lewis,William,Madigan,Susan

[PeteMacca]

More evidence points to a LEWIS connection. Here's William's death record:

1879,02554,,Lewis,William J,George,Waltin Hannah,,26,birth(Glamorgan)

[PeteMacca]

Thanks everybody for your help. I think we've nailed down most of what I was looking for.

[Dundee]

James Madigan born  1874 father u, mother Susan Madigan reg 19743

This one has been indexed twice, the second is under LEWIS, father not recorded so William and Susan were apart by the time James was conceived.

Debra 

[PeteMacca]

Thanks Debra, you're right!

• James Lewis, born  1874, father u, mother Susan Madigan, Timor, reg 19743
• James Madigan, born  1874, father u, mother Susan Madigan, Timor, reg 19743

Do you know why there would be two listings? I haven't seen this kind of thing before. And I certainly have never searched for it!

Thanks again, Pete

[Dundee]

A child was not given a surname when a birth was registered, but by default the surname was assumed to be that of the father.  The birth certificate would most likely name the mother as Susan LEWIS formerly MADIGAN which was her legal name at the time.  When no father is named the default surname for the purpose of indexing is that of the mother, which in this case could be either LEWIS or MADIGAN.

I recently had to explain to a young government employee why my birth cert does not give me a surname as he apparently had not seen one that old before 

Debra 

[majm]

Debra, you are not alone !   I too have needed to explain!   I am NSW born,  the inclusion of a SURNAME for the baby commences in 1969 in NSW BDM registers.    I made my explanation a tad more complicated than you did !   I explained that babies became known by their mum's then surname, which if she and baby's dad were co-habitating, was often the same surname as baby's dad.    You should have seen the eyes on the clerk.   I then added "notice that my birth certificate has the details of when and where my parents commenced co-habitating under the section showing when and where they married".   My husband was with me, and he added "Same with my mum and dad and my grandparents - so much co-habitation, no wonder they invented the TV and the Pill'.

JM