brick wall with Catherine McArthur

[majm]

One step at a time.   Not 1867.

James MAKIN married Catherine MCARTHUR, Carcoi (sic, Carcoar)  16 September, 1844. His marital status indexed as Widowed, hers as single. 
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTZS-4JM
and
James MAKIN and Catherine MCARTHUR, Volume 76, line 1851, for 1844. 
NSW BDM online INDEX   "PJ" Itinerant Rev Colin STEWART, Bowenfels.

Have you actually sought access to the actual parish register for that marriage, perhaps sought access to the clergy's diary if extant ... You could look for margin entry info or notes written by clergy when interviewing the couple prior to marriage.    HOWEVER, even with that info, you still need to consider joining the dots from that 1844 document to Mary MAKIN's marriage to Christopher DONNELLY ... you need to see the info Mary gave the clergy when she married.  If she was not yet 21, who gave permission for her to marry as she was not yet old enough to give permission herself.

JM

[majm]

What one index are you relying on?

JM

[majm]

1891 Christopher DONNELLY at Round Hill CANBERRA ... 2 males, 3 females in household. NSW 1891 Householders census, image at familysearch.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L96K-FDFD?i=43&cc=2317858

JM

[sharonsteinberg47]

the nsw BDM

[majm]

NSW BDM online index is NOT complete, particularly for bdm events prior to about 1856 when civil registration commenced, and they readily acknowledge this.  The actual online index was developed out of an index prepared in the 1930s by volunteers.  Prior to that index, the bdm staff had bound up much of the Early church holdings into Volumes in around 1912, hence the V for volumes.  So by 1912 those records that NSW BDM actually held had been well worn particularly at the usual top and bottom corners and the ink had bled through etc. 

JM

[sharonsteinberg47]

according to one of the descendants of that family an unknown child turned up at the funeral of Mary McDonald ...they had no idea she existed at this distance in time I suspect it was George....he probably found out by she died at bowral I think.

[majm]

So, prior to 1856 it was NOT compulsory for bdm events to be registered with the civil authorities, and after the introduction of civil registration, there were still significant issues restricting the amount of detail given to NSW bdm Reg Generals office until about the mid 1890s. 

I don't encourage reliance on NSW BDM online index for 19th Century info, but it is an excellent starting point. 

So, back to your actual research,  may I please suggest you give consideration to obtaining the full official transcription of Albert's marriage to Ada.  And using the info he gave about himself and his parents at that time, then work back to at least validate your current research.

JM

[majm]

according to one of the descendants of that family an unknown child turned up at the funeral of Mary McDonald ...they had no idea she existed at this distance in time I suspect it was George....he probably found out by she died at bowral I think.

A death - Mary DONNELLY , registered Bowral district, 1918.  NSW BDM online index #942  Online index gives her father as Alexander for his given name.  No given name recorded on the index for her mum.

JM

[sharonsteinberg47]

I have applied for it...I am awaiting the email.