Mystery Man Edward Townsend Foley

[odysseyov]

At Rookwood Roman Catholic,  the indexes have Mary A MINTON, aged 29, death 19 April 1886,  but .... ages can be mis-read off headstones...  I think for example that '48 days' is a mis-read and the 1882 lass is in a Presbyterian grave....

Yes I see your point;  Mary would have been 39 on that date.   She hd never been referred to as Mary A and none of the documents even the b.c.s for which she was informant mentioned a middle name - but all of the children had one ...
However, if they were reading off headstones rather than handwritten docs, wouldn't the ages etc be likely to be in Roman numerals - I've never been headstone reading so am just curious?


JM

[majm]

Checking through my photos now  back shortly re roman numerals... but I have no recollection of roman numerals on any of my NSW ancestors stones...  not just NOT at Rookwood, but not anywheres.

back shortly

JM

[majm]

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/george-bond-john-cadman-maria-ann-carrod-william-carrod-eleanor-cork  (click and get to the glass negatives of headstones )

no roman numerals... 

headstones,  the stonemasons likely charge by each character,  MDCCCLXXXII likely would be roman numbers for 1882....  I think no roman numerals, but I am happy to stand corrected.

JM

[odysseyov]

no that sounds right - no correction needed     
Although by the looks of the 4s and 2s in those particular headstones, they would be difficult to confuse ...

[odysseyov]

Here's an interesting thing I've just realised - birth cert for legit child states informant as Mary Minton, Mother, off Washington Street, date of cert is 30th May 1876.   Did she remain in Washington Street when husband lodged forms from Kent Street?

[majm]

so many dots, almost joining. 

The 1882 b.c. is my focus at present.   So back in 1877 the father has the children listed as Prot. back in 1877 - to me Prot indicating that is administrative code for the Asylum Registrar to show NOT Roman Catholic and NOT Church of England... so the official visitors (Volunteer Ladies - wives of senior Admin officers in NSW Public Service or wives of Members of Parliament etc) from either of those denominations were not needed to visit the Prot destitute children, waiting just like all the destitute children of RC or CofE for a 'posh' lady to come and bring bags of boiled lollies or similar 'gifts' for the needy (in the sense of 'noblesse oblige')   

1882 baby born early November, so if full term, back Feb 1882 ... where was Mary ... in Sydney or in a regional locality, or further ....    but that 1882 b.c. has 2 males and 3 females living as older siblings... does it give their names and ages or just '2M, 3F living' 
 
JM

[majm]

Here's an interesting thing I've just realised - birth cert for legit child states informant as Mary Minton, Mother, off Washington Street, date of cert is 30th May 1876.   Did she remain in Washington Street when husband lodged forms from Kent Street?

Well, Sands 1877 (so closing in Oct 1876) Thomas MINTON, 2 Washington lane.

ADD http://cdn.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/history/archives/sands/1870-1879/1877-part1.pdf  page 60 of the pdf and page  115 of the Sands itself. 

JM

[majm]

Just so I don't forget ...  re Mrs Megan as witness to 1882 birth...

http://cdn.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/history/archives/sands/1880-1889/1882-part4.pdf

Midwives
Susan MORGAN 18 Kensington Street    (Morgan v Megan)
Sands page 349 and pdf page 25
http://cdn.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/history/archives/sands/1880-1889/1882-part4.pdf

(Mrs E Pike of 85 Stanley St delivered a number of babies, including 3 of my ancestors born 1878 - 1884 George St West, !)

JM

[odysseyov]

2 m 3 f living - I'm actually surprised that Mary bothered to name her husband on the illegit birth.cert.   Because she did it after the babe was dead - no chance of claiming he was the father and sueing for maintenance.