Leslie Nelson.

[majm]

Dale will be so very pleased. 

Well found Cath.

 

JM

[cathieg]

Hi from me too Cath,
Just an observation here.

Mary Jane (nee DONOVAN) and her husbad were into what was considered then, advancing years.

They are unlikely to have reached out to a stranger to adopt a baby boy.

To my thinking the mother of the child is likely to be one of the daughters born in the 1870's.

Mother Mary has stepped in to the rescue!  It is a well known story.

I have no  evidence to support this, just conjecture.

Sue

That's what I assumed too and it's entirely possible.

Other evidence of this possibility, that I saw, was the fact that Emily (daughter of James and Mary) went back to Perth while the other family members stayed in Adelaide. After the lady I spoke to about Leslie Smith pointed me in the direction of the Adelaide Hospital records, I found an entry for Emily Nelson right age etc who was admitted for something called "Endometritis". Not to be confused with Endometriosis, "Endometritis is an inflammation or irritation of the lining of the uterus" and was something that was common after birth or miscarriage. Her admission on this occasion was in 1896 so probably too early for Leslie to be her son on this occasion but perhaps an indicator as to whether she was sexually active. (No judgement!). Perhaps she left Adelaide after an incident of this kind.

[cathieg]

I think I've found a record for older brother George William (or William George)

George Prior was placed with Mary Nelson of Angas St, at 2 months old.
Mother recorded at this time as Fanny Prior.

[dalek39]

Well we’ll we’ll.  Thanks to all at Rootschat.  And thank you Cath.  I always thought that Leslie was adopted.  Not jumping the gun  and not getting my hopes up yet.    But it does look promising.   It’s been bugging me as you all know.  ( sorry about that).  But as I said. Persistence pays but gives some headaches.  👏😘😘😘

[dalek39]

Blimey.  George Prior.  William George  yes. That makes sense. As I said before. I thought both these boys were not the biological sons of James and Mary.   Obviously two amazing people to take on two boys at their age.  And I worry about looking after my grandsons at my age. Haha.     Cath. You are incredible. And I can’t thank you enough.  And not forgetting those who also helped me.  Thanks 😍

[sparrett]

Maybe this birth

Registered in both names mother and father's

PRIOR,George.Male. Father Alexander WOODS
At Kapunda
467/215 Year 1890


WOODS George Prior.   Male Father Alexander WOODS
At Kapunda
467/215 Year 1890.

I think the mother was possibly Fanny Prior HOOPER, a daughter of James HOOPER of Talunga (?) region, South Aust.  She was born 1873. reg. at Talunga. 126/134

She had several siblings.

She married in 1900 in SA  to Patrick O'Dea

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/54532953

Sue

[cathieg]

I think it's this one, at first the records say Fanny Prior but later on, they say Carrie Sharpe. I guess Carrie and Fanny could be confused. Prior (or Pryor) seems to be the father' name. She lost her husband in 1886 and remarried in 1891 in Melb, which is included in the Foster records.

George William Pryor
Birthdate 8 Dec 1888
Birthplace Adelaide
Father William George Pryor
Mother Carrie Sharpe

[dalek39]

Thanks Sparrett.  Got that.  Amazing find.   I can sleep now.  Haha   😁

[sparrett]

Hi Dale and Cath,
I am in agreement with Cath that her information giving Carrie SHARPE as the mother of William George is most likely correct.

I am repeating here some of the information Cath has kindly given.

Carrie (nee CORMICK)  had married in Adelaide in 1881 to James SHARPE
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197757151

They had a child
Archibald James Menzies SHARPE. Father James 1881/456

She was widowed in 1886.

The records of the Inspectress of licensed foster mothers in SA shows that the first statement of mother of the infant George Prior is Fanny PRIOR- not married

Entry 8th Feb- Mrs Priscilla TURNER of Angus Street  had the child from birth to 7th Feb. when he went to Mary NELSON aged 2 months.  Mary Nelson had applied for a license. Mary Nelson lived at Angus Street.

One entry in the books records that the child's father pays for his upkeep, but the man is not named. It is shown in the previous post from Cath as William George PRYOR.

By May 1889, the mother's name has changed to Carrie SHARPE, sometimes recorded as married (which was true in a way!) and other times as single .

In July 1890, George is 1 year and 1 month old and Mary NELSON is living at Moore Street.

In October, 1890, Carrie is "in the country"

By 1891 when George is 2 years, it is recorded that mother has married in Melbourne.
This marriage
POTTER Fred
SHARPE, Carrie
8166/1891

Carrie POTTER died in 1904 aged 42 years at Richmond. Father Jas CORMICK, mother Mary Ann. Reg 13813.

Her will digitised at National Archive Australia, leaves all to her husband.
Frederick died in 1911.

I think she took her son Archibald, George's half brother,  into the marriage with Frederick POTTER.

The electoral roll  in Victoria 1910 shows both Archibald James Menzies SHARPE and Frederick POTTER living at Beach Road Sandringham, Victoria.
Frederick POTTER died Dec 1911.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/142955699

At one time Archibald shared a address in Brighton, Victoria with one Violet Frances Maud who used his surname.

But after that he seems to have left Australia for London and made some different choices some of which did not work out well for him.

Sue