Seeking John Shepherd b.13 AUG 1857, Balmain, New South Wales

[OzJen]

Dear Rootchatters,

I've received some valuable help from other, wiser, members of this community recently, and so I'm hoping someone can help me again, please. 🤞

I have an existing thread up about Frederick Shepherd, but this is about his younger brother, John, born in Balmain on 13 AUG 1857 (Reg 2396/1857).

All I definitely know is John's birth date and location of his birth. I have not found a baptism record.

John MAY have married Sarah Taylor on 27 Nov 1875 in Sydney, but I cannot be sure that this is correct and, to-date, have not been able to uncover anything except the Marriage Index entry (1071/1875 ), which doesn't give parents' names.

John Shepherd and Sarah Taylor seem to have had a son named William Frederick in 1876, and I have a baptism record from St Paul's Cleveland Street which leads me to think this is right.

If the marriage in 1875 is my John Shepherd's then William Frederick will be his son.

Beyond that, John Shepherd seems to have 'disappeared'.

There was a suggestion that there is a NZ connection in his life story somewhere, but to-date I have not found one.

If anyone can help, I will be very grateful.

OzJen

[Neale1961]

William Frederick Shepherd married Ada May Bell in 1896, Sydney.
His parents (john Shepherd & Sarah Taylor) are named on the marriage record; nothing to say they were deceased.
Consent for the groom (under age) was given by Edmund Fosberry. (Fosberry ? Not sure of writing - I think he was a policeman).
William Frederick is a tin smith, living in Redfern.

William Frederick died 1933 San Souci
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17000743?

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223539661?

Added: In case it helps others search. William Frederick's father John Shepherd is recorded as a boiler maker (son's baptism and marriage).

[sparrett]

I think there would not be too many named Edmund FOSBERRY, but if I have the correct man , he was the Inspector General of police in Sydney around the time of that rmarraige.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13295142
Sue

[Neale1961]

There was a suggestion that there is a NZ connection in his life story somewhere, but to-date I have not found one.

What exactly is the suggestion of a connection with NZ?

I haven’t found anything more about John Shepherd or his wife Sarah Taylor.
Unfortunately, both rather common names.
______________________

A little bit of information on the wife of William Frederick Shepherd

Ada May BELL born 24/10/1879, only 16 when she married.
Parents: Frederick and Miriam / Marian
Marriage to William Frederick Shepherd 27 July 1896
Children to William Frederick and Ada May: –
•   John born 20/5/1897- died 9/12/1897
•   Alma Elizabeth born 14 Jan 1900; married William Henry Ashcroft; died 17/11/1976


Ada May Shepherd (widow) re-married in Hurstville 1935 to Sidney Arthur Hambridge (widower). She had reduced her age by 6 years on the marriage record.
Ada May and Sidney do not appear to have stayed together for long.

1936 Electoral rolls they appear at the same address in Punchbowl, but by 1937 Ada May is on her own in Essex St Marackville.
She returns to using the surname Shepherd from 1943 or earlier.

Ada May Shepherd / Hambridge died 18/10/1958
Her death rego is under the name Shepherd, and her grave also.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181050882/ada-may-shepherd
Probate https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=ADLIB_RNSW111018498&context=L&vid=61SRA&lang=en_US&search_scope=Everything&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,ada%20may%20shepherd&offset=0

[OzJen]

Thank you for your suggestions, Neale1961.

Seems unusual that Fosber(r)y was needed to give permission for William Frederick's marriage if the groom's parents were not deceased. Makes me wonder if they were still in Sydney, or even the colony.

The 'NZ connection' was a vague third-hand suggestion a number of years ago. I'm not sure if it meant that John and Sarah had gone to NZ, either temporarily or permanently.

Given the information on William and Sarah's marriage record, and the lack of paternal permission, I'm now wondering if this is relevant.

Interesting too, that the parish register for John and Sarah's marriage does not seem to have been digitised, and so the summary index is the only record available.

[Neale1961]

Interesting too, that the parish register for John and Sarah's marriage does not seem to have been digitised, and so the summary index is the only record available.

The marriage certificate is indeed available, but needs to be ordered through NSW BMD. It is just not available for immediate download. Getting a transcription, through an agent, is the cheapest option.
This would give you Sarah’s parents names and MIGHT help you in finding her death, and therefore tracking down John.


The lack of parental consent on William Fred and Ada May’s marriage is significant. I don’t think his parents were deceased, but they may not have been living in Sydney, or he was just marrying despite their disapproval.