John Rochfort Rae

[aahume]

John Rochfort (or Rochford ) Rae born 1819 Cork, Ireland arrived c 1839 NSW and was granted a lease of 80000 acres for a cattle station in NSW. He later moved to the Murrumbidgee, married 1846 in Melbourne (Bessie Barry Power) and a child Lucy Elizabeth Rae b1848.
He died 26th May 1851 on his station on the Murrumbidgee (source Trove and Vic Public Record Office Letters of Administration)
I have been unable to find a death registration in NSW or Victoria. I understand that Victoria split from NSW 1 July 1851 so perhaps this is the reason.
I have tried many combinations of his name/ surname without success.
Any further suggestions please?

[sparrett]

Until 1853 in Victoria the Church was the main holder of records of BMDs and, even after that, the compulsory civil registration law brought in in 1853, was imperfect in practice for a few years.

Sue

[Neale1961]

In NSW, civil registration was started in 1856.

[aahume]

Thank you for your help. So I need to find Early Church records for Murrumbidgee. Within a few weeks of his death his widow signed Letters of administration in Melbourne. I assume he was buried on his station (Uradry)

[Neale1961]

DIED
"On 26th May 1851, at his station, Murrumbidgee, John Rochfort Rae Esquire, after a short illness."


If there was a church burial record, it is unlikely to give you any more information than you have from the newspaper.

Yes, he would have been buried on the station. There was perhaps a travelling clergyman, who may have said prayers at the grave site on his visit to the station, which could have been many months later. If you find out if there was a travelling clergyman, there may be note of any such event in his papers / diary.

"Uardry" was initially established in 1840 by John Rochfort Rae, with his partner Henry Angel arriving in 1844. The property was originally known as "Wardry".

You might find more information from the Wagga Wagga Historical Society.

[aahume]

Thank you Neale1961 for your suggestion of the travelling clergyman. Some years ago I spoke to the present owner of Uardry and asked if there were any graves on the property, but she was not aware of any.
A short illness could be ? dysentry or similar as conditions were basic.
Another query I have relates to his father's will (Capt John Rae), who died 1830 Cork, Ireland. The eldest son Henry and daughters were mentioned, but not John.

[Neale1961]

Thank you Neale1961 for your suggestion of the travelling clergyman. Some years ago I spoke to the present owner of Uardry and asked if there were any graves on the property, but she was not aware of any.

Not surprising. A grave from 1850 may have disappeared into the landscape years ago.
Re - travelling clergyman. Worth investigating. I found notes of baptisms of my ancestor and siblings around 1849-1851 in rural Queensland in the diary of the travelling Reverend.

Another query I have relates to his father's will (Capt John Rae), who died 1830 Cork, Ireland. The eldest son Henry and daughters were mentioned, but not John.

John would have been only about 10 or 11. Were the other children mentioned of full age or married?
When was the Will actually written? Although Capt Rae died in 1830, it may have been written years before.

[aahume]

The will was written 4 June 1830 and Capt John Rae (his father) death registered 10 June 1830. Only chn mentioned are 3 dau (not named) and eldest son Henry. J R Rae born 1818.
So families!