Allan Shannon FARQUHAR

This week, the United States will be observing Memorial Day.

I have recorded the military service of many family members from Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and Canada which can be read by clicking on the "Our family's brave soldiers"  tab above.

Allan Shannon FARQUHAR is the only U.S military man I have information for as yet.

I am not familiar with searching U.S military records so I have only found a little about his Navy/military service.

Allan was the nephew of my great great grandmother, Janet "Jessie" FORSYTH nee FARQUHAR. 

(which makes him my first cousin 3 times removed)

Jessie and her husband emigrated from Scotland to New Zealand in 1874.

Allan Shannon FARQUHAR was born on the 31st of January 1884 at Bucyrus, Ohio, USA to parents John Yule FARQUHAR and Emma Ann nee SHANNON. 

John Yule FARQUHAR and his brother William emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1877.

John and William were brothers of Jessie and their sister Helen also emigrated to New Zealand.

  Allan was appointed Captain of the U.S.S Hale on the 12th of June, 1919.*

On the 17th of December, 1920 he was appointed Captain of the U.S.S Stribling.*

On the 17th of February, 1921 he was appointed Captain of the U.S.S Selfridge.*

 *information found on the Dreadnought program web site  

The Ohio Military Men 1917-1918 records show that Allan was appointed Lieutenant (Permanent) from Ohio 15 Dec 1914; 

Lieutenant Commander (Temporary) 31 Aug 1917; 

Commander (Temporary) 21 Sept 1918; 

Lieutenant Commander (Permanent) 1 July 1919. 

Gunnery Officer on Rhode Island 2 March 1917 to 31 Dec 1917;

Duty with Destroyer abroad 18 Jan 1917 to 18 May 1918; 

Command Sterrett 21 May 1918 to 14 Oct 1918.

In Service Order of Officer of the Crown by the Government of Belgium. 

Awarded the Navy Cross for distinguished Service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the United States Ship Sterrett operating in the War Zone and protecting vitally important convoys of troop and cargo ships through the area of submarine activity. 

Also for resolute and skillful Service in rescuing the passengers and crew of the Japanese steamer Hirano Maru on 4 Oct 1918 and for the prompt and efficient action in contacts with enemy submarines on May 31 and 1 June 1918.

Allan married Charlotte MONNETT on the 26th of December 1929. 

In 1930, they were living at Brinley Street, Newport, Rhode Island. 

In 1932, they were living in San Diego, California.

I found in the 1940 U.S. census that Allan and Charlotte had two daughters born in Washington, Charlotte b 1933 and Jean b 1934.

Allan S. Farquhar served as Captain of the USS Salt Lake City CA25 from April 13, 1935 - October 14, 1936.*

* information from Master Index http://ussslcca25.com/enlist-f.htm

At some stage, he was made Rear Admiral as that was his rank when he died on the 18th of November 1966 at Jacksonville, Florida

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA 

Tribute page for our Servicemen

  52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

52 Ancestors week 20 - Black Sheep

My great grandfather John ADAMS  was considered a Black Sheep by the family for deserting his wife who took him to court many times for arrears of maintenance for his two youngest children.

My mum always told me she was the Black Sheep but I have no idea why.  

I thought she was pretty special.

Perhaps another who may have been deemed a  "Black Sheep" for stealing a sheep, would be my 4x great grand uncle, Jeremiah BUSH. He is the only convict I have found so far in my family research.

Jeremiah Bush

Jeremiah was born in 1796 at Hardingham, Norfolk, England, one of nine children of my 5 x great-grandparents, Arthur BUSH and Hepzibah BLACKLING.  

Mary BUSH, their eldest daughter, was my 4th great grandmother.

In 1815, he married Mary FLOOD.  They had eight children.

In 1833, Jeremiah was convicted of stealing a sheep to feed his large family.  The large wether was the property of William Blomfield of Necton.  At first Jeremiah was sentenced to death but on 19 March 1833 at Norwich Assizes this was commuted to transportation for life.  

He was 36 years of age. 

Jeremiah was a convict aboard the ship Aurora which sailed from Portsmouth, England, on Thursday, 4 July 1833 and arrived in Sydney, NSW on 3 November 1833. The Master was Dalrymple Dowson and the surgeon was Alexander Stewart. The prison guards were from the 21st Fusiliers under Major Delisle.

 Jeremiah Bush was assigned to work for James McLeay and worked on properties at Ulladulla and Dalton until his conditional pardon in 1848.

In 1835 Mary his wife, daughter Elizabeth and son in law Richard Howard and their two children arrived in Sydney on board the Canton to join Jeremiah in Jerrawa Creek just near Yass N.S.W.

Accompanying them on the ship were Jeremiah's brother Arthur and his wife Maria and their six children.

They also settled in Jerrawa Creek. 

Jeremiah died in 1881 at Jerrawa New South Wales.

  52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

52 Ancestors week 19 - William Cluff HULME's sticky situation

In 1854, my great-great-great grandfather, William Cluff HULME, was in the sticky situation of Bankruptcy.

William was born on the 24th of March, 1811 at St. Pancras, Middlesex, England.  

He was the eldest son of seven children of Daniel HULME and Mary nee WOOD.  

Along with his sister Caroline, William was baptised on the 18th of April 1813 at St. Pancras Old Church.

St Pancras Old Church 1915
This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighbouring rights.

On the 4th of March 1841 William married Hephzibah LAND at Westminster, London. Between 1841 and 1859 they had eight children.

William was a grocer at High Street, Putney.  

On the 10th of March, 1854 his bankruptcy was mentioned in the London Gazette.

 

According to the U.K. National Archives, very few bankruptcy case files survive. 

"Insolvent debtors and bankrupts are different. Bankrupts were supposed to be traders, making their living by buying and selling.  Insolvent debtors were individuals unable to pay their debts. Only after 1861 could insolvent debtors apply for bankruptcy."

Bankruptcy procedure:
Chancery commissioners dealt with bankruptcy before 1832.
In 1832 the court of bankruptcy was established and creditors could petition the Lord Chancellor for a commission of bankruptcy or a fiat. Commissioners decided if a debtor was eligible to be declared bankrupt and would oversee the distribution of assets.
Official assignees were appointed and were responsible for depositing the proceeds from the sale of a bankrupt's estates into the Bank of England. When sufficient creditors were satisfied and had signed a request for a Certificate of Conformity (a statement that the bankrupt had satisfied all the legal requirements), the Commissioners could issue the certificate which effectively discharged him, although dividends might continue to be paid.
After 1849 creditors petitioned for an 'Adjudication in Bankruptcy.' The Commissioners took statements from the bankrupt and his creditors. The creditors would then elect trustees to value his assets and distribute them as dividends.
From 1849 to 1861, there were 3 classes of certificate of conformity which distinguished between

• blameless bankrupts
• bankrupts partially at fault
• bankrupts fully at fault

After 1861, orders of discharge were issued instead. 

Possibly on the recommendation of other family members who had already emigrated, and to make a new start, William, Hephzibah, and six of their eight children, the eldest, William junior and the five youngest, Arthur, Jessie, Albert, John and Jeremiah, sailed for Australia on board the ship "Blue Jacket". 

The second, Mary, and third eldest (my great-great grandfather, Joseph HULME)  followed later.

William and Hephzibah settled in North East Victoria where all but two of their children continued to live.  

Hephzibah died in 1887 and William in 1895, both at Oxley.

  52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

52 Ancestors week 18 - Where There's a Will

Where there's a Will there is usually a dispute.

I downloaded the will of my great great grandmother, Alice Morgan, several years ago.  

It was fairly straightforward.

"This is the Last Will and Testament of me Alice Morgan of the Cross Keys Hotel Firebrace street North Essendon in the Colony of Victoria Widow.
I revoke all Wills heretofore made by me.  I appoint my son John Morgan sole Executor and Trustee hereof.
I give devise and bequeath my freehold estate at Firebrace Street North Essendon aforesaid together with the said Hotel and premises erected thereon and the goodwill and license thereof and all the household furniture plate linen utensils and effects therein (excepting my piano which I hereby bequeath unto my daughter Mary Adams) and all other my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever situate unto my said son John Morgan his heirs and assigns absolutely
I bequeath the sum of ten pounds unto Mary Daly at present residing with me.  The rest residue and remainder of my personal estate I bequeath unto my said son John Morgan his heirs and assigns upon trust to convert the same into money and to hold the proceeds in trust for my sons Alexander Morgan the said John Morgan and my said daughter Mary Adams in equal shares and proportions.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of August One thousand nine hundred .....
Signed by the said Alice Morgan as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our hands as witnesses
signed by 
D M Burns
David Michael Burns of Firebrace St. Nth Melbourne in the said State.  Railway employee.
and

Michael Mornane of 125 Queen St. Melbourne in the said State.  Solicitor.

But .....

Recently I received letters that were in the possession of Alice Morgan's son, Alexander, who had moved to New Zealand.  Alexander was an accountant for the New Zealand Treasury Department.
These letters revealed disputes over Alice Morgan's Will.

1.  Mary Daly was a lifelong friend of Margaret (Maggie) Morgan, nee O'meara.  Maggie was the wife of the executor of the will, John Morgan.  Mary Daly seems to have been a carer for Alice Morgan.  
Mary was not happy with her bequest of ten pounds. 

Transcribed:

"Cross Keys 
5-10-04

Dear Alick

I received your letter and we were glad to hear that you are all well.  Mary has been up three times since mothers death, they are all well.  Maggie wrote to Aunt Kelly in answer to her letter after our trouble when she invited her over but I do not know if she will be able to go yet.  I know the change would do her the world of good as she has been quite run down.

Dear Alick you will see by the enclosed copy of a claim by Molly Daly against the estate of mothers that she is not at all satisfied with the small amount mother left her namely £10.

Dear Alick Mary & I have decided to give her £10 each along with the £10 which mother has mentioned to be given to her in the will.  If you are agreeable to her the same amount - £10 will you cable to me at once so as affairs can be fixed up at once as they cannot be whilst this claim is unsettled

Molly has consented on consideration of our proposal to accept £30 with the £10 of mothers making £40 & to sign to that affect having no further claims on the estate.  She is still here but is thinking of going to West Australia when her clain is satisfied.

Her solicitor is J. FitzGerald Collins Street City as Jack was not too well Dear Alick I penned these few lines at his dictation.

I will now conclude with love to all from all as Mary & Jack is most anxious to get this claim settled so as each can get their own.  Trusting you will not delay in replying your decision to me.

I remain your affectionate sister
Maggie Morgan
John Morgan"

2. Mary Adams nee Morgan, my great grandmother and the eldest daughter of Alice, disputed which piano she was to receive. The letters revealed that there were two pianos, an old one and a newer one.

John Morgan wrote again to his brother in New Zealand:

Jan 28 1906

Dear Alec

Enclosed you will find an approximate statement of how the estate stands and of what it consisted of but I must point out to you that this statement does not include Mary Dalys' claim to which you have had a copy.  There is also another matter namely the piano - Mary Adams does not agree as to which piano was left to her and it will probably be settled by the court unless she takes the one which I think was intended for her and if she takes the matter to court the expenses will have to be borne by the Estate and that will decrease the amount accordingly.
My dear brother I am very sorry you did not accede to my wishes in letter date 5th of November 1904 at first and settle Mary Dalys' claim for the forty pounds and save this trouble and extra expense as she intends to sue for the full amount.
As you must know she can get many of the neighbours as witnesses as to her services and nursing of Mother for many years  I have already advance Mary Adams the sum of £39-17/6 out of the Estate which is all I am going to give her pending the decision of the Court re the claims namely M. Dalys' & the piano.
I have had the advice of three solicitors as to Mary Dalys' claim and they all say that they think she would get the full amount claimed.

I remain 
your affectionate brother
John Morgan

Addition that I am fairly certain goes with this letter.

Dear Alec
I forgot to mention to you that I wrote finally to Mary re the piano over a week ago & she promised to let me have her decision the following night But I have not seen or heard since
Yours affect Brother

John Morgan.

I don't know what the final outcome over the piano was but it seems that Mary Daly eventually settled on an agreed amount. 

  52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"