Wednesday 21 June 2017

David Adams breakthrough - I hope

Trove comes up trumps again!

Our mysterious David ADAMS, born 1866 in Hotham, Victoria to George ADAMS (builder) and Catherine nee BARRY,  had seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth.  

Until now.

Our last known record of David was a mention in the will of his sister Margaret MANSFIELD in 1926.  Unfortunately, no address was given for him in that document.

In my most recent visit to Trove, a death notice for another of his sister's appeared with the words "Loving sister of David ADAMS, Sydney"

So now we know that David was still alive in 1946!

Family Notices (1946, September 7).
The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 9.
from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206366530
I went through every David ADAMS in Sydney electoral rolls.  
There were only about four probables.

The one I feel is most likely our David married a Juanita Agnes HERRICK in Victoria in 1907 marriage registration number 7751.

They were living at 51 Carr St Crows Nest Sydney.

Electoral roll entries
1913 at Crows Nest Road. builder. 
1930, 1933, 1943 & 1949 they are living at 51 Carr Street Nth Sydney no occupation.  
1958 Juanita is still at 51 Carr Street, no David.

Juanita died in 1959 death registration number 15980 in North Sydney.

RE the estate of JUANITA AGNES ADAMS, late of (1960, May 13).
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001),
p. 1470.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219905814

I then found the following probate notice for a David Adams also in Trove.
Executor was a Henry Herrick EDWARDS.

Advertising (1953, July 6).
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 11.
from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23254192
This David died on the 21st of January 1953 in Sydney but it seems that a copy of his Will is also at the Public Records Office of Victoria. Perhaps because his lawyer was in Victoria.  And .... David was a retired Builder.
Another hopeful clue is the link to Victoria.
His Will file number - 468/443
VPRS 7591/P3 unit 16, item 468/443
and Probate - 468/443
VPRS 28/P4 unit 609, item 468/443

Unfortunately, the only New South Wales death I could find for a David Adams in North Sydney in 1953 was registration number 1564 listing parents as David and Jane Ann which don't fit.  
Another David Adams?

There isn't a Victorian death for a David Adams in 1953.

But I still have a good feeling about this.
Next steps are to obtain the relevant certificates to confirm or not.

Fingers crossed.

UPDATE - This turned out not to be our David Adams

8 comments:

  1. Crossing fingers for you! Good luck on your hunt.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds promising, Kerryn.. look forward to good results.

    ReplyDelete
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    http://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2017/06/friday-fossicking-23rd-june-2017.html

    Thank you, Chris

    ReplyDelete