Miss Grace Adams

My Dad's first cousin, Grace Adams was attending the Flemington training school in 1922.

She was one of the "5 best spellers" at the school at that time.

Grace is the girl on the far right of the photo.
Read more information about the Old Flemington Training School at Lenore's website Time Travellers in Essendon, Flemington and the Keilor Plains

Grace's contributed a composition to the Victorian Education Department's Jubilee exhibition in 1922 which is still in the possession of her sons Warren and Geoff Delbridge.

What amazing handwriting for a 6 year old!

"May and Annie are going to the country and May is taking her grandmother a bunch of flowers.  When they get to the country they will have lunch."

Education Department, Victoria

Jubilee Exhibition 1922

Exhibitor Grace Adams

Age 6

School 250 Flemington.

In July 1923 on hearing that she was unwell  Grace's teacher wrote her the following letter.

Essendon July 29th

Dear Grace,

I was very sorry to hear that you were unable to come to school but I hope you will be well again before long.

Your little brothers were quite excited as they told me that you had left school forever, but I hope it will not be long before I see you back.  

You would like to be back when we go over to the new school, wouldn't you?

Perhaps you will be put into a higher grade as you do such nice work.

Good-bye, now, dear Grace.  I hope you will soon be quite better.

Your loving teacher

B McFarlane

Grace's teacher 'B McFarlane' would most likely have been Helen Valetta "Blanche" McFarlane (1881- 1974) daughter of John McFarlane, an engineer and Emily Amelia McFarlane, nee Gray.

Warren tells me that both the envelope and note paper are bamboo paper.

The images on the writing paper and envelope are of the pagoda near the Sarusawa pond at Nara in Japan.  

The pond was created in 749. (see - https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-parks-gardens/sarusawa )

Mysterious David Adams Found

I have been trying to find my grandmother's paternal Uncle for so many years now I can't remember how long.  

David Adams, whose death details we couldn't find, was the only child of George Adams and Catherine Barry whose death and further life movements we hadn't found.

Christine Stafford nee Adams, my 3rd cousin once removed and I had all but given up hope but every few years a small snippet of information would show up in searches just to tease us I'm sure.

After his birth registration details in 1866, the next bit of information on his whereabouts was that he was a witness to the marriage of my great-grandmother Mary Agnes Morgan to his older brother, John Adams in  Essendon, Victoria in 1887.

Christine had later found some newspaper articles that mentioned a young David Adams in the Flemington area of Victoria where our Adams ancestors lived.  

We still don't know for sure if this was our David though.

David's father, George Adams, died in 1921.

David was one of the beneficiaries in his Will.

He was also a beneficiary in the Will of one of his sisters, Margaret Mansfield in 1926, so we knew he must have been still alive.

I hadn't found any more family Wills.

The last hint was nearly 12 months ago when I came across an obituary for David's sister, Catherine McFadyen who died in 1946, that mentioned her brother, David Adams in Sydney.  

Family Notices (1946, September 7).
The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 9.
from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206366530

Yesterday a new record hint in ancestry.com.au came up for him.

A marriage was recorded in The Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 which had been added to ancestry. (I'm not sure when)

This record actually showed a marriage certificate for a David Adams to an Evelyn Maude Sutton in 1938.  I thought Nah ......

His age was 71 years and he was a builder who lived in Sydney.  

Well that occupation ran in the family but I had previously found another death for a David Adams, builder so I wasn't convinced.

Hopeful.

Born in North Melbourne, Victoria, tick.

He was a Widower which would explain his age, tick.

The big YES came at his parent's names, George Adams, builder and Catherine Barry.  

BIG TICK and BINGO!!

It took a while to sink in but you can imagine the happy dance!

After all these years I couldn't believe he had been found.

I had actually looked at the marriage record previously for these two but due to financial restraints, I can't spend willy-nilly on BMD certificates.

Chris Goopy, a genealogy blogging friend, once said David would help us find him when he was ready.  

He did!

I hooked up with my cousin Christine in messenger and we both began a frantic search for other information.

In the excitement, I can't remember now who found what but we found his death and funeral notices in April 1951.

"Family Notices" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 27 April 1951: <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18210317>.

"Family Notices" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 27 April 1951:  <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18210317>.

Further searching of the electoral rolls determined that David's sons were John Lockyer Adams and David Bernard Adams.

Christine found his death notice in 1987.

John married Eileen Marie Holmes in 1928.

I haven't found David Bernard Adams death as yet but we are fairly sure he married a Maisie Lilian Belcher.

On looking in ancestry there doesn't seem to be any of his descendants researching or as obsessed interested in the family history as I am.

Hoping this blog post may attract contact by David's descendants one day.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 3: Longevity

My Paternal great-great-grandfather, George ADAMS, was one of my ancestors favoured by longevity having lived until the good age of 90 years.

Last Friday (12th January) I had my first visit to the large Fawkner Cemetery in Melbourne where many of my ancestors and family members are buried.
Thanks to their impressive website graves can be found and mapped before a visit.
George Adams and his second wife Sarah (formerly Oakley, nee Harman) are buried in the Methodist B section in grave number 1093.

When we found the spot I was a bit disappointed and rather surprised to find the grave unmarked.
I left flowers.

Their grave is situated between an A. Wilson on the right and I. Northway and S. Earle on the left.

 George was born in Saffron Walden, Essex, England in 1831 to parents Edward ADAMS and Susannah nee HARRIS.
He emigrated to Australia sometime around1852
(I think he swam as I haven't found a passenger record yet).

George married my great-great-grandmother, Irish born Catherine BARRY, at Fremantle, Western Australia on the 19th of June 1853.

They had 9 children, 3 of whom predeceased their parents.

Catherine died in Melbourne on the 4th of May 1884, aged 52. 
She is buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton.

Photo from the State Library of Victoria
http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/284236

At the time of his death, George lived at 5 Brixton Street, Flemington.

Links to other stories about George

GRANDAD (Mr Adams, Byaduk, Victoria) - on this blog

George Adams (1831-1921) and his sister Sophia (1836- 1914) - on this blog

Their story by Christine Stafford nee ADAMS, George's 3rd great-granddaughter.

My favourite place to research is now known as Moonee Valley - 52 Ancestors - Week 38

The theme for week 38 is a favourite place to research. 

My favourite place to research would have to be what is now known as Moonee Valley which comprises the North-Western suburbs of Melbourne listed below.
Thanks to assistance from my dad's cousin and his wife Ray and Margaret GOODWIN, Lenore FROST and the Essendon Historical Society I have had many fruitful hours of research.
My paternal ancestors lived for many years in the suburbs highlighted. 
Some of the other suburbs did not exist back then.

• Aberfeldie
• Airport West
• Ascot Vale  my great grandmother Mary ADAMS nee MORGAN lived here during WW1
• Avondale Heights
• Essendon
• Essendon North
• Essendon West
• Flemington  my great-great-grandfather George ADAMS lived here ca 1903 to 1921
• Kensington  my grandmother, Brenda ADAMS  born here 1905
• Keilor East
• Moonee Ponds my great grandmother, Mary ADAMS nee MORGAN born here 1864.
• Niddrie
• Strathmore (originally North Essendon) my 3xgreat grandparents John MORGAN and Alice nee KELLY owned the original Cross Keys Hotel here from 1871 until Alice's death in 1904 when the hotel passed to her son John Felix MORGAN.
• Strathmore Heights
• Travancore

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

George Adams (1831-1921) and his sister Sophia (1836- 1914)

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/284236

George ADAMS was born 1831 in Saffron Walden, Essex, England to parents Edward ADAMS and Susannah HARRIS.

Edward (1798-1874) had three marriages, first to Sarah RICHARDSON in 1821. They had a daughter, Caroline (1822-1901)

Sarah possibly died in childbirth as her death was recorded in 1822.

He then married Susannah HARRIS in 1828. They had two children. My great great grandfather, George and his sister Sophia born 1836.

Susannah died in 1840 and in 1842 Edward married Sophia Andrews LOMER (1800-1880)


Young George emigrated to Fremantle Western Australia where he married an Irish lass named Catherine BARRY on the 19th of June 1853. They went on to have nine children and travelled back and forth between Victoria and Western Australia.

George was a successful tenderer for the building of the Albany Post Office and Customs House in 1868-69 during which time their youngest daughter Annie was born at Albany.

1. Susan Adams (1854 –1880) married John TUNNEY in 1871

2. George Adams (1856 –1876)

3. John Adams (1858 –1937) married Mary MORGAN in 1887 (my great grandparents)

4. Mary Adams (1860 –1878)

5. Edward Adams (1862 –1933) married Selina Rose CLIFTON in 1883

6. Catherine "Katie" Adams (1864 –1946) married John MCFADYEN in 1885

7. David Adams (1866 – ?) a mystery

8. Margaret Adams (1868 –1926) partner was James MANSFIELD

9. Annie Adams (1870 –1960) married Henry SLOAN in 1911

After the death of his wife Catherine in 1884, George married Sarah OAKLEY nee HARMAN.


Sarah's first husband had disappeared and after being missing for seven years she was legally able to remarry.

Sarah and George had one daughter, Sarah Selina ADAMS (1886- 1977). She was known as Sadie. George died at the age of 90 in 1921 at 5 Brixton Street, Flemington where he and Sarah had lived for many years. In 1915, their daughter Sadie had married Harold STONE (1890-1924) and she lived next door at number 7 Brixton Street for many years. 

It seems that both houses belonged to her parents. Sadie and Harold have one daughter.

George's sister Sophia also emigrated to Australia, possibly around 1858, as her death certificate states she lived 55 years in Victoria.

Sophia married James LORIMER (1835-1919) on the 26th of January 1861 at Kew, Melbourne, Victoria.

They lived all their married lives at 28 Davis Street, Kew and had two children. 

James Edmund LORIMER 

James was born in 1861 at Kew and died in 1948 at Moonee Ponds. He married Emma MERRETT in 1887. 

James and Emma had one daughter, Fairy May Sophia LORIMER (1895-1985) 

Fairy married Henry William COLE (1892-1973) in 1921. They have one daughter. 

Lucy Sophia LORIMER. 

Lucy was born in 1872 at Kew and died there in 1961. Her first marriage was to Joseph Henry THOMPSON in 1917 and second to David PETCH. 

I haven't found any children for Lucy. 

Black Sheep Sunday - "Wife deserter"

I record events but I don't make judgements on any of my ancestors lives/decisions/situations as I have not walked in their shoes. 

Until I started my genealogy journey I knew nothing about my great grandfather, John Adams.  He wasn't spoken about.  I really only call him a "black sheep" because of the news articles I found.

One of Dad's cousins related to his sister in law that many years ago when he was a child this man was pointed out to him walking on the other side of the road.  "See that man over there, that's your grandfather".

It has always been thought that my great grandparents were separated as in all the electoral roles for Victoria they were only together in earlier ones.

Recently in Trove  new newspaper archives have been added.  Imagine my surprise when I did a search and all these results popped up. 

Many of the actual images of the news archives are very hard to read so I am just posting the transcriptions.

Beginning in 1913 an article in the Adelaide Advertiser:

Thursday 16 October 1913
John Adams was charged with having, on April 1, deserted his wife at Ascot Vale, Victoria. Detective O'sullivan produced a provisional warrant for the apprehension of the accused. On Tuesday afternoon the witness and Constable Mcinerney saw the accused in Gouger-street. He asked him for his name, and he replied that it was John  Gray. The witness said, 'I believe your name is John Adams, and you are wanted for wife desertion at Ascot Vale." The accused answered, "Yes. my name is John Adams." Inspector Burchell asked for a remand until Saturday, in order that an escort might arrive from Victoria. The request was granted. The accused, in asking for bail, said he was a bricklayer by trade, and had been in Adelaide twelve months. Bail was allowed in himself of £30 and one surety of £30.

The Adelaide Register on the same day had him giving a different name:
Thursday 16 October 1913 page 5
John Adams was accused of having deserted his wife at Ascot Vale, Victoria, on April 1. Detective O'Sullivan gave evidence of arrest. When asked what his name was, defendant replied,  'John Berry.' The detective informed him that he believed his name was John Adams, and that he was wanted for wife desertion in Victoria, whereupon accused admitted that he was the man. Inspector Burchell asked for a remand until Saturday, October I8, to permit of the arrival of an officer from Victoria. This was agreed to, and bail was allowed, defendant in, £30. and one surety of £30

Then later in the same week the Advertiser again reported:

Monday 20 October 1913
John Adams was charged, on remand with having failed to maintain his wife at Ascot Vale, Victoria. He was remanded when previously before the court pending the arrival of an officer from Victoria. On Saturday morning he was remanded to Victoria in charge of an officer from that State.

I couldn't find any reports after that until the Essendon Gazette article in 1915 and the ongoing saga in later years which seems to have been played out in the Flemington Court house. One of the children involved was my grandmother.

Flemington Court house and police station at 28 Wellington Street.
Former Flemington Court House Heritage Listed Location

From The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918)

Thursday 15 April 1915
Father's Responsibilities.
Mary Adams proceeded against her husband, John Adams, on a charge of disobeying an order of the court, directing that defendant should contribute £1 per week as maintenance for his two children. The arrears under the order were set down as £14 5s. Adams pleaded that he was out of employment, and the Bench adjourned the case for 14 days, and advised him, in the meantime to adjust something in the nature of a proposition for payment.

Thursday 29 April 1915
Flemington Police Court.
There was an uninteresting bill-of- fare before the above court on Tuesday, when Messrs. C. J. Cook (chairman), W. Shaw, and J. McSwiney J.'sP., presided. Mary Adams proceeded against her husband, John Adams, for maintenance arrears amounting. to £14 5s. The case had been adjourned to allow defendant, who stated that he was unemployed, to make a proposition regarding payment. On Tuesday Adams said that he was still out of employment, but anticipated securing work almost immediately. Mr. Cook said if defendant failed to put forward a reasonable proposition, the Bench would be compelled to send him to gaol. As, however, this would benefit neither party, the Bench had agreed to further adjourn the case till May 18.

Thursday 11 November 1915
FLEMINGTON POLICE COURT
Tuesday, Nov. 9. Before Messrs. W. Shaw (chairman), A. L. Crichton and W. L. Eddy, J.'sP. Maintenance:   Mary Adams proceeded against her husband on a charge of failing to comply with a maintenance order. Complainant said that the order was for £1 per week, and defendant was now 14 weeks in arrears.   
The case was dismissed on defendant promising to regularly contribute £1 per week and wipe off the arrears by instalments.

Thursday 30 November 1916
Adams v. Adams.
Mary Adams proceeded against John Adams, her husband, on a claim for £20 10s 6d. being arrears on a maintenance order of £1 per week for the support of defendant's two children. Mr. C. J. McFarlane for complainant, Dr. Jones for defendant. Evidence having been given by complainant as to the manner in which the order had been disobeyed, defendant admitted his default and said his inability to pay was the result of scarcity of work. As an illustration, defendant, who is a brick layer, swore that during a recent stretch of seven weeks his earnings only amounted to 10s.
Cross-examined by Mr. McFarlane, defendant denied that he was living with another woman. Mr. McFarlane suggested that there were other avenues for employment open to defendant, and that he need not confine himself to bricklaying. Dr. Jones: If he accepted work at an other trade, he would probably be branded by his union as a "scab" and "blackleg." 'The Bench decided to postpone the case for six months.

Thursday 31 May 1917 page 3
Maintenance Claim. Mary Adams proceeded against her hus band, John Adams, on a charge of neglecting to comply with an order of the court. granting complainant and her two children maintenance.  Mr. C. J. McFarlane, on behalf of complainant, said that since defendant was last in court, in November last,
Adams had contributed £13 5s on the order, but the arrears to date amount to upwards of £50. Some time ago defendant was brought from Adelaide on warrant.
In Adelaide he was living in adultery with another woman, and was at present continuing those relations and living with the woman at Kensington, while his lawful wife was left to support two children, aged respectively 10 and 12 years.
Unless defendant entered the witness box and gave sound reasons for his failure to comply with the order, he (Mr. McFarlane) would ask that Adams be committed to gaol. Defendant, on oath, said he was a brick layer, and for some time past had only been in temporary work. He had contributed as much as he possibly could, and had run into debt as a result of borrowing to meet the order. To Mr. McFarlane I admit that I cleared   ? on a recent tender. I am living in the same house with a Mrs. H---- and her two daughters. I also stopped at her place in Adelaide. We are not living together as man and wife and I have never made admissions to that effect. I defy anyone to prove such as assertion. I do not want my children put on the State. I cannot support my wife because I find it impossible to get constant work. Mr. McFarlane: Do you remember the woman referred to suing her husband for maintenance? Defendant: Yes. Was the claim disallowed because the daughter of this woman swore that she had taken tea and toast to you and her mother who were in bed together?
Yes. she swore that because she was promised a new dress. Mr. Shaw, J.P. said the Bench experienced much difficulty in endeavouring to deal with this case. Defendant had since he was last in court paid his wife £13. and it was clear that he would not have been in a position to do that had he been sent to gaol. While sympathising with the   complainant the Bench felt that it was advisable to adjourn the case for a further term of three months to give defendant an opportunity of ascertaining what he could do in the way of meeting the order Mr. McFarlane suggested that the case might be adjourned, to be dealt with by a police magistrate. Complainant took the view that if her husband was committed to gaol he would come to his senses and make an effort to pay for the maintenance of his wife and children rather than go there. The Bench did not favour the suggestion, and the case was adjourned till August 21.  

In another search of the electoral roles to find a "Mrs H" I found that from 1919 to 1936 John Adams was listed in Rankin's Road, Newmarket, Melbourne with a Mary Hildebrand, nee Moss.  
John Adams died in 1937 aged 79.  
Whoever was the informant on his death certificate got his details wrong and gave his half sisters name as his mother.
I may never know if they did have a relationship.  
In 1936, at 61 years of age, Mary Hildebrand married a James Henderson.  
She died in 1941 aged 66 years.

Thursday 22 November 1917
Arrears of Maintenance John Adams, who owed £14 on an order for the maintenance of his two children, was told by the Bench that if he did not make some sort of reasonable settlement within a month he would have to go to gaol.

Thursday 20 December 1917
Arrears of Maintenance. Mary Adams V. John Adams -.arrears of maintenance.   
The complainant said the case had been before the Court and adjourned, The arrears were then £13 but were now £18. The chairman (to defendant): What have you to say? You are letting those arrears mount up. Defendant: I have not been working for some time except for a few days at the chemical works, but I shall be in work after the holidays. The case was further adjourned for a month.

Thursday 17 January 1918
Maintenance Claim.   Adams v. Adams was again called. Defendant, John Adams, secured an adjournment for a fortnight. The indebtedness on the original order was £18; and defendant promised to reduce this sum in the meantime.

Thursday 25 April 1918
Adams v. Adams. Mary Adams proceeded against her husband John Adams, claiming outstanding payments on a maintenance order amounting to £23. Defendant, who did not appear, forwarded £2 10s in reduction of the claim. The Bench made an order for £20 in default imprisonment till the full amount is paid.

Thursday 23 May 1918
Arrears of Maintenance. John Adams, who was ordered to pay £21/10/-, arrears of maintenance due to his wife on a maintenance order, applied to the bench for further time to meet his obligations. The bench had ordered that Adams, in case of failure to meet the order, should be imprisoned.   
On Adams paying in £6/10/- on account, he was given four weeks to pay the balance of arrears.

Thursday 11 July 1918
Maintenance in Arrears. John Adams was again called on to show cause why he should not be imprisoned for failure to comply with an order of the court to support, his family. The arrears amounted to £10. Defendant pleaded lack of employment. but Mrs. Adams contended that defendant was underestimating his income and misleading the Bench. The case had repeatedly been before the Bench, and after hearing the evidence of Mrs. Adams the justices. in a spirit of weariness retired to their room to consider the advisability of arriving at finality in the matter. On returning to the Bench, the chairman said that a majority of the justices had decided that the defendant must pay £10 by Friday next or go to gaol until claim is paid.

Thursday 12 September 1918
Maintenance Arrears, Mary Adams proceeded against her husband, John Adams, for £10 arrears of maintenance. An order was made against defendant on 11th November, 1913. for £1 a week for the support of his two children. and the case has been before the court many times since. Defendant was ordered to pay the arrears in a month at the rate of £5 a fortnight.