Eric Daniels and Brenda Adams wedding anniversary

My paternal grandmother Brenda Mary Adams and her first husband Eric Daniels were married at St. Michael's Church, North Melbourne, Victoria on the 1st of September, 1928.

Information on the marriage certificate states that Eric was born at Buncle Street, North Melbourne and Nana was born nearby in Kensington.

Eric gave his parents names as William McDonald Daniels and Florence Mary Powell, yet his mother was named on his death certificate as Ethel Rose Stowell. (the informant was my Nana)

I had found Ethel and William divorced in 1912 and William married Florence Powell in 1913.

Witnesses were Nana's eldest sister, Alice Crowl nee Adams and L. Powell.

I haven't been able to find if  L. Powell was a relative of Eric's stepmother.

A couple of years ago I recorded in a post what I found about  Eric's parents in Trove.

The post is DANIELS family North Melbourne - Trove Tuesday

Brenda Mary Adams age 21 in 1926, two years before she married Eric.
A postcard she sent to her maternal Uncle, Alexander Morgan in New Zealand.

Eric and Brenda went on to have their little boy Ronald Francis Daniels in February 1930.  

They were living at 10 Molesworth Street, North Melbourne at that time.

Tragically Ronald died of Meningitis in December 1931 and Eric died of Hodgkin's disease in January 1932.  An earlier post in Eric's memory HERE

In memoriam - Eric Ebor John Daniels

Today is the anniversary of the death of Eric Ebor John Daniels, the first husband of my paternal grandmother Brenda Mary Forsyth nee Adams.

Their story is heartbreaking.

About nine months after their marriage on the 1st of September 1928 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in North Melbourne Eric was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease.

Eric died 88 years ago on the 17th of January 1932 at The Melbourne hospital in North Melbourne, and so very sadly, just short of 5 weeks after the death of their infant son Ronald Francis Daniels of Influenzal meningitis on the 15th of December 1931.

Eric Daniels left with his brother-in-law Bertie Crowl (1891-1967) and their mother-in-law Mary Adams nee Morgan (1864-1933) seated.  (Unfortunately not a very clear photo being a photocopy)

Family Notices (1932, January 18). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved January 12, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203187394

Little Ronald Francis Daniels

Family Notices (1932, January 19). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203177568

Original photo of Eric and Ronald's grave from my grandmother's photo album


Photo taken by me in 2018

Resting Together In Peace

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.

#NFHM Blogging Challenge - Week 2 - Careful He Might Hear You

Brenda Mary Adams (1905 - 1999)
taken 1926 (family collection)

My paternal grandmother kept her secrets very close.

It wasn't a custody battle but a battle for child maintenance which seemed to begin in 1913.  Nana would have been 8 and her brother 6.

I didn't know until a few years ago when I was searching through newspaper archives that they were almost made wards of the state because for many years their father didn't contribute maintenance for their care.

In 1913 he was found in Adelaide.

The first article I found was 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. 

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 right through to 1918.

Thursday 31 May 1917 page 3
Maintenance Claim. Mary Adams proceeded against her husband, 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.  

The many other news articles through until 1918 that show that Mary Adams wasn't going to give up her fight can be read HERE

It hasn't been revealed by any family members what happened in the following years and I haven't yet found where my grandmother and her brother attended school in Ascot Vale.

On the 1st of September 1928 My grandmother married her first husband, Eric Ebor Daniels. His occupation was a motor driver and hers a confectioner. She worked for the MacRobertson's chocolate factory. At the time of her marriage she was living at 24 Canning Street North Melbourne and Eric lived around the corner in Erskine Street where his father had a business as a produce merchant.

The next year the Wall Street Crash in October 1929 caused the Worldwide horrific economic downturn of the Great Depression.  The impact worsened in Australia over the following years and many people of all classes were financially crippled, out of work, homeless and in despair.

In these early years by grandmother and her little family suffered even more despair and heartache.

In 1930 (I am fairly sure in February but yet to obtain his birth certificate, the process of which I am unsure of as it isn't classed as a historical certificate.) little Ronald Francis Daniels was born. Again I need to obtain Ronald's birth certificate to find out where they were living but within the next year, I do know they at 10 Molesworth Street, North Melbourne.

Ronald Francis Daniels (family collection)
Location not recorded.

Poor little Ronald developed "Influenzal Meningitis"  He was admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital where he died two weeks later on the 15th of December 1931.

Family Notices (1931, December 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1.
from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203728858

Dad told me Nana always blamed the meningitis on Ronald's first haircut and she wouldn't get Dad's hair cut until just before he started school.

But their heartache wasn't over.
Thirty-three days later, on the 17th of January 1932, Ronald's father Eric died of Hodgkin's disease at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Eric and Ronald's grave
(family collection)

Eric Daniels
(family collection)

His death certificate states the duration of his disease was two and a half years. 
I just cannot imagine how my grandmother coped with all of this heartache.

Family Notices (1932, January 18). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203187394

The house at 10 Molesworth Street was only a ten-minute walk from both hospitals so on a recent visit to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where my husband had to undergo some tests I went for a walk to see the house. On the way, I wondered just how many times my poor grandmother had walked these paths.  

Royal Melbourne Hospital ca 1930 to 1940
 Author / Creator: Edwin G Adamson 1895-1974, photographer.
from State Library Victoria - No copyright restrictions
 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/153647

The hospital looks completely different today and I took a few photos at the entrance but never thought to take a more distant one of the whole hospital.

On the 24th of August 1933, only nineteen months after Eric passed away,  Mary Agnes Adams, my Nana's mother passed away at 10 Molesworth Street.

My great grandmother Mary Agnes Adams nee Morgan (1864 - 1933)

At that time the house was owned by Albert John Harford of 86 Molesworth street.
Albert had inherited the house from his mother Mary Ann Harford who died in 1910.  
Mary Ann Harford had owned the house since 1889.

The Great Depression would still be having an impact in Australia when Nana married my grandfather, James Forsyth (born James Musson - long story!) in 1937.
From a child's perspective, I think they lived a happy life together.

My grandparents at the wedding of my parents in 1958.

My grandmother, Brenda Mary Forsyth, formerly Daniels nee Adams.

#NFHM Blogging Challenge - Week 2 - Careful He Might Hear You

by Alexandra at Family tree Frog

Theme - Sumner Locke Elliott wrote a haunting tale about PS and his aunts, custody battles and secrets called Careful He Might Hear You.

Mary Agnes ADAMS - Trove Tuesday

My paternal great-grandmother Mary Agnes ADAMS nee MORGAN

was born on the 17th of October 1864 at Moonee Ponds, Victoria.

She was the third child and eldest daughter of John MORGAN and Alice nee KELLY who were owners/licensees of the original Cross Keys Hotel at Essendon.

Mary married John ADAMS on the 7th of November 1887 at Essendon but they later separated and had been through a rather acrimonious maintenance battle which I covered in another Trove Tuesday post in 2012.

I was very thankful when the Melbourne Age newspaper became available in Trove as that seems to be have been where my grandmother's family put their notices.

Mary Agnes ADAMS died on the 24th of August 1933 at her home at 10 Molesworth Street North Melbourne.

  

 

Mary Kelly's Inquest

Perhaps John Kelly moved his family from Tarraville to North Melbourne because his wife was ill.

John, his wife Mary Ann nee Francis and their two daughters, Mary and Alice were living at 73 Melrose Street North Melbourne in August 1888.

Mary Ann died on the 16th of August 1888 of a Lumbar abscess and debility for which she had been seeing Dr. Howitt for 4 months.

John and their daughters must then have moved to 35 Mark Street, North Melbourne where tragedy struck the family again.  On the 22nd of November their seventeen year old daughter Mary caught her clothes on fire while doing the laundry at the copper situated in the back yard.

Mary was taken to Melbourne Hospital where she died on the 13th of December from the effects of those burns.  An inquest was held into her death.

Page 1
December 15th 1888
Proceedings of Inquest held upon the body of Mary Kelly at the Hospital Melbourne.
Received at the Crown Law Offices 18th Dec 1888
signed the coroner

Page 2
Proceedings before coroners
Inquisition
Colony of Victoria To wit.
An inquisition for our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria, taken at Melbourne Hospital in the Colony of Victoria aforesaid, the Fifteenth day of December A.D. 1888 in the ?? year of the Reign of our said Lady the Queen, before me Michael Gaul Gentleman, a City Coroner of our Lady the Queen for the said Colony, upon the view of the body of Mary Kelly.

(signatures of 5 jurors)

good and lawful men of Melbourne in the said Colony, who being duly sworn and charged to inquire, upon the part of our Lady the Queen, when, where, how, and by what means the said Mary Kelly came by her death, do say upon their oath in the Melbourne Hospital on the thirteenth of December ? the deceased Mary Kelly died from the effects of Burns accidentally received.

Page 3
In witness whereof as well the aforesaid Coroner as the Jurors aforesaid, have to this Inquisition put their hands and seals, on the day and year and at the place above mentioned.
signed by the Coroner Michael Gaul and the 5 Jurors.

Page 4
VICTORIA POLICE - 47
Russell Street Station.  Melbourne Police District 14th December 1888
Report of Const. Davidson relative to death of a girl in the hospital.
I have to report that Mary Kelly 17 years of 35 Mark St. North Melbourne was admitted to Melbourne Hospital on 22nd November 1888 suffering from burns of the legs & arms caused by her clothing taking fire accidentally when washing or boiling clothes at a copper.
She progressed fairly well till the change in the weather yesterday afternoon when she ? and died in 20 minutes.

signed M Davidson const. 5269
M. Gaul Esq. M.D.
City Coroner
Melbourne.

Page 5
This Deponent John Kelly on his oath saith I am a Tanner residing at North Melbourne.
The deceased was my Daughter her name was Mary Kelly her age was seventeen years.  She was unmarried?
On the twenty second of November last my daughter was washing in the yard.  She had a fire under a boiler her clothes were set on fire.  I heard her screaming I went to her assistance.  I found her in flames running up the passage.  I tried to put it out but she got away from me and ran into the house where I was when the fire was put out she was severely burnt.
I had a Doctor to see her who advised me to take her to the hospital.  She was alone in the yard.
Signed John Kelly

taken and sworn before me, the 15th of December 1888 at Melbourne. Mich Gaul Coroner

Page 6
This Deponent Frank Smith Crowther on his oath saith, I am a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at Melbourne Hospital.
The deceased Mary Kelly was admitted into the hospital on the 22nd of November about 4 p.m. and on examination was found to be suffering from a burn of the left arm and extensive burns at the back and inner side of both legs extending to the ankle on the left and to the knee on the right side.  There was also a burn at the lumbar region of the back.  Patient remained in the hospital and was under treatment up to the 13th inst. when she suddenly took? an attack of collapse and died at 9.40 p.m.
The cause of death was the burns.
signed FS Crowther
Taken and Sworn before me, the 15th of December 1888 at Melbourne.
signed Mich Gaul. Coroner

Thankful Thursday - Two heads are better than one

I am extremely thankful for my family members who are fellow researchers.  


Not that they have two heads of course.


It is so rewarding when two heads (or more) get together and solve a family mystery.


I am very lucky to have a few wonderful rellies who I can research with, toss ideas around with, argue with,  ask questions of and they all have their own areas of expertise.


Some are "Google masters"


Some have that "gut feeling" about a person we are researching and that gut feeling is nearly always right.


Some can find a story or document in the most improbable places.


Some can decipher the most illegible scribblings on documents


Some know instinctively when "that photo" was taken or can assess every aspect of a photo and give it a very accurate date within a year or two.


Some are great with dates and others can tell an awesome story.


I am also extremely thankful for the family historians who have gone before me and done such a power of research.


Building on the information already found is one hugely rewarding aspect of family history.


One example of this sort of teamwork that really sticks in my mind was the finding of information for my Great Grand Uncle, George Adams junior.


Christine is my fellow family researcher of the Adams line and we only had a birth year for George jnr. 


He was born in North Melbourne in 1856; the second child and first born son of George Adams and Catherine nee Barry.


From his father's death certificate in 1921 we knew he was already deceased and wondered how he had died so young.


Anyone who has ever tried to find information on a George Adams in Australia will know that you first of all have to claw your way past all the TATTERSALLS information!


I had gone through the Vic BMD indexes endless times searching for Geo Adams deaths in those years.  We left it, deciding he would show up one day somehow.  Every so often it was re-visited.


Christine was searching the newspaper archives and found an article about the death of a young labourer named George Adams.  This death took place at Dookie, way North of where they lived at the time.  We just sat on that for ages.  Then one day I decided out of the blue, as I do, to have another search through the Vic Indexes.  I narrowed down date, ages etc and was left with only a couple of Adams that could fit.  
Interestingly one of these was a Page Adams.  Weird name!   With father George and mother Catherine.  

Death certificate for Page Adams

The date of this death registration was the same year as an Inquest was held for a George Adams.  1876 not only tied in with how old our George jnr would be but it also tied in with the newspaper article that Christine had found ages ago.

From The Melbourne Argus 18th January 1876

With team work we had found our George junior.   A relative we could relate to as being a fun loving Aussie Larrikin.  I would love to have known him.


Now we just have to find his brother DAVID ADAMS ............ arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!