Monday, February 8, 2010
Biddy (Bridget ) Fallon - Irish Famine Orphan (1830-1884)
Biddy is my paternal great, great, great grandmother.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Morris Lucas (abt 1831 - 1914)
My maternal great, great, grandfather.
Morris was christened Maurice Lucas on 23 Jan 1831 in the little village of Newnham, Hertfordshire, England to Mary (nee Coventon) and Philip.
The 1841 England census lists him as 11 year old 'Morris' (much simpler to spell obviously), living with 13 other Lucas, including a Philip (35 yrs) who is presumably his father and presumably his grandparents, William (60 yrs) and Mary (60 yrs).
Morris (11 yrs) has no occupation listed, even though 9 year old James is listed as an Agricultural Labourer like Philip and William.
(N.B. The 1841 England census does not include relationship notes to the head of the household like the later ones, but from the ages listed you can get some good clues about who other family members might be.)
Morris doesn't appear in the 1851 England census. I have been unable to find any immigration records for Morris but somewhere between 1841 and 1860 he migrated to Victoria, Australia. Gold was found during this period, so it's probable this was a factor, further research required here me thinks.
The next records is of his marriage (at 30 yrs) to widow, Alice Hallet (nee Symes, 39 yrs) in Ballan, Victoria, Australia in 1860. Alice has six children, i have not found any evidence to suggest that Alice and Morris had any children together.
In May 1870, farmer M. Lucas of Pentland Hills, Victoria, Australia is listed in Victorian newspaper, The Argus, as a new insolvent (bankrupt).
(N.B. The National Library online newspaper archives are a fab source for family history research!)
In 1872, Morris is abt 41 years old. A Frederick Henry Lucas is born to 17 year old Hannah Wait who is unmarried of Myrniong, Victoria, Australia, father is listed as 'unknown'. I'm pretty sure it's Morris' kid - the birth is witnessed by a Mrs Lucas, perhaps Alice now around 50 years old?
Again, at the insolvency court in 1884.
When Morris dies in 1914 (@ 83 yrs of old age in Boweya, Victoria, Australia), his only 'issue' is listed as Frederick (40 yrs) and his will bequeths his estate to his illegitimate son, Frederick Henry Lucas. A Morris Lucas is buried in 1914 at the Lake Rowan Cemetery, Victoria, Australia - further information about Lake Rowan Cemetery is available.
Morris was christened Maurice Lucas on 23 Jan 1831 in the little village of Newnham, Hertfordshire, England to Mary (nee Coventon) and Philip.
The 1841 England census lists him as 11 year old 'Morris' (much simpler to spell obviously), living with 13 other Lucas, including a Philip (35 yrs) who is presumably his father and presumably his grandparents, William (60 yrs) and Mary (60 yrs).
Morris (11 yrs) has no occupation listed, even though 9 year old James is listed as an Agricultural Labourer like Philip and William.
(N.B. The 1841 England census does not include relationship notes to the head of the household like the later ones, but from the ages listed you can get some good clues about who other family members might be.)
Morris doesn't appear in the 1851 England census. I have been unable to find any immigration records for Morris but somewhere between 1841 and 1860 he migrated to Victoria, Australia. Gold was found during this period, so it's probable this was a factor, further research required here me thinks.
The next records is of his marriage (at 30 yrs) to widow, Alice Hallet (nee Symes, 39 yrs) in Ballan, Victoria, Australia in 1860. Alice has six children, i have not found any evidence to suggest that Alice and Morris had any children together.
In May 1870, farmer M. Lucas of Pentland Hills, Victoria, Australia is listed in Victorian newspaper, The Argus, as a new insolvent (bankrupt).
M. Lucas, Pentland Hills, farmer. Causes of insolvency - Inability to pay off a mortgage to the National Bank, want of employment, sickness, failure of crops and loss of cattle through drought. Liabilities, £319 Is. 8d.; assets, £115; deficiency, £204 Is. 8d. Mr. Jacomb, official assignee. (The Argus, Saturday 14 May 1870
(N.B. The National Library online newspaper archives are a fab source for family history research!)
In 1872, Morris is abt 41 years old. A Frederick Henry Lucas is born to 17 year old Hannah Wait who is unmarried of Myrniong, Victoria, Australia, father is listed as 'unknown'. I'm pretty sure it's Morris' kid - the birth is witnessed by a Mrs Lucas, perhaps Alice now around 50 years old?
Again, at the insolvency court in 1884.
When Morris dies in 1914 (@ 83 yrs of old age in Boweya, Victoria, Australia), his only 'issue' is listed as Frederick (40 yrs) and his will bequeths his estate to his illegitimate son, Frederick Henry Lucas. A Morris Lucas is buried in 1914 at the Lake Rowan Cemetery, Victoria, Australia - further information about Lake Rowan Cemetery is available.
Family history research
So, I've been researching my family history for a while now. Ancestry.com.au subscriptions are expensive when you ignore them like I have, so i've decided to do something with what i've found here.
I'll start with the man who brought my Mum's line to Australia - Morris (Maurice) Lucas.
I'll start with the man who brought my Mum's line to Australia - Morris (Maurice) Lucas.
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