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Hi,
Please can anyone, with access to Australian & New Zealand records, help with following:
My late uncle Sidney Richard Edwards (born 1899 Walthamstow, Essex) died in Belmore, NSW, Australia 21 Mar 1974. He went to Australia circa 1920's On his NSW death certificate it shows he was a widower at death, but was previously married to Elizabeth Oldham in New Zealand. It also shows he was married at the age of 24 i.e in about 1923.

Would it possible like to find please:
1) Record of their marriage in New Zealand?
2) The death of Elizabeth Edwards, nee Oldham, in Australia?
3) Any record of a birth for Elizabeth Oldham in New Zealand (if born there? Unless she came there from UK?) Don't know her age, but assume about same as Sid, or younger?
4) Any clues or other info from any NSW Australian census, for this married couple?
5) Anything in New Zealand census about 1923/4? (think they only got married there & went back to live in NSW, but she may have lived there till then?)

Sid served in Australian forces in WW2 & I've already have those Army records, which mention his wife Elizabeth as his next of kin.

Have not found any record of children for Sid, but one cousin thinks he might have had a daughter in Australia. Anything in Australian census about that? (Possible Elizabeth, like her mother maybe, but that's just a guess I think?)

We know from an old family letter that uncle Sid mentioned his wife 'Elizabeth' was in an Australian Hospital "for incurables" with Parkinson's disease, around 1940's (think she must have stayed there till she died?)

Another same tree researcher thinks his wife Elizabeth may have died in Auburn, NSW in 1946, but gives no evidence or source, so I'm not sure about that? (they got other known info wrong!)

I've found out from getting 3 Australian certificates ( two of which were wrong people) from NSW's, at 29 Australian dollars each, that it's an expensive business getting Australian cert's, so wish to make sure I get right ones if I can.

What can anyone find please for Elizabeth Edwards, nee Oldham, for her birth, death & marriage, based on info I've given above.

Anything info in NSW census for Sid & his wife (and any child) would be very much appreciated too.

Look forward with much interest to hearing from anyone who can help please.

I put this post under 'Edwards', but it might need to be put on 'Oldham' too (can that be done your end, or is it Ok as it is?)

Thanks very much,
George

Hi George .... in case this helps ... the 'NSW State Library' (on-line) has an 'Ask a Librarian' service ...they can check electoral rolls..and also newspaper death notices ...if you can supply dates i.e.26/3/1974.

I noticed on the 'Ryerson Index' Sidney Richard Edwards d 1974 'late of Belmore' his death notice was in the 'Sydney Morning Herald' 26/3/1974. 'Ryerson's will (also)do a 'look-up' for you.

Also on 'Ryersons' is an Elizabeth Edwards dc8/12/1946 ... notice in 'Fraser Coast Chronicle' (Hervey Bay) 9/12/1946. A 'look-up' should show family names etc.

It's possible electoral rolls will show when your Elizabeth Edwards goes 'missing' (1946?)

There's also the 'National Library of NZ' which offers a similar 'Ask a Librarian' service ....to check electoral rolls.

Lastly..... there's a 'Joy Murrin's Transcription Services' (on-line) ...she will 'search' NSW/BDM cert for $18......... cheaper than buying them.


Valerie (WAus)

you might alos try searching on www.trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper


you might find something




sylvia

Hi George,

Do you have access to Ancestry? There is an extensive tree on there, but you may be in touch with this person already.

Regards.

just for further information for both George and helpers


the Public Family Tree on ancestry has the following information


Connerty/Rowsell/Cooper Family Tree

Owner: janicemsimson

Elizabeth Oldham

Birth 1882 in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia


Parents

William Oldham
1862 –

Mary McPhillamy
1860 –


Marriage to Sidney Richard Edwards
1928
Age: 46
New Zealand


Australian Electoral Rolls, 1903-1954

1933
Age: 51
Residence
111 Platform Street, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia

1936
Age: 54
Residence
Nelson Street, Cabramatta, New South Wales, Australia


1937
Age: 55
Residence
Newington Hospital, Auburn, New South Wales, Australia


1943
Age: 61
Residence
Newington Hospital, Auburn, New South Wales, Australia



They apparently had a child .

........ Living Edwards is included in the tree.






This tree also says that Sidney Richard emigrated to NSW, Jan 1 1923, age 23, on the S.S.Benalla

He also apparently returned to the UK on the Balranald in May 1935, returning to Australia some months later




If you do not have a subscritpion to ancestry, may I suggest that you take out a 14 day free trial, so that you can contact this person. She obviously has a lot of information


You will have to give a credit card number to get the free trial, so make sure that you norify them several days ahead of the end of the trial if you do not wish to continue, as they will charge your card at midnight on Day 14.




sylvia

There is a family tree on Ancestry - owner grimgeorge makes mention of Elizabeth (Minnie/Martha) Oldham married to Sidney Richard Edwards. If this is not your tree, it would be worth the trial to have a look (as Sylvia suggested).

George,

A Sidney Edwards and Elizabeth Oldham did get married in NZ in 1928, but it's not the correct couple. I found a document at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/y/r/Ralph-Byrne/PDFGENE1.pdf Sidney HENRY Edwards b. 30/7/1893, Victoria Valley, Kaitaia married Elizabeth Oldham on 13/3/1928. He died 21/12/1966 and is buried at Victoria Valley Cemetery. All relevant information on page 5 of this document. I thinking the marriage was in Australia.

George,

The only marriage in New South Wales of Elizabeth Oldham

Reg No/Yr Surname Name Spouses Surname Spouses Name District

8758/1902 Haydon Alfred G Oldham Elizabeth Barraba

Hi all,
Thanks for all your kind & very prompt help & info.
Sorry was bit late checking back, but been out of action on grandson duties! Can only check in every few days as wife poorly too!

Very sorry, as some confusion caused by my own tree! As you found I'm on Ancestry too as 'grimgeorge', whose tree is mentioned by MEgirl (my tree is public) All details for my uncle Sid's profile come from our known info/doc's/rec's or checked sources valid for him. The only record i can't find is for his marriage to Elizabeth Oldham, who is also mentioned on his death cert I have from NSW (his Aussie Army rec just shows his wife as Elizabeth Edwards, his next of kin)

The other Ancestry 'Connerty/Rowsell/Cooper Family Tree', mentioned, I already know about, as they have been copying off my tree! They do not have anything original (Have been in contact before) They guessed at death of Elizabeth in Auburn for 1946, but do not have any concrete evidence (other than disappearance off Rolls after 1943)

It does appear from Australian Electoral Rolls that an Elizabeth Edwards was recorded at Newington Hospital, Auburn, NSW in 1937 & 1943. As we know, from an old letter, she was in some Australian "hospital for incurables" with Parkinson's disease, I feel this is most likely her. Can anyone find later record in next Rolls, or a NSW death record after 1943, or for that one Valerie mentioned from Ryerson, on 8/12/1946 please?

If she did die in Auburn NSW in 1946, does anyone have access to Australian burial records for that area & do a look up for me please?

I've found an existing hospital in Newington & today sent them email to find out if they can provide any help from old records, but privacy & long time rules probably apply over there I suppose.

I have old press cutting for uncle Sid's own death announcement, so that would be the one in Ryerson for him (copy attached to his profile on my tree)

Last time I looked at Ryerson it was a subscription service, is that still the same? Does anyone have subscription membership to do look up death for Elizabeth Edwards nee Oldham please, to see if it's her? Can anyone who has access copy entry for her & send it by email please?

Still confused though about their marriage. As I explained on the death cert for Sidney Richard Edwards death on 21 Mar 1974 it states:
'Widower' (so did not remarry after Elizabeth)
Place of marriage - New Zealand (possible perhaps informant was confused & meant New South wales I suppose?)
Age at marriage - 24 (i.e 1923, but again might have been estimated?)
To whom married - Elizabeth Oldham (suppose possible that might be name from a previous marriage, or can I be sure it's her maiden name?)

Sorry but do not know how to look up the long ref to document mentioned by other 'George'? Any possibility of him, or someone else, copying that document and sending copy as email attachment please?

Are the various 'look up' services free?

Thanks for info on Joy Murrin transcription service, but how do I find that please?

Sorry to ask for more, but bit green on these internet online thingies!
Would be most grateful for any further help.

If anyone can help with copies by email, please can they contact me direct as not allowed to put email address on here (but might not check in again for few more days!)

Many thanks to you all for your very kind help & advice.

Regards,
George

Hi George .....'Joy Murrin's Transcription Services' are on-line ....just ask 'google'.

'Ryerson's do free look-ups (unaware of any subscription),,,, just click onto their 'look-up'. It's likely the funeral notice will indicate 'resting place'.

Valerie

Thanks Valerie.
George

Hi George,

I tried to look up the Rookwood Cemetery/Crematorium site, but it has crashed and will not be operating for some time. It would be the closest cemetery to Auburn, if that is where the correct Elizabeth Edwards did die. I have also checked the Rookwood Catholic Cemetery, but she is definitely not there. Have you heard back from Newington Hospital yet?

Just tried to edit my post and deleted it instead.

Oh well I'll try again. findmypast.com.au has 243,000 names of the 600,000 odd who are currently buried at Rookwood cemetery. They offer a 24 hour free trial to their site.

I did find two Elizabeth Edwards buried at the Independent Cemetery but on further investigation don't believe they are your Elizabeths.

As MEgirl said in her previous post the other website is down so if your Elizabeth was of Anglican faith the only way to find her would be to go to the cemetery.

Gai