James RAY of Kyneton VIC

[JillianR]

My GGG Grandfather James RAY arrived in Victoria around 1854 from County Monaghan, Ireland and married Ellen HOUSTON, from County Armagh, at Keilor in 1855. They moved to Kyneton, lived in Piper St then Mitchell St until 1872 when James disappeared.

I've been to Kyneton, photographed the house, visited the local Funeral Director and searched through the burial register which they have, surprised that it was still there and still in use. I've had Kyneton Historical Society do a search of their records. I thought I was the only one who didn't know where James went until I found this in the Argus yesterday -

Wed 1 Mar 1876
Mr James Ray, formerly of Kyneton, - I hereby give you due notice, if you don't come foward before one month my intentions are to change my name, as I have had no account from you for the last four years. E. Ray.

Ellen did indeed change her name, she married a cooper from Melbourne, Charles ANDERSON in 1876 and live happily ever after. James may have had a very good reason for not contacting her, such as being dead. He did leave her when she was pregnant with their 8th child though. Would like to find his death record, it could be anywhere. Perhaps the goldfields? Any help much appreciated.

[Waitabit]

Hello JillianR, have you tried Victorian Cemeteries at all? This one came up no knowing if he's your or even age. You'd need to enquire there I guess.

RAY James Edward

rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ausvsac/Ensay.htm

Ensay is a small town located between Swifts Creek and Bruthen on the Great Alpine Road in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia

Also Electoral Rolls, a James Ray is on the 1903 rolls in Carraj[uo]ng, Williamstown, Tarraville -Flinders & Gippsland.

[JillianR]

Thanks, I'll have a look. I have tried whatever cemeteries are online, and I paid to view 2 records at BDM which were both the wrong ones. I'll have to go back and check what they were now so I can rule them out. He did have a son James born 1858 who died some time before 1910 but I don't have his death record either. (info from mother's death record)

[Waitabit]

Quite possible he had an untimely death on the goldfields too. Murder & other not so nice things did happen. His death may have been unknown & unrecorded.

[JillianR]

James was born in 1832 so he'd have been 40 when he disappeared. Does anyone know what this means? I'm thinking it has to do with who the father is, he being absent. From the birth certificate of 8th child Ellen born Kyneton :

Born 23 Feb 1872, registered 18th July 1872, informant Ellen Ray, mother, after declaration made as by law required.

[CassieK]

Births are required to be registered within a certain period - today in Victoria it is 60 days. I think the 'after declaration......' is required for a late registration which in this case was nearly five months after the birth.

I wonder if the son James noted on his mother's death certificate, was an infant death.

Could you please give husband James' parents' names please. May help locate him in the death indexes.

Cheers
Cassie

[CassieK]

My GGG Grandfather James RAY arrived in Victoria around 1854 from County Monaghan, Ireland and married Ellen HOUSTON, from County Armagh, at Keilor in 1855. They moved to Kyneton, lived in Piper St then Mitchell St until 1872 when James disappeared.

It would appear that James and Ellen married after the birth of their fourth child, not in 1855 in Keilor. James b 1858, William 1860, Edward 1863, Henry 1864 and then a period of eight years to Ellen in 1872. All children born Kyneton.

RAY James born Monaghan
HUSTON Ellen born Armagh
1866 Reg#355

Cassie

[CassieK]

Hello JillianR, have you tried Victorian Cemeteries at all? This one came up no knowing if he's your or even age. You'd need to enquire there I guess.

RAY James Edward

rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ausvsac/Ensay.htm

Ensay is a small town located between Swifts Creek and Bruthen on the Great Alpine Road in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia

Also Electoral Rolls, a James Ray is on the 1903 rolls in Carraj[uo]ng, Williamstown, Tarraville -Flinders & Gippsland.

RAY, James Edward.
Ensay Cemetery
Funeral notice Died 17 Oct 1984
Brother of Leo (dec)

This man was 75 years old and the son of George James and Ethel Unknown and he died at Omeo. There is another RAY family in Gippsland.

Snippet for son James
RAY, James born Australia
Hospital record 3 Nov 1865 Kyneton
Religion Roman Catholic Birth place Australia
Kyneton Hospital Admissions Registers 1862 - 1885.
Note or Recommender - Out Patient - Mr Lavender

Cheers
Cassie

[JillianR]

Hi Cassie

I don't know James' parents names, sorry. The marriage information is on Ellen's birth record in 1872, it says they were married on 24th November 1855 at Keilor. Is the 1866 marriage in the BDM records? I also have Henry's birth record from 1862 which says they were married in November 1855 in Melbourne. That was their story and they were sticking to it I guess.

Children were John 1856, James 1858, William 1860, Edward 1863, Henry 1864, Mary Ann 1866, Patrick 1869 and Ellen 1872.

[JillianR]

Hi Cassie

I just purchased the image of that marriage entry 1866 and it says James parents were James Ray and Mary Flannagan. Thanks for finding it for me, no wonder I couldn't find it in 1855. They were married at the Wesleyan Parsonage in Kyneton.