Smith/Wedlake

[Quentin]

Hi - am stuck at a point and can't link back further without proof. GtGt Grandparents George Smith (groan) and Mary Ann (shows as Marianne) Wedlake were married 5 March 1852 at St James Church Melbourne, Vic. I have the copy cert. It was apparently one year before parents names were required. They had 4 children that I know of, Sarah 1853, William 1855, Mary Oliver 1857, Joseph 1859. Sometime after 1859 and prior to 1864 they crossed the Tasman as the next child I have found is Charlotte, born NZ 1864. But more importantly, I cannot discover when George and Mary Ann arrived in Victoria - don't know if they travelled together, or with their families. The info I have collected is that they originated in Tower Hamlets, two people fitting with info were christened at St Dunstans, Stepney, George apparently born 1827, and Mary Ann 1835. In NZ George's occupation says "Miner" and I suspect he may have come to Vic for the gold rush, as there was family 'story' backing this up. Can anyone point me in the right direction to search for arrival/date/ship to Aust. Thank you. Quentin

[Procat]

Hi Quentin. Vic PRO has the index to immigration online here.

[Quentin]

Hi Procat - for some reason I can't see the reply made to you so will try again! Thank you for your advice, however I have looked on that site many times but nothing gels. I have no ship name for a start, either from the UK or to NZ. I can't find a group of people travelling to NZ, with or without George. The children would surely have been with their mother, but any child of the same name doesn't fit with the ages. Perhaps I'm using the site incorrectly? Even to find just when George and Mary Ann arrived from UK and whether they came with their families at different times and only met in Australia would be progress. I do thank you for responding. Cheers, Quentin

[Procat]

Hi Quentin,

You probably are using the site correctly - some people just don't want to be found. My great great grandfather swam to Australia I can assure you. If they did arrive in Victoria (rather than land elsewhere then travel overland) I wonder if George and Mary came as unassisted - I know that as a percentage of arrivals the numbers are small but it is possible. The online indexes for that only start in 1852 and presumably they would both have been here before then.

[Quentin]

Yes, perhaps they also swam! There is an odd thing though - I understand that both George and Mary Ann were born in Tower Hamlets, christened at St Dunstan's Stepney. What are the odds of them both ending up in Melbourne and being married there in March 1852? I am suspicious that they may have travelled together and then married when they got here - if the date of birth is correct, then Mary Ann was only 17, so perhaps no parents to stop them. Cheers, Quentin

[Bess]

Can you name the witnesses on the marriage certificate please?

Why is there no son named George...after father?

Mary Oliver...did she keep that name in later life?

It might have been meant to be Olivia, but if it stays as Oliver it might be a family name, suggesting maybe grandmother's maiden name?

Do you have a death certificates for George and Mary?

The Victoria birth record for William, 1855, and later children will have provision for parents ages and birthplace.....probably just England, but you be lucky and get something more specific.