UK Death Certificate

[Dundee10]

William Douglas McPherson Born at Sea:8 May 1853 (my great grandfather)

Son Edward's birth reg is on the GRO index
Edward Brice MMN BRICE
GRO Reference: 1853 Sept 1/4 in ST THOMAS Volume 5b Page 42

I don't think this is biologically possible and there are a few different families mixed up here.

[christanel]

ancestry has transcibed Brice as Bria. The image is Brice.
1871 census RG10 Piece 2073 Folio 37 Page 65
15 Queen Street Dawlish
Walter O Harris 29 Grocer and Draper Bishop Leighton
Elizabeth Harris 27 Whymple
William O Harris 4 son Bishop Leighton
Arthur Harris 2 Bishop Leighton
Edith B Harris 1 Dawlish
Mary Newman 58 Mother-in-law Married. Lapidarys? wife. Colyton Rawliegh
Edward Bria 17 Stomemason journeyman Woodbury
Mary A Bria 25 Draper's assistant Whymple devon (the middle initial has been written over so could be a J)
Eliza Steinner 17 Servant

[christanel]

Find A Grave
William Douglas McPherson Brice
Birth Date: 1852
Birth Place: Devon, England
Death Date: 31 Jul 1899
Death Place: Brunswick, Moreland City, Victoria, Australia
Cemetery: Fawkner Memorial Park
Children: Arthur Edward Brice
Jubilee Sarah Jane Crispe
John Henry Brice

[christanel]

Posted by victoriab52 View Post
William Douglas McPherson Born at Sea:8 May 1853 (my great grandfather)

Originally Posted by christanel
Son Edward's birth reg is on the GRO index
Edward Brice MMN BRICE
GRO Reference: 1853 Sept 1/4 in ST THOMAS Volume 5b Page 42

I don't think this is biologically possible and there are a few different families mixed up here.

I think we have to go back to the drawing board with this one as I have just found a probate record for a William Brice who died as a single man in 1886 who matches the one in the censuses I found. So the 1851 census that Victoria gives as her great grandfather's family can't be her William Douglas McPherson.
GRO death Index
William BRICE, age 34 March 1/4 1886 registration district St Thomas Vol 5b page 39.

[christanel]

Thanks Christina

I found the name 'Mary Ann Woodhouse' as the mother of my great grandfather William's Australian Death Certificate from 1899. The DC lists William's brother Henry as the informant and my grandfather, 'Abraham George' is listed under 'issues'.
It states William's mother as Mary Ann Brice (Maiden Name:Woodhouse).

I can't seem to see anywhere that I can attach the DC for you to view but let me know if I've missed it.

Victoria

Ok, from the beginning, birth reg of your grandfather
Name: Abraham George Brice
Birth Date: 1 Dec 1891
Birth Place: Nantawarra
Registration Place: Gilbert, South Australia, Australia
Father: William Brice
Mother: Mary Jane Burgess
Page Number: 338
Volume Number: 489

No middle names for William. Does William's death certificate have any middle names for him? The Find A grave record I gave for William Douglas McPherson Brice does not mention your grandfather Abraham.

Christina

[christanel]

Nothing is straightforward with this family is it.
Your grandfather's death certificate?
Abraham George Brice
Died Preston, Victoria
registered 1961 Registration number 10710
age 69 born about 1892
father - Thom William
mother - Mary ann Burgess

Christina

[victoriab52]

Hi Helachau
Appreciate this information. I did see Mary Newman's name on the 1871 census however couldn't quite understand the connection.
Will check out again now knowing she was a Brice prior to marrying William Newman.
Thanks
Victoriab52

[victoriab52]

You're quite right about nothing being straight forward! Fortunately, I have extracts from a Family Bible given to William Douglas McPherson Brice (full name in bible) from his wife Mary Jane Burgess (full name in bible) in 1894. It lists births of all the children and also lists the deaths of both William and Mary Jane and many of their children. It was obviously completed by some of the children after William's death in 1899 and Mary's death in 1948. Mary remarried later and became Mary Jane Soignies. My grandfather, Abraham George is listed in the index. My grandfather's DC has some errors in information and it seems the 'father' listed is one of the incorrect entries also the DC states my grandfather was born in Scotland however I know he was born in Nantawarra, South Australia.

i have verified his parents are William Douglas McPerson Brice and Mary Jane Burgess.
I have Ancestory info stating William Douglas was born on 8 May 1853 and baptised on 8 May 1853 at St Pauls Church Rondebosch, Cape Town by Reverend Colonial Chaplain J Fry. Witnesses to the baptism were 1. William McLauchlen, 2. Oscar Douglas McPherson and 3. Ann Davidson. I think this is where William's name is derived from. On William's death certificate it states he was born at sea on a voyage from London to Cape of Good Hope although I believe the birth may be registered as the UK but I haven't been able to confirm this. Parents of William Douglas are listed simply as Henry and Mary. William's DC states he was born at sea which fits and it states his mother was Mary Ann Woodhouse.

I has taken quite a lot of digging to get to this point as you can imagine. There appears to be quite a descent amount of Brice's in the UK in the 1800's and it appears that some may have married cousin's etc. which makes it all the more interesting!!

[christanel]

Hi
You can try the GRO to see if Henry and Mary registered William's birth with them although it does say it wasn't compulsory to do so.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/c...nt_to_know.asp
Christina

[victoriab52]

Thanks Christina - have already tried the GRO but without success!
Will keep trying !!