Sepia Saturday 528: 11 July 2020

Broad streets, shaded sidewalks, elegant buildings: picture postcards always managed to make the ordinary look extraordinary. Whether it is Richmond, Virginia or Rochdale in Lancashire, townscapes and cityscapes are an ever popular subject for old photographs. For Sepia Saturday 528 - post your posts on or around Saturday 11th July 2020 - get out your old photographs of streets and towns, buildings and buses.

I have been a bit quiet on the blogging front of late because I have been participating in a 5-week course run by Pharos Tutors on Researching your Welsh ancestors.  You can find out more about the tutor Eilir Daniels here on her website.

Some of you may already be familiar with my obsession with ancestor Margaret Jones.  "Not her again!", I hear you cry.  Yes, Margaret.  Sorry.  We, family historians, nag at old ancestors like a dog with a bone.  I'm beginning to think DNA will be my only hope of finding out exactly where in Caernarvonshire dear Margaret Jones was from.  Of course, it doesn't help that her surname is Jones and I cannot find any hints anywhere of her parent's names etc.  But I will tell you what if anything I have found as a study of the madness of family history research.

But first the photo for Sepia Saturday.

This is a postcard of Cooma Street in Yass.  It's for sale on eBay if you're interested for $22.  I don't collect postcards and I am on a strict budget at the moment, so it's a no from me.    On the back of the postcard is the following handwrititng: 

"Joe gave a few items on Joe Chamberlain's preferential reform or something of that sort.  This is the village where I exist.  I think Joe is wiring you today so suppose he has told you all the news.  Remember me to your brothers and don't forget Vera.  Yours Sincerely Bill McKinnon."

The ebay seller doesn't give any suggested date for this postcard.  I can only see horses in the street so I want to say the early 1900s.  What is Joseph Chamberlain's reform that the writer is referring to?  Would it be tariff reform which he proposed in 1902?  At any rate, Chamberlain was dead by 1914.  

Here is a description of Yass from 1888.  Mr Iceton will become more familiar to you as you read this post.

Mr. Edward Arthur Iceton, (1888, April 14). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 28. Retrieved July 11, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71096515

The article got chopped off a bit...the rest is "and churches of the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Wesleyan denominations, a commodious public school, a Roman Catholic, and several private schools, a convent, and three steam flour mills.  The municipality contains 33 miles of roads.  The population is about 2500."

But back to Margaret.  I chose this postcard because Yass was the big smoke for Margaret and her husband.  It is so interesting looking at this picture.  Look - just one lampost in the entire street.  If you want to see an even more sobering photo which I suspect is what Margaret would have been familiar with given she died in 1870, click here.

Today I wanted to record a couple of things.

1. a kind of checklist for convict ancestry
2. transcribe Margaret's probate/will which I ordered recently
3. outline a way forward for further research.

Checklist for Convict/Criminal Ancestry

You can never have too many books can you?  And thank goodness for libraries or we would be living on baked beans.  I borrowed David T. Hawkings Criminal Ancestors - a Guide to Historical Criminal Records in England and Wales again from the Brisbane City Council library service.  I have also ordered his other book which I'm sure I've borrowed before too Bound for Austrlaia: a guide to the records of transported convicts and early settlers.   There probably won't be much difference between the two.  Bound was originally written in 1987 and recent editions were published in 2013.  Criminal ancestors was first published in 1992 and most recently in 2009.  Appendix 1 of the latter publication recommends locating a criminal ancestor using the following steps:

1. Search criminal registers
2. Check calendars of prisoners
3. Check court records
4. Check prison records/hulk records
5. Check prison journals
6. Check transportation records e.g. indents, transportation registers
7. Check asylums for criminal lunatics
8. Check debtors prison records
9. Check newspapers
10. Check pardons
11. Check police gazettes

I've created a clunky Google Document with a table that is a sort of checklist here.

Part of my problem with Margaret is that she was convicted in Lancaster and there don't appear to be any records of her time in prison or any court records which is so frustrating.  Thank goodness for newspapers or I would know very little.  

Transcription of Margaret's Probate

Page 1

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.  In the goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased.  Petition for Administration Filed 9th July 1875.

Page 2

To their Honours the Chief Justice and ??? Judges of the Honorable the Supreme Court

The Humble Petition of Henry Taylor of Yass aforesaid Farmer and Grazier

Sheweth

That the said Margaret Taylor died on the sixth day of June last intestate leaving your Petitioners and seven other children her next of kin her surviving.

That the said deceased had whilst living and at the time of her death goods and chattels credits and effects within the Colony of New South Wales

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Honours will be pleased to grant to your Petitioners Letters of Administration of the Estate and effects of said deceased.

And Your Petitioners will ever pray etc.

Dated at Yass aforesaid this 8th day of July A.D. 1875

EA Iceton Proctor for the Petitioners

John J Hargrave

Page 3

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 1586 In the Goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased.

Affidavit of Publication and search for Caveat

Page 4

On this ninth day of July one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five Theodore Powell of Sydney in the colony aforesaid being duly sworn math oath and saith as follows:

1. A true copy of the Paper writing hereunto annexed marked "A" was inserted and published inNew South Wales Government Gazette on the twenty-fifth day of June last.
2. I have this day searched i the proper office of this Honourable Court and find no caveat entered herein 

Sworn by the deponent on the day first above mentioned at Sydney before me ??Burns A Commissioner for Affidavits.

Page 5

"A"

Notice is hereby hat at the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will made to this Honorable Court for Letters of Administration of the goods, chattels credits and effects of the abovenamed Margaret Taylor deceased to be granted to Henry Taylor of the Murrumbidgee River near Yass aforesaid a Son and one of the next of kin of the said deceased.  Dated this 21st day of June 1875 E.A. Icelou??? for the said Applicant Proctor Yass By McCarthy and Robertson his agents Pitt Street North Sydney

This is the paper writing marked "A" referred to in the annexed affidavit Theodore Powell sworn the ninth of July AD 1875 before me CJ Burns A Commissioner for Affidavits.

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Friday 25 June 1875 (No.145), page 1859 courtesy of Trove The National Library of Australia

Page 6

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction In the Goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the colony of New South Wales Widow deceased  

Affidavit of Administrator Henry Taylor

Page 7 

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

In the Goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased

On this twenty-first day of June one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five Henry Taylor of the Murrumbidgee River near Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Farmer and Grazier being duly sworn maketh oath and saith as follows:

1. I am a Son and one of the next of kin of the aforenamed Margaret Taylor deceased.
2. The said Margaret Taylor was the widow of the late Samuel Taylor deceased and she died at Yass aforesaid on the sixth day of June instant intestate I verily believe leaving her surviving on this Deponent Henry Taylor Margaret Mitchell the wife of William Mitchell Samuel Taylor William Taylor Susan Humphries the wife of Alfred Humphries John Thomas Taylor Rowland Owen Taylor and George Robert Taylor her children and only next of kin and the only persons entitled in distribution to her personal estate and effect.
3. The said Margaret Taylor had whilst living and at the time of her death goods chattels credits and effects within the Colony of New South Wales
4. I will well and truly administer ??? goods chattels credits and effects and pay all the just debts funeral and testamentary expenses of the deceased so far as the said goods chattels credits and effects will hereunto extend and the law find me I will make a true and perfect ...

Page 8

            ...inventory of all the said goods chattels credits and effects and render a true and just account thereof and of my administration of the same and exhibit the same into the Registry of the Supreme Court of New South Wales at the times assigned me by the said Court.

I believe the said goods chattels credits and effects are under the value of one hundred pounds.

Sworn by the Deponent on the day first above written at Yass before me the contents having been first read over and explained to him and he appearing to me to understand the same.  Henry Taylor his mark.  ????a Commissioner for Affidavits

Page 9

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical jurisdiction

In the goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased

Affidavit of Surety William Taylor

Page 10

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical jurisdiction

In the goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased

On this twenty-first day of June in the Year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five William Taylor of the Murrumbidgee River near Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Farmer being duly sworn maketh oath and saith as follows:

1. I am a farmer residing on the Murrumbidgee River near Yass aforesaid
2. I am possessed of property to the amount of One hundred pounds over and above all my just debts.  I am not Bail or Surety for any Defendant in any action for any other person as administrator
3. My property aforesaid consists of real and personal estate near Yass aforesaid.

Sworn by the Deponent on the day first above mentioned at Yass Before Me 

William Taylor

S E ??? Commissioner for Affidavits

Page 11

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

In the Goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased

Affidavit of Surety

John Thomas Taylor

EA Iceton Yass ?/ McCarthy & Robertson

Page 12

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

In the Goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased

On this twenty-sixth day of June in the Year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five John Thomas Taylor of the Murrumbidgee River near Yass in the Colony New South Wales Farmer being duly sworn maketh oath and saith as follows:

1. I am a Farmer residing on the Murrumbidgee River near Yass aforesaid
2. I am possessed of property to the amount of One hundred pounds over and above all my just debts I am not Bail or Surety for any Defendant in any action nor for any other person as Administrator
3. My property aforesaid consists of real and personal estate near Yass aforesaid.

Sworn by deponent on the day first above mentioned at Yass re me 

John Thomas Taylor

??? a Commissioner for Affidvants

Page 13

In the Supreme Court of New South Wales Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

In the Goods of Margaret Taylor late of Yass in the Colony of New South Wales Widow deceased

Administration Bond

EA Iceton Proctor Yass

Page 14

Know all men by these presents that we Henry Taylor of the Murrumbidgee River near Yass Famer and Grazier William Taylor of the same place in the Colony of New South Wales Farmer and Grazier and John Thomas Taylor of the same place Farmer and Grazier and each of us are held and firmly bound to our Sovereign Lady the Queen and Her Successors in the sum of Two hundred pounds of lawful British money for which payment to be well and truly made we and each of us jointly and severally bind ourselves and each of us award each of ??him executors and administrators firmly by these presents.  Sealed with our seals.  Dated this twenty-sixth day of June in the Year One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.

Now the condition of the above-written obligation is such that if the above bounden Henry Taylor Administrator of the Goods chattels and effects of Margaret Taylor Dececased so make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods credits and effects of the said deceased which have or shall come to the hands possession or knowledge of him the said Henry Taylor or to the hands or possession of any other persons or persons for him and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited in to the Supreme Court of New South Wales at or before the expiration of six calendar months from the date of the granting of Letters of Administration and the said chattels credits and effects and all

Page 15

other the Goods chat credits and effects of the said Deceased at the time of her death or which at any time afterwards shall come to the hands or possession of such administrator or to the hands or possession of any other person or persons for him shall well and truly administer according to Law and further shall make or cause to be made a just and true account of his administration at or before the expiration of fifteen calendar months from the date of the granting of Letters of Administration and afterwards from time to time as shall be legally required.  And all the rest and residue of the said Goods chattels credits and effects which shall be found from time remaining upon the said administration accounts (the same being first examined and allowed by aid Courts shall and do pay and dispose of in due course of administration or in such manner as the said Court shall direct.  Then this obligation to be void and of non-effect or else to be and remain in full force and virtue

Signed sealed and delivered by the said Henry Taylor (the signature being by the affixing his mark in my presence and I certify that the contents of the ??? Bond were previous be the execution the explained to the said Henry Taylor and the nature and effect thereof were at the time of such execution and of this attestation to the best of my belief understood by him. 

EA Iceton Soli. Yass 

Henry Taylor his mark

And by the said Willliam Taylor in the presence of EA Iceton 

William Taylor

Page 16

And by the said Joomas Taylor  EA. Iceton 

John Thomas Taylor

So there you go.  I couldn't really see his name properly on the Probate so I'm glad I looked him up.

The probate itself is not much chop is it?  It cost $32.30.  I ordered it on the 6th June and it was delivered via email on 23rd June which I think is quite a good turnaround given all that is going on at the moment. At least I can confirm the children of Margaret Taylor via this document and I have my direct ancestor's signature i.e. John Thomas Taylor.

Ideas for further Research

As I said earlier in my post, I suspect with a name like Jones, DNA might be the only way forward.  I am reading a most interesting book at the moment called The Lost Family by Libby Copeland which talks about the ethical and philosophical conundrums that are thrown up when we head down the DNA path as family history researchers.  There is also an interesting article in the March/April edition of the American Family Tree magazine which you can read online here if you want to find out what each company offers.  

I have started to compile a list of possible suspect parents for Margaret from births/baptisms registered in Wales arpund 1808 but Caernarfonshire was a big county.  

My plan is to conduct a slow and steady search for the descendants of each of those couples (of which at this stage I have about 42 suspects) I hope to draw some conclusions based on the names of their children compared to the names of Margaret's children (assuming she named her children after her brothers and sisters perhaps).  Yes I know, very murky territory indeed.  

If you have any suggestions to offer to help narrow down the search for Margaret's birthplace I would be grateful.  For more interesting Sepia Saturday stories go here.