David married Louisa Matilda MELMER on 18 Apr 1898 in 525 Hill St, London, Ontario. Louisa (daughter of William MELMER and Louisa LAVINE) was born on 04 Dec 1880 in Ontario; died about 1925 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario; was buried in Woodland cemetery, London, Middlesex County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./ Middlesex Marriages <>

9571-98 David HENDRY, 28, soldier in Wolseley Barracks, Dundee Scotland, London, s/o David Byars & Agnes, married Louisa Matilda MELMER, 18, London, same, d/o William MELMER & Louisa WEIR, witn: Mrs. W. H. & Lena A. CLAVIS of London, 6 April 1898 at 525 Hill St., London

David married Agnes KIRKPATRICK on 10 Jul 1866 in Chorlton, Lancashire. Agnes (daughter of Anthony KIRKPATRICK and Jane GEDDES) was born in 1848 in Hulme, Manchester, Lancashire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./ 1851 Cheltenham, Gloucester, England census,

Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island
George Melmer abt 1803 Isle of Wight, Jersey, Channel Islands Head Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Matilda Melmer abt 1801 Middlesex, England Wife Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Melmer abt 1828 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Frances Melmer abt 1830 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Martha Melmer abt 1833 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Daugh Cheltenham Gloucestershire
William Melmer abt 1835 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Henry Melmer abt 1838 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Matilda Cooks abt 1775 Bridgenorth, Shropshire, Eng Mother-in-law Cheltenham Gloucestershire

NOTE 2./ 1871 St louis Ward, Montreal PQ census,
Name: William Malmar
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Birth Year: abt 1836
Birth Place: England
Marital Status: Married
religion: W. Methodist
Origin: Anglaise (English)
Province: Quebec
District: Montreal East
District Number: 105
Division: 06
Subdistrict: St Louis Ward
Subdistrict Number: a

Household Members: Name Age
William Malmar 35
Louisa Malmar 31
Emily Malmar 10
William Malmar 9
Archibald Malmar 5
Arthur Malmar 3
Cecilia Henry 14
Alfred Henry 11

NOTE 3./ 1881 Census Place: St Patrick's Ward, Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada: Source: FHL Film 1375883 NAC C-13247 Dist 134 SubDist H Div 2 Page 100 Family 502
Name Sex Marr Age Origin Birthplace

William MELMER M M 46 English England Occ: Teacher Religion: Presbyterian
Louisa MELMER F M 41 English Q Religion: Presbyterian
Emily F. MELMER F 20 English O Occ: Servant Religion: Presbyterian
William R. MELMER M 20 English O Occ: Clerk Religion: Presbyterian
Archibald MELMER M 16 English O Occ: Shoe Cutter Religion: Presbyterian
Arthur MELMER M 12 English Q Religion: Presbyterian
Alice M. MELMER F 8 English O Religion: Presbyterian
Grace E. MELMER F 6 English O Religion: Presbyterian
George D. MELMER M 4 English O Religion: Presbyterian
John H. MELMER M 3 English O Religion: Presbyterian
Louisa M. MELMER F <1 English O Religion: Presbyterian Born: Dec; 4/12
Alfred HENRY M 21 English O Occ: Factory Hand Religion: Presbyterian

NOTE 4./ from the 1881 Canadian Census:

A./ William and Louisa Melmer, are the only Melmer surname enumerated in the entire 1881 Canadian census, according to the LDS census disk set. This Melmer search was for any origin or heritage, and thus in 1881, puts the only Melmers in Canada, to be those directly associated to William Melmer.

B./ Arthur is the only Child of the 9, that William Melmer fathered, to be born in Quebec. (1869) Alice b. 1873, was the 1st child of William and Louisa. Since Louisa was born in Quebec, it may be that William and Emma were living in Quebec at the time of her passing. Hence, the birth of Arthur and new marriage for William all occurring in less than a four year span between 1869 - 1873.

C./ Alfred HENRY Male, Single, 21, English Origin, Born in Ontario, Occ: Factory Hand Religion: Presbyterian; is enumerated with the William and Louisa Melmer family of 9 children that we can account for. Alfred Henry would be the 12th member of this household. There is evidence that Louisa Levine's name may have actually been Louisa Henry, as indicated on the birth certificate of George Derby Melmer. See .jpeg of certificate, August 10, 1876, parents given as William Melmer and Louisa Henry. That would either make Alfred Henry Louisa's son she could have bore at age 20, or a brother, 21 years her junior. This issue remains unresolved.

D./ Cheltenham
Created 1st July 1837.
Sub-districts : Charlton Kings; Cheltenham.
GRO volumes : XI (1837-51); 6a (1852-1930).
Badgeworth, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Coberley, Cowley, Great Witcombe, Leckhampton, Prestbury, Shurdington, Staverton, Swindon, Uckington, Up Hatherley
Registers now in Cheltenham district.

NOTE 5./ 1891 Hamilton City, Ontario, Canada census

Name Home in 1891 Birth Year Birthplace Relation
William Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1841 England Head
Louisa Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1841 Ontario Wife
Alfred Henry Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1867 Ontario Son
Alice Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1873 Ontario Daughter
Grace E Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1875 Ontario Daughter
George Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1886 Ontario Son
John Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1879 Ontario Son
Louisa Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1881 Ontario Daughter

Name: William Melmer
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 50
Birth Year: abt 1841
Birthplace: England
Relation to Head of House: Head
Religion: Brethren In churt
French Canadian: No
Father's Birth Place: England
Mother's Birth Place: England
Province: Ontario
District Number: 72
District: Hamilton City
Subdistrict: Ward 7
Archive Roll #: T-6342

Household Members: Name Age
William Melmer 50
Louisa Melmer 50
Alfred Henry 24
Alice Melmer 18
Grace E Melmer 16
George Melmer 5
John Melmer 12
Louisa Melmer 10
NOTE 5./ Castle Garden.org Ship Search: <>

First name Last name Occupation Age Sex Arrived Origin Ship
William Melmer Teacher 25 M 19 Mar 1860 England James Foster

William Melmer Occupation Teacher
Age 25
Sex M
Literacy U
Arrived 19 Mar 1860
Origin England
Port Liverpool
Last Residence
Destination USA
Plan Unknown
Ship James Foster Jr.
Passage Unknown

NOTE 6./ Roots and Twigs: Carol Cooper (Tollgate)

Born in Cheltenham and resident with his parents and siblings at Fairview Street, St Mary`s Cheltenham in 1841 aged 6 years.
In 1851 he was living 33 St Paul`s Street North, Cheltenham, with parents and siblings, enumerated as a 16 year old teacher.
William registered the death of his father George in 1854. Place of residence 35 St Paul`s St. North, Cheltenham.
Marriage certificate on file. Married Emma Louisa Edwards in 1858 at Exeter, Devon. GRO ref 5b/139. The couple were married on 11th December 1858 at the Parish Church of All Hallows on the Walls, City of Exeter, Devon, by License, witnessed by Soloman Stoneman and Martha White. William was 23 year old bachelor Schoolmaster resident at Totnes at time of marriage whose father was George Melmer, Confectioner and Emma Louisa Edwards was a 25 year old spinster, from Allhallows, daughter of Robert Edwards, a Tailor. The couple signed the register themselves.

William was a well respected school master and was presented with a Bible upon his departure for foreign shores in 1860, inscribed as follows:
Presented to Mr William Melmer by the Committee of the Cheltenham British Schools as a token of their esteem for his fidelity, diligence and exemplary conduct in the discharge of his duties as a Pupil Techer in the Cheltenham School - signed on behalf of the Committee.

From information received from Bob Millie, a direct descendent of William Melmer, it is understood that he emigrated to Canada in March 1860 on board SS James Foster Jr. out of Liverpool to New York. Passenger List for this ship only shows William Melmer, aged 25, Teacher, born England, no indication of him travelling with wife Emma. The couple had a child born December 1859 and who died 23 April 1860 in Cheltenham - after the emigration to Canada! The baby`s death was registered by it`s grandmother, Matilda Melmer, William`s mother. Emma Melmer did indeed emigrate however, perhaps at a different time, as she had her second child in Ontario in 1861.

Emma died around 1870/72 and William remarried Louisa Henry Levine producing a further 5 children from this relationship.

The family resided in 1881 at St Patrick`s Ward, Toronto, York, Ontario, which included four surviving children from William`s first marriage (the first child Emma Matilda having died aged 6 months in Cheltenham before their passage to Canada).

William married Louisa LAVINE on 22 Feb 1871 in Point Saint-Charles Centenary Methodist Church of Montréal, Quebec. Louisa was born on 04 May 1844 in Quebec; died after 1911 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario; was buried in Hamilton Wentworth Hamilton HM-287. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./ Surname Conflict:

1./ Additional male enumerated in 1881, St Patrick's Ward, Toronto, York, Ontario, Alfred HENRY Male English 21 O Factory Hand Presbyterian is enumerated with all of rest of William and Louisa Melmer family.
2./ Birth of Alice Maud Melmer provides the following information. #004430-72 (Carleton Co) MELMER (or Milmer?), Alice Maud, f, b. 1 Sep.1872, father - William MELMER, teacher; mother - Louisa HENRY, infm - Wm Melmer, New Edinburgh.
3./ With no other evidence of Louisas name being Levine, presumption is that she was married previously to an Unknown Henry, and that her maiden name would may be Levine. This is only a presumption at this time. 3-20-2003.
4./ Birth Registration for Alice Maud Melmer indicates Louise Henry.
5./ Marriage Name: Louisa Matilda Melmer, Birth Place: London, Ont, Age: 18, Est Birth Year: abt 1880, Father Name: William Melmer, Mother Name: Louisa Weir, Spouse Name: David Hendry
6./ Marriage George Darby Melmer, Birth Place: Toronto, Age: 36, Est Birth Year: abt 1881, Father Name: William Melmer,
Mother Name: Louise Leving, Spouse Name: Edna Breckon

NOTE 2./ 1871 St louis Ward, Montreal PQ census,

William Malmar abt 1836 England St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
Louisa Malmar abt 1840 Quebec St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
Emily Malmar abt 1861 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
William Malmar abt 1862 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
Archibald Malmar abt 1866 Quebec St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
Arthur Malmar abt 1868 Quebec St Louis Ward, Montreal East,
Cecilia Henry abt 1857 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
Alfred Henry abt 1860 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec.

NOTE 3./ 1891 Hamilton City, Ontario census

Name: Louisa Melmer
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Age: 50
Birth Year: abt 1841
Birthplace: Ontario {{NOTE>>>>>BORN IN QUEBEC IN the 1881 CENSUS}}
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Religion: Free Church
French Canadian: No
Father's Birth Place: Ontario
Mother's Birth Place: Ontario
Province: Ontario
District Number: 72
District: Hamilton City
Subdistrict: Ward 7
Archive Roll #: T-6342

Household Members: Name Age
William Melmer 50
Louisa Melmer 50
Alfred Henry 24
Alice Melmer 18
Grace E Melmer 16
George Melmer 5
John Melmer 12
Louisa Melmer 10

NOTE 4./ 1901 London Township, Ontario, Canada Census Record

Name: Louise Melmer
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 60
Birth Date: 4 May 1840
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Head
Racial or Tribal Origin: English
Nationality: Canada (Canadian)
Religion: Presbyterian
Province: Ontario
DISTRICT: Middlesex (East/est
District Number: 87
Sub-District Number: C-8
Family Number: 61
Page: 6

Household Members: Name Age
Louise Melmer 60
Alphard S Melmer 38
Alles M Melmer 26

Name Home in 1901(Province, District, Sub-District) Birth Year Birthplace
Louise Melmer Ontario, Middlesex (East/Est), London 1840 Ontario Head
Alphard S Melmer Ontario, Middlesex (East/Est), London 1862 Ontario Son
Alles M Melmer Ontario, Middlesex (East/Est), London 1874 Ontario

NOTE 5./ 1911 London Township, Ontario, Canada Census Record

Name: Louise Melmer
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Widowed
Age: 77
Birth Date: May 1844
Birthplace: Ontario
Family Number: 113
Relation to Head of House: Head
Tribal: German
Province: Ontario
District: Middlesex East
District Number: 95
Sub-District: London Township, Bronghdale Village
Sub-District Number: 5
Census Year: 1911
Page: 11
Household Members: Name Birth Year
Louise Melmer 1844
Alice M Melmer 1880
Alfred H Melmer 1861

NOTE 6./ Mariages non catholiques de la région de Montréal, 1766-1899, "Electronic," DÉTAILS pour Melmer William
<>

Nom époux Melmer
Prénom époux William
Nom épouse Henry
Prénom épouse Louisa
Année 1871
Église Point Saint-Charles Centenary Methodist Church (Montréal)
Confession Méthodiste
Pagination 5
Source Centre d'archives de Montréal, CE601,S99

David married Elizabeth BYARS on 10 Nov 1841 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Elizabeth (daughter of William BYARS and Janet BLACK) was born on 17 Nov 1822 in Forfar, Forfarshire, Scotland; died on 07 Oct 1883 in Dundee, St Andrew, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anthony married Jane GEDDES in Jun 1839 in Manchester district. Jane died in Mar 1851 in Chorlton district. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

About MELMER, George
George Melmer was born in Jersey according to 1851 census, entry registered St Helier 1802 to parents George & Fanny, nee Bott.

According to the entry in the 1841 census George was aged 35 with his wife and 5 of his children. It should be noted that his wife Matilda was enumerated in the name of Martha (enumerator`s error?). I have no evidence of George being married to a Martha! The family were resident at Fairview Street, St Mary`s Cheltenham, and George was described as a confectioner. His eldest son, George, was aged 15 an apprentice, the other children were scholars which included Frances 10, Martha 8, William 6 & Henry 4. Daughter Matilda was elsewhere on the night of the 1841 census as was daughter Elizabeth (born circa 1828).

This family were present at 33 St Paul`s Street North, Cheltenham, in 1851, where George and Matilda were resident with their family. George was enumerated as a 48 year old pastry cook, wife Matilda was aged 50. Daughter Elizabeth Melmer was present in 1851 along with other siblings and Matilda Cooley, mother in law, aged 76, widowed annuitant born Bridgenorth, Shropshire.

Death certificate on file. He died an early death in 1854 aged 52 in Cheltenham of Dropsey, General Anasarca & Debility. His death was registered by son William, in attendance at 35 St Pauls St North.

I do not know where George Melmer is buried. I checked the registers at Bouncers Lane cemetery in Cheltenham, but burials did not begin there until 1864. Cheltenham Cemetery opened with its first burial in 1864, charmingly recorded in the Register of Burials as "The First Commencement" taking place on the 19 November of that year.

NOTE 1./ 1841 Cheltenham, Gloucester, England census,

Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Civil Parish County/Island
George Melmer abt 1806 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Martha Melmer abt 1806 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
George Melmer abt 1826 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Frances Melmer abt 1831 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Martha Melmer abt 1833 Gloucestershire, England Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Wm Melmer abt 1835 Gloucestershire, England Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Henry Melmer abt 1837 Gloucestershire, England Cheltenham Gloucestershire

NOTE 2./ 1851 Cheltenham, Gloucester, England census,

Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island
George Melmer abt 1803 Isle of Wight, Jersey, Channel Islands Head Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Matilda Melmer abt 1801 Middlesex, England Wife Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Melmer abt 1828 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Frances Melmer abt 1830 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Martha Melmer abt 1833 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Dau Cheltenham Gloucestershire
William Melmer abt 1835 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Henry Melmer abt 1838 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
Matilda Cooley abt 1775 Bridgenorth, Shropshire, Eng Mother-in-law Cheltenham Gloucestershire

NOTE 3./ e-mail from Carol Cooper ([email protected]) on 8-19-2007

The 1841 census for Fairview Street, Cheltenham, shows the Melmers (George Snr & Martha (sic.) - should read Matilda) with their family of children at that time, namely George 15 (ages were rounded in 1841) and Frances 10 (both born out of county) with Martha 8, William 6 and Henry 4, all born within county of Gloucestershire.

The 1851 census for St Paul's St. North, Cheltenham, shows the Melmer family excluding son George (enumerated as Melmore), who was residing in lodgings at 8 Hanover Street, just around the corner [I know both streets well], with wife Ann and children Emma 8, Mary Ann 6, Elizabeth 3 & George 1 month old. I have now purchased both birth certificates for first and last children, namely Emma in 1843 at 25 Brunswick Street and George in 1851 at 8 Hanover Street, which clearly shows they were born to George Melmer and Ann Hughes - see attached. However, I have not managed to find any marriage between George and Ann Hughes in the indexes for either England or Wales, so presume they did not actually manage to tie the knot, which is a shame as a marriage certificate would confirm who his father was.

What makes me so convinced that this George Melmer, with Ann, was most definitely the son of George and Matilda is that apart from being the only other Melmer family in Cheltenham at that time and living just round the corner from his parents, his birth occurred (according to the 1851 census) in Southampton, which was precisely the same place as his parents' marriage took place the same year, see the death certificate of Matilda Melmer, which I sent you a copy of in a previous email some while ago.

What I can also be certain of is that the reason we cannot find George 1824 in the 1881 census for Canada is because he was almost certainly dead by this time. In his mother Matilda Melmer's death certificate in 1883 at Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, it stated she was the mother of only 3 living children at the time of her death, namely Martha, William and Henry - those deceased were 1 male (can only be George 1824) and 3 females.

So, I speculate that George, Ann and four children left the UK shortly after 1851 for foreign shores, possibly America or even Australia and after the death of first wife Ann Hughes, George moved on to Canada to be with other members of his family, leaving behind his children some of whom would by this time have grown up and probably married and settled. He subsequently married second wife Mary Wallace circa 1856 and the two daughters quickly followed that marriage. From the age of Matilda Eaton (24) in 1881, she must have been the elder of the two daughters.

What I also noticed from the 1881 census entry for the Eaton family in Montreal, was that Robert Eaton, the Pedler, was considerably older than Matilda, indeed he must have been a widower at marriage, as the eldest child in the household was William aged 14. He could not possibly have been Matilda's son, only Robert 4 and Matilda 1 could have been her children, suggesting that Matilda Melmer married Robert Eaton circa 1876, upon reaching the age of 21 years. It is quite conceivable therefore that by 1901 Canadian census, Robert Eaton may have died and his young wife Matilda, may just have remarried and taken another surname by this time. If their daughter Matilda had also married before 1901, she too would be almost impossible to locate in the 1901 census, without evidence of such a marriage. Robert Eaton Jnr would almost certainly have been of an age to fight in a War at the turn of the century, also making his appearance in any census of 1901 very difficult to find - all this is only speculation but could account for their "disappearance" from any census after 1881.

GeorgeSr married Matilda COOLEY in 1824 in Southhampton, Hampshire, England. Matilda (daughter of William COOLEY and Matilda NOYES) was born in 1800 in Bridgenorth, Shropshire, England; died on 11 Dec 1883 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia; was buried on 12 Dec 1883 in Ipswich Cemetary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./ About COOLEY, Matilda : From Carol Ward`s Family Tree: {Tollgate} <>

About COOLEY, Matilda
Matilda Cooley was born in Middlesex c.1800 according to census 1851 the daughter of William Cooley a navy surgeon and Matilda nee Noyes. She had a brother, Arnold James Cooley although it is proving difficult to connect Arnold to Matilda. Even her father`s Will did not name Arnold, but Matilda was a named beneficiary.

Matilda is known to have had babies c 1824 in Southampton, c1827 in Bath, 1828/30 in Leicester and from 1833 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

According to the entry in the 1841 census Matilda Cooley was enumerated as "Martha". The family were resident at Fairview Street, St Mary`s Cheltenham, and George was described as a confectioner. His eldest son, George, was aged 15 (ages rounded), an apprentice, the other children were scholars which included Frances 10, Martha 8, William 6 & Henry 4. Daughter Matilda was elsewhere on the night of the 1841 census as was daughter Elizabeth (born circa 1828).

This family were present at 33 St Paul`s Street North, Cheltenham, in 1851, where George and Matilda were resident with their family. George was enumerated as a 48 year old pastry cook, wife Matilda was aged 50. Daughter Elizabeth Melmer was present in 1851 along with other siblings and Matilda Cooley, mother, aged 76, widowed annuitant born Bridgenorth, Shropshire.

Matilda was widowed in 1854 and the census for 1861 shows her living at Regent Place, Cheltenham, aged 60 with daughter Elizabeth, aged 28 (sic), both dressmakers.

In April 1860 she registered a death of an Emma Matilda Melmer (grandaughter) who was the daughter of William Melmer Schoolmaster. The child was 6 months, died from debility at birth, and Matilda was present at the death.

In 1861 Matilda was resident at Regent Place with daughter Elizabeth, both ladies were dressmakers, Matilda being aged 60, Elizabeth, aged 28.

Matilda and daughter Elizabeth emigrated after the census in 1861 arriving in Queensland, Australia on the "Theresa" in 1863.

Death Certificate on file. Matilda died at Ipswich, Queensland, Australia on 11th December 1883 at the age of 82 from Senile Decay. Her death occurred at "Racecourse", Ipswich, Q`land, and was registered by her son in law William Jones also of Racecourse Ipswich. Matilda`s death certificate gives the names of her parents as William Cooley, Surgeon Royal Navy and Matilda (nee Noyes) and states that she was born Middlesex, London, England and had been in Queensland for about 9 years. She was the mother of 3 living children at the time of her death, Martha 49, William 47 and Henry 45 and she had 1 male and 3 female children deceased. Her certificate also states that she was the widow of George Melmer, whom she had married at the age of 25 years in Southampton, Hampshire, England.

Matilda Melmer was buried on 12th December 1883 at Ipswich Cemetary, Congregational, by Rev`d E Greenwood in the present of witnesses Archibald Hughes and Michael Martin.

NOTE 2./ e-mail from [email protected] on 10-6-2006

It gives me great pleasure to send to you a copy of the original death certificate for Matilda Melmer (nee Cooley), widow of George Melmer of Jersey, Channel Isles and who died Ipswich, Queensland 11.12.1883.

You will see the certificate for Ipswich, Queensland, Australia defines more than our British certificates in that it clearly mentions parents and children of the deceased.

My contact (a direct descendent of William Jones and Martha Melmer) has confirmed to me that Matilda and daughter Elizabeth emigrated to the Australias on board the vessel "Theresa", arriving Queensland 1862/3 which accounts for why I cannot locate them in British Census post 1861, nor have I located either of their deaths in the UK.

I am also informed that Elizabeth Melmer married a Thomas Murphy in 1864 in Australia - presumably a previous husband to William Cody pictured with her in the photograph supplied by Bob.

I have also deduced that the E F Melmer, mentioned in the 1880 census for "Unorganized territory of Nabraska" was probably one and the same Henry Melmer (b.1837), though why the name was changed I do not know, but my informant confirms that it was reported Henry also emigrated to the States and that Matilda visited her son there (verbal information only).

I am promised further documentation in support of the above information though it may not be for a while due to administrative difficulties. Once I am in possession, I will share accordingly.

I hope this finds all of you in good health and high spirits.

Until next time, kind regards and very best wishes

your UK cousin, Carol

NOTE 3./ Regarding Matilda Cooley Photos: See jpeg: e-mail from [email protected] 8-29-2007

I also forgot to pass this on to you - it is an authentic photograph of Matilda Cooley [(1799-1883) - married George Melmer 1824] and still hangs in a home in Brisbane Australia. It was taken circa 1865 shortly after her arrival with daughter Elizabeth in Australia. The attached photo was taken through glass but you can clearly see how she looked.