Staples - Good BMD

Listed below is the birth information for the children of Thomas Staples and Annie Good, born in Queensland.

Information given in the following format: date of birth, registered name, common name (if different) and reference code.

5 Dec 1883, John William (1884/C003202)
12 Jan 1885, Nellie (1885/C003427)
15 Apr 1886, Elizabeth (1886/C009234)
3 May 1887, Annie (1887/C003796)
3 Sep 1888, Alice Maud (1888/C004445)
13 Dec 1889, Sarah Jane - Janey (1890/C005411)
25 Feb 1891, Thomas Henry - Tom (1891/C005276)
31 May 1892, George Albert (1892/C005553)
21 Oct 1893, Samuel Charles - Frank Ernest (1893/C005124)
28 Mar 1895, Maggie - Mary (1895/C005058)
30 Apr 1898, Ida (1898/C005049)
6 Nov 1899, Charlotte - Lottie (1900/C004960)
12 Mar 1901, Robert Charles - Wally (1901/C004875)
30 Jan 1903, Leonard Lincoln - Lenny (1903/C004293)
28 Mar 1907, Arthur Bertie Cyril - Mick (1907/C005283)

And of course we can't forget Percy Staples born 1896 (day and month to be confirmed), in Louth, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. (Ref Louth 7a/581)
I still have not ordered the certificate for this one. Will let you know the results.

Smith - Colwell BMD

Listed below is the birth information for the children of Patrick Smith and Elizabeth Colwell, born in Queensland.

Information given in following format: birth date, registered name, common name (if different) and reference code.

3 Aug 1892, Michael (on Bridget's birth cert listed as Michael Patrick) - Pat (1892/C005726)
1 Jul 1895, Edward (1895/C005248)
1 Jul 1897, Bridget (was always known to be Bridget Elizabeth, however was not registered as such) - Sissy (1898/C004734)
18 Sep 1899, Bernard John - J.B. (1899/C005087)
16 Aug 1901, Mary Kathleen - Kitty (1901/C005141)
12 Feb 1904, Esther Beatrice - Essie (1904/C004935)
6 May 1906, James (1906/C004124)
13 Dec 1907, Hugh (1908/C003902)
24 Feb 1910, Philip Royal - Roy (1910/C004418)

Image of Bridget's Birth Certificate soon available on Web Album

Earl Granville

The 'Earl Granville' departed Plymouth on 6 January 1883, and arrived in Maryborough, Queensland on 18 April 1883. On board, travelling under 'free passage' terms, were newlyweds Thomas and Anne Staples, aged 21 and 22 respectively.

'Free passages were granted by the Government to particular categories of Immigrants, and their families, which were, from time to time, particularly required in Queensland. These categories altered over the years as conditions in Queensland changed but included at various times female domestic servants, and married couples without children. Applicants were required to pay the sum of one pound and a similar amount for each member of the family counted as a statute adult. To be eligible, they had to be unable to pay their own passage, they could not have resided previously in any Australian Colony, and they must intend to reside in Queensland.'

This particular voyage was made up of 81 assisted passages (farmers, labourers, vine dressers, and mechanics), 249 free passages, 5 in steerage and only 1 on remittance. 4 births and 2 deaths occurred during the journey.

Extracts from the 'Maryborough Chronicle' describing the voyage and landing to be added soon.

Information Overload

Wow, I have accumulated so much new information over the last 2 months, it is hard to know where to start. I found the ship that Thomas and Annie Staples immigrated on. I have also chased up all the Queensland Heritage BMD information for both the Staples and Smith branches, and found some really interesting anomalies and tidbits. At this time I also discovered that Patrick Smith and Elizabeth Colwell were NOT married in Ireland, as told, but were married in Queensland, and was able to order their marriage certificate, which arrived yesterday with Bridget's Birth Certificate and Annie Staples' Death Certificate. This new information gives me a few more leads so I can persevere with finding the Smith-Colwell immigration information, and the Irish BMD.

Anyways, had better get to it. Happy Reading!