Hi fryerning

The marriage certificate for Frederick and Catherine did not record the parent’s names for either party. I have assumed that Catherine is the daughter of John and Catherine Driscoll nee McCarthy based on the following –

1. Catherine Driscoll nee McCarthy and Mary Behrens died at the same address. The death notice published in the SMH on 29 July, 1871 for Catherine Driscoll nee McCarthy states that she was the widow of John Driscoll and that she died at her late residence “4 Sarah Ann Street Strawberry Hills”. The death notice for Mary Behrens, the child of Frederick and Catherine Behrens nee Driscoll, published in the SMH on 14 May, 1867 states “On the 7th instant, at her parents' residence, No. 4, Sarah Ann-street, Strawberry Hills, MARY, the only beloved child of FREDERICK and CATHERINE BEHRENS, aged six months.”

2. Mary Behrens is buried at Rookwood cemetery (surname recorded as Behrins) and shares a grave with Mary Sullivan (1870-1872) who was the daughter of Patrick and Ellen Sullivan nee Driscoll. Ellen was my gg grandmother and would have been Catherine Behrens’ sister.

3. Catherine Driscoll nee McCarthy died on 27 July, 1871 and details for her death certificate were supplied by her daughter Mary. The certificate states that at the time of her death, Catherine had 4 daughters living and 1 son deceased. Unfortunately the children were not named. The certificate also states that Catherine had lived in NSW for 10 years. Based on this information I believe she arrived in Sydney on 15 December, 1860 aboard the “Lady McDonald”. Appearing under the heading “Widows and Families” and transcribed as “Driscole” by ancestry.com were – Catherine – widow aged 45, with Catherine aged 18 and Ellen aged 20.

The witnesses to the 1865 marriage of Frederick Behrens and Catherine Driscoll were William Jones and Jane Jones. I do not know who these people were or whether they may have been related to the bridal party. The witnesses to the 1869 marriage of Joseph Worsley and Catherine Driscoll were Thomas Morris and Margaret Curtis Tanant(?). Again, I don’t know who these people were or whether they were related to the bridal party.

I can’t find any newspaper records suggesting that Frederick and Catherine Behrens were divorced or had their marriage annulled.

Catherine Behrens’ sisters were Ellen Sullivan nee Driscoll (c1843–1922) and Mary Freeman nee Driscoll (c1839-1894). I believe the 3rd sister was named Margaret Finn nee Driscoll (c1833-after 1911) and she never came to Australia but lived in Cornwall then later in Wales. Both Ellen (my gg grandmother) and Mary lived, married and died in Sydney with no connection to Queensland as far as I can see. I’ve looked through family newspaper notices and have never found any mention of the Behrens name in connection to known family members. The only notice found was for the death of their first (possibly only) child Mary in 1867.

So now I am stuck and not sure where to look next. Any ideas?

Regards
Karen