Hi Stanleyzooper
I am so pleased I have come across you. I think we can be useful to each other. Not all the information is cheery, but if you would bear with me I can fill in some of your holes.

While researching my tree I came across Charlotte Edith Sawyer, who was my maternal grandfather's (John Alfred Barclay) first wife. They were married in 1916 at Charlotte's parent's house in Annerley. They had two children - Alfred Henry Robert Barclay and Allene June Barclay in 1918 (according to the microfiche). In fact, I didn't even know about Allene June until Monday 18/06/2012 when I discovered her by accident at the State Archives.

Charlotte's father was Harry Sawyer, Government Shipping Master until his retirement.

Allene June Barclay was brought up by her grandmother (like me) and enrolled in the Junction Park State School in 1924 under the name of Allene June Sawyer. She married Clifford George Johnston in 1936 at the age of 18.
Between 1916 and November, 1922, Charlotte and Jack (Barclay) had no fewer than 13 moves of house, six of those moves being back to her parent's house in Annerley. They lived for a year in Murwillumbah in that time.

By 1925 Jack had moved to Baralaba where he met my grandmother. Sadly, in 1926 Charlotte was admitted to the Goodna Mental Hospital, and in 1935, transferred to Toowoomba Mental Hospital. One of her brother's was also admitted, but I don't have his details. She was still an in-patient in Toowoomba when divorce papers where served in 1947.

My grandfather went on to have a second family of ten children (1 died while a baby) who loved him very much. Jack died in June 1950. My grandmother died in November 1995 and never remarried. I am sorry I never had the chance to meet my grandfather.

I hope this fills in some question marks for you. I would love to meet you, should you wish. Please let me know and I can give my contact details.

Regards, Kathryn