Can anyone help me. I am looking for John O'Grady and/or Lucy - either a blacksmith or someone who ran a boarding house in Ravenswood (or Townsville perhaps?). My great grandmother Bessie O'Grady lists her birthplace as ravenswood in 1892 (on her death certificate - and townsville on her marriage certificate).

She listed him as a blacksmith in 1910 when she married and there is a thought that she met her husband Major Faulkner in her parents boarding house too. We think she had a sister Molly M. Spence from Paddington NSW and Jack O'Grady too.

Any help would be appreciated. She totally disappears.

What was Major Faulkner's Christian name? I tried to find it by looking up the Qld BDM's but can't find the marriage in 1910. Do you know in which state it took place?

I also can't locate a death for a Lucy O'Grady in Qld or anything in the electorals. I had checked for her rather than John as I thought her name might be less common.

Is Bessie short for Elziabeth? There are only two birtrhs for an Elizabeth O'grady on the online Qld list - one in 1884 and the other in 1893. Although the father of the latter is shown as John O'Grady, the mother is Susan McPartland.

Regards
Gloria

Thanks for looking Gloria. Major was his name listed on his birth certificate. He used to say he served in the Salvation army when asked apparently. He was born in England and came over with his parents. He and Bessie moved to Tasmania after marriage in 1910 (have certificate - from Queeensland) and baby John Faulkner was born in Cairns. Her death and marriage certifcate both say Bessie. I did find the McPartland name as well. But can't find any links. the marriage certificate definitely says Lucy is Bessies mother. I found 3 births for this Susan McPartland - which matches in nicely -Elizabeth (maybe Bessie),Margaret (maybe Molly)and John (maybe her brother Jack) but I can't trace anything.
It's very frustrating.
Have just looked at Ravenswood State school lists too and they aren't listed on there either. No-one in tha family seems to know. Maybe there is a past that Bessie didn't want us to know?
The mystery continues...
Not sure where else to look. Have tried most things I know anyway.

Hi,
Susan died in 1900
1900/C2423 Susan O'Grady Owen McPartland Susan McCann

Maybe afterwards John was married to or just living with a Lucy who helped raise the kids as her own??

Kellie

No worries.....I'm always in and out of Townsville/Ravenswood history as, although we now live in Toowoomba, I was born and raised in Townsville and my father's family came from the Charters Towers/Ravenswood area. My paternal great grandfather is buried in Ravenswood.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything that might relate to your O'Grady/Faulkner line. I did find that a John O'Grady was deleted from the Townsville electoral roll in 1915 as 'left' and he was a labourer who was apparently living in Morris St around 1910.

I don't know if you are familiar with Townsville but Morris St is on the perimeter of the city area and would not doubt have been one of the earlier settled ones, quite likely having boarding houses. My maternal great grandparents actually ran a boarding house in nearby Walker Street.

I wonder why I can't locate Bessi'es marriage in the online indexes? Maybe the transcription is incorrect. However, those three births for Susan McPartland definitely fit in well for your three people ...maybe her nickname was Lucy (or Suzie???).

When and where did Bessie die?

Gloria

If Susan died in 1900, the children must have been very young. Maybe, if her nickname was Suzie, is it possible that, over the years, it had been recalled as Lucy? Long shot but possible.

Gloria

Hiyas,
I just had a look on the QLD BDM online index and couldn't see the marriage either BUT it does show on the BDM CD's.

Elizabeth OGRADY was born 21/02/1893

Kellie

Carolyn, does the marriag cert give an occujpation for Major Faulkner?

Gloria

Thanks guys,
I love the extra help. It's driving me batty.
Major is listed as miner and Bessie listed as domestic
Carolyn

Thanks Kellie
My Bessies death certificate states 1891
Birth date is 1893 on her marriage certificate.
And the date the aunties gave me is 2 Feb 1892!

To me it's looking possible.