gday i am starting to research my paternal line and am having problems, my gfather is jack BROWN b 21 march 1909 (have certificate) and on that certificate it has his father being jack BROWN b 1883abt in fredrikstadt norway who married a williamina RUSSELL formally CREIG now LAMB born at sea (as written on gfathers birth Cert)any info to start chipping away would be appreciated, many thanks

Hiya,
National Archives Australia (record search,,search as guest) has a digitised record WW1 for John BROWN born Norway listing his NOK as wife Wilhelmina

Kellie

Hi,
I see 3 children on QLD BDM
1912/C10102 Frederick Brown Jack Williamina Russell Craig
1911/C7496 Alfred John Brown John Williamina Russell Creig
1909/C7224 Jack Brown Jack Williamina Russell Creig

The WW1 record I mentioned,,has that that John BROWN died in action. I'll have to check that more.

Kellie

Hi,
After reading the 62page record I can positively identify the John BROWN is yours.
His wife Wilhelmina applies for the war pension and money for the children (who are named)
Williamina also claims payment for her son with Joseph LAMB
1904/C7285 William Harold Lamb Joseph Henry Williamina Russell Craig

The war medals etc were to go to your Jack (John) the first born son.

There was no marriage for Jack/John BROWN and Wilhelmina/Williamina.

NOW here is the catch..
Children to Williamina Russell are
1911/C7496 Alfred John Lamb Williamina Russell Creig
1911/C7496 Alfred John Brown John Williamina Russell Creig
1904/C7285 William Harold Lamb Joseph Henry Williamina Russell Craig
1909/C7224 Jack Lamb Williamina Russell Creig
1909/C7224 Jack Brown Jack Williamina Russell Creig
1906/C7297 James Lamb Joseph Henry Williamina Russell Craig
1912/C10102 Frederick Lamb Williamina Russell Craig
1912/C10102 Frederick Craig Williamina Russell Craig
1912/C10102 Frederick Brown Jack Williamina Russell Craig

It appears the children were registered a few times..

Kellie

This post was deleted by a board administrator on 12 Aug 2011 7:46PM GMT

Hi,
As I couldn't find anything for Wilhelmina after 1917 I checked TROVE and there are mentions of her being charged for bigamy,,marrying Edward HANSEN in 1923 (under the name Minnie GIBSON) while her husband Joseph LAMB was still alive.
Pretty mixed up stuff.

She married as LAMB in 1918
1918/C1439 Gibson John Lamb Minnie
then as GIBSON in 1923
1923/C3199 Gibson Minnie Hansen Edward

Her husband John GIBSON was also committing bigamy as he was also married.

I'm not sure if this one is connected as yet
1923/C1470 Hill George Fredrick Hansen Minnie

Kellie

Possible death
1933/C610 Williamina Russell Hurren (f)William Craig (m)Elizabeth Hannah

This looks like the marriage
1928/B4468 Hurren James Kerr Craig Minnie

2 births to William and Elizabeth
1885/C8954 James Craig William Elizabeth Hannah
1883/M1340 Unnamed (F) Craig William Elizabeth Hannah
Possibley more

NOW it would appear 27yo William and 24yo Elizabeth arrived with infant Elizabeth Hannah, 1yo Hugh, 3yo Katherine on Eastern Monarch 24th Oct 1883, from Scotland.

I don't know if they are your line as yet but will keep checking.

Kellie

Hiya,
This registration
1883/M1340 Unnamed (F) Craig William Elizabeth Hannah

The M = Marine birth...so I am guessing this is your Williamina.
Great Britain Births and Baptisms, 1571-1977
name: Craig
gender: Female
birth date: 30 Jul 1883
birthplace: Merchant Marine, At Sea, Great Britain
father's name: Wm. Craig
mother's name: Elizabeth Hannah

Kellie

wow what can i say you are great many thanks for all this, it is appreciated now to push my way into norway lol should be fun but again appreciate all the effort you have ade

Hi,
There should be naturalisation records for Jack/John somewhere but I cannot locate them.
Depending on the date he was naturalised,,they should contain his date/place of birth, arrival date and ship to Australia and possibley even his parents names.

Maybe they just haven't been placed online yet, or maybe he arrived as a different name and anglecised to Jack/John BROWN upon naturalisation (very common)

BTW (incase you didn't realise) you can print out his war records from National Archives (LOL all 62pages)

Kellie