Dear Marilyn,
Not related but this info might help you. Working on my husbands James Kearns family from Braidwood, NSW , when came across newspaper advertisement on Trove 17 May 1873 for a caution to clergymen against marrying her daughter, Mary Kearns as she is under age and she gives no authority, signed with her mark, Mary Charlton, Rothbury, near Branxton, Maitland. Which got my interest so tried to find another Kearns in the same general area, who could be related, which led to Edward Kearns who married in 1871, Maitland, Elizabeth Sophia Mears. Along the way discovered a site, which gave a lot of hits on Trove for Ed Kearns and some general history. Bandsman, 12 Regiment in Australia 1854-67, 1861 Maitland, by 1875, Sydney to 1895 or later, when wife died. Also inquest into 2yr. old infant sons death in 1861, Frederick Michael Kearns, 19th September 1861. To finish it all off, in 1875, Ed Kearns composed a song, " Don`t go, Mollie darling", words by F. Mears. Hope you find this an interesting little step-back in early history? Sue Huggins. jgbhuggins@bigpond.com