Finding a genealogical surprise, be it good or bad, I always find an exciting experience. If I have learned anything in my research, it is to expect the unexpected. Over the years of my research I have found many surprises in my research - unexpected records and breakthroughs, family stories proven (or disproved), surprising events, etc.
Many of my most unexpected discoveries have come through the newspapers. Reports of family tragedies, court appearances, advertisements, activities and family notices, all provided unexpected family discoveries.
Some highlights include :
A 1909 report of my great grandfather Edward Beseler when he appeared in court on the charge of having insufficient means of support, was found to be insane and an order of commitment was made.
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From the Ballarat Star, 4 February 1909
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Edward was admitted to the Ararat Mental Asylum, where he was assessed, found to be suffering from senility, and committed to the wards. In his asylum record he is described at the time of his admission as being in fair bodily health for his age, clean and tidy but difficult to communicate with as he was quite deaf, illiterate and described as suffering from delusions.
Then there was the divorce of another great grandfather James Nicholas Clark from his first wife Eliza (Hawley)
The marriage was clearly an unhappy one, and in 1891 Eliza had abandoned James and their two young children. In the divorce proceedings it had been claimed that Eliza had been a habitual drunkard and had been living with two men after she abandoned her marriage, although the judge saw no direct evidence of adultery and granted the divorce on the grounds of desertion only. The divorce was reported in the local newspapers amongst general reports of local court proceedings, including the article shown above from the 'Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader'.When James Nicholas passed away in 1924 there were two death notices inserted in the newspaper - one from his family and one from the Masonic Lodge of which he was a member.
Had it not been for this Masonic notice, I would never have known that James was a Mason. It is also worth noting the spelling error - the heading of the Masonic notice has CLARG, not CLARK. The family notice also gives me his occupation - Overseer at Brighton City Council, and both notices give his address and the cemetery in which his grave is located.
Estate and probate notices were common, either advertising to resolve claims and demands on the estate or giving details of the sale of assets. Here Susannah, the widow of Mr John Noble, advertises in the Essex Standard on Friday 4 October 1850 to resolve her husband's estate.
These and many other newspaper surprises have helped 'flesh out' my family history research and fill in details of my ancestors unexpected lives.
