Trove Tuesday: John Auld v Penny and Mason

Scottish born John Wallace AULD arrived Williamstown Victoria in 1852 on-board the Emigrant. A journeyman baker by trade, John was a fully qualified baker who had served the required apprenticeship and mastered the trade of baker and then became self employed. In 1855 he married Jane FAIR.

In the same year that John arrived in Victoria, gold had been discovered to the north around Beechworth. This was the start of the Ovens gold rush. Previously undertaken research revealed that by 1857 John AULD had established himself as a baker in Sebastopol Flat and was listed in the trade directory The Oven’s Directory. The how and why he ended up around Beechworth was a mystery, but it was assumed he joined the many thousands who had traveled north with the prospect of a secure job.

As more and more new regional newspapers are added to the fantastic resources of Trove, it is worth remembering to check those new resources from time to time with the prospect of finding that rare piece of alluvial information.

Beechworth Country Court

With the regional newspaper that covers the Beechworth area, the Ovens and Murray Advertiser includes a rare glimpse of what John AULD was up to during the 1855-1857 period.

BEECHWORTH COUNTRY COURT. (1858, September 20). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 -1918), p. 2.  Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112898271

According to the court report of Saturday 18 September 1858, John AULD appeared as the plaintiff attempting to reclaim unpaid wages whilst working as a journeyman baker.

John Auld v Penny and Mason.
An action to recover 86l 5s.
Mr Clarke for plaintiff.
Mr Mayne for defendant.
Plaintiff deposed that he had been engaged as journeyman baker to defendant at the rate of £5 per week. Served 22 weeks and received on account £5 in cash, a gold watch valued at £17, and a violin worth 35s, this left the balance to recover which this action had been brought.
Mr Mayne for the defence contended that plaintiff had been a partner in the concern ; plaintiff himself admitted that when he was engaged, he was offered a share in the business so soon as his wages amounted to £100; his reply at the time was that he should like to become a partner but had no money.
His Honor without hearing evidence for the defence found for the defendant.
Mr Clarke gave notice that he should move for a new trial.

The result from the first hearing was the judge found for the defendant. Three days later on Tuesday 21 September, John AULD appeared before the judge again moving for a new trial...

BEECHWORTH COUNTY COURT. (1858, September 22). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 -1918), p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112898326

Unfortunately the judge didn't see the same and upheld his initial decision. 

Auld v Penny and Mason
Mr. Clarke moved for a new trial in this case on the ground, that there had been no sufficient proof of the existence of a partnership between the parties. At the very outside Mr. Clarke contended it could only be shown that there was some talk of a partnership being entered into when the plaintift's wages should amount to £100, but they had never amounted to that sum, for although he had remained in the service of defendant for twenty two weeks he had received by cash &c., £23 5s. It was also clearly proven that plaintiff had been invariably treated as a servant, and not as a partner.
Mr. Clarke also submitted that even supposing that the plaintiff had at any time intended to form a partnership with defendant he had a perfect right to repudiate his bargain.
Mr. Mayne having been heard on the opposite side, His Honor said that he saw no reason to alter the decision which had been given in the case on Saturday. It was very clear that Auld had intended to form a partnership, and there could be no doubt that if the business had paid he would have considered himself a partner. He admitted that he might have told people that he was a partner, and this admission when upled with his demeanour whilst making it, evidently meant that he had told people so.
Besides, why was such a long period as two years suffered to elapse before taking proceedings to recover the amount ?New trial refused with costs £2 4s 6d.

Although the decision was against John AULD, it does give an insight into what he was doing during this period. More to the point, it highlights the importance of rechecking your sources in this digital age when more and more new information is been constantly added.

Trove Tuesday: Manfield News

Two and half years after the death of John Wallace AULD (1908-1952), the Auld's of Merton had cause for celebration with the announcement of the engagement of Wallace John AULD to Nellie Margaret DODEMAIDE. The news was reported in the Benalla Ensign:

MANSFIELD NEWS. (1954, September 2). Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954), p. 12.
Retrieved November 22, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65499722

A transcript of the report follows:

MANSFIELD NEWS
ENGAGEMENT
The engagement is announced of Nellie Margaret, second daughter of Mrs. A. Dodemaide, of High street, Mansfield, and the late Mr. William Dodemaide, to Wallace John Auld, eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Auld and stepson of Mrs. E. Auld, of Merton.

Wallace John AULD was the eldest son of John Wallace AULD and Sylvia MASTERTON.

Trove Tuesday: For sale

Have you ever wondered what your relatives sold?

For sale

A search by the Advertising category within the Victorian newspaper Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express on Trove, reveals some interesting items that were offered for sale in 1945.

Source: Advertising. (1945, June 15). Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 - 1949), p. 3. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64708015

What was the background for this sale?

The above items were offered for sale in June 1945. My great grandparents, William Wallace Auld and Rose Helena nee Miller, moved to Merton Victoria, circa 1936. This was a particularly hard time for the family as their daughter in law, Sylvia Auld nee Masterton, had passed away on 17 December 1935 as a result of a dreadful accident that occurred at the family home in Forbes, New South Wales. The accident in July 1935 was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald and reads as follows:

YOUNG WOMAN BURNT.
FORBES. Tuesday.
Quickly enveloped in flames when her dress caught alight at her farm home, Mrs John Auld, a young woman, of Grawlin Plains, near Forbes, ran towards her husband, who was working in stockyards near the house. She fainted before reaching him. After treatment by her husband, she was rushed to hospital.
Mrs. Auld was standing with her back to an open fire in a grate when she smelt burning cloth. She looked round and saw the flames spreading round her. It was some minutes before her husband heard her screams and came to her assistance. She was badly burned about the arms, legs, and shoulders, but her condition is not serious. 

Source: YOUNG WOMAN BURNT. (1935, July 10). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17203433

With a grief stricken son and three young children to look after, the family moved back to Rose Helena's hometown of Merton in Victoria. In November 1943, William Wallace Auld passed away after an illness of
Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis and Cardiac Asthma, no doubt all relating to his years working as a baker.

It was after these events, with Australian in general just coming out of it's slow recovery from the Great Depression of the 1930s, that the family was looking for that extra little bit of cash and offered the items for sale.

Trove Tuesday: Wedding Bells

The following article printed in the Victorian newspaper Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express is interesting in that it not only mentions the wedding of my great great uncle, but also lists the gifts received and by whom.

WEDDING BELLS.
MILLER - PAYNE.
A very pretty wedding was celebrated at Merton on the 19th ult., the contracting parties being Frederick George, second surviving son of C. Miller, of Merton, and Jessie May, eldest daughter of E. Payne, Wangaratta. The ceremony took place in the Presbyterian church, which was well filled by the large number of friends and guests, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. Thom, of Mansfield. The bride was attended by Miss Elsie Miller (sister of groom), Miss A. Drought (niece of groom), and Miss Evie Mackrell as bridesmaids, Mr. E. Eddy being best man. The bride, given away by her brother, Mr. W. Payne (Wangaratta), wore a beautiful gown of white silk with lace and ribbon to match, also a wreath and veil, and carried a prayer book bouquet. The bridesmaids were attired in white silk with trimmings to match. After the ceremony the breakfast was partaken of at the residence of the groom's parents (Elsie Cottage), when about 40 guests partook of a sumptuous repast. The usual toasts were proposed and suitably responded to. The happy couple left by afternoon train for Melbourne, en route for Sydney, where the honeymoon is to be spent. The bride's travelling dress was grey voile, with toque hat to match. The previous evening a special gathering was held in Mr. Mackrell's large kitchen, kindly lent for the purpose, a large number of friends dancing until about 2 a.m. They were the recipients of a larger number of beautiful presents, the large area from which they came showing the popularity of the young people and their parents..
The following is a list of the presents received :- -
Bride to groom, gold sleeve links; groom to bride, gold muff chain and rug; parents of bride (Wangaratta), cheque, cutlery, pair jam dishes, and cream jug ; parents of groom, assorted preserves ; Miss E. Miller, tea cosy and bed quilt ; Mr and Mrs Drought, handsome lamp ; Miss M. Payne (Wangaratta), silver butter dish ; Master Payne, silver mustard jar ; Mr W. Payne (Gobur), cheque ; Mrs Auld (Beechworth), kitchen utensils ; Mrs G. Payne, son. (Alexandra) cutlery ; Miss Jessie Payne (Alexandra), photo frames and tea pot; Mrs J. Cooper (Alexandra); afternoon tea set ; Master W. D. Cooper, vases and ornaments ; Mrs John Payne (Alexandra), fancy needlework ; Mrs Creighton (Gobur), pair vases ; Miss H. Creighton (Gobur), jam and cake dishes ; Miss A. Drought, set of d'oyleys and serviette rings ; Mrs A. Andrews (Alexandra), pair crystal biscuit barrels, cake dishes, cushions and d'oyleys ; Mrs Ross (Alexandra), cushion ; Miss G. Andrews (Alexandra), d'oyleys and silver tray ; Miss E. Andrews (Alexandra), fancy needlework and glassware ; Miss L. Bulmer (Alexandra), fancy neddlework ; Mr and Mrs Mackrell afternoon tea set ; Misses Mackrell, set jugs, fancywork, pair knife rests; lemon squeezer ; Mrs Searson, lamp ; Miss P. Payne, side-board. cloth and mats ; Miss J. Mackrell (Yarck), bed linen ; Mr and Mrs. Payne (Johnson's Creek), pair silver-mounted honey jars and pickle jar ; Mr J. Hoare, silver butter dish and knife ; Mr. M. McIvor (Numurkah), cheque, silver mounted shaving set ; Misses McIvor (Numurka), pair silver mounted brushes ; Mr W. Kipping, cheque and glassware ; Miss Danks silver butter knife ; Mr J. Frazer, silver mounted bread fork ; Miss Frazer, hall brushes and stand ; Miss A. Hartley, silver and glass honey jar ; Mr C. Nolan, lamp ; Miss M. Nolan, table centre ; Miss R. Nolan, shadow work ; Mrs. W. Kubiel, d'oyleys ; Mrs T. Bird, biscuit barrel ; Mrs E. Eddy (Seymour), set of carvers ; Rev Raff (Chiltern), silver and crystal jam dishes ; Mr T. Kipping, butter dish ; Miss Short, silver butter knife ; Mrs McKenzie (Beechworth), glassware ; Mrs. Harper, cold water set ; Misses Z. and M. Payne (Gobur), pair ruby glasses and jug ; Miss M. Nolan (Wangaratta), cold water set ; Mrs W. Payne (Gobur), table linen ; Miss McCormack (Wangaratta), glassware.
And other valuable articles too numerous to mention.--Euroa "Gazette."

Source: Family Notices. (1906, November 16). Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1877 - 1908), p. 2. Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59588730

Rose Helena Auld nee Miller

My great grandmother, Rose Helena Miller, was the eighth child of Charles Miller and Georgianna Payne. Rose was born 9 June 1884 in Alexandra, Victoria and married William Henry Auld on 26 May 1906 at the Christ Church, Beechworth, Victoria. The marriage certificate for William and Rose gives William's present and usual address as Beechworth and Rose's present and usual address as Merton. The couple were living in Beechworth when their first son, William Henry Auld, was born on 5 January 1907. When their second son John Wallace Auld was born 6 April 1908, they had moved on to Merton.

Under the list of presents received in the article above, Rose is mentioned as "Mrs Auld (Beechworth), kitchen utensils". What the article confirms is that William and Rose Auld were living in Beechworth at the time of the marriage of Frederick and Jessie Miller on 19 September 1906. By identifying the names of other family members listed in the article, the same process can be used in connecting those individuals to the town in which they lived.

Trove Tuesday : A brick wall falls

As a genealogist we all face brick walls during the course of our research. One particular brick wall I faced was with tracing my great-great-uncle Peter Auld. This post recalls how Trove helped me in my research to break down this particular wall.

The Wall

John Wallace Auld and Jane Fair’s third son Peter was born 10 September 1861 at their home in Cardigan Street Carlton (VIC, AUS). At eleven years of age, Peter's mother Jane passed away and by his twelfth birthday his father had remarried Elizabeth Lithgow. At twenty three years old in 1885, an iron moulder by trade, Peter is known as Peter William Auld. It is at this time that he married widower Rose Mitchell nee Halstead at the Erskine Manse in Carlton.

Following the dead ends

Unfortunately the trail of Peter went cold after his marriage to Rose. All subsequent research indicated that Peter Auld had changed his name to Frank Gresham. Purchasing certificates for the death of Rose Gresham confirmed I was on the correct path and that I had found Rose Halstead, but the Auld name was not mentioned. To muddy the waters even further, Rose was also known by the names of Grace Gresham, Grace Halstead and Rose Grace Gresham! Rose's marriage in 1885 was listed...but to a Frank Gresham.

Thinking that Frank Gresham could be my elusive Peter Auld, research found that Frank was also known by the name of Frank Jones and that he was a stage manager and theatrical producer.Unfortunately research also proved that Frank Gresham was not Peter Auld...so what happened to Peter?

Trove to the rescue

The first clue happened by coincident whilst looking for another Auld branch in Western Australia. What was found was a memoriam that listed a Peter and Nellie Auld who had lost a son the year prior: 

Source: Family Notices. (1902, October 1). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24844808

The question now was, could this be the Peter Auld from Victoria that I had been looking for? Further investigation on trove found a death notice printed the year prior in the West Australian newspaper:

Source: Family Notices. (1901, October 1). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24760317

Interestingly the name listed in the death notice is W.P. Auld...Peter William / William Peter, not an uncommon scenario switching first and second names around. With further investigation of the WA BDM indexes and Trove, the death of a William Peter Auld was tracked down and confirmed in 1934:

Source: Family Notices. (1934, September 3). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32935117

...and on the same page a funeral notice was also listed:

Source: Family Notices. (1934, September 3). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32935117

The wall crumbles

With the clues found in the above Trove archives, continued research and purchasing of certificates confirms that this was indeed the elusive Peter Auld from Victoria. The marriage of William Peter Auld and Nellie Wallace (daughter of Robert Wallace and Martha Rodd) was recorded as having taken place on 30 January 1892 at the All Saints Church in Hindmarsh (SA, AUS). William Peter Auld's father is listed as John Auld and his occupation is also confirmed as an iron moulder. Another clue is that the signatures that appear on both the 1885 and 1892 marriage certificates prove with an extremely high degree of certainty that it is the same person. The couple had two daughters in South Australia before moving to Western Australia where another two children are born, the only son unfortunately dying at a young age due to pneumonia. The children of the marriage are:

• Janet Millicent Victoria Auld (1893-1951)
• Dorothy Adelaide Auld (1895-1956)
• Nellie Muriel Auld (1898-1967)
• William Peter Auld (1900-1901)

What can we learn from this experience?

A valuable lesson learnt is that no matter how frustrating your research can get and no matter how many brick walls you come up against, never give up in trying to knock your research walls down. The smallest clue can sometimes bring a whole wall tumbling down. Don't give up, just tackle the problem from a different angle.