Notes
Note N4002
Index
NSW BDM Birth Index record shows a
MARIA M SCUTT b1894, which may be Mona May Scutt.
Notes
Note N4005
Index
Email to Gerard Whelan dated 24JUN2014:
To recap:
You and I are both related to Edward Comber and Elizabeth Mackay, who married in 1851 (thank you for their marriage certificate - where did you find it, as it does not show up in the online NSW BDM searches )
Elizabeth Mackay's surname has been spelled a number of different ways, including:
Mackay
Mackey
Mackie
McKee
McKey
McGee
We know that Elizabeth had two sisters:
Mary Jane, who married Robert Devlyn Smyth (also spelled Robert Devlin Smith). Mary Jane moved to Utah with Robert and raised 14 children
Sarah, who emigrated from Ireland with Elizabeth per the JOHN KNOX in 1850 as Irish Famine Orphans
You and I discussed the info I had found about Elizabeth and her family:
Elizabeth was baptised in VDL in 1832
Her father was in the 62nd Regiment and was eventually stationed in India, where his wife Ann and children lived. He and Ann died of (probably cholera) and the girls were returned to Ireland as his place of enlistment.
Elizabeth & Sarah are both shown on documents recording their entry into Australia as Irish Famine Orphans, and on one of those documents shows that there is an entry indicating a relation in the colony
List of Immigrants per Ship JOHN KNOX as inspected by the Immigration Board, on 1st May 1856
Number 18 McKay Elizabeth aged 19 House Servant Macquarie Harbour Van Dieman's :amd Edward & Ann both decd CoE R&W an Aunt - a [coz] Ann Gilroy living in Sydney (health) Good (behaviour on ship) None
Number 19 McKay Sarah aged 21 House Servant Stepney (Cootehill, Cavan) ditto ditto ditto ditto Good None
So, now the reasoning:
I have found quite a lot of info about Elizabeth - we have shared most of that info during my visit with you
I have quite a lot about sister Mary Jane and her family in Utah
I HAD almost nothing about sister Sarah.
Examining Edward & Elizabeth's 1851 marriage certificate, I spotted as witness ANN MURPHY - I have NO proof and have not been able to find a marriage for the Ann Gilroy of the Immigration register, and I wonder if this might be the same ANN. (SUPPOSITION #1)
I have always been confused about the naming of one of Elizabeth's children George Westby Walker Comber
recently, I was doing sporadic searches of TROVE using names out of my genealogy files.
I found an entry for a Dr Westby Walker who lived in Sofala. I've attached the items I found herewith.
Dr Westby Walker appears to have married a woman by the name of Bertha SARAH - have been unable to find a marriage registration
Dr Westby died in 1872
the same Bertha Sarah married John O'Hern - she died 1915 aged 86. By my maths, 1915 minus 86 equals 1829
Surprisingly (or I am making it surprising ) Sarah Mackey was born c1829. This info confirmed on the Immigration document
(Supposition #2) Elizabeth and her sister Sarah remained in contact and Elizabeth named her son George Westby Walker Comber in recognition of her sister's husband.
I think Supposition #2 is highly likely.
I am hoping that Supposition #1 is accurate.
Do you have any data on Sarah (or should I refer to her as Bertha Sarah???)?
So looking forward to hearing your response
Your Third Cousin once Removed
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Reply from Gerard Whelan dated 24JUN2014:
You have raised some distinct possibilities here with the Combers.
Carol got the copy of the Wedding Certificate (actually banns) back in 1982 from a descendant of Elizabeth Comber/Hardy. I believe she got it from the CofE archives. On their web site they say they have made microfiche of their records up to 1934 and have given them to the SAG and Mitchell Library.
I am thinking these may have some info on both Sarah and maybe Ann Gilroy (like you, I have not been able to get any info on her)
Re: Dr Westby Walker-this is a most unusual name, his death notice suggests he had no children form that marriage which suggests it was a second marriage and later in life. I suspect Westby was married in England before coming to Australia (can’t find him on shipping list). He was born c1803 (some 26yrs before Sarah) and his parents were probably Peter and Lydia from Lancashire.
I would be surprised if the Westby Walker Comber (b1862, maybe just prior to this when Westby and Sarah married) was not named after Dr Westby Walker.
Of course it is possible Sarah was married prior to marrying Westby also.
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Reply to Gerard Whelan dated 24JUN2014:
I am glad you think that there is the very good likelihood that George Westby Walker Comber WAS named for Elizabeth Mackie's brother-in-law, husband of Sarah/Bertha Sarah. Another of Elizabeth's sons was apparently named after Elizabeth's half brother John William (or William John) Mckey/Mackie/Mackay/etc./etc. So there is actually more than one 'recognition' of other people in Elizabeth's children's names
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Notes
Note N4006
Index
The following was sent via the private messaging system on WikiTree.com.
Hello Megan My name is Garry Buerckner, I want to thank you for the work you have done on the Comber family. My maternal Grandmother was Elwyin Rose Comber, who sadly passed away 21/07/2013. I only found your info by luck yesterday, and it's the first bit of info I've learned about the Comber family. Thanx again. Garry Ph: 0447 160 528
The sender, Garry Buerckner (aelf.b.58@gmail.com)
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I was born in Binnaway 09 11 58 to Evelyn Rose Green (1st born to Elwyn Rose Green nee Comber) and Collin Buerckner.
By the time I was 6 my and dad where on there way to separating. That's when mum followed her Mum and siblings to The Gong, and here is where I grew up.
I only knew my mum's brothers and sisters and a few of my Nan's brothers: Pat, Dally #13, Cougie ( I think Vincent) and Westby Comber through my visits to Binnaway.
My Mums sibblings are as follows:
Evelyn Rose
Sylvester (Jim to the rest of the world)
Georgina (who likes Kay instead)
Colleen (my second mum)
John
I have 1 full brother Peter James, and a 1/2 brother, Shane, through Mum's 2nd marriage.
I married and divorced 15 yrs later. But produced two children, a pigeon pair, Jordan 24, and Callum 22. Through Jordan I have a 7 yr old grandson Dante.
I only ever met 1 Green other than my Pop, Albert James, and his brother Joe.
That's how I came across you. I was looking for info on his side of the family and the Comber's. I did get to meet my Nan Comber when I was young, but like my dad, I remember things when I was quite young.
I must admit, that when I sent the email to you, I was kind of apprehensive. I don't like intruding. :) so I'm happy when I saw your reply.
I live @ Barrack Heights, near Shellharbour.
You said you live in Sydney? North or South. Kay and here family live on the nrth shore. St Ives I think.
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I've been trying to get some info from my aunt's and uncles, to send to you. When I started compiling it, I suddenly realised how little I really know of my close family. 8) I had to ring my brother to discover my nephews birth dates, and their middle names. I've only just started with this genealogy, getting interested when my dad's young brother, Alan, and a newly discovered cousin, David met and from that, a book on the Buerckner family since arriving in Australia in 1849. But my brother and I grew up with the Comber's and no Greens but an occasional visit to pop and his brother Joe at Binnaway when on school holidays.
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