John hedley

[kylejustin]

I need some help on john hedley.

All I know about him comes from his marriage. 7 mar 1859, ballarat, Victoria, Australia. John hedley, 31, b.1827 in Newcastle on Tyne. An engineer, son of Alfred hedley an engineer, and Mary Walsh.

Bride was Mary Mack, a servant age 23 (age is quite flexible) born cork, dau go James Mack a carpenter and honorah Sullivan.

Mary had a bunch of kids with Richard sheean (spelled many ways) from 1864-1872, marrying him in 1874, claiming to be a widow since 1871.

On the births for Richard and Mary's kids, there are listed Mary ellen b.1859, George b.1861, and Jane b.1862. They are john hedley's children.

Can anyone find john hedley in English records? Or a death? I have Mary, his daughter who married under Mary heleanor hedley, she had 2 children. I cannot trace George, and suspect jane died as a child, though the ref I found doesn't quite add up.

[AlanC]

No shortage of John Hedleys to choose from Kyle but struggling to find one to match.

[brentor boy]

Family Search has a John Hedley, Merchant Seaman, (1853-57) born 1827, Durham. Not a lot to go on, but more or less fits.

[kylejustin]

thank you guys. i've been really struggling on this one. doesn't appear in english records, so maybe the seaman could be a possibility. i can't find a death for him, and there are no births for his children.

[Kerri from Aus]

John Hedley may have died in New Zealand.

I found this

http://bendigokilmorerailtrail.com/2012/11/21/wooden-culvert/

June 1884; John Hedley applied for 20 acres at Heathcote for the Resurrection Gold……

But it was actually this that caught my attention-
1888 New Zealand ;Letters Patent and Letters of Registration; Applied for during 1887
No 2445 21st July JOHN HEDLEY,of Heathcote in the County of Dalhousie and Colony of Victoria, Mining ENGINEER – An invention for an improved apparatus for crushing and treating ores,separating and refining metals,by the aid of electricity,to be entitled “Hedley’s Patent Electric Ore and Metal Converter”

From-

http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1888-I.2.3.2.1&e=-------10--1------0..--

[Kerri from Aus]

It looks like he patented his invention in other States- so maybe he didn't die NZ.

More bits of possible sightings-TROVE-did not correct text
Gippsland Times Wednesday 11 December 1889
Some timne ago a man named John Hedley, residing at Glenmaggie, ileserteol hid wife, leaving her to look atter herself and children. Until -itilyi tbhe nfortnnite woman was unable to find his wthercebouts, but at the Iteylield police court on Tlirs-lay last she obtained an order agailost him for the pay mentof £1 per week

A lot of advertising for a John Hedley in WA -engineer & assayer around late 1890s

Then found
The West Australian Friday 26 May 1899
ALLOTMENT for Sale, best position in Jersey-street, Jolimont Estate, Subiaco, halt' cash, balance 12 months, na interest, owner leaving colony. John Hedley, assayer,Davies-laue, Murray-street

So this John Hedley was leaving colony

[kylejustin]

fascinating kerri, i will have to jump on trove and check it out. i had wondered if john had died by the time mary remarried, or they just separated and lost contact for 7 years?

[Katarzyna]

Not a trace of a John Hedley/hedly /headley on 41 or 51 censuses, Ancestry, FS or FMP that I can pin down, Kyle. He's just at that age in 41 where he's likely to be out there on his own somewhere. I can't find an Alfred and Mary either. Must be really mangled assuming they were still alive.

That merchant seaman record 1853 - 1857- just a thought - maybe he 's on a crew list? He could have jumped ship or signed off in Australia/ NZ. But then again by that age - abt 30 - he would surely have a trade as engineer.

[Katarzyna]

Just found these:

UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927
John Hedley
24
b 1830
Monkwearmouth, Durham
Issue Date: 26 Jan 1854
Issue Port: Sunderland
Certificate Number: 9629

There is another for
7 Aug 1856
and last one
12 dec 1856

All Certificate Number 9629 same port.

[Katarzyna]

Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839–1923
John Hedley
abt 1825
Age: 32
Arrival Date:16 Jan 1857
Melbourne, Australia
Ship: Escort

[Katarzyna]

New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists
Name: John Hedley
London
Sydney, New South Wales
Arrival Date: 15 Dec 1856
Vessel Name: La Hogue

He's on the crew list for this one as a surgeon! so maybe not.

[kylejustin]

i can check the victorian shipping list at the records office next visit. that will at least narrow him down a bit. thank you kat. i don't know much about the mates certificates, what are they exactly?

[Katarzyna]

master and mate certificates issued to merchant seamen by the British Board of Trade. A mate is higher up than an AB or ordinary seaman. Nowadays they need to sit exams to get a mate certificate. I don't know about then.

edit just found this :
Records include certificates of competency, certificates of service, examination applications, and other documents. Forms vary, but they may include the following details:
name
certificate number
birth date
birthplace
issue port
issue date
address
examination date
history of service (dates, vessels, occupations, years in service)

[kylejustin]

ok, thank you for that. interesting.