Domestic situations
Much can be learnt about past lives by reading the papers of the day. In this 1927 article a list of unemployed and their previous work histories was published as they appealed for work. Here I found Cyril Dominic Galvin, my children's gt-gt-grandfather's brother was out of work, unmarried and was living at 53 South Terrace.in Adelaide. He would have been 22 in 1927. Cyril died in 1959. |
| 1927 'HELP THE UNEMPLOYED', News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), 23 November, p. 16. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129157085 |
Divorces
Tabloids such as the "Truth" appeared to embellish stories purporting to use actual dialogue as spoken in court evidence. A particularly acrimonious case was cited in the New South Wales papers with 4 co-respondents, 2 married couples with each partner entwined with another or pleading a case of desertion. This involved Agnes Lucy Stirling (known as Essie) in 1926. She was my children's gt-grandfather's sister.Headline snippets only here but you can click the links below the clippings if you wish to read the details.
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| 1926 'MISCONDUCT', The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), 27 November, p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245917449 |
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| 1926 'DID CHAPMAN GO ASHEIKING?', Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954), 21 November, p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168727183 |
Death notices
Death notices sometimes provide extra details with some family members listed. This example from 1940 led me to find more descendants of Michael Galvin the original immigrant in this Galvin family.
The notice is for his wife Bridget inserted by her grand-daughters. I had been unaware of their existence until I found this very blurry notice which led to a new branch of inquiries.
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| 1940 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 16 September, p. 8. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27948134 |
These three grand-daughters, Elizabeth Mary, Leah Daphne and Margaret Mary were born to Bridget's son Michael Galvin and his wife Margaret Murray. The girls were only 10, 7 and 5 when their mother died in 1901. It is quite likely that Bridget, their grandmother, had cared for them for many years. Bridget's husband Michael had died earlier in 1894. Shown below are the notices for his funeral.
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| 1894 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 20 February, p. 8. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13941487 |
Other D's in the newspapers - Dances, Daily weather and Driving offences
Next up - E for Engagements and Etiquette
This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin
Excellent post. Newspapers are gold mine for family researchers. I discovered that a collateral ancestor taught ballroom dancing because he advertised in the local paper and they wrote accounts of the turnout at his lessons.
ReplyDeleteBallroom dancing was very popular and thinking about it reminds me I could have included Debutante balls in my Ds
ReplyDeleteYou've made great discoveries in the newspapers. The matrimonial headlines are particularly cheeky. You in Australia are so lucky to have Trove.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed lucky, our National Library and State Libraries have done well and long may they continue to do so.
DeleteHow could we resist the “Truth”?! So much more entertaining than the serious news. It would be interesting to compare the two stories to the court report if it still exists. Love your theme a carmel.
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