Hiya Mike, Anne there was Catholic church in Sydney before the 1840's, I don't think there was any church not even Anglican on the North Shore in the 1840's. Nothing at all on the North Shore in those days. "Lane Cove" has moved around rather a lot. I live at Gordon which used to be Lane Cove in the late 1800's, which is why Lane Cove Road in Ryde goes to Gordon and not to today's Lane Cove. But earlier than that, Lane Cove was probably down closer to the Harbour. In the early days in NSW Catholic practise was restricted as it was in England until the 1820's-1830's. In those days just about the only activity on the north shore was logging where there were decent trees. Further west towards Pennant Hills and Ryde some farming where the soil was better. At Ryde the C of E St Anne's from around 1808 I think and the catholic church St Charles Borromeo not until the 1860's. Scots Church is in downtown Sydney. In those days run by J D Lang I think. Certainly not unsual for 14 year olds to be married in those days. On the question of religion there are quite a few possibilities. He may have been Catholic and she Presbyterian. Married in the wife's church because it was her home town and that's where her family went. Or possibly the other way around. My GGGGgrandmother was married at age 15, she belonged to a CofE family which became Methodist ( Methodists and Cof E did not split until 1830's in NSW ), was married to a man who was definitely C of E, at the Presbyterian church in Parramatta in 1848. We have never figured out why. On the subject of regimental marriage-witnessing protocol, I have no idea. Regards Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Boyd" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 11:54 AM Subject: Re: 58th Reg - LEPPER/WILSON > Anne > My Thomas Boyd who came to Sydney in 1826 with the Royal NSW Veteran Company > had one of his daughters may at 14 years old. In fact she had children > before her parents finished having children of their own. > > We think form the 1841 Census that Thomas family was Catholic. He was > stationed in "Lane Cove" which in those days took in most of the middle part > of the North Shore part of Sydney. So I assume that there were Catholic > Churches in that part of Sydney at that time. > > You may need to write to St Mary's Cathedral, in Sydney, NSW. > > Mike Boyd > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Anne Picketts" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 4:15 AM > Subject: 58th Reg - LEPPER/WILSON > > > > There were two Sarah Jane WILSONs recorded as married in NSW between 1845 > and > > 1846. One married Edward LEPPER of the 58th Regiment in Scotts Church, > Sydney in > > August 1846, the other married John WALDON on 8 Sep 1845. The latter > Sarah Jane > > has been researched back to Ballynahinch in Co Down. The former seems to > be a > > mystery. > > > > Witnesses to the LEPPER marriage were Bernard McLAUGHLIN of the 99th > Regiment > > and Mrs Jane CHAMPION of Sydney > > > > If the age on her death certificate and the age of her eldest > > daughter at the time of her death is any indication, she married at 13 or > > 14 yrs of age and was born in Sydney - that would make c1833. > > > > Edward LEPPER travelled to NSW with the 58th in 1845. Was it common for > soldiers to > > marry such young girls in Sydney of the 1840s and should it be considered > 'odd' that > > someone from another Regiment would act as witness. > > > > Another 'odity' is that the marriage took place in the Presbyterian > Church. Once in NZ > > the children were baptised as Catholics. Was there a Catholic Church in > Sydney in > > 1846? > > > > Any help would be very much appreciated. > > > > > > -- > > Anne Picketts > > Waipu, Northland > > New Zealand > > Researching: DUGGAN, McCARTHY and RYAN in Limerick and surrounding > Counties; > > WILSON and St JOHN in Co Down > > NZSG #5331 > > KFHS #6151 > > > > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > > Woy Woy War Memorial and Soldiers' Memorial Park > > http://www.terrigal.net.au/~joanf/anzac1.htm > > > > > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > RAAF Museum > http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/ >