Hi Jenny, Thanks very much for your offer of lookups. However, we have searched every available index and CD in S.A., N.S.W., Vic. and Tas for the parents over a number of years as well as a professional researcher out of Melbourne on one occasion. It is quite a common name. My enquiry may have been a little ambiguous, I'm sorry. Maria was born in London in c.1842. She used several surnames, Clayton, Clark(e), Welch, McDonald. Her parents are unknown, except to say her Mother was found in Heathcote in 1860 from Essex, England. Her name was Fanny Matilda Welch, she died in Heathcote and I have all the certificates available on all of these people. I am particularly keen to find this McNamara family in Shepparton if possible. Tried the Family History Society there but no luck. Thanks again, Robyn ----- Original Message ----- From: jfawcett To: AUS-VIC-CENTRAL-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 10:53 PM Subject: Re: [AVC] McNamara Family Hi Robyn what was Maria's parents names ? and did the birth certificates of her children or her marriage certificate give her age and birth place ?am idly checking through cd's so happy to have a look for you all the best Jenny ----- Original Message ----- From: "robyn s clarke" <robynclarke1@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-VIC-CENTRAL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 11:01 PM Subject: [AVC] McNamara Family > Hello All, > > I am chasing a long shot, but you never know etc. etc. > > Two young boys left by parents abt. 1878 in Avenel. > > Henry Wilkinson Clark bn. 1862 Heathcote and William Edward Clark born 1864 Heathcote to parent MARIA CLAYTON WELCH. Thomas Clark married Maria in 1871 and the boys took his surname. > > After a family tragedy in which the youngest child was scalded and died in 1877 the family split. > > Family says the two boys were looked after following this period by the MCNAMARAS OF SHEPPARTON for a while. Thereafter William Edward Clark took himself off to W.A. looking for gold. > Another theory was that they spent some time with an Asian family in Bendigo. > Both later married in Victoria. > > There is this huge gap from their childhood to marriage and parents never found. > Any help very much appreciated. > > Robyn Clarke >

Robyn did you try the newspapers of the time of Alice's death? to see if there was anything there in regard to the family?or did her inquest reveal anything further ? and what about the Anna Maria/Maria Clayton who shows up married to a Thomas Williams and having children from 1877 onwards at Lilydale...could they have changed their name to Williams and moved after the death of their child Alice in 1877 ? do you want me to send the William's children details? all the best Jenny ----- Original Message ----- From: "robyn s clarke" <robynclarke1@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-VIC-CENTRAL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 11:22 PM Subject: Re: [AVC] McNamara Family > Hi Jenny, > > Thanks very much for your offer of lookups. However, we have searched every available index and CD in S.A., N.S.W., Vic. and Tas for the parents over a number of years as well as a professional researcher out of Melbourne on one occasion. It is quite a common name. > My enquiry may have been a little ambiguous, I'm sorry. > > Maria was born in London in c.1842. She used several surnames, Clayton, Clark(e), Welch, McDonald. Her parents are unknown, except to say her Mother was found in Heathcote in 1860 from Essex, England. Her name was Fanny Matilda Welch, she died in Heathcote and I have all the certificates available on all of these people. > > I am particularly keen to find this McNamara family in Shepparton if possible. Tried the Family History Society there but no luck. > > Thanks again, > > Robyn > ----- Original Message ----- > From: jfawcett > To: AUS-VIC-CENTRAL-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 10:53 PM > Subject: Re: [AVC] McNamara Family > > > Hi Robyn > what was Maria's parents names ? and did the birth certificates of her > children or her marriage certificate give her age and birth place ?am idly > checking through cd's so happy to have a look for you > all the best > Jenny > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "robyn s clarke" <robynclarke1@bigpond.com> > To: <AUS-VIC-CENTRAL-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 11:01 PM > Subject: [AVC] McNamara Family > > > > Hello All, > > > > I am chasing a long shot, but you never know etc. etc. > > > > Two young boys left by parents abt. 1878 in Avenel. > > > > Henry Wilkinson Clark bn. 1862 Heathcote and William Edward Clark born > 1864 Heathcote to parent MARIA CLAYTON WELCH. Thomas Clark married Maria in > 1871 and the boys took his surname. > > > > After a family tragedy in which the youngest child was scalded and died in > 1877 the family split. > > > > Family says the two boys were looked after following this period by the > MCNAMARAS OF SHEPPARTON for a while. Thereafter William Edward Clark took > himself off to W.A. looking for gold. > > Another theory was that they spent some time with an Asian family in > Bendigo. > > Both later married in Victoria. > > > > There is this huge gap from their childhood to marriage and parents never > found. > > Any help very much appreciated. > > > > Robyn Clarke > > > >