Thanks Robert, I have both death certificates. No further info sadly. I do know Alexander was born in Sweden. I have other certificates for children of this couple and marriage date varies each time. Alexander's arrival details came from his Naturalisation Papers from National Archives. I couldn't find a passenger list. I'm thinking if Sarah recorded his name as Arthur when she registered William's birth she may not have had an eye for detail. Although Alexander was born in Sweden family stories say his father was English and was working in Sweden. So with no parents names and no further leads I was hoping the Marriage Cert could hold a clue. Marianne also in Melbourne On 27/07/2008, at 1:40 PM, robert.j wrote: > Hi, > > I had a look for any marriages - and couldn't find any - but did > note that the indexes record the father as Arthur for the birth of > William Edward. > > I couldn't locate a passenger list for the New World for 1855 - it > appears only once on the Victorian unassisted passenger indexes for > the period in question - arrival in December 1854 - and no person > with the name Re*d - did he arrive via another state I wonder? > > Anyhow - moving along - this looks like the couple: > - Sarah REID father David Shaw, mother Harriet Unknown, died in > 1895, Costerfieod victoria, apparently aged 65 years index: 1315. > - Alexander REID died aged 70 years at Costerfield in 1890 index: > 6757 parents details - Unknown. > > What is worrying about these index entries - > > I'm surprised that there is so little detail for Alexander - Sarah > was alive? and able? to supply correct information? > And Sarah's index entry lacks some information but there is a chance > that one of her children may have supplied some good inforamtion? > > To sort out a few things I would buy the death certificate for > Alexander - hopefully the index info is no real guide - a good > certificate will indicate when Alexander arrived in Australia and > when/were he married. It may well be that Alexander and Sarah were > married overseas? > > good luck > Robert > in chilly Melbourne > > > Petal & Clea Smith wrote: >> Hello, >> >> New to this list Researching ALEXANDER REED who married SARAH SHAW >> 185? at Beechworth. >> >> First child WILLIAM EDWARD REED born 6th SEPT 1857 at WOOLSHED >> >> Alexander arrived in Victoria 1855 on the New World, from the >> California Goldfields. >> >> Cannot seem to find Alexander and Sarah's marriage. Any help >> appreciated. >> >> He moved to Costerfield and worked in the Mine there. >> >> Marianne >> > >