Hello Denise, Am sorry for being so slow getting back to do you re an Alexander BLAKE born USA ...... thinks have been topsy turvy here, but I won't bore you with all the details. Here is what I know re Alexander BLAKE: Born: c1857 in Cincinnatti, USA. Parents: Unknown BLAKE and Emma Priscilla Cleal Married: 1. Elizabeth ROGERSON in Victoria in 1877. 2. Phillis MADDERN on 21/1/1896 in Warracknabeal, Victoria. Died: 1915 in Prahran, aged 58 years. Buried c. of E. Section of Springvale Cemetery. Alexander BLAKE and Elizabeth ROGERSON had 6 children prior to her death at Yea in 1892 ...... most of whom were born in the Avenel, Seymour, Yea area (see below). Alexander BLAKE and Phillis MADDERN also had children who were born in South Australia and Victoria. I can't remember what Alexander BLAKE's occupation was and certificates etc. are all still packed away after a recent move and won't be unpacked for a while. Phillis MADDERN was my great aunt, so if there are any rellies out there? Kindest Regards ...... Corinne in Melbourne. PIONEER INDEX. VICTORIA 1836 - 1888 Index to Births Deaths and Marriages in Victoria Surname: BLAKE Given Names: William Alexander Event: M Father/Spouse Surname: ROGERSON Mother/Spouse Given Name: Elizabeth Birth Place: CINCINATTI Year: 1877 Reg No: 1702 Sex: M PIONEER INDEX. VICTORIA 1836 - 1888 Index to Births Deaths and Marriages in Victoria Surname: BLAKE Given Names: Robert William Event: B Father/Spouse Surname: William Alexan Mother/Spouse Given Name: Elizabeth ROGERSON Birth Place: AV EN Year: 1878 Reg No: 102 Surname: BLAKE Given Names: Frederick Charles Event: B Father/Spouse Surname: William Alexan Mother/Spouse Given Name: Elizabeth ROGERSON Birth Place: SEYM Year: 1879 Reg No: 19389 Surname: BLAKE Given Names: Katie Seymour Event: B Father/Spouse Surname: William Alexan Mother/Spouse Given Name: Elizth ROGERSON Birth Place: SEYM Year: 1881 Reg No: 19536 Surname: BLAKE Given Names: William Alexander Event: B Father/Spouse Surname: William Alexan Mother/Spouse Given Name: Elizabeth ROGERSON Birth Place: PRAH Year: 1883 Reg No: 11292 Surname: BLAKE Given Names: Amy Elizabeth Event: B Father/Spouse Surname: William Alexan other/Spouse Given Name: Elizabeth ROGERSON Birth Place: ARAR Year: 1884 Reg No: 21873 Surname: BLAKE Given Names: Frances Margaret Event: B Father/Spouse Surname: William Alexan Mother/Spouse Given Name: Elizabeth ROGERSON Birth Place: YEA Year: 1886 Reg No: 23220 FEDERATION INDEX. VICTORIA 1889 - 1901 Index to Births Deaths and Marriages in Victoria Surname: BLAKE Given Names: Elizth Event: D Sex: F Father/Spouse Surname: Rogerson Robt Mother/Spouse Given Name: Cath HEALEY Age: 32 Death Place: Yea Year: 1892 FEDERATION INDEX. VICTORIA 1889 - 1901 Index to Births Deaths and Marriages in Victoria Surname: BLAKE Given Names: Wm Alexr Event: M Father/Spouse Surname: MADDERN Mother/Spouse Given Name: Phillis Birth Place: AMERICA Year: 1896

Corinne thank you for this, it's a great start for us. We will certainly send you what we find, but it will be a while before we get to Alexander, but we promise we will. Meanwhile all this is filed safely. At the moment Chris and I are deep into researching well over two dozen women and men from Maine USA who made the northeast home, for a while at least but many stayed. All these men came from one area of that state and Chris and I are in touch daily with someone over there from a History Museum who is so helpful it is amazing. The enjoyment at that end is gratifying, and they believe in our work. We have many old photos on the way, information on various aspects of our research for that group and we also send back what we have found from this end. When finished we shall send a small book on these men to the Museum as a gift. When I first thought of tackling something like this about two years ago I knew there were several Americans in the northeast, but believe me I never dreamed there were so many and still they keep appearing. The project is bigger than we thought it would get, bigger than Ben Hur. No wonder 4th July was a big thing in the northeast. It is very exciting and the American project is forging ahead well. We are really excited about the results, we have got a lot more information than we ever believed we could on the lives of these American women and men. Thanks Corinne, we will get back to you Denise and Chris