I hope someone can help me.

My ancestor John GORDON [23rd January, 1818 - 1855] married Catherine Cameron daughter of John Cameron of Meoble, Moidart, Inverness-shire on October 21st, 1850 in Melbourne soon after he emigrated to Australia in June 1850 and where he died on August 17th, 1855.

I have no further information. I am very keen to try and discover more information such as where John Gordon married and died but am not sure how best to find answers.

Any help would be hugely helpful.

Alistair
London

The Victorian Pioneer Index 1836-1889 has John Gordon marrying Catherine Cameron 1850 at St Francis RC Church in Melbourne with 2 separate entries (no idea why). Also John Gordon, parents unknown, died 1854 no place given born Scotland aged 35. Its worth getting the certificates which should state where he lived at time of death/ marriage.

Thanks for telling me about the entry in the Victorian Pioneer Index which I didn't know existed and it confirms the info I started off with. I have now obtained the two copy certificates. One shows the relevant page from the NSW register showing Roman Catholic marriages in this case it is Christina Cameron, daughter of Catherine, marrying John Gordon as you said. The second copy is another declaration stating that Christina is RC and that Catherine and John Gordon were joined together in wedlock, same date and place as before. As for an address, they are both simply 'of Melbourne.' Do you know how to discover if John Gordon, who died in 1854 left a will ? regards, Alistair

Hi Alistair,
Checked the Vic index to probate and wills, no record for John Gordon 1854 ish. His death in 1854 Reg no 2359 only gives a place of birth as Scotland aged 35. I could find no chn to this brief marriage and wondered if his wife remarried? Do you know his occupation, did he come to Vic for the Goldrush? If you purchased his death cert (can do that online now) that might give some more clues. "Of Melbourne" usually meant the centre of Melbourne in the early days as the rest of the city was not developed but the records were not as accurate then.Also checked the Melb Gen Cemetery records but he is not there. Stephanie

Hi Stephanie,

I have downloaded death cert 2359 for John Gordon which gives his death as 4th April 1854 at Lonsdale Street E (?), the 'E' is what appears to be in the register, could it mean East perhaps ? His occupation is given as Sailor, aged 35, no parentage given, buried 5th April 1854 at the New Cemetery, Melbourne; born in Scotland; 1 year in Melbourne; his wife was in the Isle of Man and there's 1 child. Above the details of his wife is a word which 'might' say remarried but it is difficult to be 100% certain.

This all sounds fine except that the date of death conflicts with the date in a book about the Gordon family history published in 1895 which I have. The date in the book is 17th August 1855. Also, the birth register entry for the son, Robert John, states:

Robert John Gordon was born 29th August 1852 at Richmond Plains, NSW to John Forbes GORDON & Christina CAMERON. Robert John GORDON was baptised 23 January 1853 at St Andrews, Scots Church, Sydney. His parents were as above, with the abode being Sydney. His father's profession was given as Superintendant.

What do you think ?

Alistair

Hi Alistair
I think we are looking at 2 separate people. John Gordon in Melbourne, sailor could not be John Forbes Gordon Superintendant (of convicts? of police) in Sydney. One wife is Catherine Cameron, one is Christina Cameron.
I checked my CD of Melb General aka New Cemetery but no John Gordon listed although I think some of the early burials are missing on this CD.
Is the death on 17th Aug 1855 in Melb or Sydney??
Stephanie

Hi Stephanie, yes, there are two Gordons here, father and son. The father was John Gordon, born 23rd January 1818 at Kirkmichael, Banff, Scotland. In June 1850 he emigrated to Australia and became a Superintendent and married Christina Cameron on 21st October 1850 at St Francis' Church, Melbourne. She was the daughter of John Cameron of Meoble, Moidart, Inverness-shire.

The son was Robert John Gordon, born 29th August 1852 at Blackwall, Richmond Plains, NSW and bapt 21st January 1853 at St Andrews, Scotch Church, Sydney. According to the book about the Gordon family published by an ancestor in 1895 Robert John Gordon settled in Australia, married and had issue. Sadly, nothing else is known about him at the moment.

As for the Forbes name, it is highly likely that this is correct since one of John Gordon's sisters has it as a middle name and it appears elsewhere in the family tree too.

Unfortunately I don't know exactly where the 1855 death was other than Australia.

Alistair

Hi Alistair
My email is shume@tpg.com.au if you could contact me?
Thanks Stephanie

Hi Stephanie, I've just sent you an email. My address is alistair73@hotmail.com

Alistair