| Notes |
- Private notes from Elizabeth Ann St Claire (Spurrier):
The information that I have managed to locate for Uncle George is rather scant.
I believe there are two reasons for this.
The first reason is, his life changed greatly after marrying Polly. It took me quite some effort and research hours to discover the story. And two of you are the first people I am now sharing this story with.
Polly had been married prior to marrying George.
Based upon the records, it appears Aunt Polly married Arthur Norman Barnham in 1909. She had three children with him, with the first being born four months after the marriage. Her husband ‘put her out’ (to take-up with another woman).
Arthur Barnham had a life-partner in his sister-in-law Margaret Barnham. They did not legally marry.
Aunt Polly disappeared from records, (the electoral roll) after 1925. She reappeared on the roll in 1930 as Mary Ann Goodall.
I believe George and Polly married illegally. Mary Ann Hare and Arthur Norman Barnham did not divorce.
To come to this conclusion, I commenced researching Polly. I used the names of Polly’s parents that were nominated on her marriage and death certificates as a starting point.
Initially, I fell into a rabbit-hole researching Patrick Hare (thinking this was Polly’s father).
(Herbert) Patrick Hare was a Methodist Minister who had been killed on duty in World War 1 in Europe. He served at Gallipoli and was then transferred to France, where he died from war wounds. (Herbert) Patrick Hare did not join the army as a member of the clergy. He did, however, assist the military chaplains. He was a Lieutenant.
(Herbert) Patrick Hare did minister in Mt Morgan (where Polly lived).
I believe, however, there is no biological link between Polly and (Herbert) Patrick Hare. They happen to share the same name.
I suspect the names Patrick Hare and Annie Nielsen were used as substitutes for her real parents on the marriage certificate when marrying in 1928 (and used again when she passed in 1964).
Mary Ann’s father, William Hare had passed in 1917. I suspect her mother, Anna Johnston had also passed prior to 1928.
After being put-out, (I suspect) Polly travelled north to be with her sister, Annie, and make a new life. Annie married Archibald Cecil Thompson on December 28, 1921. (They had a son, named Archibald Cecil Thompson who was born in 1922).
In 1925, when she was put-out, Polly would have been a woman, with few legal rights and no income. It is reasonable that Polly would have sought the support of family. I suspect she left the Mount Morgan area and did not return.
Polly then met and married George Goodall after moving north.
In 1928, Polly was nearly forty years old and passed what would have been considered childbearing age. I believe George was aware of her circumstances when they married.
I have been unable to find any public announcement (in a local newspaper) of George and Polly’s marriage, and of Polly’s passing.
I feel George and Polly lived ‘below the radar’ to avoid attracting attention to their relationship.
Without any further documentation explaining their illegal marriage, I suspect George and Polly married for love and the opportunity to create a shared life.
The second reason, I feel the information regarding Uncle George is quite scant, is when he passed in 1970, Polly’s nephew, Archie Thompson, managed the estate.
My mother has shared the story that at the time of Uncle George’s passing, Archie received the proceeds of the estate, with the intention that he also organise headstones for George and Polly’s graves.
George and Polly’s graves are unmarked. Archie did not organise the headstones after receiving the proceeds of George’s estate.
Archie Thompson was killed in a car accident in 1980. He did marry and have children. I have attempted to locate his family. I am keen to locate further information regarding George and Polly. I am hoping someone, somewhere, has a box or tin of papers and photographs.
Uncle George and I met prior to his passing. My family shared time with George and visited him at the Good Samaritan Home. George referred to me as Little Lizzie, as his sister was Lizzie.
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1899 - 1964 (64 years)
Set As Default Person
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
