Trove Tuesday - James, Francis and Frank

My Duncan ancestors have constructed a huge brick wall that I need to topple. Every so often I return to Trove to see if I can find some clue that will help me identify my 2xGreat Grandfather, James Duncan, whom I believe was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland but I have no hard evidence to prove this. Although I have been looking for him for nearly 30 years I haven't been able to find a death for he or his wife Mary Criggin/Creegan (and half a dozen other spellings).

Francis Duncan b. about 1853 in Moonee Ponds is their son and his son Frank b. 1895 is my Grandfather.

I added a few new items to my Duncan story after a Trove search last night.

Frank was a junior member of the GUOOF.

1905 'Local and General.', The Cobar Herald (NSW : 1899 - 1914), 2 December, p. 4. , viewed 17 Jul 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103839572

The following article tells me that Francis and his partner Harriet Holmes were resident in Cobar in 1900.

1900 'Local Land Board.', The Cobar Herald (NSW : 1899 - 1914), 22 December, p. 4. , viewed 17 Jul 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103834809

In the following article I learnt that Francis did some work for the local council in 1904.

Source: 1904 'Cobar Municipal Council.', The Cobar Herald (NSW : 1899 - 1914), 27 February, p. 2. , viewed 17 Jul 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103845680

(FIREWOOD. It was decided, on the motion of Aldermen Morrison and Padula, that Mr. Francis Duncan be given a  con-tract to cut and deliver 50 cords of firewood at the Water Works at 13s per cord, payment to be reserved to May next.)

This next article provides evidence that Francis was in Byrock in 1891 where young Frank was born in 1895 (we have no birth record for Franks as his parents Francis and Harriet never married).

1891 'DUBBO CIRCUIT COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 9 October, p. 3. , viewed 17 Jul 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28266947

My biggest find was the following notice. As Francis was a labourer I had never looked for a probate file for him. As soon as I can I am off to NSW State Archives and Records to view his file.

1921 'Advertising', Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 - 1932), 9 December, p. 2. , viewed 17 Jul 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137162973

No photo

My Great-Grandfather, Francis Duncan, who died 93 years ago today is a bit of a mystery man to me.

The only photo I have relating to him is one of his headstone in Cobar Cemetery.

Frank Duncan and Harriet Magick are buried in Cobar Cemetery

When I started writing this post an hour ago I decided to see if I could find any new information on Francis who had been born in Victoria and who died in Cobar. As he never "married" his wife, Harriet Holmes (nee Magick), I don't know when or where he met her and as the births of his children weren't registered I cannot confirm their birth places and discover where frank and Harriet were living at that time. I have visited the Museum in Cobar but they have no information on Frank.

Where did I turn? Trove of course. In a short time I have placed Francis in Cobar from 1900, discovered that he was a carpenter, lived in Prince Street, leased land and ran sheep on it, did contract work for the local council and that his estate was probated (I hadn't found this at State Records - time for more investigation there). Two In Memoriam notices confirm the names of some of his grandchildren.

This post did not go where I expected it to go thanks to Trove., I am excited and on the hunt. The source of my joy today is The Cobar Herald (NSW : 1899 - 1914 that must have been recently added to Trove. I must away aand thoroughly read the articles I have found and conjure up a few more search strings to test out The Cobar Herald.

Maybe one day I'll find a photo of Francis and Harriet.