GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - M is for the Magick Mystery

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the  2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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You may be wondering why I am concentrating on Elizabeth's descendants rather than those of a married couple. Well the Magick Mystery is that, until we get some DNA matches that help us determine the paternity of Elizabeth's children, we cannot be 100% sure as to the identity of their fathers.

In my database I have details of ten children born to Elizabeth and christened with the surname Westbrook and that is why I record them as Westbrook There is conjecture that there was another child that was transported with Elizabeth but I only have one small piece of evidence from 1814 to support this ( General Muster of New South Wales 1814. Baxter, Carol, Ed. Sydney, ABGR, 1987: Number 1800. 1800 W Elizabeth Phipps Wanstead C (Stores) Off (Children) 1 Servant to Mr Cox). What happened to this child?

Children of Elizabeth Phipps

The two main paternal candidates are convicts James Westbrook, and William Magick. To confuse the issue further Elizabeth in 1818 applied to marry another convict, William Widgett (who had been transported to NSW on the General Hewitt with Magick). This marriage did not proceed.

Elizabeth and James who were partners in crime were cohabiting in London before they were transported to New South Wales. Although they claimed to be married it must have been a common law marriage,  there has been no formal record of this union found.

Elizabeth and James were assigned to William Cox on their arrival in NSW, Magick was first assigned to Mr Purcell but later to Cox. Westbrook and Magick worked together as Brickmakers for Cox on the building of the Road over the Blue Mountains. The trio in the 1820s all resided in the Richmond area.

Elizabeth's children are recorded in the 1825 Muster and 1828 Census with the surname Westbrook.

Elizabeth finally made her choice and married  William Magick in 1834. A cynic may suggest that this choice was influenced by the fact that William was gaining respectability as a man of property in Richmond.

Presumably Elizabeth's younger children went to live with her and Magick in March Street, Richmond. It is interesting to note that the younger children Adelina Benedicta and William John used the Magick surname on their marriage records. James was also known as James Magick on various documents.

The older girls Ann, Sophia, Louisa and Sarah were married using the Westbrook surname.

There are so many questions to be answered. When did Elizabeth begin to cohabit with William Magick? The 1822 Muster records her as living with Westbrook. She was living with Madgewick in the 1825 muster and cited as his housekeeper in the 1828 census. Therefore it is quite likely that her younger children were by William Magick.

And that is the Magick Mystery that has been confounding Elizabeth's descendants for year (over 30 for me).

UPDATE:  I wrote this post two weeks ago. Thanks to Cousin Regina, A Phipps descendant and committed genealogist, who has found a piece of evidence showing that Elizabeth Phipps was pregnant when she was in Newgate Prison. If that child was born alive then it must be the one I mentioned above. You can find new records relating to Elizabeth's time in Newgate by doing a search on Ancestry.

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

Who is Ralph?

Whenever we visit Mr GeniAus' cousin he sets us a geneatask.

This cousin is a bit of a bowerbird who has many lovely items that have come down through the family to him.

The Miniature of Ralph Weatherburn

This miniature, which thankfully is named, was amongst the cousin's mother's belongings. Our cousin wants to know who Ralph is and if he is a relation. As I have researched cousin's paternal line fairly thoroughly I am guessing that if Ralph is related it is on his mother's line. 

Inscription on the back of the miniature

The purpose of this post is to see if I can find anyone who knows anything about Ralph Weatherburn who died on 27th July, 1830.

A quick bit of internet searching has found the info below.... 

________________________________________________________________________________

Ralph WEATHERBURN (1770-1830)

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  Ralph WEATHERBURN

                Sex:  Male

             Father:  Benjamin WEATHERBURN ( - )

             Mother:  Unknown ( - )

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Individual Events and Attributes

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Birth 1770

Death 27 Jul 1830 (age 59-60)

Burial 31 Jul 1830 Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*1)

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Marriage

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Spouse Barbara HODGSON ( - )

Children Mary Ann WEATHERBURN (bef1803- )

Sarah WEATHERBURN (1799-bef1799)

Marriage 13 Oct 1798 (age 27-28) Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*2)

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Sources

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1. "Ancestry".  Ancestry.com. England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Ralph Weatherburn

Gender: Male

Age: 60

Birth Date: 1770

Burial Date: 31 Jul 1830

Burial Place: Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England

FHL Film Number: 1514552

Reference ID: it 1, p 242, no 1935

2. Ibid.  Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Ralph Weatherburn

Gender: Male

Marriage Date: 13 Oct 1798

Marriage Place: Bishopwearmouth,Durham,England

Spouse: Barbara Hodgson

FHL Film Number: 91083, 91084

________________________________________________________________________________

Unknown ( - )

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  Unknown

                Sex:  Female

             Father:  -

             Mother:  -

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Individual Events and Attributes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(none)

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Marriage

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Spouse Benjamin WEATHERBURN ( - )

Children Ralph WEATHERBURN (1770-1830)

________________________________________________________________________________

Barbara HODGSON ( - )

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  Barbara HODGSON

                Sex:  Female

             Father:  -

             Mother:  -

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Individual Events and Attributes

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(none)

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Marriage

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Spouse Ralph WEATHERBURN (1770-1830)

Children Mary Ann WEATHERBURN (bef1803- )

Sarah WEATHERBURN (1799-bef1799)

Marriage 13 Oct 1798 Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*1)

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Sources

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1. "Ancestry".  Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Ralph Weatherburn

Gender: Male

Marriage Date: 13 Oct 1798

Marriage Place: Bishopwearmouth,Durham,England

Spouse: Barbara Hodgson

FHL Film Number: 91083, 91084

________________________________________________________________________________

Ralph Weatherburn KIGHT (bef1822-1822)

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  Ralph Weatherburn KIGHT

                Sex:  Male

             Father:  William KIGHT ( - )

             Mother:  Mary Ann WEATHERBURN (bef1803- )

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Individual Events and Attributes

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Birth bef 21 Jul 1822(*1)

Baptism 21 Jul 1822 (age 0) Southwark Christ Church, Southwark, England(*1)

Residence bef 13 Oct 1822 (age 0) Great Surrey Street, London, England

Death 13 Oct 1822 (age 0) Southwark Christ Church, Southwark, England(*2)

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Sources

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1. "Ancestry".  London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906/Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1906; Reference Number: p92/ctc/021.

Text From Source: Name: Ralph Weatherburn Kight

Gender: Male

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 21 Jul 1822

Baptism Place: Southwark Christ Church, Southwark, England

Father: William Kight

Mother: Mary Ann Kight

2. Ibid.  London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p92/ctc/059.

Text From Source: Name: Ralph Weatherburn Kight

Age: 0

Record Type: Burial

Birth Date: abt 1822

Death Date: abt 1822

Burial Date: 13 Oct 1822

Burial Place: Christ Church, Southwark, Southwark, England

Register Type: Parish Register

________________________________________________________________________________

William KIGHT ( - )

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  William KIGHT

                Sex:  Male

             Father:  -

             Mother:  -

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Individual Events and Attributes

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Occupation 21 Jul 1822 Silk Merchant(*1)

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Marriage

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Spouse Mary Ann WEATHERBURN (bef1803- )

Children Ralph Weatherburn KIGHT (bef1822-1822)

Marriage 3 Oct 1821 Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*2)

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Sources

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1. "Ancestry".  London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906/Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1906; Reference Number: p92/ctc/021.

Text From Source: Name: Ralph Weatherburn Kight

Gender: Male

Record Type: Baptism

Baptism Date: 21 Jul 1822

Baptism Place: Southwark Christ Church, Southwark, England

Father: William Kight

Mother: Mary Ann Kight

2. Ibid.  Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Mary Anne Weatherburn

Gender: Female

Marriage Date: 3 Oct 1821

Marriage Place: Bishop-Wearmouth, Durham, England

Spouse: William Kight

FHL Film Number: 1514547

Reference ID: item 2 p 79

________________________________________________________________________________

Benjamin WEATHERBURN ( - )

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  Benjamin WEATHERBURN

                Sex:  Male

             Father:  -

             Mother:  -

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Individual Events and Attributes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(none)

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Marriage

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Spouse Unknown ( - )

Children Ralph WEATHERBURN (1770-1830)

________________________________________________________________________________

Mary Ann WEATHERBURN (bef1803- )

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  Mary Ann WEATHERBURN

                Sex:  Female

             Father:  Ralph WEATHERBURN (1770-1830)

             Mother:  Barbara HODGSON ( - )

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Individual Events and Attributes

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Birth bef 17 Jul 1803

Baptism 17 Jul 1803 (age 0) Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*1)

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Marriage

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Spouse William KIGHT ( - )

Children Ralph Weatherburn KIGHT (bef1822-1822)

Marriage 3 Oct 1821 (age 18) Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*2)

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Sources

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1. "Ancestry".  Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Mary Ann Weatherburn

Gender: Female

Baptism Date: 17 Jul 1803

Baptism Place: Bishop-Wearmouth, Durham, England

Father: Ralph Weatherburn

Mother: Barbara Hodgson Weatherburn

FHL Film Number: 1514543

2. Ibid.  Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Mary Anne Weatherburn

Gender: Female

Marriage Date: 3 Oct 1821

Marriage Place: Bishop-Wearmouth, Durham, England

Spouse: William Kight

FHL Film Number: 1514547

Reference ID: item 2 p 79

________________________________________________________________________________

Sarah WEATHERBURN (1799-bef1799)

________________________________________________________________________________

               Name:  Sarah WEATHERBURN

                Sex:  Female

             Father:  Ralph WEATHERBURN (1770-1830)

             Mother:  Barbara HODGSON ( - )

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Individual Events and Attributes

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Birth 17 May 1799 Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*1)

Baptism 28 May 1799 (age 0) Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*1)

Death bef 9 Aug 1799 (age 0)(*2)

Burial 9 Aug 1799 Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England(*2)

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Sources

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1. "Ancestry".  Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Sarah Weatherburn

Gender: Female

Birth Date: 1 May 1799

Baptism Date: 28 May 1799

Baptism Place: Old Meeting OR Corn Market Chapel High Street-Indesunderl,Sunderland,Durham,England

Father: Ralph Weatherburn

Mother: Barbara

FHL Film Number: 0593805 (RG4 1497)

2. Ibid.  Ancestry.com. England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Text From Source: Name: Sarah Weatherburn

Gender: Female

Burial Date: 9 Aug 1799

Burial Place: Bishop-Wearmouth, Durham, England

Father: Ralph Weatherburn

Mother: Barbara Watson Weatherburn

FHL Film Number: 1514543

Reference ID: item 4 p 28

Unputdownable

Last night I was dog-tired but thought I'd read a few pages of Nathan Dylan Goodwin's latest novella,

The Missing Man: A Morton Farrier novella, before retiring. Well that was the end of my early night.

The book was unputdownable, I just had to keep on reading right up to the last page. I don't know if Nathan has excelled himself with this latest adventure of Morton Farrier or, now that I have read all the previous stories, I am so familiar with the characters that they are like old friends and I have to keep up with their latest exploits but this story drew me in, I just couldn't put it down.

As with his other books I think that Nathan needs a bit of assistance to develop more attractive covers and layouts but one shouldn't judge ta his book by its cover.

In this tale we join Morton and his now wife, Juliette, on their honeymoon in Cape Cod. As well as honeymooning with the ever patient Juliette Nathan takes the opportunity to try and track down his American biological father. As we join Morton on this journey we learn about US research and repositories and are with Morton when he meets various members of his extended family. 

The characters in this story are believable and the mix of dialogue and prose seems to work well. Nathan's writing has developed and improved in this work.

I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.  Thanks Nathan for producing such a beaut story and for providing me with a review copy. I hope that there is another Morton Farrier story coming out soon.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book it is available for Kindle and Paperback in the US from Amazon and from here in the UK. We folk downunder can find the Kindle version on Amazon.com.au here.