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Note: Prior to May 2011, we knew little in detail about Gertrude Parson (Parke, nee Norton). Then, in May 2011, we received the following email from Australia through Ancestry.com:
"I am helping a friend with her Parke family research.
Gertrude's first husband was Samuel Parke who died in Sydney in 1889. There was a child (Samuel J. N) born in 1890.
If you have any information on this child we would be delighted to learn of it. We can fill in many details about the Parke family in Australia and Ireland.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bronwyn
Townsville, Australia"
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We responded to the email as follows:
"Hello,
I apologize for being so slow to respond. I only opened "My Messages" today, and saw your posting.
We would greatly welcome further correspondence with you. You can reach us directly at: saylesworth@shaw.ca
Gertrude Norton was my wife's grandmother. My wife's maiden name was Sharon Diane Parson and her line down from Gertrude is:
(1) Gertrude Norton and Charles Herbert Parson
(2) Cecil Norman Parson and Edel Myrthu (parents)
(3) Sharon Diane Parson "Diane" and Samuel Wm. Aylesworth
Unfortunately Diane has never had any detailed information about her grandmother, Gertrude, and would greatly welcome any information you have. One of Diane's neices has apparently located some information from Australia about Gertrude, but we do not have whatever information the neice located. I will check with her, but wanted to establish correspondence with you first.
Gertrude died when Diane was 14. Diane remembers her well, AND has a small number of membories about about Gertrude's her son from a first marriage, "Uncle Jack." I listed him in the family-tree as Jack Norton, but based on your email that may be incorrect. Jack was about 11 or 12 years older than Diane's father, Cecil. Jack fought in the first world war, and later lived in Vancouver B.C.. We can talk to family members and share more details about him if this would be of value to you. Diane's brother Norman is about 11 years older than Diane and recalls much more about the grandparents and about Jack.
First, though, we need to confirm (for your sake and for ours) that we are indeed speaking about the same Gertrude Norton. We are not aware of the name "Samuel Parke," so you can see that we are truly limited. Diane was never sure whether Norton was Gertrude's maiden name OR whether it was her name from her first marriage. Do you know which is correct? Further, did you find other information showing that the Gertrude you are tracking later married Charles Herbert Parson? Are we sure we are speaking about the same person? We certainly hope so, as it would be wonderful to learn more about Gertrude.
Our tree is posted in two places: on Ancestry.com and on RootsWeb. I prefer the RootsWeb posting because it includes all of our research notes. Have you seen both postings? If not, I can give your the URL for the RootsWeb posting.
Thanks you very much for writing. Please do write again. We would prefer that you write directly to saylesworth@shaw.ca However, if you prefer to correspond more annonymously through Ancestry.com that is also just fine!
Best wishes from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Sam and Diane AYLESWORTH"
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The following response was received:
"Hello Sam
Many thanks for the email. Yes, Gertrude Norton did marry Charles Herbert Parson as the widow of Samuel Parke.
I can direct you how to find this on the NSW BDMs, and also the newspaper announcement of the marriage which read:
Sydney Morning Herald. Saturday 18 August 1894
MARRIAGES
PARS0N-PARKE - July 11, at the residence of the bride's parents, Ashfield, by the Rev Joseph Parker, Charles H., second son of Captain George F Parson, to Gertrude, fourth daughter of A. W. Norton, Esq, and widow of the late S.J. Parke.
Just out of interest I have had a quick look to see who were Gertrude's parents and brothers and sisters.
go to:
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/searchHistoricalRecords.htm
It is quite easy to search - it is best to put less rather than more as some times Alexander is jsut that, rather than Alexander W. Gertrude's birth is given as 1868 to Alexander W and Emma L at St Leonard's ( which is a Sydney suburb, north of the harbour)
From there just widen your search - I came up with births from 1855 - 1875
Then the marriage of Alexander William Norton to Emma Lydia Yorke.
If you wish I could also run your through how to search the newspapers - a bit fiddly, but simply wonderful information.
The person I have been helping (the Irish lady) has decided that these are not her Parke family. However, a chance conversation at the Family History Library resulted in the discovery of someone else who is researching this Parke family - and she is a librarian and does it very well.
Please let me know if you would like me to help with the Australian end of this family - or if you'd rather do the research yourself I can help with various sites.
cheers
Bronwyn
in Townsville Queensland"
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Sam responded as follows:
"Hello Bronwyn
Thank you very much for responding, and for the detail you have provided. My wife Diane is going to write to you later today also. Of course, she has a number of thoughts and questions about this new information!
I did search using the NSW database you pointed us to, and found that Gertrude was one of 9 children. All this is new to us. I then located the record for the marriage of Alexander to Emma! They, of course, would be Diane's great-grandparents.
We would welcome your assistance is searching through newspaper records. We will also give some thought to how we wish to search further on other family members there in Australia, and will ask for some guidance from you. Diane, of course, would love to find some pictures and narrative '85 though we realize this is often not possible.
Today we are preparing for the graduation-celebration for one of our granddaughters '85 as she graduates from high school at the age of 18. A wonderful event for her.
We will come back to you soon, but I wanted to write immediately, to express our appreciation.
Best wishes for now,
Sam Aylesworth"
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Diane then responded, sharing the following information about her grandmother Gertrude:
"Hi Bronwyn -
I'm just adding a note as well to express my thanks for your informative and surprising email. I have a wonderfully documented history of my grandfather's family but sadly, a blank when it came to Gertrude. So, -
You have helped to shape a story for a lady we (I) scarcely knew. I was a late addition for my parents and was only thirteen when she died - so my recollections of her are very scant. My father was the third of her five children, undoubtedly she shared information with him, but sadly it was not passed down. She was a very elegant lady, tall, slim and a beautiful cook - but my recollection is that she was remote, lonely and perhaps sad. Having already lost a husband, she left Australia as a young bride, - never to return. They settled in a beautiful but remote mountain village on the west coast of Canada. (I do recall her talking about her beloved Manley Beach).
Her first child born to she and Charles was killed in WWI and her other children scattered to other locales. My grandfather died at relatively young age, so she was again widowed and on her own. So it is of some comfort to me that she would have enjoyed having so many siblings and the benefit of close family, if only for a while.
Bronwyn, I should like to proceed and if you do not mind, I would appreciate your assistance in how to go from here. Your suggestion of how to search newspapers and other research tips would be most gratefully received. I guess the 'mother lode' would be to find and be able to communicate with some of her extended family, but I know that is likely an unrealistic fantasy. You need to know that I am so delighted to receive the news of the past twenty-four hours, that anything else would be icing on the cake.
Gratefully,
Diane "
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