52 Weeks of Genealogical Records in 2014

52 Weeks of Genealogical Records in 2014 – Week 4 Memorial Cards

Week 4 of Shauna Hicks challenge for 2014. This blog challenge is to stimulate my own genealogy blogging efforts in 2014 by focusing on a different kind of genealogical record each week. I wanted a challenge that reflected my own archival background as well as my own genealogy interests and there are probably lots of other records that I could have included. The challenge has an Australian focus but most of these records will be found just about anywhere in the genealogy world.

This weeks challenge is Memorial Cards.

I am fortunate to have three memorial cards and the original photographs which were used in these cards in my possession, each coming from my husband's family.

Jacob Frederick Scheef 1835-1904

Christina Jacobina Scheef nee Glock 1842-1912

Margaret Waters 1879-1905

Shauna's post set her off in the direction of finding out how the little boy died. However, as I know the life stories of these three people I have decided to investigate the company which produced these cards.

Jacob Scheef's card (1904) was produced by The Memorial Card Co, 142 King Street, Sydney.
Margaret Water's card (1905) was produced by NSW Memorial Co, 542 Geo Street, Sydney.
Christina Scheef's card (1912) was produced by The Memorial Card Co, 142 King Street, Sydney.

Advertisements can be easily found on Trove in the Freeman's Journal, The Catholic Press, The Australian Town and Country Journal and country newspapers.

Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Thursday 30 May 1907, page 28

The Independent (Deniliquin, NSW : 1901 - 1946), Friday 12 September 1902, page 2

It is interesting to note the differences between the two selected advertisements. The first in the Freeman's Journal stresses the fact that the cards have been approved by the Church and includes appropriate prayers. The seconds states their memorial cards are a genuine work of art. Different wording for different audiences.

Caroline Chisholm

I am currently in England visiting my daughter who is working in London. Naturally I decided I would have to spend some time on genealogical pursuits. The problem was where would I choose for a few day's retreat from London? In the end I decided to go to Northampton to visit the grave of Caroline Chisholm. Caroline is known as the immigrant's friend. She was a well known social reformer of her day. Why is Caroline significant to me and my family? You may recall that Caroline Chisholm was on the original $5 note in Australia. As well as her image there was a picture of a ship. That ship was the Waverley . Caroline agitated at the Home Office to reunite the wives and families of convicts with their husbands and fathers. On 22 June 1847 she wrote that she ‘had just left the Home Office and had obtained a passage per Waverley for forty-nine souls.’ SMH 9 August 1847, extract from letter 30 March 1847. My great great grandmother Matilda Agnew, her older siblings James, Joh

My WW1 soldiers (2) - Ernest Lee Dawson

Ernest Lee Dawson (500) (1885 - 1968) This is the second post in a series of posts over the next few years to remember all the men in my extended family who enlisted in World War 1. So far I have identified 26 soldiers who enlisted between 20 August 1914 and 2 November 1918 and I feel sure I have missed some. Of the twenty six, five were killed overseas or died here in Australia. My aim is to publish these posts on the 100th anniversary of their enlistment. Ernest Lee Dawson (my great uncle) was the eldest child of William Henry Dawson and his wife Bridget Mylan. He was born in the Cooma district of NSW in 1885. On 25th August 1914, less than three weeks after the outbreak of the First World War Ernie, a farmer who lived at Old Bonalbo enlisted in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment in Lismore. Ernie had previous military experience. In 1906, he answered an advertisement to join the Shanghai Municipal Council Police Force, as a recruit. He was appointed on 10th Ja

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