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Seeking birth, marriage and immigration for George CROFT; he was a wealthy landowner in the Bulli area of NSW, after finding silver, and built a major hotel there (I have these details).

He was in NSW from at least 1860, but can't see his arrival, nor a marriage there. He had 8 children with Emma Eliza (maiden name unknown), between 1860 & 1875. I have their details.

He died in Michigan USA in 1911 according to his headstone at Bulli Anglican Cemetery, which is also intruiging!

Emma died 18/11/1890 in Bulli aged 51.

Any help much appreciated.

This could be a possible record of George travelling from Australia to America:

Name: George Croft
Arrival Date: 1 1906
Age: 70
Birth Date: abt 1836
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: English
Ship Name: Sonoma
Port of Arrival: San Francisco, California
Port of Departure: Sydney, Australia
Last Residence: Australia
Archive information (series:roll number): M1410:18

Original states that George was married and a Missionary.

EDIT - He was travelling with Rachael Croft aged 50 married, Miram (Hiram) Croft aged 11 single and Marion Croft aged 14 single

Thanks Lynne, but the other names don't match. All the children appear to have stayed in NSW. Not sure why he was in Michigan but don't think he remarried.

This looks like the corresponding census in the US for 1910, showing George with Rachel and family:

Name: George Croft
Age in 1910: 73
Birth Year: 1837
Birthplace: England
Home in 1910: Benton, Berrien, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1906
Relation to Head of House: Head
[Self (Head)]
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Rachel Croft
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: England
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
George Croft 73 born England, father born Ireland, mother born England
Rachel Croft 53 born Australia, father born England, mother born Australia
Merriam Croft 17
Hiram Croft 15

Married for 19 years, 3 children born, 3 living, emigration 1906

omg!
You have found something VERY new to me - I think he DID remarry after Emma died in 1890! Thank you!!! Sorry to have dismissed it so readily!

1177/1891 CROFT GEORGE / FERGUSSON RACHEL / SYDNEY

Yet he is buried with his first wife in Bulli! Perhaps that was stipulated in his will...how wonderful!

39613/1892 CROFT MIRIAM / GEORGE / RACHEL / WOONONA
38358/1894 CROFT HIRAM / GEORGE / RACHEL / WOONONA

The names of the children - they seem Hebrew/Jewish to me..very different to his children's names with Emma.

I wonder if they stayed in the US...can't see them in NSW.

1920 US Census, showing Rachel with 2 children:

Name: Rachel Croft
[Rachal Proft]
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Australia
Home in 1920: Benton, Berrien, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Female
Immigration Year: 1906
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
[Widow]
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: England.
[Scotland]
Home owned: Rent
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Rachel Croft 63 - Tailoress, Tailors Shop
Hiram Croft 25 - Mechanic
Mary V Croft 18 - wife of Hiram, born Illinois

Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Benton, Berrien, Michigan; Roll: T625_757; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 78; Image: 319

1930 US Census for Hiram, no wife, but 2 children with him:

Name: Hiram Croft
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1895
Birthplace: Australia
Race: White
Home in 1930: Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan
View Map
Marital Status: Divorced
Immigration Year: 1906
Relation to Head of House: Boarder
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Australia
Occupation:

Education:

Military Service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace: View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
George Lambrakis 44
Florence Ada Lambrakis 51
Hiram Croft 35 - Musician
Junior Robert Croft 6
Alta Mae Croft 4

Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan; Roll: 976; Page: 26A; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 120.0; FHL microfilm: 2340711.

This is great, thanks, Lynne!

I can't see Rachel's birth in NSW, assuming Fergusson was her maiden name.


Still need to find George's marriage to Emma Eliza prior to 1860, and his arrival in Australia. :-)

Just found this marriage:
Croft, Meriam to McFarlane, Leslie 12/16/1910 [1613]

Hiram Croft Worl War I Draft registation:

Name: Hiram Croft
County: Berrien
State: Michigan
Birthplace: Australia
Birth Date: 1 Jun 1894
Race: White
FHL Roll Number: 1675068
DraftBoard: 1
Age:

Occupation:

Nearest Relative:

Height/Build:

Color of Eyes/Hair:

Signature: View image

Possible for Merriam - Mariam - Marion with her husband during the 1920 US Census:

Name: Leslie Mcfarland
[Leslie Mcparland]
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1886
Birthplace: Australia
Home in 1920: Benton, Berrien, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1905
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mariam Mcfarland
Father's Birthplace: Australia
Mother's Birthplace: Australia
Home owned: Rent
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Leslie Mcfarland 34
Mariam Mcfarland 29 - Musician

From a tree on Ancestry, might be worth checking out


Hiram Croft
Birth: 1 Jun 1894 - Australia
Death: 12 Feb 1960 - Los Angeles, California, USA
Parents: George Croft, Rachael Williamson
Spouse: Mary Verona Winder

Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922

Name: Rachael Williamson
Father's Name: John Williamson
Mother's Name: Louisa Walker
Birth Place: Collingwood, Victoria
Registration Year: 1857
Registration Place: Victoria
Registration number: 4201


Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950

Name: Rachel Williamson
Spouse Name: James Fergusson
Marriage Place: Victoria
Registration Place: Victoria
Registration Year: 1881
Registration number: 33





Someone has the certificates added to their tree on Ancestry

Ha! brilliant! What teamwork you guys :-D

Thank yoo!

P.S. Just noticed both Hiram and Mariam were musicans! How neat is that. (Any input as to whether these are Hebrew names - since George was claiming to be missionary on his migration papers!)

Just love this!!!!!!!!!!


California Death Index, 1940-1997
Name: Hiram Croft
Social Security #: 371070440
Sex: Male
Birth Date: 1 Jun 1894
Birthplace: Rest of World <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Death Date: 12 Feb 1960
Death Place: Los Angeles
Mother's Maiden Name: Williams


Social Security Death Index
Name: Hiram Croft
SSN: 371-07-0440
Born: 1 Jun 1894
Died: Feb 1960
State (Year) SSN issued: Michigan (Before 1951)

Lol, that's awesome! Of course, because the US is the centre of the world so all else is 'The Rest" :-D

Found on google:

Hiram, meaning of name:

Looks as though the name Hiram is a Hebrew name -

Hiram I was the Phoenician king of Tyre according to the Bible. He reigned from 980 BC to 947 BC, succeeding his father, Abibaal.

Hiram was the first name given to 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, at birth. his name was Hiram Ulysses Grant and the prospect of entering West Point Military Academy with the initials "HUG" embarrassed him, he began using the name Ulysses H. Grant until he discovered that he was erroneously enrolled as Ulysses Simpson Grant. He adopted this name and was from that point forward known as U.S. or "Uncle Sam" Grant.

I couldnt find a death in 1911 for a George Croft so I had a dig around. Im thinking Croft was either his middle name or he just used his mothers name, but his marriage and death show his correct surname

Michigan, Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995
Name: George C. Dobell
Birth Date: abt 1837
Birth Place: England
Death Date: 10 Mar 1911
Death Place: Benton Twp., Berrien, Mich.
Death Age: 74
Occupation: None
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Gender: Male
Father Name: Geo. Dobell
Mother Name: Charlotte Croft
FHL Film Number: 945407




Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950
Name: George Dobell
Spouse Name: Emma Eliza Galliott
Marriage Date: 1856
Marriage Place: New South Wales
Registration Place: Sydney, New South Wales
Registration Year: 1856
Registration number: 82

Magnify 4 clicks, then save image:
http://archive.org/stream/13thcensus1910po638unit#page/n117/mode/1up
http://archive.org/stream/14thcensusofpopu757unit#page/n318/mode/1up
http://archive.org/stream/14thcensusofpopu757unit#page/n330/mode/1up
http://archive.org/stream/michigancensus00reel976#page/n120/mode/1up
http://archive.org/stream/michigancensus00reel976#page/n159/mode/1up
[L87 & L89]

Check the 1920 headers - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_David_(commune)

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1®ion=UNITED_STATES

Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925

groom's name: Leslie Mcfarland
groom's age: 27 years
groom's birth date: 1883
groom's birthplace: Australia
bride's name: Miriam Croft
bride's age: 18 years
bride's birth date: 1892
bride's birthplace: Australia
marriage date: 16 Dec 1910
marriage place: Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan
groom's father: James
groom's mother: Williamson
bride's father: George
bride's mother: Williamson
film number: 2342688
digital folder number: 4209131
image number: 416
reference number: v 1 p 110 rn 1613

groom's name: Hiram Croft
groom's age: 24 years
groom's birth date: 1895
groom's birthplace: Australia
bride's name: Mary V. Winder
bride's age: 17 years
bride's birth date: 1902
bride's birthplace: Illinois
marriage date: 03 Jan 1919
marriage place: Benton Twp, Berrien, Michigan
groom's father: George
groom's mother: Williamson
bride's father: James
bride's mother: Lays
film number: 2342730
digital folder number: 4210037
image number: 5
reference number: v 1 p 169 rn 5

[You should look those up yourself to get the record's image]

New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896
Name: Charlotte Dobell
Birth Year: abt 1817
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Arrival Date: 1 Sep 1839
Vessel Name: Cornwall
Origin Location: Cranbrook, Kent, England
Children's Names: George aged 2

New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896
Name: Geoge Dobell
Birth Year: abt 1816
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Arrival Date: 1 Sep 1839
Vessel Name: Cornwall
Origin Location: Cranbrook, Kent, England



Theres loads of siblings for little George but I'll not post them as I know youre more than capable of finding Oz records ;-)