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We are discussing Tracing family history
With Antoinette Buchanan, Stephanie Ryan and Jennifer Higgins

Question:
Mary McCarthy married Henry Batt in 1838 in Hobart. The family came to Victoria in the early 1850's. Our problem is that we have not been able to find a death for Mary Batt. She was the informant on the birth (1853 at Pennyweight Flat) and death (1855 Campbell's Creek) certificates for daughter Ellen Batt. Henry,a widower, died in the Castlemaine Hospital in 1890.

Answer:
Stephanie - This is a very common question. However there are alternatives when you can’t find an exact match in the birth, death and marriage indexes.

* Surnames can be easily misspelt. Literacy problems combined with a person’s accent can sometimes alter the spelling of a surname. Keep an open mind when going through indexes and try to think of alternative spellings.

* Try to locate an obituary for the death of Henry Batt in 1890. An obituary may contain details on Henry’s wife and possibly may state when and where she died. As Henry died in Castlemaine, the Castlemaine Leader newspaper would be a good start. Remember you do not have to be a “celebrity” to warrant an obituary in nineteenth century newspapers.

* Try and see if Henry Batt is listed on the Victorian electoral rolls and/or post office directories. This will help you to follow Henry’s movements from town to town. You could then try cemetery records for each of these towns to see if Mary appears. Unfortunately women did not receive voting status in Victoria until 1908.

* Search the death indexes for the other Australian States.

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