Genealogy Chat

Have just returned from Port Augusta and found tons of info in the library - WJB was one of 9 children!
Struggling to find father of WJB but the USA link may be true
Or another furphy!

Garry was actually Ward Albert Burt born 1884

This is so great thankyou
And would you believe I am up in Quorn this week for work!
Coincidence or meant to be?

I will try local history

And today I will try to find G Burk online
There was talk of an uncle Gary once.

You are both legends!

And this would be the second marriage of William's Mum:

South Australia Marriages 1842-1937 Transcription
name(s) Elizabeth Burk
Marital status Widow/Widower
Age 52
Birth year 1866
Marriage date 28 Aug 1918
Place Res of John Hocking Port Augusta
District Frome
State South Australia
Country Australia
Father's name(s) Joseph Arbery
Spouse's name(s) Peter Mealy
Spouse's marital status Single/Spinster
Spouse's age 49
Spouse's birth year 1869
Spouse's father's name(s) Peter Mealy
Registration number 276/429
Notes Additional information is on the certificate but not recorded in this index

Ok- I'm seeing why some of the info may have been confused:


The Express and Telegraph 10th June 1914

BURK—EDWARDS.—On the 8th June, at Si Bartbolomew's Church, Norwood, , by Canon Andrews, William John, second son of the late John Charles Burk, of Boston, U.S. America to Gertrude Y. Edwards, late of Wolverhampton, Staffs, England.
----------------------------

So according to this Gertrude was from Staffordshire UK (She travelled to Australia in 1912), and it was William's FATHER that was from Boston.

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

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
102 Cannock Road Heath Town, Heath Town, Staffordshire, England

Edward Samuel Edwards Head Married Male Insurance Agent 31 1880 Staffs Wall Heath
Ethel May Edwards Wife Married Female - 31 1880 Staffs Heath Town
Gertrude York Edwards Sister Single Female Shop Assistant Fancy Drapery 25 1886 Staffs Wall Heath

There are several short references to Elizabeth Mealy's death in 1942. This one was of interest and confirms the Mealy/ Burk connection:

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) 22 Jan 1942
MEALY.—At Port Augusta, Elizabeth Mealy, dearly beloved mother of Myrtle Considine, Woodville, grandmother of Amy, Fred, Darwin.

This appears to be Myrtle's birth-

Name: Myrtle Burk
Birth Date: 29 Apr 1896
Father's name: Charles John Burk
Mother's name: Elizabeth Arbery
Birth Place: Port Augusta
Registration Place: Frome, South Australia
Page Number: 222 Volume Number: 583

Although her father is listed as Charles John (and not John Charles), I would assume they are the same parents as listed on William John's birth.

There are several siblings born to the same couple but I cannot find a G Burk- but this is a possible older sibling (known as Garry):

Name: Ward Albert Burk
Birth Date: 04 Mar 1884
Father's name: Charles Burk
Mother's name: Elizabeth Arbery
Birth Place: Cross Roads
Registration Place: Daly, South Australia
Page Number: 484 Volume Number: 321
----------------------------------------------------

WWI Service Records, 1914-1920

Name: Ward Albert Burk
Birth Place: Moonta, South Australia
Dossier Year Range: 1914-1920
Enlistment Place: Adelaide, South Australia
Service number: 7112
Next of Kin: Elizabeth Burk of Cotter Street, Port Augusta
Relationship to Soldier: Mother
----------------------------------------------------

Then this death notice is listed on someones tree on Ancestry:

DEATH NOTICE: 1957

DEATHS: 2.5.1957

BURK ON APRIL 30TH AT REPATRIATION HOSPITAL SPRINGBANK. WARD ALBERT (GARRY) DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND OF THE LATE CATHERINE BURK AND LOVING BROTHER OF CLARENCE, ARTHUR, ETHEL (MRS ELLIOTT) MYRTLE (MRS CONSIDINE) AND EILEEN (MRS SHERIDAN). SGED 74 YRS. REST IN PEACE, LEST WE FORGET.

Wow! You have both been so busy
This is fabulous
We have all his army records from Australia but nothing is consistent
Birthplace is not the same as his marriage and death certificates
His age is 10 years different
A big mystery man

But...he does have lots of tattoos including the US flag
(according to army records)
Fascinating!
And yes..there was family "talk" of a brother Gary
which is consistent with the SA family history

Also a family story that WJB "ran away to sea"

Thankyou both!

Do we know if or where Boer War records are on-line? Although I’ve looked on the Australian NA, there doesn’t seem to be a relevant record.

The closest on the UK National Archives is
Name Burke, William
Register Number: 3359
Division: Royal Marine Light Infantry: Chatham Division
When Enlisted/Date of Enlistment: 30 October 1884
Date of Birth: 30 June 1867

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7763387
……………

If the Australian birth turns out to be more likely, then this might be his parents’ marriage
Name: Charles Burk
Father's name: Joseph Burk
Spouse Name: Elizabeth Arbery
Spouse's Father's Name: Joseph Arbery
Marriage Date: 31 Dec 1881
Marriage Place: Res Of Joseph Arbery (Quorn)
Registration Place: Flinders, South Australia
Page Number: 1311
Volume Number: 129

Can anyone find a birth for a G Burk with the same parents?

Another tree on Ancestry has Elizabeth Arbery (married name Burk) with partner Peter Sarfini Mealy- which fits with the Mrs Meally reference from the Transcontinental article.

Therefore I would be inclined to think that William was actually born in SA

I think both articles are for the same man- the article from the Transcontinental mentions he went into the baking business and according to the attestation papers of the William born in Burton upon Trent, his occupation was a baker.

According to a letter in the military file from his wife, he died 16th Oct 1926 from ruptured gastric ulcers.

Australia, WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Name: William John Burk
Birth Place: BurtonOnTrent, England
Dossier Year Range: 1914-1920
Enlistment Place: Sydney, New South Wales
Service number: 11448
Next of Kin: Gertrude York Burk
Relationship to Soldier: Wife

Another article stating born in Burton on Trent:


Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA : 1913 - 1942) (about)
Friday 22 October 1926

MR. W. J. BURK

VETERAN SOLDIER AND SAILOR PASSES

At midnight on Saturday, October 16 there died in the Renmark Hospital, a veteran soldier and a good citizen in the person of "William John Burk", who for nearly two years had been Renmark's watermaster. As a sailor he had an adventurous career taking part in the Boxer rising of 1900, for which he was granted a medal by the Imperial authorities. He was one of the naval brigade picked by the late Admiral Sir Percy Scott and hurried up from the port of Durban to Ladysmith, arriving there only a few hours before General Louis Botha completely invested the town. In the beleagured city he served under Commanders Lampton and Ogilvy, R.N., and he held the Queen's South African medal with a bar for the relief of Ladysmith. While taking part in the defence of the town Mr. Burk fought at Wagon Hill when that important tactical position was rush ed by Botha's troops. He was for 36 hours without food during the combat. which for hours hung in the balance. He was brought to notice by that gallant soldier the late Sir George White for good work with guns.

During the Great War Mr. Burk

served with the A.I.F. in France and gained three decorations, including the 1914 star. He rose to the rank of corporal and his discharge papers denote the good soldier he was. As a citizen he had many friends, and he was a good neighbour, always ready to do a good turn. He was born at Burton-On-Trent in England 40 years ago. He had been under Dr. Dunstan's care only a week before he died. His brother-in-law, Mr. L. T. Edwards, was with him when the end came. Mr. Burk has left a widow and two little children Joan (10) and Bettie (8), for whom much sympathy is felt. He was a mason and a member of the R.S.A. The funeral took place at Renmark on Sun day, the Rev. C. A. Hawke officiating.
-----------------------------------

So is this the same man as above?? :-S

Is there anything on Trove about him?
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

There must have been something in his background to want to create a fictitious 'history'.

Ha, ha. AustinQ has just thought of that :-D

Didn't know if this was connected- although Burke with an 'E'

Article in the Trove:

Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA : 1914 - 1954)
Friday 19 November 1926

DEATH OF MR. W. J. BURKE.

Old residents of Port Augusta will j regret to learn of the death of Mr. J William John ('Curlie') Burke, at Renmark on 12th October last. .Mr. Burke was born in Port Augusta 39 years ago, and was the second son of Mrs. Mealley, of this town. He received his education at the local school and resided in the Port until a few
years before the war, when he went to Port Pirie and entered the baking business there. While in Port Augusta Mr. Burke was popular, and well known to nearly every one as "Curlie.' : From Port Pirie he went to the war ; and served there for three,and a half years. He was wounded in the leg and had half of his foot amputated. He also received wounds which were ultimately the cause of death. Mr. Burke, since the war, had resided in Renmark and was connected with .the Masonic Lodge in that place. He leaves a widow - and two children to mourn his loss.

Word is also to hand that Mr. G. Burke, an older brother of the late Mr. W. J. Burke, a T.B. soldier, has had another attack and was taken to the Institution in Adelaide last week for treatment.

A tree on Ancestry has that death above in 1926- but has this birth:

Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
Name: William John Burk
Birth Date: 01 May 1886
Father's name: John Charles Burk
Mother's name: Elizabeth Arbery
Birth Place: Petersburg
Registration Place: Frome, South Australia
Page Number: 460
Volume Number: 371

Sylvia I sent you 2 messages? Maybe on the wrong board...
Im a learner here!
Yes the marriage is correct and also the death
We have certificates for both
Its just the pre Australia info we have nothing on

Most odd! You'd have thought that the Recruiting officer would have been able to identify an accent.

Civil registration for births in England & Wales came enforcable in 1873. On that basis, if he was born in Stoke on Trent, he should have been registered. But he's not, at least not in that area. He could have made that up if he thought he'd be more likely to be accepted into the army.

Is the above marriage the correct one, married to gertrude york

We only have a date 1886. When he enlisted in the army he said he was born in Burton OnTrent. But on marriage certificate it says Boston America
So who knows?

There are a number of William John Burk(e)s, so don't get too excited!.

If you have his dob rather than just the year it will help to identify the correct one.

Death ?
First name(s) William John
Last name Burk
Gender Male
Status Married
Birth year 1886
Death year 1926
Death date 16 Oct 1926
Age at death 40y
Residence Renmark
Place Renmark
District Burra
State South Australia
Country Australia
Registration number 490/525
Informant Wife
Informant's first name(s) Gertrude Y
Informant's last name Burk
Notes An official correction was recorded, and the correction information is shown
Record set South Australia Deaths 1842-1972
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Deaths & burials
Collections from Australasia
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