James Mackay - Sutherland to Australia - confused! .....

[fmackay]

My great uncle,James Mackay, died in 1925 in Katanning District,Western Australia. His date of death is on family gravestone.
I finally sent off for his death certificate and it arrived today - well now I'm not so sure as it has the wrong parents on it.
The date of death is correct, his age is correct, his father's occupation is correct, even cause of death ties in with his discharge from AIF.

We knew he hadn't married so was keen to see who registered his death.
His death is registered by CV Nicolson, Partner, same address as where he died . He died at Peterson Road,Dumbleying???can't make out the writing - in Katanning District. can't make out which cemetary he is buried either.

I would initially have decided that this must be the wrong person but I have my grandfather's notebook(James's brother)from the first world war and he has listed various addresses,some family, and there is an address in Dumbleying(?) Wagin Western Australia which makes me think that this is the same person.

Where do I go from here?

Fiona

[emanday]

Hi Fiona, If everything else matches, I'd not get too hung up on the parent's names being wrong.

On top of the distress of his partner at the time of registration, she may not have been too sure of their names, or simply could not remember accurately on the day.

[fmackay]

Hi Mary
Thanks for reply - just don't want to assume too much incase I'm wrong!
Think I will try and follow up the cemetary location to see if they are online.

Fiona

[fmackay]

The name of the town is Dumbleyung - Dumbleyung Lake being the place Donald Campbell broke the land speed record?? in 1964.
The cemetery is at Nippering, which is in the same area.
I will hopefully find out a bit more about James's life in Australia.

[gjones]

Hi Fiona,

Nippering is 30kms. out of Wagin...sometimes there are just very tiny community cemeteries out in the bush.

Your best thing to do is contact the Shire of Wagin,also the Wagin Historical Society. I lived in Katanning for 7 years when I first came to Aus. Nippering is a really tiny place,mostly agricultural.
Maybe send a letter requesting some info. to the daily West Australian Newspaper.Each monday addition has a Can You Help? page.

email: canyouhelp@wanews.com.au

Many Brits post in there every week.Excellent page,and as it's a state-wide paper it's a good way to let others know what you are looking for.

Hope you had a nice Christmas. 44C. here for Christmas....turkey almost cooked itself.

If you do find there is a recognized grave-site,let me know...when the weather cools down(about Feb.)hubby and I can drive over there and take some pics..... if you would like to have some.We are now about 3 hrs. from there and it's a nice drive.

Cheers,

Gillian

[fmackay]

Hi Gillian
Many thanks for your kind offer - since I last posted this I managed to contact the local council in Dumbleyung and they were incredibly helpful. I got loads of info from them about James. I also managed to get some photos of his grave. I hope soemtime in the future to get some sort of plaque put up as there is no gravestone , just the marker.

Thanks again Gill
Fiona