Mary AVERKOFF of Innisfail circa 1917

q98 · Post by **q98** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:01 pm

I am seeking ANY information regarding this lady who nominated as beneficiary of the death pension of 6320 Private John McCreadie, 15 Battalion, following his 1917 death in action.

Written advice located in John's Service Record advises her claim "Rejected on the ground that claimant is not considered to be a dependent within the meaning of the Act." As John never married, one can only assume he and Mary were "betrothed". I am eager to learn more about the lady.

Regards, thanks & a happy, prosperous and safe New Year to all

Jim McCreadie
Fremantle
Western Australia

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:03 pm

Hi Jim
Where did Private John McCreadie live prior to leaving for war? Was he from Scotland and ended up in Australia? Or was he born in Australia?
Innisfail, to me, means Ireland, but see also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innisfail
So if Australia based, the town in Queensland looks likely.

Using Google, there apear to be persons with surname Averkoff from Innisfail, Queensland, including, interestingly enough:
http://russiananzacs.narod.ru/Averkoff.htm

(There appear to be no Averkoff deaths at all in Scotland between 1855- 2006.)

Best wishes
Lesley

q98 · Post by **q98** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:32 pm

Sorry LesleyB. Although I did place my enquiry on the Aust & NZ board, I should have been more specific.

John was born in Ayrshire and, following the death of his father, the family (mother, two daughters and John) emigrated to Queensland.

I have located the Service Record of a William George AVERKOFF whose next of kin is his mother Annie living at Mourilyan; the same location where John McCreadie lived. William lived at Innisfail; the same location as the young lady who may be his sister.

Jim McCreadie
Fremantle
Western Australia

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:33 pm

Hi Jim

William lived at Innisfail; the same location as the young lady who may be his sister.

I did wonder about being a brother, but did not like to jump to conclusions!!

It's looking good though that your chap was also in the same area...

There really can't be that many Averkoffs around though..you are really lucky she had such an unusual surname; that should make it possible to find out something about her.

Is there a 1901 Australian census? (sorry, 'scuse my ignorance... ) If so, that would be a good place to look as she may be young enough to still be with her family, if they were in Australia at that point, but if the same family as the above soldier then it looks like they arrived in Aus. in 1910.

Best wishes
Lesley

p.s. just checked the census position:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_in_Australia
Seems there was a 1901, but it looks like given the 1910 arrival in Australia of the likely looking family that is is the 1911 which is going to be the one you need to see....

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:45 pm

Just a thought...if they were engaged, would there have been an announcement in the local papers?
(Perhaps not, some UK papers seem to only mention "society" engagements around this time area, but maybe worth a try)

q98 · Post by **q98** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:13 am

Thanks LesleyB
Yes, there could not have been many AVERKOFFs in or around Innisfail. I know Innisfail and Mourilyan are not far distant from each other.

I wonder if the shipping records for the Nikko Maru, arrived Brisbane on 13 Nov 1910 are available on-line? Only one way to find out.

Jim McCreadie
Fremantle
Western Australia

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:38 am

Hello Jim,

If you’re collecting Averkoff info go here to find 3 births, 3 deaths and 2 marriages (one of them looks like a 1922 death registration of the soldier?) https://www.bdm.qld.gov.au/IndexSearch/BirIndexQry.m

This document has the father arriving on the Nikko Maru in 1909 seemingly by himself. Maybe the family are there under a different name but there’s only 3 for Nikko in the “A” list, all Russian, but none in 1910. These are however supposed to be assisted arrivals and perhaps they’re in one of the lists mentioned at top of page. http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research ... 3_1912.asp

Electoral rolls for the years between any daughters reaching age 21 and likely marriage may be useful, if there are any. worldvitalrecords.com had a freebie on some Queensland Rolls recently but that’s finished. Ancestry may have some.

If you don’t have any luck with a passenger list etc try “Ask a Librarian” at the State Library of Queensland http://wrms.slq.qld.gov.au/callsubmit/T ... lEntry.asp maybe they have access to the 1910 passenger list or the other immigrant category lists.

(Unfortunately ALL Australian Census information from the 19th and 20th Centuries that would be of any use to a Genealogist is safely stored in the same place as the 19th Century Irish Census’s i.e. up the chimney.)

Hope that’s useful,
Alan

q98 · Post by **q98** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:56 am

Thanks AGAIN Alan. The soldier MAY be (haven't checked it out yet) George William AVERKOFF, born in Vladivostok, bookbinder by trade. Arrived in Australia in 1909, worked on a sugar cane plantation in Queensland. Died in an attack on the Messiness fortifications (Belgium) 7th June 1917. His mother's maiden name was Goozieff so they may be listed under her name although I doubt it.

Thanks again mate.

Jim

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:44 am

Hi Alan

Unfortunately ALL Australian Census information from the 19th and 20th Centuries that would be of any use to a Genealogist is safely stored in the same place as the 19th Century Irish Census’s i.e. up the chimney

Thanks for the clarification on that - what a pity....

Best wishes
Lesley

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:06 pm

Hello Lesley,

That’s for sure. Although we do manage to struggle on reasonably well without them but probably end up hitting more brick walls than we otherwise would.

All the best,
Alan