16. Who killed Lt. Charles Burton Newenham? - Toulon France 1793

In search of who killed Lt. Charles Burton Newenham - 1793

Departing from Genetic Genealogy for a bit, I wanted to focus on a story that I can't keep my mind off.

With the 200 years anniversary of the end of Napoleon's reign, coming up in June 2015, I wanted to step back a further 22 years into 1793.

After the last few years, I used my Maternal lineage - namely the Newenham family, to put me in the right direction of researching families. Not because of what they did, but they were well documented from a certain point of view. The documentation that supported events on things, that was said within the family, was a great learning tool. I used historical notes to support family stories.

But something has come up, that I need to talk about.

A great story of Family pride, Warships, The British Navy taking Toulon in 1793 with very strong connotations to Navy Officers - Horatio Nelson and Samuel Hood, Family sadness and a lingering Family name that lived on for years to come.

This story centers around Lt. Charles Burton Newenham, in particular - the death of him.

The image up above is believed to be of C.B.N in Navy Dress, just prior to his death. It is a "photograph" of a portrait that may have been compiled around the 1870's by a distant Great Grandfather of mine, who was a professional Photographer.

If anyone can help to support the Navy uniform and if it suggests a unit or type of rank, I'll take the advice.

Now, C B N, was born around c.1767, possibly in either Dublin or Cork, Ireland, but Dublin seems to fit in his Father's "Parliamentarian" occupation.

He was the 11th Child (3rd Surviving Male) of Sir Edward Newenham and Lady Grace Anna Burton.

C B N was named after his Maternal Grandfather and former Dublin Lord Mayor - Sir Charles Burton.

It seems that he was to follow after his namesake, into Military action.

Not much is known about C B N's early life, but it seems when he become of age, he went straight into the Military, namely the British Navy. From there, he was catapulted into sailing the seas.

The story and the main basis of this post, is on C B N and his involvement with the taking of Toulon, France in 1793. It has a deep story that evolved with Napoleon Bonaparte' and his uprising forces.

C B N, was based on a Ship called "HMS Windsor Castle". He was under the command of

Captain - Sir Thomas Byard.

HMS Windsor Castle was a 98 gun, 2nd rate ship and was the "Flagship" for Vice Admiral Phillips Cosby.

The Windsor Castle formed part of Lord Samuel Hood's assault on the bay that surround the town of Toulon, France.

When the French Monarchy fell during the Revolution, the British felt like they were compelled to assist in settling/restoring the Monarchy, but faced a deep and aggressive uprising against them when they attended Toulon. Namely from Napoleon and his Revolutionary forces.

The British landed and took Toulon around August 1793 and assisted in control of the city.
But there were revolutionary forces about, namely Napoleon. They set about retaking the cities around Toulon.

It seems a decision from the hierarchy of the British Navy (Hood or Nelson?), allowed a push of their forces on to the land and then proceeded to infiltrate certain defences (Fort's) to bolster the perimeter, in case of action with the Revolutionary's.
It looks like it was only a few days after they landed in Toulon, C B N was sent out with a party, to Fort Pomets (Pommets and or Fort des Pomets), to perform garrison duties.

Fort Pomets, is posted about 4-5 KM's North West of Toulon, was noted as an "outer lying" Fort.
It was positioned on a hilltop and was probably favorably built, for it's view that overlooked the City of Toulon.

Top View of Fort Pomets : 

Northern Side of Fort Pomets, looking South, back towards the City of Toulon

  

Top View of Fort Pomets (showing the City of Toulon vs Fort Pomets)

 

Attacking Fort Pomets was not all that hard, as it was easily "cutoff" from reinforcements, if the attacker knew where to attack from.
Sometime, during the day of the 24th September 1793, the Fort was attacked by someone, most possibly of the Revolutionary Forces. Initial thoughts was that is Napoleon's force, but it's not exactly sure who, as Napoleon was on the South Western corner of Toulon a few days before (if this is correct?) Napoleon was on his way to take Toulon back around these few days.

*Recent diggings on Napoleon's whereabouts, have netted that he was West of the City and around the 16th of September, Napoleon then left for the Bay of Toulon and entered into the dealings of "taking of Toulon".
Napoleon, was located near the bay of Toulon, firing his cannons at the British Naval Ships, inflicting serious damage around the 20th of September.
*

With these stouch's of the Northern side of the City, Lt Charles Burton Newenham lead his force into defending the Fort. Somehow, the attacking force managed to get into the Fort and they defeated the British defence.

In doing so, C B N was wounded and died within an hour of receiving his wounds.

This death was noted by Lord Hood and other historical sources. Lord Hood felt compelled to say at the least that : "HM has lost a very promising young officer, his gallant defense of the Fort, does him infinite honour".

HMS Windsor Castle's log dated 25th September and Lord Hood's Letter to P. Stephens (aboard the HMS Victory) in Toulon dated 27th September, note of C B N's death (above details are from those letters/logs).

A while after C B N's death, around December 1793, Napoleon finally took back Toulon, the British retreated.
The British made a mistake or under estimated, Napoleon's efforts to hold Toulon.

Now what's interesting about the death of C B N and his force, IMHO, that it was almost a "death march" mission from the start. If C B N had of pulled it off, it would have been by sheer luck.

Everything about this mission, was not greatly thought out from a hierarchical view and from a Fort design sense. Notes about the Fort, say was that it was poorly designed and poorly positioned.

So in essence - 4 things accounted for the death of C B N :

• the British Navy's thoughts/plans and strategies, on how to defend the garrison Fort Pommets
• the design/position of the Fort
• the Force that attacked Fort Pomets
• the commanding skills/weapons at hand of C B N and the experience of his force, whilst under attack
  

But the burning question is, who really killed C B N?

After some research, I thought it was Napoleon, but I can basically rule out Napoleon now (due to his placement in the days preceding C B N's death). But I'm guessing some form of Napoleon Revolutionary Force or Militia formed by Local Republicans. In today's world of the litigious nature, the judicial system would almost have blamed the British Navy and or Nelson or Hood for C B N's death, rather than the Revolutionary's. My opinion is based on the decisions of Lord Hood and Nelson.

Now, when news got back to Ireland, to the Newenham family, it sent shock waves and the family was devastated. All hope was lost for a son to be stationed under the British Navy. In particular under Lord Hood.

In another form of interesting links, many years later and many generations of children/grand children that spawned from Sir Edward and Lady Grace, it almost always included a child named Charles Burton Newenham (or variants of) - the name was based originally from Lady Grace's Father - Sir Charles Burton, but many references also point to the family honouring the Lieutenant, when he fell at Toulon.

With this, 3 children off the eldest son of Sir Edward/Lady Grace - (Edward Worth Newenham 1762-1832) went to serve in the Military.

• Edward Worth Newenham   - 1787-1867
• William Persse Newenham  - 1790-1866
• Robert Burton Newenham    - 1793-1823?

These 3 Grandchildren served in different facets of the Napoleonic era.
The irony here, is that Edward went to War, but became shipwrecked off the French Coast and was captured. He was then sent to Verdun in 1806, well away from the frontline, so he couldn't rejoin his forces straight away - if he escaped. He stayed in Verdun voluntarily until his death.

William fought in many Navy battles and showed quite exemplary service with "courage under fire". He was very well known to Lord Hood.

Robert Burton became part of history, as he served on the days during the June 1815 campaign of Waterloo when Napoleon "fell". Robert survived "Waterloo", but died from wounds in India in 1823.

The last bit of this story, is that a younger brother to the 3 above men, was named after Lord Hood.

Lord Hood was also his Sponsor (Godparent/Guardian)

His name was Henry Hood Newenham - 1805-1895. Henry was a 4th Great Grand Father to me

Lt. Charles Burton Newenham was an Uncle to Henry. Charles was a 5th Great Grand Uncle to me

Below is a Newspaper article depicting some of the above, but also other Newenham family members serving in a very similar situation.

Article was from details supplied by Henry Hood Newenham's daughter Caroline Pitman.

13 March 1897 - Melbourne Argus

Resources : 

• Kent History Forum (now closed to further postings)
  Kent History Forum - HMS "Windsor Castle"
• "Lord Hood And The Defence Of Toulon" by J.HOLLAND ROSE
  (Page 138 contains C B N's death)
• "Sir Edward Newenham - Defender of the Protestant Constitution" by James Kelly (Four Courts Publishing)
• Family Documents
• Trove : trove.nla.gov.au

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15. Still working on Paternal Lineage that leads on to "Native Irish"

Am I of "Native Irish" Blood or I am of Norman Blood?

Since I last posted, I'm getting into something much deeper, than I expected.
That is, my Paternal Line (Y-DNA) has shone a light to mostly being of "Native Irish" descent, but I struggle to comprehend how deep this goes.

I have placed myself in a few DNA projects and finally seeing a trend, that doesn't seem to fit with what I know of. My surname is supposed to carry the story of the Norman Conquest of Ireland in 1169 AD. But interestingly, I do not show the Y-DNA Haplogroup to Normandy or any other earlier European/African DNA structure.

When you visit the Fitzgerald DNA project, it seems to list the Haplogroups in the the oldest origins (at the top) to the newest origins (at the bottom).
The top of the list shows of African descent (earliest ancestor) and at the bottom shows me. In the middle, you can see the human migration coming out of Africa, sprawling out to Middle Europe/Asia/Western Europe, then heads North to Norway or across the sea to England/Scotland then to Ireland.
The very bottom of this list, shows quite a few people that don't yet fully connect with the DNA Project (they have to wait/hope for someone to do a Y-DNA test and help them connect to a lineage in the project)

For some reason, I now fit in the last defined Haplogroup timeline of migration. Why?

I am in thought of this question and what it means. But is very apparent, that my lineage connects to ancient Munster-Ireland and it converges strongly with the Native Irish and some form of Scottish/Viking Ancestors.
Some Fitzgerald's were placed in Munster but left Munster and headed for Scotland (by the way of Wars or they hand no lands and they were displaced - etc etc)

Therefore, the Fitzgerald's of Munster can only be there, around 1169 AD or later. If my Y-DNA proves to predate this era, we most certainly have a Native Irish / Scottish or Viking somewhere in the mix.

I can see this connection, but I don't know which way to read it. Did the Scots come to Munster, or did my Ancestors go to Scotland?
Either way, the Davies-Caldwell names dominate my closest 67 Marker (5th Genetic distance)
The Bonham (English or Scottish?) name also dominates the 25 Marker with majority being exact matches on the 12 and 25 Markers. How interesting.

I've also learnt that the Irish O'Hearn name is still the only dominate name (111 Marker) in my Y-DNA.
This name carries quite a few name variant's - O'Hearne/Ahearn/Ahern/Ahren and all these  seems to stem of the one family name Herron.
Interesting enough, I don't have any of these names in my Autsomal DNA, but I do have a few Herrod's - are they the same? Don't know, but they match pretty close.
From what I have learnt, the O'Hearn name was thought to be of the Dál gCais (or connected with Brian Boru / O'Brien), they connected to the Desmond Fitzgerald's with Lord Roche in wars.
This is as far as I have been able to establish any form of connection, however, there isn't enough evidence to support any "proven" link just yet, just it's a bit co-incidental at this stage. 

It has made me step back a little and try and understand, how much of a "Fitzgerald really am I.

Based on the fact that there is very little Fitzgerald "Surname" involvement (on Autosomal and Y-DNA), we must bear in mind that we (most likely), descend off a Native Male who "adopted" the Fitzgerald surname.
On the upside, we do somewhat connect to a lot of people who mingled with the Fitzgerald's of Munster (O'Sullivan, McCarthy, Barry, Shea - etc). There is also a connection coming out of Limerick and has to do with the Collin's surname. As further testing has revealed that we descend off an offshoot of the Ancient "Collins/O'Donovan" families, could be classified under the Ui' Fidgenti dynasty, with a taint towards a Scottish (maybe Viking) male.

This postulates a hypothesis, that my direct Paternal line of Y-DNA, stops at a Female Fitzgerald and throws a thought that there is Native Irishman, or a Scottish / Viking person in the mix.

I'm guessing that if this is somewhat true, the Female married a lesser (?) Male family line and the Fitzgerald name carried over to the children. Or did indeed a Female Fitzgerald have children or grandchildren that re-entered the Fitzgerald line down a few generations (A daughter or children from any daughter of the Female Fitzgerald re-marrying a Male Fitzgerald)
This is where my DNA is messed up, it isn't clear yet, but the above hypothesis is based from family thoughts that there maybe a Female Fitzgerald as our ancestor.
If you research any of the known Fitzgerald lines, you will come across many different cross-overs of branches due to a marriage - (Desmond's-Kildare etc)

My Maternal ancestry has taught me very well in this area (1st cousins marrying 1st cousins, who's children marry direct cousins). Almost Ashkenazi like.

But the Y-DNA is quite clear on a Fitzgibbon name. About a handful of Fitzgibbon's, appear both on my kit and my Father's kit , with quite a bit of "closeness" (More than expected). But what is weird, is that various versions of the "Gibbon" name - (McGibbon/Giboney/etc), appear on both kits on the Autosomal DNA.
I am seeing a very distant connection via people using GEDMatch and they also connect to Fitzgerald people, but when I try to join the dots, it's very distant.
A recent update to the 111 marker @ 8th Genetic Distance, shows a strong trend to a Fitzgibbon lineage. This is showing quite the strong connection to, again Limerick (River Shannon area)

At the very least, are we a product of Rape (Wars / Plunder & Pillage)? Not ruling this out just yet.

Though in finishing, I'm trying to use a life story of a man called Robert Appleyard Fitzgerald. He was known as a "Geraldine" Fitzgerald from Limerick.
His life in Australia has a weird circumstantial connectivity to my initial Irish Fitzgerald immigrants.
Robert A Fitzgerald, landed in Sydney, Australia within a few days of my immigrants - Jan 1841. Both separate lineages of Fitzgerald's, became part of the same church at the same time (St.James - Sydney).
Both of them had Church ceremonies within a couple weeks of each other - Robert's daughter was married and my 3rd Great Grand Uncle - Robert Fitzgerald was baptised under the St. James Church.
Very interesting how close circumstances were, that the child's name was Robert - but no known sponsors came forward. A little too circumstantial to just drop.
The research continues.

I'll leave it there for now.

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14. DNA Testing, Results and Thoughts Part 2 - Y-DNA & Autsomal DNA Picture Maps

Part 2 - Y-DNA & Autsomal DNA Picture Maps

Well, here is my Y-DNA & Autosomal details as based in images.
(Please click on the images for separate viewing)

FTDNA - Ethnic Origin

 

Gedmatch Details - Admixture with Oracle (4 Populations) :

FTDNA Details of my Y-DNA 67 Marker links :

GEDMatch Autosomal Admixture K13 :

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13. DNA Testing, Results and Thoughts Part 1 - Y-DNA and the Irish Fitzgerald connection.

Part 1 - Y-DNA and the Irish Fitzgerald connection.

About 10-11 Months have passed, quite a lot of data has been collated, but still not fully understood (would have to be a professor to understand it?). But it has shone a light, that I am on to something, quite extraordinary, particularly heading to my Paternal heritage.

In essence, I initially used the DNA to trace connections to my Maternal heritage, but after a while it seemed to become stonewalled, because I could not connect with surety, of other Family DNA matches other than the Irish "Galway" Persse family.
I had no other people who I could communicate with, on known paperwork and how their lines integrated.
There were some Maternal lines names that showed what I thought was a connection, but I couldn't show how.
As I was stonewalled a bit, I took a step back and reevaluated how else I could bridge this wall.
The only way I knew how, even though it was starting from scratch again, was to see if I could connect my Paternal line to my Maternal line, using methods that I learned from checking one family. It sounds simple, but trust me, it isn't.
And the concept now, is to use the Y-DNA to see if I can use a point of reference to come back to my Maternal lines. As a side note, the connection could also lie within my Father's Maternal line, as that was Irish/English (Autosomal).
I wanted to see how much of this "dynastical" Fitzgerald family, I have in me.

The most interesting thing that shows quite a bit of a trend and that it's kinda weird, is that my Maternal and Paternal lines have very strong Irish connectivity, I am seeing a flip flop of connections.
That is, what names connect up on my Father's side, finds a connection to my Mother's DNA.
And what names my Mother's side has, shows up connecting with my Father's DNA.
I suppose in a way, the surname "Fitzgerald", was aptly known for being "More Irish than the Irish". Ha!

For instance, a person named 'Butler' in my Autosomal DNA, seems to have connection with my Father's name (in medieval times - The Fitzgerald's vs The Butler's) and shows some DNA segments in close comparison to the Paternal line, but yet the Autosomal DNA is through my Mother.
My Mother and Myself match the same 'Butler', but yet the DNA segments mimic that Paternal pattern. The 'Butler', is not an Autosomal match to my Father.

And in the vice-versa situation, based on some of my Autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA, 3 O'Driscoll's that match Myself and my Father on the Autosomal DNA around 3rd cousins, show up in my mtDNA (Maternal only DNA) at the 3rd Genetic Distance. What!!??
How can 3 Autosomal Paternal line matches also match to your Direct Maternal lineage?
I am suspecting a connection by the MacCarthy clan here, most possibly of the West Cork/Kerry regions, as on both sides of my parents, they share minor Autosomal matches to different MacCarthy's.
On my Father's Maternal line (Humphries Line), he has a known "Lismore" - MacCarthy link there. This should not affect the Y-DNA, but rather to show up as an Autosomal match? (if that logic holds??)

I haven't found a direct paternal line MacCarthy yet. But I do know there is known Fitzgerald/MacCarthy (Earls of Kildare Lineage) historical ties to one another. I haven't found if we fit into this category yet.

There is also, quite a remarkable connection to the far West Cork area.
Around the Skibbereen district. It involves the O'Shea's and the Collins families.
The Collins name, is on my Father's Direct Maternal line and is supposed to be of English origin, however the DNA is showing more of a "Native" Irish connection, rather than a Normandy/French one. Wow!
The O'Shea's are also part of the South Irish group.

Anyway, what is remarkable so far, is the Y-DNA is showing quite the guiding light.
It isn't the bright white-guiding light, with an angelic figure to guide me the way in a dark tunnel type of thing, but rather a dim frosted - hazy glass light in a dark tunnel laced with a misty fog. Still feeling my way round the tunnel, but I can see where I need to go.
It has revealed that I am of the "South Irish" DNA group. It is also known as "Irish Type II" or CTS4466 Y-DNA Haplogroup.
It is predominantly based around the area known as 'Munster'.

Somehow my ancestors mingled with families in this area. Along the lines of the MacCarthy / O'Sullivan (or connotations to the Eóghanacht native dynasties) and their absorbed clans, it also seems by historical knowledge that my ancestors were most possibly, of the Desmond Geraldine's and they too, somehow became absorbed with this Munster MacCarthy / O'Sullivan connection.

What came of light within the last couple of weeks, is that my lineage mingled closely, with an O'Hearn/Ahearn/Ahern (+ many other variants) family.
In this CTS4466 group, I am of the SNP of A195+, which seems to connect with the O'Hearn's, but it is, only at the 9th Genetic Distance. As yet, Myself or my Father, have no Autosomal DNA match to the O'Hearn (+ Variant) name. But many people around this CTS4466 group, do share Autosomal matches with Myself & my Father, so it compounds the Y-DNA story, that indeed my Y-DNA is of the South Irish. But is the above Y-DNA set to a time period? I am not sure, but it seems to be centered around the 1300's (educated guess). The CTS4466 DNA group, goes on to a much earlier time period - well before 1000 AD.

As I am supposed to be descendant of the Norman Invasion, I suppose I can only be classified as CTS4466 "Native Irish" from before 1169 AD - logical deduction. The Norman domination worked it's way into Munster around 1177 AD.
And my interpretation of this CTS4466, shows it's predominately centered around the 6th/7th Genetic Distance on my Y-67 Marker.

*As a side note in history, the 2 half brothers - FitzGerald/Fitz Stephen, initially raided Ireland in 1169 AD, the Strongbow/Fitzgerald invasion, wasn't until 1171 AD. And the push to Western Cork with the MacCarthy's was around 1177 AD.

What is really interesting on the Y-67, is at the 5th Genetic Distance, it shows a much different scenario.
That is, it shows a weird Scottish, maybe Welsh connection. Davis/Davies and a Caldwell/Colwell seems to dominate this era.
Almost like a line in the sand, we have an ancient connection to the Munster people, but a closer tie to some Scottish/Welsh connections. Based at Northern Ireland (Co. Donegal is mentioned quiet a bit).

Back to the stronger Y-DNA connection, there is some information regarding this O'Hearn family, together with the Desmond Fitzgerald's and Lord Roche based on Military ties in the medieval times.
Some other information ties these 2 families up, but it's still not confirmed which Desmond Fitzgerald this was. Maybe somewhere around the 4-6th Earl?
Some of my information is based upon Dr Paul MacCotter's research.

But due to the fluctuating marriages of the Fitzgerald's in the medieval times - i.e intermarrying between the factions, we could possibly have this issue in my DNA.
And could well be steering me into a promising lead, albeit not the most dominant connection. So in essence, I could be off a Desmond Fitzgerald line, but could have been tainted with a Kildare-ian, White Knight or Knights of Kerry line that could be steering me on a smaller connection, rather than to find the true Paternal lineage.
My Direct Maternal (Irish) lineage is laced with 'intermarrying' cousins - (Persse/Newenham), so I suppose it's only fair for the Paternal to get involved as well. Who would have thought.
This is a Paternal hypothesis, but my Maternal knowledge has taught me to be wary of this problem.

Now, some other weird unconfirmed documentation, supports a hypothesis, that in more recent times, this Fitzgerald / Ahern family mingled.
As I have found a land lease regarding, on what is regarded to possibly be a Fitzgerald connection.
It shows a Thomas Fitzgerald leasing land of the Smith/Ahern family in 1826, on the South Eastern side of Cork City.
It does not show if this is a connection to my line, other than that I can place my 4th GGF in Cork City at the time (he would have been around 16 at the time of this lease date - can a 16 year old own/rent/lease land?)

My Fitzgerald lineage goes back to Cork City, with association to being in the Carpentry (or a Wheelwright?) trade. I know there is listings for 2 or 3 Fitzgerald's around Evergreen Road around the 1830's and that they had been Carpenter's, but I still have not proven if there is connection to these Fitzgerald's.

There is a Irish Birth Record, showing my 4th GGF was born under the Catholic Church (Dunbar Street - South Parish), but swapped religions for the C of I when he got married in the 1837 era (this is suspected, as the note of marriage in the Casey Collection, does not define the Church, but mentions that "Marriages not mainly of Catholic" - That's a great analogy isn't it).
Thomas and Eliza (Elizabeth) Fitzgerald traveled to Australia around the 1841 era. They were noted as under the Protestant Church of St. James in Sydney, Australia by 1841/1842 era. And that his descendants stayed that way until my Great Grandfather swapped us back to the Catholic side. Funnily enough, he married a Sheehan (believe she may have been the driving force of the Catholic swap over?). The Sheehan name is showing signs of a West Cork connection.

The search continues.

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12. DNA Testing, Results and Thoughts (Initial blog)

DNA Testing, Results and Thoughts (Initial blog)

Well, 9 months have passed, since I took the Family Tree DNA test.
9 confusing months, with almost daily intrusions into my deep inner self.
9 months of trying to unravel, this fascination with my inner coded building blocks of my Human Genome.

There are 3 parts to Ancestral DNA test (the basic parts that you need to know).

1.  Autosomal testing : Links you with Cousins from both sides of your parents
2.  Y-DNA : Strictly your Paternal line (Testing for Males only)
3.  mtDNA : Strictly your Maternal line (Testing for both Male and Female)

This is predominately your close family and relatives that you know of.
Autosomal can also find 1/2 siblings as well. Beware of this.
The major flaw with Autosomal testing, is that it is looking from both sides of your family and it doesn't tell you which side it is from. Yes it's nice to identify a close cousin, but unless their surname is known (and they have placed "research names" in their data), you've got a small chance of nutting it out.
I have about 5 people who I have confirmed are cousins, however it's quite scattered.

There is an X Chromosome component there as well, but you have to becareful with this. Study this over a few hours, it's not learnt in a few minutes.
It is a Maternal line check, but it can start to go awry if you don't understand how the X chromosome works.
In basic, it starts with your Mother only. (That's an easy one..haha)
But this is where it can get tricky. It can be from your Mother's Mother (Maternal Grandmother) or your Mother's Father's Mother (Maternal Great GrandMother).
As your Mother inherits 2 "X" chromosomes from her parents, the X can be transmitted from either the Mother's Mother or the Father's Mother (It always follows a Man's Maternal side). Again learn how the X and Y are transmitted down to you.

Y-DNA and mtDNA is very difficult to work with. I have found the mtDNA the hardest to work with, as the names that changed due to marriages and it's just crazy trying to work with name changes.
The Y-DNA hasn't alluded to anything major under the 37 marker. But has been very helpful above the 67 Marker.
However don't disregard the names at the 37 marker and below, as these show a pattern of very distant families.

The biggest thing that you must ask yourself, when wanting to do this type of test is : "Am I ready"? - Ready for what???

By that I mean, with the DNA test, with enough learning behind you, things "will" come up unexpectedly.
By that, I mean, you could find unexpected relationships (certain relatives are not biological).
It has happened, does happen and still happens today.
You have to take this test in a sense of whatever you find out, have an open mind, whether it's good or bad.

Ok, so what have I found ??? 
Story so far leads me to Ireland (surprise!!!!!), pretty well way back into time. I knew it would be Ireland, but I didn't expect this.

My autosomal matches are around 600. 5th cousin and closer. Ironically, not 1 person matches my surname, nor any matches on the Y-DNA.
Yes, my Father and Mother match me - again, there was no reason to doubt this.
And not what I was doing the test for.

I did the Autosomal test first, thrown in the deep end, didn't know what to do.
Simply guessed my way around, I suppose.
It took 3-5 months to get the hang of it and looking for comparative links.
Started around 450 DNA match's and no-one matched my surname... Great.
Started looking around and it was quite clear that I had to do more research on my surnames list.

Wasn't having much success there, so then I updated the kit to a Full Genomic Sequence (FGS) mtDNA.
That was almost a bummer as it still didn't allude to names and families I knew on the maternal side.

I then turned to Y-DNA, as I still had some reservations on how the DNA was correlating to what I knew of the paper trail.

So after 9 months, this is what I know :

• mtDNA hasn't alluded to much except for a mysterious link with 3 matches. These 3 matches are Autosomal matches to myself and my Father, but not my Mother, yet they appear in my Maternal DNA. The match is at an expected 3rd cousin Autosomal range and a 3rd Genetic Distance on the mtDNA. It seems we match Autosomally through my Father, but there is a link to the Maternal line as well (I think there is a link between my Father's line and Mothers line, but not 100% established - might be a MacCarthy / Fitzgerald thing??)

• Y-DNA has only started to be understood in the last 2 or 3 weeks (after 4 months at it).
  My haplogroup started to at R-M269, then after careful scrutineering, I was expected to have the CTS4466 trait. CTS4466 is known as "South Irish DNA". Mostly based in what is called Munster. I tested positive to the CTS4466 Haplogroup.
  Which means, that my Direct Male line has shown scientific evidence, that connects to this Munster "South Irish".
  
  After many weeks I still didn't see how to interpret the result, but what I found was that most people who matched me at above the 67 marker level, were in this haplogroup as well.
  Now to break it down even further a map was drawn up, explaining where the families of this Haplogroup interrelated with each other.
  In a maze of segments of detailed DNA- known as "SNP's", in order to determine who you came from, you have to find your detailed last Haplogroup, then you need to test down a line of SNP's, thus it's a process of eliminating them.
  In order to prove, you first must eliminate.
  
  Now what was striking about the Y-DNA, I still had no one match my surname at the 67 marker and or the 111 marker.
  What I did see, was a semi closeness to the Davies and Caldwell families at the 67 level and an O'Hearn at the 111 marker (still distant though at this level)
  This puzzled me and still does, due to the fact the the info suggests that you should see your family surname atleast appearing at the 67 marker.
  If you don't, it suggests a name change (most probably a Marriage), or you line was from an adopted person.
  Being an Irish surname -  Fitzgerald (yes with a lower G), initially got my mind running, that we may have been adopted in but I heard a story that most possibly we descend from a woman Fitzgerald.
  So, initially I thought that it was adoption, but then it turned "Oh it was just the marriage" thing.
  Well, I still haven't got a clear male surname (that's closer than 5th Genetic Distance).
  This is where I had to turn to study the Paternal Haplogroup tree a little more.
  Low and behold, I finally seen what the DNA was telling me.
  CTS4466, was known as the South Irish or Irish Type II. In this tree, segmented many times and certain families ran down each of these lines.
  If you knew about mathematics, you could effectively eliminate these lines at low cost, due to hitting the right SNP (so if turned Neg, it would wipe out the most familes in one hit, thus saving you time and money)
  I have taken out 4 SNP tests, 1 to confirm the CTS4466 and 3 others to widdle down the family involved. It is a trial and error, but if you do it right you can save money with educated guesses. Though it is only $39USD per SNP.
  In the Y-DNA, it has shown families like : Davies, McCarthy, O'Sullivan, Fitzgibbon, and Caldwell, with a 111 marker to an O'Hearn.
  After many hours so far, I haven't figured out which Fitzgerald faction yet (there is about 5 factions) but in about 6 weeks, it should be down to a handful of families.
  The problem with the Fitzgerald's, is that so many had interrelated marriages, by the way of 1st cousinship.
  So what my DNA is telling me, I relate to a few factions, however which one is the more dominant?? The $64 million question. More to come.

• AutosomaI : have been told there is a Limerick connection there somewheres with my Fathers side. I know my Maternal side has strong Cork/Dublin and Galway influences.
  Like the Y-DNA, the same result for the Autosomal, no Fitzgerald's.
  However, there are links to families who mingled with them.
  Have confimed a handful of connections, but it's very difficult to figure it out, due to a factor that my Mother and Father's DNA are close to each other (unfounded which lines yet). My Father has Irish Paternal, with mixtures of English and Irish Maternal. My Mother has Irish Maternal line and English Paternal line. And I do really believe there is a cross over of DNA, but as of yet, it's distant (maybe around 7th cousin?)
  I have a hunch which faction we might be from, but I'll wait for a bit more confirmation.
  What is apparent, there is some weird connection with South West Cork, as I only know of Cork City, there seems to be a story there.
  Mum's side looks like it's starting to evolve as well. Some links are showing promise, but it's still distant and needs a lot of research time, along with a helpful "cousin" who wants to also - share info.  Interesting times.

What has been shown in contrast to my testing, is that because I am so many Generations down without "so called" Irish intervention as such, in the Genealogy world, my DNA vs my Father's or Mother's DNA is at the cutoff point of the Autosomal DNA test.
Many matches that match my Father and Mother, don't match me, why?
Because I fall in the bracket of the "Cutoff" point of 7cM (measurement of DNA).

If my Father or Mother matches someone at say 7.6cM or 8cM, the chances of me having the same level of inherited segment of DNA, is quite slim.
I have proven this, as I know a 5th Cousin, he has taken a DNA kit and he matches my Mother, but not me. I just fall under the cutoff at I think a 6.7cM level.
My Mother is a 5th Cousin -1 x removed, I am 2 x removed.
Something to think about when comparing cousins at the 5th cousin or 7cM level. 

Anyway, I'll leave it there for the moment, until more results come in.

**** Note : Many thanks to all the people that have helped out so far (Meryl, Ellen & Paddy and many others who have responded to my detailed emails). 

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11. Deeper Ancestry

  Deeper Ancestry

I ventured along a path that lead me to my burning thought.
I know so much on my Maternal, I now have the tools and empowerment to finally tackle the Paternal side.

I knew a little of my Paternal side, but not enough. It has "got my goat", to actually find out and venture a little deeper into finding out what historical ties we can find.

I chose to do a DNA Ancestral test, to see where the Fitzgerald side would take me. Not only that, but my Mother's side was still quite blank in some parts.

The whole basis on why I chose to do the DNA test was for heritage/historical reasons.

I just want to know how I became to being an "Australian", with such Irish ties. I want the story of my Heritage known to me, whether it has drama or not, good with the bad, etc etc.

Unfortunately I stopped posting to my blog, due to the fact that I needed to research the DNA a bit better to understand my blood lines.

Now once I found out how much Fitzgerald Ancestry was in Ireland before the 1840/1850's period, it begged the question : "Did the Fitzgerald's ever meet up my Mother's side - Newenham/Persse's?"
Both sides had Parliamentarian's / governing type people.

A person that had help and assisted with this process, had links to the Persse's.
She suggested to get tested and see how much "Persse Blood" we had sharing between us.
Little did I know at that time, but found out a bit later, that my 4th Great Grandfather's Wedding was witnessed by her 2nd & 3rd Great Grandfather's.

Whoa....Crazy - What??
There's more to this story than meets the eye.
It was by chance that I submitted a photo of a wedding certificate and it showed her side being witnesses...Small world huh!

So anyway, I submitted my DNA Test way back in Feb/March 2014.
It is only now, about 5 months later after many hours of hard research, that I can mention what I found.

Tune in soon for the next update.

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10. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 7 Final

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

Continuing from Part 6 (Final):

All the hard work, all the thoughts and processes of his life, his family life, came crashing down on 23 of August 1946.

The day, Edgar Claude Hasler - Kelwylyn R Moure, passed away in an aged care facility in Sydney.
He left a legacy, of a man who stuck to his guns on his dreams through the turmoil, even if he had "made his bed and to lie in it"
Life wasn't easy for him in his teens, he lost his mother to Cancer, when he was about 16 years old and had to struggle through with his Father and younger siblings, some who were under the age of 5.
Uprooting his life in Melbourne, venturing his life to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney (among other visits to other smaller cities).

Out of his will that got spread around the family and friends, my Grandmother received some books and an ancient Glass Cutter passed down by Edgar's Father/Grandfather (believe this Glass Cutter holds a story on it's own, into the family's history into Photography between Galway, Ireland and Australia)

I don't know what it is about Edgar, but his 'double' life has really touched me, because he just wanted to be like his Great Grandfather. It is the only reasoning I can come up with, why he got into the Coal/Gas/Oil industry, whether he was trained up or not, it was his life. Just the gift of the gab and his knowledge of the industry was his advantage.

Edgar left one parting gift, his Death Certificate. I'm going to share it, because it shows what I am talking about.
His life was so "in debt", to his Ancestors (Sir Edward Newenham and his eldest son Edward Worth Newenham) - both 2nd Great Grandfather and Great Grandfather's respectively, that he made sure their lives lived on through him.

The Death Certificate shows where he told people where he was born, even though it is proven that he was born in Melbourne.
The place was in reference to where George Washington lived - Mount Vernon, Virginia.
Edgar's Great Grandmother and wife of Edward Worth, was Elizabeth Persse.
Elizabeth's father was Col. William Persse of Roxborough, who also had a property called Mount Vernon in Ireland. It was made in honour of George Washington.
So you can see, Edgar was completely surrounded by history. His Death information was his final parting gift of what he was and what he belonged to.

 

My Grandmother (young girl on the right) with Edgar and family

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9. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 6

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

Continuing from Part 5:

Just when you think you have got some part of continuity with your research, along comes another document, that blew my mind.

It allowed me to believe that the family of the Newenham / Hasler's, still had a genuine interest in Ireland, way up till the late 1930's.
Before this find, I didn't know what to believe, as I had no family documentation to suggest they still had any interest in Ireland.
I was under the impression that all lands and inheritances  were disposed of, after Henry Hood died and the family lived on from that money. But not so.

One of Ireland's record services, had shown a document, listing Edgar's Uncle (Edward Persse Newenham - Henry Hood's second son), still had some portion of the lands in Knockbrack.
This was dated around the early 1920's (1922 I think). That's the only thing I knew after 1900, that the family had any connection to Ireland.

A few days ago, it was discovered that many years after Edward Persse Newenham died, that Edgar and his Aunty Caroline Anne Pitman (nee Newenham), controlled some of the Shallee Mine Lands up until 1937.
I was completely taken back, as it's the first confirmation, they still had a genuine interest in Ireland.

Edgar's "Will / Estate" never mentioned anything about lands of this nature. I believe he may have been acting as in an "assistant's" capacity, rather to be owning land. However, Edgar was involved directly with this business, but it remains unclear to what capacity.
I am more certain than before, that his business and family connection to Mining, was the driving force to his years of banter on the Mining Industry, Politicians and Council's, here in Melbourne and that of other parts of Australia.

But I am still in bewilderment, as to his family connection, that it didn't make him a very successful entrepreneur. I can only add, he knew of the business of the Mining very well, but wasn't taught the science of it. He had no degree's, but professed to have the knowledge.
The Australian Federal Government notes on Edgar (over various years), shows a slightly confused person, which indicates "why" Edgar, was never really successful.
IMHO, if Edgar had of gone to a University as such, got a degree and became a Dr (of science), you might have well said that he would have been the best Geologist / Miner you've ever seen.
But somewhere, lurking in the background, there's this little voice that keeps nagging me, to believe that his Brother-In-law, Phillip MacNevin, had something to do with the 1900's name change and persona change of : Edgar Claude Hasler becoming Kelwylyn Rawson Moure.
A circumstantial era with connotations of the exact same incident to that of Edgar's sister "Annie Henriette Hasler". Both Brother and Sister's name were changed in 1900-1903. The era that Phillip MacNevin came about.

Now, Caroline died within a year from this 1937 news paper publication.
Some Australian news paper clippings mention about Caroline's children having quite an estate. The son died early on and that it passed to a sibling and a friend. So this land may have been passed outside the family after the 1940's. But still not greatly researched. Though, the story is there.

Shallee Mines - K.R Moure and Caroline Anne Pitman Lease - 6th Nov 1937 - Nenagh Guardian

 

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8. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 5

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

Continuing from Part 4:

Patent No.1 - Well Boring Device

Patent No.2 - Steam Generator

Patent No.3 - Coal Shale Retort

Patent No.4 - Shale or Coal Retort

Patent No.5 - Improvements in Steam Generator
 
Patent No.6 - Improvements for Distillation of Shale


Moure also became known for an inventive mind. After WW1, Moure's mining expedition in Western Australia came to a close. He moved back to Melbourne and then off to Sydney (Naremburn).
With no prior history of his schooling and or his higher education skills ever known, it is not fully understood 'where' he got his skills of the Mining Industry, but one thing is clear, they were all mostly derived from Oil/Coal/Gas/Power Generation industries / concepts.
One would have to think, if you were producing patents for these industries, you should have a clear understanding on principles of chemistry and metallurgy.
No paperwork, has ever shown up as proof, as to Moure's Chemistry / Metallurgy skills.

I have only but a grasp of how I think Moure knew his stuff. The only way that is clear, is again, by his Grandfather's stories and "hand down of information" of his Great Grandfather - Edward Worth Newenham 1767-1832.
The Mining of the lands in Tipperary, Ireland by Edward and Moure's life history, is too hard to ignore. It is the only shining light in all these years of research, to provide more than just "reasonable doubt" to his knowledge.

Moure never had shown any proof of accolades at all. Simply business cards with his titles. Some mention of Trade Certificates, but that would not warrant the certain information or jobs that what he was trying to get.
A lot of his writings to people, had instilled some sort of "too much information" and it confused the participant, in that they just agreed with what he said. It all sounded good.....That is until certain people with 'professor' accolades, sussed him out.
He had the "gift of the gab" and writing skills to procure a benefit in his favour, most of his lines would be something in the order of "be a good chap and help me out, without the fuss".

Moure's persona, had to be about 10-15 years older than he really was. It was created that way, to show that he was "in the early days" of exploration, as Australia was only finding it's feet in the very early 1900's. It was the only way he knew on how to pull it off.

These Patents also show a trend throughout his life, in that he changed his middle "R" name a few times. We see 2 names, "Rawson" and "Roswan" but he did have a 3rd name as well, but it's not mentioned here in these patents.
They were changed on purpose and there is no doubt about it. As certain events that happened around the time of change, he had issues with his devices and people were trying to find him, to get their money back.
Because he changed his middle initial, he went under the name of K.R Moure, which technically, could be all of these changes.
Pretty smart fella, that he could, so to speak, be 3 people all at once.

Of what I can figure out about Mr Moure, these patents were IMHO, previous peoples patents and idea's and all he did was play with them and call it an "improvement". Under the patent laws, to be your own patent you can - edit, a previous patent, improve it to clean it's flaws and it can be then claimed as your own.
 The key problem with patents (that I understood after all of this research), is that they were still untested devices, which I didn't know about at the time. They "claimed" to work, but an inventor had to protect their work, so they patented it, before it was tested. The patent was then put to the public, to entice the investment of said device. With the influx of money, R&D could be further placed on the development of the patent.
With these patents, if your device didn't work as claimed (when built and physically tested), you didn't get the funding or the investors.

Now, sometime later, someone else can pick up this flawed patent, simply tweak it, then flog it off as an "improved" device. But yet, it can be still flawed and not work after the tweak.
Depending on the "Inventor" and the gift of the gab, you can sell it off and make money.

This is simply my theory on Moure. He had knowledge of the industry, but lacked chemistry and metallurgy skills. And his undoing. It is the sole reason why he did not get financial backing from anyone, simply because his theories on the product actually working, didn't match up with the investors beliefs.
These patents were tweaks on previous patents that didn't work. He used the analogy that someone else did the hard yards, I'll use their failed project and tweak it and sell it.
He tried for many years to sell his devices, but yet could not provide evidence that they indeed actually worked. He wanted funding first then produced the product.

Off all these patents, none of them were sold or made any money for Moure.

When Moure (Edgar) died in 1946, his 'WILL' mentioned this tidbit. The answer!

*Note : His will was under the name of Kelwylyn R  Moure, not Edgar Claude Hasler.  Yet in the will he mentions his family that is of the "Hasler's" and "MacNevin's". He died as Kelwylyn R Moure.

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7. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 4

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

Continuing from Part 3 :

By the era of the 1920-1930-1940's, Moure was heavily involved with schemes of trying to gain capital, to fund his adventures.
Being of : finding oil / boring for it and inventions/patents started to heavily flow.

His business sense went into full swing, creating businesses and "floating them" or by creating a major shareholder prospectus.
All these types of schemes (suspect that may have been over 20+ schemes) were headed by him or somewhat majorly advised by him - as the Engineer or Geologist.

Many of these schemes ended up with a reply of this nature :

This did not deter Moure at all, he kept on soldiering on besides the multiple objections against his business models.
In respect of this, I am not sure if Moure knew of the reason why he kept getting rejected letters. It made me guess about his selling methods or was he shooting for "pot luck" and hoping he'd get lucky or was he on a sure thing & they just needed refinement?

One financial backer of his projects, apparently realised that things weren't happening. So he took it upon himself and ventured to Moure's house and the other person involved in the scheme. He noted that no-one was at home (at the 2 premises), nothing was happening in the backyards and hadn't happened for a few months. It is where this backer realised, what was going on and I gather he wanted to confront Moure on his "investment". Nothing more was mentioned about this story.

One of the rejection letters that popped up, was the following & that it sort of quelled this clouded judgement of mine.
His projects spilled over to the 1940's, where upon the last few years of his life, he was still ever so active.

His projects landed into Federal Government hands, as he pushed to gain Government assistance.
This was a defining letter in my research and was the Government's reply to his business practices.

It assisted my thoughts of his projects & explained the harsh reality of his projects and motives.

(The red line here, happens throughout these papers and I think it's his markings to suggest and to highlight an incorrect term or phrase (against him), something that he dwelled upon) 

It does not end here, as it spills over to his Patent's.

In the next part I'll explain that.
Whilst I agree what he was doing was such a "go-get-'em" attitude, when confronted with the truth against his ideals, he struggled to appease people, but shrugged it off and tried his luck somewhere else. It shows why he moved a lot. In the early days.

#Genealogy #Irish #Ireland #Heritage #History #Ancestry

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6. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 3

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

Continuing from Part 2 :

Moure dropped out of being a "Senator", but still remained defiant on association with the Oil Industry. I am pretty certain, the Senator part, was to get his name out in society, so it was a recognised name.
I have no proof, but I have a very strong hunch that Phillip MacNevin (brother-in-law), had something to do with manipulating Edgar into Moure. Because Phillip manipulated Annie (and or Nancy) Henrietta Hasler's name to Marie Josephine MacNevin at exactly the same time, there was a perfect motive.

Moure kept traveling places in hope of finding oil, but none came.

1912 : There is a major possibilty, he traveled to England to see the Titanic set sail. He was in Liverpool 3 days before she set sail, and left Southhampton 6 months later.

He held some talks and meetings with local communities, about alternative fuels and their uses. This was an ongoing project that lead into decades later.

It is just prior to the WW1 era, that Moure is really busy in various duties. Transits around Australia doing odd jobs, Mining and business related.

He ends up doing a stint as an Expert for the Federal Government, heading to Papua New Guinea, in search for oil. As per : PNG Operations
Something to do with Drilling operations. However, it didn't last long as he had a disagreement with a co-worker and from 1 perspective, he "quit" and was sent home.
However, Moure's explanation months later is that he got sick (was poisoned) and is well enough to do the duty again. But the Government reviewed his accolades and suggested that his references were a little old for this job, so they passed him over and went for someone else.

Moure decided to head West, to Perth. Well outer North East about 200km's.
He was mining with his Brother in the goldfields.
Was there until the war ended.

Either just prior to WW1 or during, Moure becomes more involved with inventions, for the mining industry and power generation.
But what is very clear on his ideologies of this venture, is that it wasn't very well researched.

(Back Story Dialogue on Inventions and Mining)
Whilst his intentions to make a product work, the pure science behind his product didn't agree with him. And ultimately, his undoing. He understood what it should do, but he couldn't prove outright and scientifically that it could work as promoted and planned.
He had the hands to make it work but not the scientific mind to make it work.
His projects were sold on a basis of "It's going to work, but I need money to make it work". The actual science behind how his hypothesis's worked, was majorly flawed. It's as if he had an epiphiany (of an idea) and out of his mind it worked on paper, but not in the real world.
Brochures and drawings all helped prospective buyers, but not many people bought in.
It is one of the most baffling things I have encountered whilst researching Moure, as it seems he was of good nature, but he lacked the "step back and think what am I doing" approach.
A document found recently, established why he had an inventive mind and it was on Mining. His Great Grandfather - Edward Worth Newenham (eldest son of Sir Edward Newenham MP), was a miner himself. Owning and operating a large Coal/Silver and Lead mine in the County of Tipperary, Ireland - it was a town called Killenaule and Shallee. I have figured out that Edgar's Grandfather - Henry Hood Newenham, passed down the stories and lifestyle of his father, to young Edgar. It is the only key to unlocking Edgar's story and how he became so knowledgeable about the Coal/Gas and Oil mining without having proven accolades.
This recently researched link and very crucial document E W Newenham - Mining in Tipperary explains why the history of mining is in the family.

1918 : is where we see him pop up in Perth and in one of the most telling and most crucial documents ever found, on Edgar. It's one of those documents, that in Genealogy, that you look for in your research. It just happens to be compiled in one document. It helps to unlock such a mystery. This was a turning point of this family's ancestral history. This was one of the most major exciting finds I have come across and most probably what gives you the drive to find what you can on your ancestors.

1920, his father - Frederick John Hasler - Irish and Australian Photographer extraordinaire, passed away.
On Frederick's death certificate, it lists "Edgar Claude" as 45 years of age and the eldest living child.

From the 1920's and onwards, Moure was into inventing. One of his first accounts of a patent, was something to do with a drilling rig, that hasn't ever been seen since or developed like it before.
No much is known about the drill rig, but it never really hit it big time. Even though it looks like a winner, it seemed to fall flat.
It was an unfortunate trend that was to continue.

So as you can see by now, Edgar / Dr. Moure, is quite an involved character.
From this point on, his passion to be a miner and inventor, has just had the ante lifted much higher in the next 1-2 decades of his life.

Stay tuned....................


#Genealogy #Irish #Ireland #Heritage #History #Ancestry

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5. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 2

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

Continuing from Part 1 :

 

 

(Bit of dialogue and back story)
When I initially developed interest in Edgar, my Great Aunt, gave me some documents (quite a lot), that was to be of Edgar's life story.
His own personal documents. It was to be, quite the historical documentary, on his life.
It took about 6 months to initially understand him (and a few years later to fully understand). I would talk to my father, my wife and great aunt about him, because I couldn't fully grasp his behaviour, I needed 2nd and 3rd opinions on my hypothesis, as a lot of my thoughts were confused.
It is only now that I can write up about him, as I found what is the biggest explanation to his life story - to date. It also directly involves his ancestors. A document found a few weeks ago, on his Great Grandfather, opened a door to explain in great detail, on why the "K R Moure" persona, was into Mining and Well Boring operations. The link and story is mindboggling and astounding (More on that later)

The above document, shows K R Moure up to about 1930, even what was to be the concept of drawing up Kelwylyn's life story.
This document shows exactly, how he adjusted Kelwylyn's life to fit in with the stories. I suppose, like a scriptwriter, he was depicting the story board of Kelwylyn right before my eyes.
It shows that Edgar even corrected himself on Kelwylyn's early life. Something's were a little to 'bright', so he had to tune down the story to make it fit within his own life. This document gave me great insight to what and how he worked.

Part of the document, shows that he worked in Papua New Guinea. Yes he did go, but it was for 1 week. A little bit more on that story later.
But the placement of timelines, shows that it looks like he was there till 1921.
During WW1 era, he was actually in Western Australia, digging and working the Gold Mines with his younger brother. Whilst it's true what he did, he did not elaborate on his timelines, which gave a false indication of what he was actually doing.

Edgar manipulated the persona K R Moure so much, that it was hard to define what was truth and what was fact. Because the stories were quite strong in concept, a lot of people around him, who weren't educated to a University level, actually believed him.
It wasn't until a few people who had this high level of education, actually called his bluff. He squirmed so much, it was almost like watching Nixon being grilled by David Frost about the Watergate affair.
But the funny thing is, he always "got away with it", in a manner of speaking. This is something that I cannot understand, particularly in today's world. Flabbergasted, would be the word.

As mentioned before, Edgar doesn't appear until 1903 and is under the persona of K R Moure in Adelaide, South Australia.

From 1903 - Edgar Claude Hasler, is now long gone and forgotten.
(until 2 events in 1918 and 1920 - more on that later)

The first public instance of K R Moure was here :  http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4963848

Same page here :  http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4963969

It shows we already have a US Senator and an Oil Expert in June of 1903.
The mentioning of "County of Washington - Ohio" is a little ironic to pick.
Seemingly that his ancestors (Great Great Grandfather and Great Grandfather) were good friends of 1st President - George Washington and the US political hierarchy.
Interesting references to "George Washington" pop up a few times during his life.
It was like he is "chuffed to bits", on being associated with his ancestors.

Moure investigates the "Coorong" district for Oil. Initially some reports came out of Coorong about a substance found that contained "Oil", but after later tests it showed that it was an algae with similar properties.
But this substance was promoted highly that Coorong was to be "mined and drilled" right away. Because I couldn't find a lot of reference to this Oil find, recent searches on Google showed nothing in today's world of Mining (on a grand scale) ever happening in Coorong district. It was all park land. After learning of this discrepancy, I treated Mr Moure with a doubtful respect. Every piece of info was analysed to see if there was a discrepancy.
I later found out Mr Moure was, I suppose - Cold Calling or being like a Water Diviner on the suspected Oil Fields of Coorong.
When this Coorong project was debunked, Moure moved on to other projects of a similar nature

#Genealogy #Irish #Ireland #Mining #Heritage #South Australia #Oil

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4. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 1

 

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

 

Eldest surviving child of Frederick John Hasler & Eliza Persse Newenham.
2nd Great Grand Uncle to me.

When I was young, my Nan used to talk about him a lot, but not in the way I would understand as I was only 5 odd years old. And as years went on, she would not elaborate to great detail, but she would keep hinting about stories and it kept my interest for many years.
When I visited my Nan over the years, I read a lot of books, particularly a set of historic encyclopedia's. I found out many years later, that these books were his and was passed down to my Nan, when he passed away. And that a legacy from his estate, in the form of money, came to my Nan's family, that helped buy shoes and clothes when they were struggling. My Nan visited him in Sydney around in the early 1940's, whilst on a family trip with her mother (Dorothy May MacNevin).
She remembers him quite well. So about 3 years ago, my inquisitiveness got the better of me and when I questioned her about him (after I had learned who "he" was), my Nan eventually and quietly acknowledged "Ahhh, so you know".

And here is the real story that I learned : 

Edgar was born 7th Aug 1874 in St.Kilda, Melbourne, Australia & became a 1st Generation Australian.
Edgar died on 23rd Aug 1946 in Narremburn, Sydney, Australia, under the pseudonym of Dr Kelwylyn R Moure.

Father Frederick was originally a Professional Photographer from Galway, Ireland but seemed to drift to the East Coast (Dalkey  - Dublin) after his father's death. Mother Eliza was apparently French Born, to Irish Parents. Both Edgar's parents settled in Melbourne.

Edgar had some very historical Irish heritage, some of his ancestors were :

1. Great Great Great Grandson of Sir Charles Burton (Dublin City Lord Mayor)
2. Great Great Grandson of Sir Edward Newenham (Irish MP)
3. Great Grandson of Edward Worth Newenham (Magistrate/Mining Magnate)
4. Great Great Grandson of Sir John Hasler (Chamberlain in the suite of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland)
5. Great Grandson of John Hasler (Deputy Chamberlain in the suite of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland)
6. 2nd Cousin - 1 x removed from Lady Gregory (Isabella Augusta Persse)

Now, not much is known of Edgar until 1903. Any notes on him, is a blank canvas until then. Only a few photos survive pre-1903.

1874 till about 1897-1898 : Edgar's family was based in Melbourne, from what I know of. His mother's agonising death in 1891 would obviously have an impact on him and his family.

1897-1898 : (Dialogue back story)
Death of his Photographer Uncle George (George Henry Massey Hasler).
George was a phenomenal photographer. Working in his own business in Melbourne, was "Johnstone O'Shannessy" with his wife Emily O'Shannessy.
Edgar's Father - Frederick, did not have a position in this company as such and would of been more like, he had an association with his Brother's business.
Frederick was a phenomenal photographer as well, even back in Ireland, he also took photos from his business in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne and at home in Gurner Street, St.Kilda.
When George died, it seems the photography firm did not take hold of Frederick's skill, rather a twist was involved. It is unclear if one person made the decision or it was by mutual consent on what was to happen.
It seems that the reigns of the "Johnstone O'Shannessy" firm, were given to George's son-in-law : Rupert De Clare Wilks.
In a twist, which took many months to research, was that the "Johnstone O'Shannessy" firm also had 'satellite' businesses as well.
1 being named "Eureka Photo Studio" in Adelaide.
A business decision was made and that Frederick was to relocate to Adelaide (Rundle Place - Now as Gawler Place and North Terrace), working for the "Eureka Photo Studio". Mostly as a Photo Enlarger.
This meant that Frederick and the kids (including Edgar), were to move with him.

1897-1903 : Quite a blank canvas, but only information about Eureka is known, it ties his Father in Adelaide, but does not tie Edgar as such, no references to Edgar.
 
1903 : What was to be like a Caterpillar morphing into a Butterfly, 29 year old Edgar surfaces under the pseudonym of K.R Moure.
Initially as Kelwylyn Rawson Moure or simply Kel R Moure.

How he came up with the name or this persona of K R Moure, is unknown, but what adds a twist, is that his Grandfather (Henry Hood Newenham) plays somewhat of a part in his ideologies about the Coal / Oil / Shale Gas industries. I'll lead into that a bit later. But I also have a hunch that his brother-in-law, "Phillip MacNevin" may have also played a part on the "knowledge" of the law side of things.

This is a dawn of a huge beginning, as Edgar now drops his whole life as it is and decides to push the K R Moure persona to the next level.
*Note : Both names will be referenced in this blog and they mean the 1 person*

The K R Moure persona, leads into the following stories :

• Coal / Oil / Shale / Gas industry, the mining part.
• Patents arise
• Many business ventures that centre on mining apparatus
• Many stouches with the Government/Politicians on Fuel Prices
• A Federal Government Job as a Oil / Boring expert in P.N.G (that lasted 1 week)
• A steam / alternative fuels car concept
• Constant letters, to I suppose "harrass" the recipient, of a reply
• Became involved with some well boring activities in Australia
• Became a Gold Miner with his brother during WW1
• Police had numerous interrogations on "who" he really was
• Numerous contacts with a young girl with "coded letters",
  and that the Police thought he was commiting "a treasonable offence" (WW1 era)
• Was a Research Engineer

On a last note, he had great knowledge of the Coal / Oil Industry and being a Research Engineer, yet he had no accolades to justify his position, but he subjected his theories or his communications with people who had proper certifications of their professions, to such a level, it almost annoyed them. It is one of the most intriguing parts of Edgar that I cannot fully understand.
But with one thing in mind, that his "ancestors" played a huge role in his K R Moure persona, as such, that I truly believe he was channeling his ancestors lives into his.
In a nutshell, I think he had to live up to an expectation of his Ancestors and that is what I think he was doing. I don't know why it comes across as that, but it's the only 'logical' explanation that I can come up with, to define why he created K R Moure,
As Part 2 will explain a bit more.

#Genealogy #Heritage #Ireland #Irish #History

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3. My "inititation" to my Ancestral heritage.

As explained before, Ancestral research can be an aquired taste, until you have something interesting to work on.

My initial induction to Ancestral Heritage, was my Grandmother's Great Uncle.
My Grandmother used to mention to me as a kid about her family, but I was too young to understand. Many years after, I talk to her now about it and she now understands how 'much' I know, whether it be good or bad.

Her Great Uncle - Edgar Claude Hasler 1874-1946 (aka K.R. Moure - Kelwylyn Roswan Moure - Kelwylyn Rosman Moure, Kelwylyn Rawson Moure and yes even Dr Moure)
Born in Melbourne, Australia and died in Sydney, Australia.

And boy was it an induction to researching someone, because it had more twists and turns than anyone would ever believe. It took sometime to believe what this man was up to. What was to be found was something quite the 'unimaginable', due to the fact of who this person was what he did through his life, but it was also what I found out about his ancestors and most of all, how they impacted his life 100-200 years later. Yes his ancestors lives, I really truly think were channeled into him.

I'll explain more in the next blog, as Edgar's life will take quite a bit to explain.

But to hint at highlights, we have a man born to an Irish Born Father and a either a Irish or French Born Mother in 1874. Nothing is known of his early life until 1903.
He surfaces as a American Senator in Adelaide in 1903, features in social circles and is then known for his Oil/Coal/Gas exploration activities.
He is sent by the Australian Government to Papua New Guinea, in search and hope for Oil/Coal/gas reserves, but is sent back home after 1 week in the job (altercation with a worker)
He ventures to Western Australia with his brother in Gold Mining explorations during WW1.
Ends up being investigated by the Police, on who he actually is and what is he doing, as he mentioned he was part German.
Ends up in a weird communication with a young lass, much younger than him and involves the parents and the Police.
Leaves Western Australia for Adelaide then to Melbourne then to Sydney.
Ventures in to business schemes that involve a lot of money and that they fail.
Leaves Australia to what I think is his all time great adventure, of seeing the Titanic set sail, then comes back 6 months after.
Badgers politicians on Coal/Gas and alternative fuels, saying they aren't investing in his plans to revolutionize the Australian Fuels market.
And ends up being a Dr. in Geology/Coal/Gas drilling.
He dies known as a Dr. Moure in Sydney in 1946.


His Irish heritage, goes way back into Irish History, much more than I even expected and such great detail. I believe that he just wanted to be like his ancestors - prominent and known. Maybe a bit of the ol' 'ego' got to him?

Let the tale of his life and my ancestral heritage begin.

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