Most of my research for Frances has revolved around disproving available facts about her (proving facts are unrelated). This elusive lady will one day be discovered but in the meantime, this is a summary of my research.
Born at Seven Oaks, Kent, UK c1840 to William ANNETT and Mary ROGERS. She was the third born of seven children, and the second daughter.
Mary Jane 835 -1869
William 1839 -1916
Frances 1840 - unknown
James 1842-1854
Henry 1845 -1927
George 1846 -1933
John 1848 - 1917
Her baptism is registered at Seal, Kent 27 Apr 1845.
"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2FC-T2F : 21 March 2020), Frances Annett, 1845.
Frances is noted in 1841 and 1851 British census.
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| 1841 Census |
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| NB 1851 Census Frances is listed as Fanny. |
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| Priam passenger list, sister Mary Jane and brother William ANNITT listed separately. |
On 21 May 1852 the family emigrated aboard the Priam departing Plymouth, ENGLAND and arriving at Victoria, Australia on 25 Aug 1852. Frances was registered as a 12yr old; at disembarkation she went with her family, originally settling in a round tent.
A wonderful account of the voyage has been written up by Jennifer Burrell and can be accessed here http://users.ncable.net.au/~jburrell/gen/smith/priam.html
I have been unable to find ANY further information about Frances although I wonder if it was in fact her travelling under the alias of Mrs. GREENFIELD aboard the Blue Jacket which departed Melbourne on 15 March 1862. Mrs. GREENFIELD was accompanied by a 1yr old infant whom I believe to be Caterina (daughter of Frances' sister Mary Jane ANNETT). Mary Jane travelled to NZ two weeks later aboard the Mary E Ray which departed Melbourne 30 March 1862. Mary Jane was accompanied by only 2 of her 3 children; Mary aged 3 and Johannes aged 5yrs. I base my belief that this two week period is too short an interval for Mary to take a trip from Victoria to Port Chalmers and on to Oamaru with infant Caterina, and then return to collect the other two children.
A possible lead for Frances in Australia was a marriage to Richard NOVIS in 1855. This would put her age at only 15; the death of Frances NOVIS in 1868 at age 46 does not correlate with my Frances' projected age of 28…thus disproven
Correspondence with Society of Australian Genealogists concluded extensive library records of second half of the 19th century in Portland and Port Fairy revealed nothing relevant.
Research
by Karen ANNETT (interview with great-aunt) suggests that Frances may have become
a nun. Further research does specify a
Sister Frances ANNETTS travel from England to Australia... however she was much
younger ... namely Sister Frances ANNETTS aged 55 on the 'Nestor' which
travelled from Liverpool to Melbourne in 1946...
Correspondence with Sisters of Mercy New Zealand archivist has advised there
were very few religious orders in New Zealand in the 1860s... there were no
entries on their database for the whole of New Zealand for either Frances ANNETT
or GREENFIELD. Therefore, unable to substantiate to date.
The Australian Cemetery Index 1808-2007 has a listing for F ANNETT at Braxholme Cemetery, Victoria, Australia. This has been confirmed as Frederick George Annett, 1912-1973 s/o, and buried with William James and Rosalie Sophia ANNETT (also grandson of John ANNETT and Constance FAHEY).
Searches of Australian and New Zealand marriage and death records using Frances/Fanny ANNETT/GREENFIELD have not given any pertinent results (although I did find the New Zealand birth/death of a previously unknown child of her sister Mary Jane and John GREENFIELD named Fanny).
A
small area cemetery at Mokihinui, Buller-Westland, New Zealand has a burial registered for Frances ANNETT and
her son Thomas. With her sister Mary Janes husband’s history of goldmining, and
brother Henrys interest in gold and his Hokitika experience, it is interesting
to note this district was very active during New Zealand’s goldrush 1864-1867. However,
correspondence with Buller District Council at customerservice@bdc.govt.nz solicited
a ‘no further information available’ response in regard my request for
information re date of interment, age, etc.
Considering Thomas birth between 1862 (assumed year of arrival in New Zealand) and 1942 (assumed childbearing age), there are none registered to a mother named Frances in New Zealand.
As there is a Joshua ANNETT also buried in that cemetery, research in ‘Papers Past’, New Zealand historical newspaper entries (equivalent to Trove historical newspaper entries) brought the following details;
1) No death notice for Frances/Fanny or Thomas ANNETT in that region or within the above time frame.
2) Several
entries in the Westport Times between 1868 and 1886 for a colourful couple
Annie nee COLEMAN and Joshua ANNETT, NZ BDM marriage in 1872 therefore no
relation.
3) Thomas Annett was mentioned in Westport times 1881 as a 6 ½ year old (bitten by
a dog. Fanny ANNETT, a little girl also mentioned in same article), and again
in1884 (found a partial leg at the beach).
Registered with New Zealand's Birth Death and Marriage historical records;
1) A
birth of Thomas Charles is registered to Annie and Joshua ANNETT in NZ BDM 1875/6145,
this corresponds with projected date/age of aforementioned child.
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