Ancestors:
John Atkins and Sarah Harris

Being dead is not necessarily so...

John and Sarah's birth dates and places have not yet been established and John's death hasn't been confirmed.

A Probate has been located for Sarah. She died intestate on or about 9th October 1853. Unfortunately, her death was not registered.

Probate was executed by Letters of Administration from 1872-1874. This much overdue settlement of her Estate was probably due to her two children, Eliza Ann (aka Elizabeth) and John Joseph being only 8 and 7 years old at the time of her death.

Eliza married Peter Byrne(s) in 1860 and claimed her mother's Estate in 1872 being over the age of 21 years. Her brother, John Joseph was not acknowledged.

Eliza's brother, John Joseph didn't die until 1925 at Ashfield NSW. Perhaps Eliza didn't know his whereabouts at the time of their mother's death. Eliza and John would have would have been raised by others but by whom has not yet been established. Eliza also died at Ashfield NSW and it would seem that John and her had an amicable relationship, living about 1km from each other.

Eliza Ann Byrne(s) nee Atkins

Eliza Ann Atkins was born 1845 at Bumbaldry NSW. She and her brother, John Joseph were both baptised together on 8th April 1849, St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Bathurst. Their father, John is recorded as a Farmer and mother Sarah's maiden name is spelt Hares. The family was residing at Lachlan River.

Peter Thomas Byrne and Eliza Ann Atkins were married 1860 at Carcoar NSW. Eliza's mother, of course was deceased by this time but is not recorded as such on the marriage certificate. Sarah Harris' maiden name is interestingly recorded as Cox, not Harris. Peter's mother is recorded as Mary Sweetman which is also incorrect; Mary's maiden name was Hogan.

Peter and Eliza were both residing at Waugoola near Carcoar NSW. Peter was born in Ireland, aged 27yrs and his occupation was Shepherd. Eliza is recorded as 18yrs; in fact she was only 15 years old. She states that she was born 'near Orange' (her birthplace, Bumbaldry, is 128km from Orange). Their fathers are not recorded, only Peter's father's occupation as Labourer and Eliza's father's occupation as 'unknown'.

Eliza died in 1917 at Ashfield NSW. Her birthplace is stated as Bumbaldry NSW. Her father is recorded as John Atkins and his occupation as Grazier. Her mother is stated as Sarah Jane Huggett, not Sarah Harris. Eliza's son, Peter Bernard Byrne was the informant.

John Joseph Atkins

John Joseph Atkins was born 1846 at Bumbaldry NSW. He is my great great grandfather. Unfortunately, everyone thought he was dead by 1908. His daughter, my great grandmother, Lauretta Jane Atkins married Henry Smith in 1908 at Cowra NSW. John is recorded as 'died' on her marriage certificate. As mentioned previously, John actually died 1925 at Ashfield NSW.

John Joseph Atkins married Catherine Theresa Adelaide nee Jones, widow Martin in 1879 at Cowra NSW. Catherine's previous husband, John Francis Martin died in 1878 at Cowra.

John Joseph Atkins and Catherine Teresa Martin didn't record their ages, birthplaces or parents at their marriage. The only information stated is that John was a Bachelor, occupation Blacksmith, Catherine a Widow and they were both residing at Cowra.

Catherine Teresa Adelaide Atkins died on 18th December 1921 at Cowra. Her Obituary states 'Her second husband was the late John Atkins, by whom she had a family of five.' Again, John is incorrectly stated as deceased.

At John's death in 1925, his niece, Eliza's daughter, Elizabeth, was the informant. She records his father as John Atkins, occupation Grazier, and mother as Sarah Huggett. This is the third time John and Eliza's mother, Sarah Harris, is recorded incorrectly.

The only times that Sarah's maiden name of Harris is recorded correctly is at her marriage in 1845 and baptisms of her children in 1849. Daughter, Eliza and her family are the only ones who recorded any information about Sarah, all of which has proven to be inaccurate.

Cox and Huggett families have been researched but a link to the family has not been established.

Correction:
An inquiry on a genealogy site describes Lauretta Jane Smith (nee Atkins), daughter of John Joseph and Catherine Theresa Adelaide Atkins as an Aboriginal woman:
'...interested in hearing from anyone who has connections with the Orange, Bathurst, Lachlan River, Young and Cowra areas...Atkins, Harris, Byrne, Cox (mid-late 1800`s). ...Lauretta Atkins married a white man, Henry Smith at Cowra in 1908...also Catherine Theresa Adelaide Jones...but I don`t know if she also was Aboriginal.'

For the benefit of others researching this family, it can be confirmed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers that there is no evidence of Aboriginal history in the family. Lauretta's grandfather, John Atkins was a Farmer/Grazier and his wife, Sarah's Probate (above) has been located. Other descendants have also been located who are researching the family and all information has been checked and verified. Lauretta's mother, Catherine Theresa Adelaide Atkins (nee Jones) was born to convict parents, William Jones and Sarah Newman.