Pearce Owen and Jeanne Nicholson – Mum’s side of the family
Pearce Owen c.1885 – c.1935
Known location prior to 1927: Pembrim, in Tonypandy, Wales.
Location c.1927: Norfolk Island, Anson Bay area – close to St Barnabas Chapel further south along the west coast road.
Occupation at time of marriage, 18th February 1931: Planter.
Possibly a small farm with a few animals and/or crops, or banana plantation interest or actual.
Unknown: Opera singer.
Unkown: References to him as a builder/trades, and architectural aspect to the role.
Reason for migration: Contracted for building works on St Barnabas Chapel – roof shingles, possible updates to internal red wood trusses/beams. Apparently two large Norfolk pines felled at request of government for the work.
St Barnabas was the mother church of the Anglican Melanesian Mission, serving as a training college and spiritual hub for Pacific Island students from 1880 to 1920. After they left, it is possible there was recognition for renovations and maintenance requirements.
Move to East Brisbane (exact date unknown) due to concerns about rumours of war, and safety of the island. This makes sense as the rifle club was just nearby.
Death: East Brisbane, Australia, c.1935. Mum said from pneumonia. Mum was apparently 4 years old when being asked to say good-bye to him for the last time. The death may have been at home. If we look at 1935, then Jeane’s remarriage in 1942, this is a seven year period, where Mum would then be 11 years old.
Pearce’s portrait is from the photographer Ladd Levi, a “prominent early 20th-century professional photographer based in Tonypandy, in the Rhondda Valley of Wales. Operating studios on Dunraven Street from roughly 1910 through the 1920s, he captured vital social history, local portraits, and real photographic postcards (RPPCs) of the region.”
Reference: https://museum.wales/collections/online/agent/da1a298b-402e-36db-b540-d21d1ca24e58/Ladd-Levi/
This gives an idea of the environment, and the coal mining still in operation in 1930.
Pearce Owen, Wales, England (AI colourisation)
Trades working on St Barnabas Chapel, Roof Shingles – c.1930 (AI colourisation)
Pearce: top right
Where Pearce lived in Wales (AI colourisation)
Jeane Nicholson c.1897 – 1967
Mother: Emily Kirk
Father/parent: Edwin Nicholson
Location prior to 1927: Likely Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Apparent “troubles” in Northern Ireland and/or one/two brothers in Brisbane, and/or being on a hit list where a family member(s) was killed, as reason to send my Grandma to Brisbane.
Grandma met Pearce on the boat and therefore ended up on Norfolk. Grandma took a photo of Pearce on the Chapel roof, apparently in 1930. Timeline suggest 1927 to 1931 of 4 years before marriage.
There are a number of questions here around timelines and ages.
Jeannie (Jane or Jeane) Eliza (Elizabeth) Nicholson, married on Norfolk Island 1931, age 34, to Pearce Owen, age 46.
Pearce Owen moved to East Brisbane, fairly near the river where he rented. When he passed away Grandma could not afford the house and moved to a smaller rental at 67 Heidleberg Street, East Brisbane.
2nd Marriage Record to William George Hams (Bill) – Jeannie Hams (née Owen)
Jane Eliza Owen
Event date: 30/06/1942
Event type: Marriage registration
Registration details: 1942/B/49897
(Age: 46)
Spouse: William George Hams
Death Record
Jane Eliza Hams
Event date: 17/08/1967
Event type: Death registration
Registration details: 1967/B/91489
Mother: Emily Kirk
Father/parent: Edwin Nicholson
Illness: Cancer (witnessed by Mum)
William George Hams
Event date: 06/09/1988
Event type: Death registration
Date of birth: 1911
Registration details: 1988/7387
Mother: Caroline May Foss
Father/parent: William George Hams
No birth record for Jeannie as it was in Ireland. Jeannie’s birth would have been c.1911.
It is said Eliza was one of 19 children,
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