SEARCHING FOR WILLIAM BRIGGS FOR LAST 40 YEARS
I am an 82 year old lady and have been searching for the whereabouts my fathers brother went to in order to fulfill a promise I made to my father just befor he died in 1965. I know I cannot believe it myself!
After their father died my father Albert Briggs and his two brothers William Briggs born in 1906 in Staffordshire England and his younger brother Frederick were seperated as my grandmother Florence could not afford to keep her young sons.
My father was sent to live with an aunt in Ireland and my grandmother kept the youngest child but what happened to William has remained a mystery
Itis understood that William emigrated to Australia at some point but when is also a mystery
I found a William Briggs on a passsenger list to Australia 1925 going to Brisbane and living at 25 Woodford Road SE25
I know we had some realtives living in London They were my fathers cousin and her husband
He is stated as being a Dairy utensil worker and I remember my father saying that he William had gone to work on a Dairy Farm in Australia
The Ship is HOBSON BAY date of dept November 1925 from London to Brisbane
Has anybody any idea how I can progress with this search not only to fulfil my promise to my father whom I love dearly but it would be wonderful if I could find any living relatives. I had a sister who died when she was 6yrs old and I was 3years old so have been brought up as an only child. Whos knows perhaps some relative in Australia may like to know about William Briggs early life
I know my time is limited and if I am lfortunate enough to join my father when my time is up I will be able to tell him about his brother William
Thank you for reading thia post I apologise for my ramblings
Kind regards
Florence
Views: 80
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Comment by Sylvia on January 13, 2020 at 23:16
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I had a bit of a bad feeling re the William Briggs on the Hobson’s Bay because he was 2 years older than your “William”, so I had a closer look at his immigration data …
The following contains the ship's file relating to the Assisted Passage Scheme:
Title: HOBSON'S BAY NO. 12 (26/1088) SAILED 24.11.1925
Contents range: 1925 - 1926
Barcode: 446159
Link: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage...
William is listed on Page 27 and 42 list as a Farm apprentice. On page 27 he’s “William J. L. Briggs” and on page 42 he’s “William J. Briggs”
I suspect that this could be William James Lawrence Briggs b abt 1908 district Poplar (son of William and Deborah)
Sylvia
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Thank you Sylvia for your interest
It looks as though this isn't my William Briggs after all
His parents were Frederick and Florence Briggs nee Norris
I guess I should call it a day but Something keeps me trying
Kind regards
Florence
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Hi Florence,
I know that your William was born in Porthill, Staffordshire and that his birth was registered in the second quarter of 1906 in district Wolstanton. However, you must have realised that there are a great deal of William Briggs out there, so a precise date of birth would be useful. This will allow us to reject various incorrect possibilities much sooner.
Sylvia
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Hi Sylvia
Sorry for the delay in answering your last message. William was born 4th March 1906 Hope this helps
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I understand that you first heard about William abt 1950 and that a remark was made that he’d gone to another country, so I’m trying to understand the timeline between 1911 and 1950 and therefore have a number of questions
1.
The family was still together at the time of the 1911 Census (i.e. 2 April 1911), but when exactly was the family split up? And, Is there an inkling where the young William was sent to: family, fostering, orphanage, Bernardos (Canada/Australia) etc ….
2.
When/Where was the family’s last confirmed sighting and/or contact (letters?) with William?
3.
I saw some posts reg a possible stint in the RAMC in the 30’s (https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=601128.0). How convinced are you that this is your William as you’d been staring at that 1925 Immigration for at least 7 years. A 1925 departure from England, does not seem to to add up completely with a 1930’s activity in England (it is not impossible, but it seems unlikely).
4.
Why are you so sure that he went to Australia? I saw something re gan Oxo ranch possibility … I’d expect to find him in North or South America.
5.
Is there a possibility that William could have changed his name?
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Hi Sylvia
I did not mention the RAMC for William as it only clouds the iissue and I have tried that lead to no avail
Maybe William did return from Australia but I would have thought that my father woulf have found him on his return from the war
I would like to follow this lead because I have a gut feeling
I have tried and am still doing so to establish if Williams cousin Hilda Doris Wilson and her husband George lived at this address then but seem to be going round in circles
However I do appreciate all your help and advice and will keep trying
I did look into the Dreadnought Boys but doubt if William would be amongst them as he would have been almost 20 years old then
particularly noted the comment of Mr W H Gardiner who stated that the comment regarding their behaviour was a gross slander.
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Hy Sylvia
Do not know if you received the above or if you ave any more advice
Hope you are well
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I'm getting confused! You mentioned a "Hilda Doris Wilson" at "this address" (which one ???) ... why did she end up in this story? And what does this WH Gardiner got to do with the search for William Briggs?
As this quest has been going on for years, you'll realise that it is not straight forward. Therefore I need concrete and factual information ... it doesn't matter how small or insignificant as long as it is not suppositional...
I'd still like some answers to some of my my previous questions with a big focus on his timeline (It is okay if you don't have all of this information, just tell me):
1.
The family was still together at the time of the 1911 Census (i.e. 2 April 1911), but when exactly was the family split up? And, Is there an inkling where the young William was sent to: family, fostering, orphanage, Bernardos (Canada/Australia) etc ….
2.
When/Where was the family’s last confirmed sighting and/or contact (letters?) with William?5.
Is there a possibility that William could have changed his name?
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