SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

From: Julie <>
Subject: Kate/Kath DALY, Australia, Sth Africa ca1888+ RYAN/ VANRHAJN? or sim?
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 17:17:58 +0800

Thought I'd post a new request. Sorry if there's those out there read all
this already, don't want to bore you!

Kathleen aka Kate DALY / DALEY gave birth to my mother in Womens'
Hospital Carlton, Victoria Australia, on 2nd Nov 1912.
Father:- not listed.

So Kate was 22 years or 24 years at that time.
Supposedly born Gympie, QLD. Australia (ca1888.)

She called my mother, her baby,...Beatrice Mary DALY (this ring any
bells?) & had her

baptised a RC @ St Patrick's Cathedral, in Melbourne @ 4 days old:- says
on cert. parents Thomas &
Kathleen DALEY.

Subsequently at 10 weeks old Mum, was "adopted" By STEVENS family in West
Melb. Vic. Renamed Nancy Stair STEVENS.

>From when my Mum can remember, a well dressed lady who she always called
Mrs "VANRAN" (this is how Mum pronounced it..and I know it could
translate to a LOT of different names), used to visit the adoptive family
in West Melbourne, ca
1918 - 1921, and wanted to take the child away with her to South Africa.
This did not ever happen.

She left a photo of herself, (Mrs VANRAN) taken ca 1920 in
Melbourne...you can see this @
http://www.alpha.com.au/teamalpha/genealogy.html

After the STEVENS family moved to Pascoe Vale, Vic. in 1922..Mum never
saw Mrs
VANRAN again.
All those who knew of the adoption are long dead. One other rumour was
that Mum's mother was actually called:-
Mary Therese RYAN,
this is unsubstantiated....but does it ring any bells?

I have had NO SUCCESS in tracing a Kate DALY in Qld, Australia, under
those details,
written to DALYs all over Australia etc...no success and done LOTS of
other things as well all to no avail. Have of late tried some SA leads,
no success yet.
I have documents from 1912 re the birth, that's all I have.
Kate has effectively so far covered her tracks.
So anyone recognise the photo?...if the father was Thomas DALY then Kate
could have had any SURNAME.

Mum is now 87 years old, not much time the law of averages tells me,
although she is keeping well.

Sorry to go on about this but I guess you can all empathise with my quest.

Many thanks...pass this on if you think anyone you know might be related.

Everyone leaves a trail a genie friend tells me...so where did Kate's
trail go?

Julie Jackson
Mornington, Vic. Australia
looking for Kate @
http://www.alpha.com.au/teamalpha/genealogy.htm

This thread:

• Kate/Kath DALY, Australia, Sth Africa ca1888+ RYAN/ VANRHAJN? or sim? by Julie <>