Morfit Morfitt Moorfoot Wetwang Brisbane Sandgate "Charles William Johnson" MacLennan MacLennon
Australia and the Morfitt Mystery
Our ancestors were largely illiterate, so their names were recorded as they sounded, rather than how they were spelled. They were Moorfoot in Wetwang, Yorkshire, but became Morfit or Morfitt in Lancashire. So don't let the spelling put you off. If you have arrived on this page and have an interest in any spelling of Morfit that may have been your roots in England, then please read on. If you suspect you may be able to shed any light, please email. This also applies to descendants of Charles William Johnson of England (please read on).
I am Duncan Adams. My grandmother was born Esther Morfit (birth certificate) and died as Esther Brierley (nee Morfitt) (death certificate). I was born in 1943 and grew up immediately after WW2 in England. There was rationing in England and we received 'Food Parcels' from relatives in Brisbane, Australia (Now we are pretty sure it was Sandgate, Brisbane). Esther, and my mother, Marjorie Adams (nee Brierley) corresponded with their relatives in Oz, but after Marjorie died (1975), contact was lost. I would sorely like to re-establish it. There are photos following that will assist.
Here is the genealogy (we have many generations before it, but this is the relevant part):
James Moorfit was born 1846 in Manchester. He was a bootmaker and he married Alice Megson in 1868. They had eight children as follows:
Fred (born 1874 in Wigan) and James (born 1881 in Manchester) about whom we know absolutely nothing.
Esther Morfitt (1885-1967). Lived and died in Manchester area, England. Grandmother of Duncan Adams.
Grace Morfitt Born 1876 in Wigan and died in Manchester in 1900 aged 24. However, she married John Robinson in 1898 and there could possibly be a child.
Alice Morfitt was born in 1879 in Manchester and married Charles William Johnson in 1906. Like Alice's father, he was in the boot making trade. They had three children, and one of them was called Doris. We do not know who she married, but we know she had at least one child, possibly named 'Robin. We would like to hear of any descendants.
Clara Morfitt was born in 1883 in Manchester and died in 1906 in Manchester. We know of no marriage.
Now we come to two sisters we believe both emigrated to Australia (Sandgate, Brisbane). Almost all of the following Australian information has been gleaned from notes on the backs of photos sent from Australia either to Esther or Marjorie.
Sarah Morfitt was born in 1871 in Manchester and she married. We believe her husband's name was Charles Oliver. We believe she emigrated before 1914. We believe they had a daughter Ada. Photographs follow.
Lilian Morfitt was born 1882 in Manchester and we think she emigrated just after 1914. Her husband was definitely called 'Bill' (from photos), we are 95% certain his surname was 'Jones'. We are sure they had three daughters, Lillian, Mabel & Elsie. We believe Mabel married a Colin MacLennon and they had a daughter Susan, but this could be wrong. Colin could have been an American Air Force Gunner (see photographs).
The two sisters obviously lived close to each other in Brisbane as this first photograph shows. At the back are Sarah and Charles Oliver and in front are Bill and Lillian Jones. The child is presumably their first daughter. We guess the date of this to be in the area 1922-25, but could be out.
The next photo is dated and says on the reverse 'Love from all at Sandgate, Christmas 1928'. It is of Lillian (nee Morfitt) and Bill Jones and the first two of their three daughters
The next photo is of all Jones family. Bill & Lillian Jones and their three daughters Lillian, Mabel and Elsie. It is obviously taken much later, perhaps in the early1940s
The next photo bears the words 'The MacLennans and the Joneses' on the back. The man will be Colin MacLennan (or MacLennon) and the baby Susan. Colin's wife Mabel could be either the one holding the baby or on whose shoulder Colin's hand rests. The eldest woman is Lillian (nee Morfitt) and the other two sisters Lillian and Elsie.
The next photo is quite important as it bears the words 'Australia 1958' on the reverse and is therefore helpful for dating. The shot is taken outside what we believe to be the Jones home in Sandgate (typically stilted for ventilation). It would appear to be of Lillian (nee Morfitt) and BillJones in the centre, between Lillian Jnr and Elsie after Mabel had wed and left home.
The next photo is significant because it says this on the reverse:- 'Mabel is engaged to an American Air Man. A sergeant air-gunner'. This could have been just after WW2.
The next photo is a particularly good photo of the three sisters at (presumably) Mabel's wedding.
Moving now to Sarah Morfitt's family, the following two photos say on the reverses 'Merry Christmas from Sarah', and Merry Christmas from Charles'. Because of the dog and the fence, we assume they were taken at the same time (despite the fact that the toning is different). We believe these to be Sarah (Morfitt) and Charles Oliver.
The next photo is an important one because it clearly identifies Ada, daughter of Sarah and Charles. The Reverse says "Bill took this in Sarah's Garden', then Lillian (who wrote the note) identifies all the people. Ada is the one in the centre. Lillian stands behind her and Sarah is on Lillian's right above Charles (Oliver) and Mabel is sat with him. On lillian's left is Mrs Owen (no idea who she is) and below her 'Mr Oliver' (No idea who he is either, but presumably a relative of Charles). The other child is Lillian (junior).
The last photo has nothing on the reverse, but it looks very much like Ada Oliver's wedding.
If you can help, then please remember: email
