Search our INDEXES on http://www.kabristan.org.uk/kabristan-indexes/sri-lanka-indexes
for your BMD queries if we don’t have it we will post your query on this blog for you. Someone else may be able to help.
Search our INDEXES on http://www.kabristan.org.uk/kabristan-indexes/sri-lanka-indexes
for your BMD queries if we don’t have it we will post your query on this blog for you. Someone else may be able to help.
I have to find my ancestors my father is name Nagadevan his father veerannan pls find my ancestors
Marraige Record of my maternal grandfather, Francis David Figera circa 1881-1886. He passed away in 1911.
Hi I am trying to trace some B details of my GG Grandfather Thomas De Silva our family records show he was born in Kandahar, Sri Lanka sometime around 1869. He immigrated to Australia with an uncle some time before 1896. If possible I would be keen for any information relating to his parents.
Thanks
That should read Kandy, Sri Lanka
My mother Vera Patience Smith, was born in Ceylon on 15/9/21. Her parents were Lewis Beaufoy Green and Vera Mary Gwladys Green (born: Jones).
Lewis worked in the tea plantations around Talawakele and was manager at St Andrews Estate and at Ferham Estate.
I have searched the Kabristan Indexes but cannot find any mention of my mothers birth. Can anyone suggest where I may be able to find an entry and obtain a birth certificate?
My mother did put on her entry documents to Australia in later years that her birth was registered at Forest Creek, but her memory was not to be trusted by that time.
Any help you can provide would be most welcome.
Hi.
Looking for a birth/baptism record for Elizabeth Gorman, born circa 1839-1840.
Married at Colombo in 1855 and lived in Trincomalee (1860s-1890s). Died at Colombo in 1896.
Of Irish descent, but probably born out in the colonies. There was one born in Lucknow in 1840, but I have no evidence one way or another to suggest that she wound up in Ceylon.
Thanks
The Elizabeth Gorman born at Lucknow was the daughter of John Gorman, a Drummer in the 29th Regiment of (Bengal) Native Infantry. John and his wife Elizabeth also had a son in 1842 at Barrackpore. I have tracked the 29th around India until they mutinied in 1857, but can find no other BMD details for John and family. He may well have left the service, returned home, etc.
There would appear to be a couple of possible better candidates who were known to be in Ceylon circa 1839/1840:-
The 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot arrived in Ceylon (from Ireland) in 1839 and were stationed at Colombo (1839-1841) and then Kandy (1841-1844) before returning to Colombo (1844-1847). There were detachments at Kandy and Trincomalee.
The 1841 British Army Worldwide Index records a Pte. William John Gorman (#1213) and a Pte. Cornelius Gorman (#526) with the 95th in Colombo at that time.
A Pte. William Gorman of the 95th died at Colombo in 1844 (aged 27) and was buried at the Galle Face Cemetery.
There does not appear to be any other obvious trace of Pte. Cornelius Gorman after 1841, although there was also a Pte. Connor Gorman of the 95th who died at Trincomalee in 1846 (aged 38). Same person maybe? although the regiment was periodically topped up by new arrivals from home, so Connor Gorman may have arrived after 1841?
St. Peter’s at the Fort in Colombo was the Garrison Church – are there any surviving baptism records from this period?
Thanks
Darren
Re: Email. Thanks Eileen. I have sent a message to the National Archives in Colombo to see what they may have available. I tried responding to you by email, but BT appear to be rejecting email sent from Gmail as spam?! Thanks. Darren
I am trying to find burial records for my grandfather Aelian Armstrong King Bartholomeusz who died in Colombo in 1932
I am sorry we do not have this name on our data base.
Eileen Hewson FRGS
The Kabristan Archivs
I am looking for details about my paternal grandparents. They were Alfred Massel Morais(Moraies) and Susan Sirimanna. Both listed professions as teachers in the Kalutara region.
Hello
I am looking for Fitz George Simpson’s birth record. His father was called George Simpson and he was born in Sri Lanka or India. He had two brothers called Albert Edward and Arthur Henry.
I’m looking to find some addition information on my great-grandfather. His name was Stewart W. Taylor and he was a manager on Queenstown estates for 14 years. He was born in 1853 in Batavia Java had a son named Frank (not sure his other kids names) and passed away in 1929 and is buried at St. Marks in Badulla.
Im hoping to gather any information I can!
Thanks so much for your time
I’m looking to find some addition information on my great-grandfather. His name was Stewart W. Taylor and he was a manager on Queenstown estates for 14 years. He was born in 1853 in Batavia Java had a son named Frank (not sure his other kids names) and passed away in 1929 and is buried at St. Marks in Badulla.
Im hoping to gather any information I can!
Hi Kate
There are multiple entries in the Ferguson Ceylon Directories for a W. Stewart Taylor at various estates in the Badulla area – http://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/fergusons-directory
He appears to first show up in the 1883-1884 edition.
A later entry in 1925 also records him as an Unofficial Police Magistrate of Uva Province.
Darren
I am trying to find the birth certificate of my great, great grandmother, Ellen “Nellie” Erskine who was born in 1866 in Ceylon. Her father was John Erskine and her mother was Charlotte, possibly Coulter. I suspect John was in the British military but do not know which regiment. Can you help?
Betty-Jean
Hi Betty-Jean
Looking through the Ferguson Ceylon Directories (http://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/fergusons-directory), there are a number of later entries for a J. Erskine:-
1870-1871 > Not sure if this one is connected or not? but a John Erskine Daveran Esq was working for the Surveyor General’s Department as an Assistant Surveyor. He is recorded as “currently on leave in Europe”.
1883-1884 > J. Erskine, Survey Department (Retired), residing at Galle. Also listed is a J. Erskine Jr, Superintendent of Minor Roads at Mahamodara, again residing in Galle.
1890-1891 > Pension records state that J. Erskine, Chief Surveyor, retired aged 49 on January 1st 1881 because of Ill Health after ~23 years 10 months service (i.e. 1857-1880). Elsewhere in the same edition, he is specifically identified as John Erskine, Survey Department (Retired), residing at Eddystone House in Galle. The J. Erskine Jr listed in previous editions is recorded as J.W. Erskine.
Galle might be a place to look for the birth/baptism record for Nellie, although John may have moved around the country with his work.
Good luck.
Darren
J. Penry Lewis’ Tombstones & Monuments in Ceylon notes that a W.A. Coulter (c1848-1884), who was buried at Galle, had a sister who was the wife of a J.W. Daveran, who later changed his name to Erskine.
Allen’s Indian Mail has the following birth notification in 1866:- “Daveran – at Nuwara Eliya, Sept. 25, the wife of John Erskine Daveran Esq C.S. of a daughter” – https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qmxDAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA489&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=daveran&f=false
This is presumably “Nellie”?
Darren
I am looking for information on my G G Grand Father – Henry William Dirckze
Need DOB and place or his Birth Certificate
He was married to Pauline Emelia Daniels
Son of Stephenus Louis Dirckze and Johanne Margarita Van Arkadie
Hi Rapti
D.V. Altendorff’s Genealogy of the Family of Dirckze appears in Volume 50 (1960) of the Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. The genealogy is by no means complete, but it makes no mention of Henry William Dirckze, only Edward Stephen and Louis Matheus being the sons of Stephanus Louis Dirckze (1799-1880) & Johanna Margarita Van Arkadie (1806-c1880).
If they were his parents, then given that they married circa 1822 at Colombo, Henry William’s birth would be before civil registration started in Ceylon (c1867), so your best bet would be a baptism record.
I did find the following entries in the Ferguson Ceylon Directories:-
1871-72: Dirckze H W, Clerk, District Court, Negombo
1883-84: Dirckze H, Head Clerk, Court of Requests, Colombo
There doesn’t appear to be anything after this though.
?
Darren
Hi
Seeking any later information on Kaytie Mary Crabbe Brace (1894-? b. Trincomalee) & George Allanson Bandaranayake Sahabandu Goonewardene (1891-? b. Kurunegala) who married at Batticaloa in 1921. George (known as Allanson) was a Railway Surveryor. I know that they had a son, Allanson Goonewardene, in Colombo in 1922, but not much else after that.
There are some possible sightings in the Ferguson Directories – a Mr & Mrs Geo. A. B. Gunawardana are residing in Messenger Street, Colombo, in 1922-1929, with George recorded as a Book Keeper at Wilson Holgate & Co. Different spelling of the surname, but it seems like it might be them. Nothing after that though.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Some more digging through the Ferguson Directories uncovered the following:-
A Mr. G.A.A. Gunawardena was an Irrigation Officer at Mineriya (1937) & Kegalla (1940). Before he became a Railway Surveyor, George (Allanson), was an Inspector in the Irrigation Department at Kurunegala. His late father was also a Superintendent of the Irrigation Department.
The OCR on the digitized Ferguson Directories is not perfect, so it may well be G.A.B. and not G.A.A. in the originals?
No mention of Mrs. Gunawardena at this point, but in 1942 & 1943 Mr. G.A.A. Gunawardena is again with the Irrigation Department, this time at Chenkalady, Batticaloa. The 1942 Directory lists Mrs. G.A.A. Gunawardena at the Irrigation Bungalow too.
There is no mention of Mr. G.A.A. Gunawardena (including variants) after the 1943 Directory, however, Mrs. G.A.A. Gunawardena appears in Galle in 1946 & 1949. Her last abode was on Bope Road, Gintota.
Whilst this may well be the same George, is the Mrs. Gunawardane his (first) wife Kaytie? Really need to find a relevant death/burial record for the Mrs. G.A.A. Gunawardane who was living in Galle, to confirm who she actually was.
Any ideas?
My family knew Allanson, Kaytie, and their son very well. We should get in touch.
Looking for any B M D details for Charles Ferguson, Desmond Ferguson, Lucy Blanche Ferguson, Ursula Ferguson. Parents were William Ferguson and Robina nee Innes. Dates are births between 1852 and 1867. Many thanks.
Hi Fiona
The 1856 Ceylon Almanac lists a W. Ferguson as a Surveyor residing in Colpetty (Kollupitiya).
The following birth entry is recorded on p.305:-
August 17 [1855] – At Colombo, the wife of W. Ferguson Esq, of a daughter.
The May 5 1862 edition of Allen’s Indian Mail has the following birth notification:-
Ferguson, wife of W, son at Colombo, March 14 [1862].
The 1871-72, 1883-84 & 1885-86 Ferguson directories have Wm. Ferguson (F.L.S. Municiapl Superintendent of Roads) residing at Slave Island, Colombo.
Your 1852-1867 date range mostly pre-dates civil registration in Ceylon (c1867 onwards), so baptism records in the Colombo area would probably be your best bet for finding the other births and narrowing down who the above two were.
Darren
That’s great – thank you so much. I’m new to all this and am struggling to find information in Ceylon. Can you advise how I would access baptism/marriage/death records in Ceylon please? My great great grandfather was the W Ferguson and my great granny the daughter (Mary Eliza) born in 1855. The son in 1862 is either Charles or Desmond. With the Kabristan Archive publications – how would I know which ones I need to order? Are the Ferguson Directories available on line? Sorry – lots of questions – but grateful for help 🙂
Hi Fiona
Whilst he appears in the directories in Colombo, as a Surveyor, William Ferguson may have moved around the country a bit, so there may be BMD records in different places. You can search the Kabristan Archives (http://www.kabristan.org.uk/kabristan-indexes/sri-lanka-indexes) to see if there are any relevant Ferguson results and which publications they are in.
Additionally, Eileen may have some other sources that are not currently in the online index.
The History of Ceylon Tea website has the Ferguson Directories (http://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/fergusons-directory/) as well as other publications that may help (http://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/other-publications/).
The FIBIS website (https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_person_search.php) may also produce some relevant results (Allen’s Indian Mail, etc).
Also, try the FamilySearch Catalog (https://www.familysearch.org/catalog/search) for locations/keywords (Colpetty, Slave Island, etc) as well.
Darren
Hi Fiona
Tried replying on Monday, but the post is “awaiting moderation”?
Second attempt:-
Whilst he appears in the directories in Colombo, as a Surveyor, William Ferguson may have moved around the country a bit, so there may be BMD records in different places. You can search the indexes of the Kabristan Archives to see if there are any relevant Ferguson results and which publications they are in.
The History of Ceylon Tea website has the Ferguson Directories (http://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/fergusons-directory/) as well as other publications that may help.
Darren
Thank you 🙂
Hi Fiona
J. Penry Lewis’ Tombstones & Monuments in Ceylon (available on the History of Ceylon Tea website) has the following entry (p.138) for William Ferguson at the General Cemetery in Colombo:-
July 31 1887 … William Ferguson, F.L.S., who died at Kelvin Grove, Colombo, aged 67.
JPL notes that Ferguson published numerous papers in various publications and is mentioned in “Two Happy Years in Ceylon”.
PS – p.72-73 of “Two Happy Years in Ceylon” – https://archive.org/stream/twohappyyearsin02cummgoog#page/n92/mode/2up/search/ferguson
Hi
Bit of a wild stab in the dark at this one, but at the Puliyanthivu Methodist Church in Batticaloa there is a memorial for a Mrs. Violet Somanader, wife of E.W.D. Somanader. There also appears to be one for E.W.D. but no dates on either.
Based on not much else than the right name, in the right place at the right time, Violet may well be my 1st cousin 3x removed, Violet Kathleen Grace Crabbe Brace (1893-?), elder sister of the previously mentioned Kaytie. Her sister was in Batticaloa circa 1914 and her parents and siblings moved there soon after, with at least two of them marrying in Batticaloa.
The Ferguson Directories record an E.W.D. Somanader as a Clerk in the Registration Department in 1916. He was later the Acting Registrar of Marriages at Batticaloa in 1922-1924. No obvious mention of him after that though.
In 1922 his abode is recorded as Joss(i)e Lodge and there was subsequently a Samuel Victor Osmond (S.V.O.) Somanader (son of Edward Daniel Somanader) living at the same address on Modaliyar Street (Ferguson: 1937 & 1940).
Fast forward to 1946 and an E.W.D. (or E.D.) Somanader is recorded as a Justice of the Peace at Batticaloa. Big gap between the last known reference and this one, so is it the same one? or a son/nephew/etc? Mr. & Mrs. E.(W.)D. Somanader are recorded as living in Hospital Road, Puliyanthivu, up until the 1969-70 Ferguson Directory.
Looking for any death/burial/other records for Violet & E.W.D. ??
Thanks
Darren
It was a long shot anyway, but my Violet Brace died 14-Mar-1894 at Trincomalee, so obviously not the one commemorated at Batticaloa.
Hi – Out of interest, SVO Somanader was my great grandad :o)
I have a family tree for all of his family going back some way
Hi Lewis,
Would I be able to have a look at the Somanader family tree that you have? I too am doing some genealogy regarding Batticaloa and am Interested
Thanks,
Devon
Hi Darren
I’m looking for the birth details of ANNIE MARIE TAYLOR. I think she was born in 1893 to WILLIAM TAYLOR and PAHALA KUPUGEDARA RANMENIKA. She married EDWARD DURAND PEREIRA on 23/6/1915 at St Anthony’s Cathedral in Kandy. I think she died in 1924. Any BMD info would be great.
Thanks
Hi Again Darren
I made an error – ANNIE MARIE TAYLOR was born in 1898.
It was her sister, JUSTINA TAYLOR (known as JESSE), who was born I think in 1893. She married GERALD CHARLES PEREIRA (EDWARD DURAND PEREIRA’s brother) at St Anthony’s Cathedral in Kandy in 1814. Any BMD info on her would be really helpful.
Thanks
Hi Paul
Just for clarification, the Genealogy Sri Lanka & Kabristan Archives sites are not mine, I’m just looking for my Ceylon family the same as everyone else. That said, I am happy to help out and have a look for people as and when I can.
Could do with a bit more information if possible though. There were numerous Taylor’s in Ceylon, including a number of W. Taylor’s, so do you know where Annie may have been born? or what her father’s occupation was?
Regards
Darren
Hi Darren
Nice to hear from you.
Annie and Jesse’s father William (and his brother John) were Scottish planters on the Wanarajah Estate. I assume this is all near Kandy because they were boarded in the Good Shepherd Convent in Kandy, and they both got married in Kandy.
My late wife was born Wendy Redlich, was the grand-daughter of Annie.
I hope this enough because we have tried to solve this mystery for decades!
Best wishes
Hi Paul
Will have a look and see what I can find.
The Ferguson directories record W. Taylor at Wanarajah, Dikoya (1893) and previously at Darrawella, Dikoya. There doesn’t appear to be a matching later record? Dikoya is closer to Nuwara Eliya than Kandy, although still some 40km+ away. Like a lot of plantation BMDs, it’s in the middle of so many places for a possible record.
Somewhat oddly, your late wife is a distant relation (by marriage) of mine. My ggg-uncle married Agnes Redlich in the late 1870s and they had at least one daughter, before appearing to separate and he later re-married and had several more children. I have a lot of information on the Redlich side of things if you need any additional information there.
Regards
Darren
Hi Darren
Thanks for your quick response. You have the correct W Taylor I’m pretty sure – he also worked at Darrawella. Annie’s mother Ranmenika was born at Wallahagoda, Gampola if it’s any help.
What a coincidence that we’re distantly related!! I’ve done loads of research on my side of the family but not a huge amount on Wendy’s. The stumbling block has always been “which Taylor was her great grandfather”. Her family history has always been that they were related to James Taylor (the founder of tea planting) but I’m certain that’s untrue. Finding Annie’s birth details would help greatly in this as would her marriage details.
I look forward to your reply with huge anticipation.
Best Wishes
As best as I can make out the handwriting, these are pages from the Bible belonging to Elizabeth Mary Butcher Smith, with notes from her son, Thomas Henry Smith.
Bible page 1
Births:
Thomas Smith born June 24th, 1800, in Munden County, Kent, England
Eliz. Mary Butcher born May 5th, 1808 in Sandwich St., Portsea, Portsmouth, England
Mary Isabella daughter of Thos. And Eliz. M. Smith April 11th, 1828 Portsmouth
Sydney John born June 14th, 1830 in garrison of Columbo, Island of Ceylon
Frances Smith born Oct. 9th, 1831, Kandy, Ceylon
Martha Ann born Oct. 24, 1833, Kandy Ceylon
Thos. H. Smith born Oct. 14th, 1835, Colombo, Ceylon (this is my gggrandfather)
Bible page 2
Deaths:
Thomas Smith Died March 23rd, 1838, Garrison of Trincomalie, Ceylon
Sydney J. Smith Died Sept, 29th, Colombo
Martha Ann died March 16, 1836, Colombo
I am specifically looking for information on the birth and death records for Ceylon. Thanks for any assistance you can offer.
Hi Shirley
The “British Armed Forces And Overseas Births And Baptisms” record set on FindMyPast (https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-births-and-baptisms) has the following entries that may well be a match:-
Martha Ann SMITH – born 1833 Ceylon
Thomas Henry SMITH – born 1835 Ceylon
There are also a number of other SMITHs in Ceylon that may or may not be connected. I don’t have full access to FindMyPast any more, but the records should include additional information that you could use to obtain a birth/baptism certificate from the General Registrar Office (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/app_select.asp).
Regards
Darren
In comparing my family Bible pages for Sydney John Smith and the burial records for Galle Face Burial Ground, Colombo, Ceylon, he was indeed aged 2 months, 22 days when he died. However, with the dates in the family Bible, he died Sept 29th and burial records have him buried Sept. 5. Is there any way to double check the burial records?
I ordered some of the publications, two in PDF so have received them. I am waiting on the two hard copy publications I ordered for researching. Still trying to locate Thomas Smith and Martha Ann Smith, who also died in Ceylon.
My father Keith Alexander Byfield (1913-1974) left Jamaica W.I around 1.935. He was from Annoto bay, Saint Mary, Jamaica. His parents: Mantique Byfield (seems he born in Ceylon, India) and Matilda Shaw.
My grand parent had a tea plantation in Ceylán.
I am looking information about.
I would appreciate any information from you.
Sincerely,
Alexander Byfield
Hi Alexander
I found the following entries in the Ferguson Directories that may be connected:-
1904: Byfield M.H. – Teamaker, Dambatenne Group … Haputale
1920-21: Byfield, Montagu H. – Planter, Top Division … Mone, Hewaheta
Additionally, M.H. Byfield is recorded as a Volunteer in the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps at Haputale in 1904 & 1905-06.
There is a big gap between the 1904 and 1920-21 entries and there doesn’t appear to be a match in between, so not sure if it is the same person or not? father & son, maybe?
You might find some more information in the publications of the Ceylon Planters Association – http://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/planter-association-publications/
Darren
Hi Alexander
I found the following entries in the Ferguson Directories that may be connected:-
1904: Byfield M.H. – Teamaker, Dambatenne Group … Haputale
1920-21: Byfield, Montagu H. – Planter, Top Division … Mone, Hewaheta
Additionally, M.H. Byfield is recorded as a Volunteer in the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps at Haputale in 1904 & 1905-06.
There is a big gap between the 1904 and 1920-21 entries and there doesn’t appear to be a match in between, so not sure if it is the same person or not? father & son, maybe?
You might find some more information in the publications of the Ceylon Planters Association – http://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/planter-association-publications/
Darren
Hi there,
I have just come across your website and wonder if you might be able to help me find the birth record for my 3 x great grandfather. All I know is that his name was George Hicks and he was born in Ceylon in 1809. His mother’s name was Mary.
If anyone can help me with this, I’d be so grateful,
.
Many thanks
Chris
Hi Chris
The UK Census records George Hicks as a Chelsea Pensioner. The National Archives has an entry (ref: WO 97/1171/185) for George which says that he was born in Kandy – http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8839232 There might be additional information in his military records that gives a date of birth? otherwise a baptism record will be the other option.
Darren
Thank you so much for that information, Darren, you have been most helpful (and quick!).
I knew from the 1851 and 1861 censuses that George was a Chelsea Pensioner, but I hadn’t found that particular record in the National Archives, so thank you for helping me find out that he was born in Kandy, Ceylon. I then did some more searching, but I have been unable to find any other records which give the exact date of birth, or his military career. However, I have discovered that his parents’ names were John Hicks and Mary Hicks (née Clifford). There is a possibility that his father, John Hicks (born 1872 in Wiltshire, England), died in Fort William, Bengal, India in 1817 and was buried there on 14th March.
Would it be asking too much for you to let me know if there is any way I can find out anything more about these people? I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you again for your time.
Chris
Hi Chris
The Wiltshire Marriage Index on FindMyPast has an 1801 marriage between John Hicks & Mary Clifford at Devizes. The parish records may provide additional information.
For Ceylon & India check the indexes of the Kabristan Archives – http://www.kabristan.org.uk/kabristan-indexes
Darren
Am hoping you can help with finding out about the birth of a child in either late 1796 or early 1797. The father would have been Lieutenant-Colonel George Petrie of the 72nd Regiment (I believe they were the North British Fusilliers, but can confirm if that’s important). The child would have been illegitimate. George Petrie’s will is dated August of 1796, and it was ‘proved’ in March 14,1798. A notice in ‘the Gentleman’s Magazine’ says that he died in April of 1797. This codicil in his will refers to the child: “I leave and bequeath unto Mary my Girl the sum of two hundred rupees as a marriage portion and as there is a probability of her being with child to me I leave her further the sum of five hundred rupees subject to the management of my friend Lieutenant Alexander Gray.” I believe Lieutenant Alexander Gray was with the 77th. I’m wondering if the child was taken to Scotland after his father’s death. The suspicion is that the child might be my 3x great-grandfather, Peter Petrie, who is purported to be Lieutenant-Colonel George Petrie’s son. The birth year of this illegitimate child of George Petrie’s coincides with Peter Petrie’s estimated birth year, and Peter Petrie is listed on the 1841 Scottish census as ‘F’ for ‘Foreign Born’. Would there be any way to discover an illegitimate child’s birth in Sri Lanka in 1796-1797, and whether the child was transported to Scotland sometime over the next 10 years or so? I’m thinking that possibly Mary was a housemaid in George Petrie’s household, and that she may not have been able to keep the child, so Alexander Gray may have arranged for him (assuming the child was Peter) to be sent to Scotland. Peter was living at Ballinbreich Farm near Newburgh in Fife, Scotland, in at least 1821, and was married to Jane Thompson. His first son (my great-great grandfather) was born in 1819, but I don’t have a birth record for him. The rest of Peter and Jane’s children were born in Scotland and I have their birth records. I mention that in case Peter and Jane married and had their first child in Ceylon/Sri Lanka before going to Scotland. This is a shot in the dark, and I would be so grateful for help.
Hi Donna
J. Penry Lewis’ Tombstones & Monuments in Ceylon has an entry for George Petrie that states that he died on 25-Aug-1796 aged 45. No family information recorded, although there are a number of quotes about George from various books, which may contain more?
The “Gentleman’s Magazine” reference (Apr-1797) that you have is the date of the publication (“the fourth number of vol. LXVII, part I) of Cave’s magazine. Might be worthwhile looking in some of the later editions (on Google Books) to see if there is a reference to the (presumably) 1797 birth?
The Woolvendaal Church at Pettah would probably be the best place to look for a possible baptism record, although the chances that there are any surviving records from this early period of the British rule of Ceylon seems a little slim at best.
Peter Petrie is not mentioned in the 1818 Ceylon Calendar, so he may well have left the island before then. Any military records for Peter? as they might provide some additional information.
Darren
Hi Darren
Hope you are well?
Some more info for you which might help. The details of Justina (Jesse) Taylor’s marriage to Gerald Pereira on 6th May 1914 at St Anthony’s, Kandy are Application Number C2947, Entry 681. Also her birthday was 19th January 1893.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Hi Paul
Thanks for the additional information. I have been having a good look around for Annie and family, but nothing of any significance to report yet I’m afraid. Will keep digging…
Darren
Hi Darren
Thanks for your persistence!!
In the meantime can you let me know Agnes Redlich’s parents details and also your ggg-uncle’s details so I can update my tree.
Thanks again.
Hi Paul
Still on the hunt for Annie. Before Civil Registration became compulsory in Ceylon (1897), Dikoya was part of the Uda Bulathgama division in the Kandy district. It would appear to be the most obvious place to find a birth record for Justina (1893) and possibly Annie (1898), although maybe Annie was born elsewhere as William Taylor appears to vanish after the 1893 Ferguson Directory?
The LDS film #1365069 contains births registered in the Uda B division from 1878-1897, although this film has yet to be digitized and placed on FamilySearch. The digitization process is ongoing, so it could appear at any timr really.
I have been looking for a death record for Annie. There was an E.D. Pereira (Clerk, Colombo Municipality) at “Goodhope” Wellawatte in 1924. Previously (1922), a Geo. C. Pereira was living at Goodhope, which would appear to be the two brothers? I did find a death for an Anne Perera in 1924, but she was 85, so obviously not the same one. Nothing obvious yet in Wellawatte or Maradana (General Hospital, Maternity Hospital, etc).
Darren
Alfred Edmund Brace (1856-1921) married Charlotte Agnes Frances Redlich (1861-?) some time in the late 1870s (probably at St. Mary’s, Trincomalee). They had a daughter in 1880 at Trincomalee. He was working away in the North Central Province as a Forester at the time and the family was later (1884) at Anuradhapura. They appear to have subsequently separated as he re-married in 1886 at Trincomalee and had a family there, before moving to Batticaloa, where he died in 1921 and is buried at the General Cemetery there, along with his wife.
Agnes was still alive after 1886 and she had a son, Owen Glanville Hunter in 1893 at Colombo with James Allen Hunter (1861-1924). Owen was adopted at some time by Alfred Brace and his wife and he appears in later records as Owen Brace. Not sure what happened to Agnes, maybe she died and hence the adoption?
Her parents were William Francis Redlich (1804-1875) and Marianne Frederica Schultsz (1826-1863). William was a Proctor at the District Court in Trincomalee. Their son, William Francis Redlich (1849-1911) is the link to Wendy.
Darren
Sorry, Frederick James Redlich (1849-1911), not William Francis! Always get those two mixed up : )
Hi Darren
Thanks for all the info. I had knowledge of Agnes, but it was hidden because her first name was Charlotte! I now updated my tree with details of Messrs Brace and Hunter.
John Taylor, William’s brother, died in New Zealand in November 1892. It’s not a great leap of faith to suppose William was there too which would explain his omission from Ferguson’s Directory. He did however return because he died in Colombo 21/3/1932 (there is an obituary somewhere). I am pretty sure he was the principal of Noble Taylor & Co, a trading company in Colombo.
The birth dates of Annie and Justina are suspect and were given to me by Wendy’s late mother Dorothy.
I hope the above is of use.
Best wishes.
Hi,
I would like to get in touch with Darren please.
Kaytie Mary Crabbe Brace lived at my grandmother’s house in Dehiwela, in her final years. Her son, George was very well known and loved by my extended family. I may have some details on Kaytie’s husband’s family too.
Allenson is said to be related to my family, but I have not been able to work that out completely. Would be very good to compare notes and also find out who else is looking into this particular line.
Thanks!
Hello Anthony
Thanks for getting in contact.
Kaytie (there are various spellings of her first name) was the daughter of my 3x great-uncle Alfred Edmund Brace (1856-1921) and Annie Rosetta Crabbe (1865-1921).
She was born at Trincomalee along with her siblings. The family later moved to Batticaloa, where she married George Allanson Bandaranayake Sahabandu Goonewardene (1891-?), who was the son of Abraham Briscus Sahabandu Goonewardene (a Superintendent or Irrigation/JP/Police Magistrate) and Edith Louisa Malwane Bandaranayake.
Any additional information on Kaytie and family would be appreciated? As posted elsewhere here, I don’t have much definitive evidence for them after the birth of their son in 1922, but there would appear to be some possible references and you obviously know some more.
Thanks
Darren
Hi Eileen
If possible, could you please forward my email address on to Anthony Obeyesekere ?
Thanks
Darren
Hi Darren,
If you are still on here, you can find me on social media as: Sheannal Anthony Obeyesekere. Hope you do get in touch.
Darren, if we connect, I would love to have you speak with my father. My family have so many crazy/funny stories about their “Georgie uncle”, and they often lament that I did not have a chance to meet him.
Hi Darren, could you share some way of contacting you?
I have now written up what I know so far about this family:
https://medium.com/@serendibrising/the-sahabandu-goonewardenes-98a542dd93f
Hi,
I am looking for the mother’s name of my great-grandfather, Alfred Anthony Swiney (also spelt Sweeney), born in Kandy circa 9/05/1858.
He married on 21st April 1898 at St Mary’s Church in Galle. Died on 26th October 1944.
Any information will be greatly appreciated!
Seems a bigger story here, James Alland was married to Edith Meerwald and had two children known 1893 and 1894
JOHN HENRY LUDOWYKE
I am attempting to locate any records of my great grandfather John Henry Ludowyke or his antecedents. We believe he was born on 13.5.1846 in Kandy (actual DOB uncertain) and died 27.10.1911 also in Kandy. He married Matilda Mortier 25.5.1876 at St Anthony’s Cathedral Kandy. I have personally checked the birth/baptism records at St Anthony’s for 1845-7 and find no record of him. The marriage records for the relevant years are missing.
There is no reliable information on his antecedents and it is possible that the previous spelling of the family name may have been Ludowyk or Lodewyke
Hi, I am looking for any information (B.M.D.) on JAMES ALVIS and his family. my grandfather, ROSBALD born 22 Aug 1896 in Colombo, was a son of his. Rosbald was a Merchant seaman and came to England where he met and married my Grandmother ADA BAINES in December 1919. My mother ADA ALVIS was born in 1920 in Salford (Manchester) ENGLAND. Any information would be most useful, thank you in advance. Brian Alvis.
Hello. I am trying to find proof of Birth for Clifford Seneviratne, born 27th July 1895.
It is possible his mother was Evelyn de Silva or Edith de Run but not confirmed. His grandmother was Mrs Sophia de Silva, who lived/worked at 70 Woflendahl Street, Colombo and I believe was still alive in 1917 but had passed away before 1952.
I would also like to see if there are any BMD records for Sophia and Evelyn.
I believe Edith married Mr Hector Lawrence who was a clerk at the Times Of Ceylon. I was hoping there is some reference to Edith also.
If you have any records as per above that would be fantastic, and any help is appreciated.
Best Regards
Jamie Crighton