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Mary (Burrell) Shaw (1877 - 1907)

Mary Shaw formerly Burrell
Born in Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 15 Feb 1900 in Wanganui, New Zealandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 29 in Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealandmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jeff Thomas private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 16 Mar 2015
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Biography

Mary was born in 1877. She is the daughter of John Burrell and Mary Gurney. [1] She married Sydney John Shaw in 1900[2]She passed away in 1907 age 29 .[3]

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Research Notes

There are a few unofficial online sources that speculate Mary Burrell married Samuel Wilce in 1912 (see 1912/5527). This is incorrect, as the death certificate for Mary Wilce state she died in 1961 age 75 (therefore born around 1886, almost 9 years difference) see 1961/23753. And there is another Mary Burrell whose birth record was filed in 1887 (see 1887/5965) -- I believe SHE married Wilce NOT our Mary Burrell

There is though a marriage record in 1900 for "Mary Ann Isabell Burrell", marrying "Sydney John Shaw" (see 1900/490) so following this lead I found a Mary Shaw whose death was recorded in 1907 "age 29" (see 1907/3748.) So this Mary was born around 1877 which is the year we have her unambiguous birth record for. I say unambiguous as the birth record 1877/17271 states the parents middle names, and these also match.

Now looking at Sydney Shaw, I also did a search on "Sidney" John Shaw, and also found a marriage record for him 1909/3378 to Gertrude "Surrell." Knowing that Mary had a younger sister Gertrude it seems likely this marriage record has been misfiled due to the similarity of a written B and S. There is no recorded Gertrude Surrell born in NZ born between 1860 and 1900. But Gertrude Shaw was indeed recorded on death in 1969 as age 83, which plausibly matches her the Burrell birth record 1885/11984 . The numbers don't quite match though

Putting this altogether, why would Gertrude marry her dead sister's husband? For the best reason of all. In 1901the wife of Sydney John Shaw gave birth to William John (see 1901/1412). The mother is "Marion" i.e. Mary Ann as could easily be misheard. My thinking is Aunt Gertrude replaces her for the sake of young William. (there are no other Marion Shaw's around this time except one married to Robert in 1883). Gertrude and Sydney Shaw had no subsequent children

I am realistic that the leads of Mary/Mary Ann/Marion, Burrell/Surrell, Sydney/Sidney and dates of birth death that are subject to rounding error of a year make all this somewhat tenuous. Yet, is makes much more sense than the ties that lead to Mary Wilce. I need first hand research on cemetery records to be sure


Sources

  1. http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
    • NZ Birth registration 1877/17271
  2. http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
    • NZ Marriage registration 1900/490
  3. http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
    • NZ Death registration 1907/3748
See also:



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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Mary by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Mary:

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Comments: 1

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Confirming that death record 1907/3748 is indeed for Mary Burrell - daughter of John Clements Burrell. She died on 29 March 1907 in Blenheim, and was buried on 30 March1907.

The printout from Department of Internal Affairs identifies her as the wife of SJ Shaw, married at Wanganui at age of 22. She was mother of one son aged 6 years.

Cause of death was "Cellulitis Face Septicaemia" - an illness of just four days. She was buried at Omaka Cemetery, near Blenheim.

I have no evidence of the middle names published here. At birth she was Mary Burrell. Confirming that the surname Wilce is not applicable to her.

There is some confusion regarding "John Sidney Shaw', "Sidney John Shaw", "Sydney John Shaw" etc. that we see in various records for the period. It is clear that there is only one individual involved!

Referring to Shaw's death certificate - "John Sidney Shaw" who died in 1962 married a "Mary Burrows" when he was 23, but then had 3 more marriages to "Ann Martin" and "Millie Fox" and one more unspecified. .

(a) But there is a birth printout for Mary's husband, naming him John Sydney Shaw! (b) "Mary Burrows" should read "Mary Burrell"

And he was the same man that went on to marry and divorce Mary's sister Gertrude, the unspecified fourth marriage on JS Shaw's death certificate. Although it is clear that his first two marriages were to the Burrell sisters.

Regarding her son - William John Shaw - Birth record is 1901/7913 (28/2/1901) Possible marriage to Cora Clark Herdson record 1936/4374, the only match to BDM. Possible death 1961/29597. (Age 60, reconciles with Birth)

posted by George Burrell

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