Vilhelm Sophus Petersen (1886 - 1972)

Born 16 Jan 1886 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Ancestors

Husband of Rose Ethel (Hutchinson) Petersen — married 4 Oct 1916 in Church of St Paul, Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia

Died 19 Aug 1972 at age 86 in Lister Hospital, Mackay, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Willis, or William was born in either Jan 1886 or 1887 (there are 2 records). He is the son of Niels Petersen and Karen Frederiksen. He emigrated to Queensland with his family on the "Jumna" arriving at Townsville on 31 Jan 1888. He was just an infant at the time. In 1908 he was still living with his mother and step-father at Lea St Charters Towers with occupation of horse driver, but he isn't there after 1912. At time of his marriage in 1916 he gave his residence at Dicks Creek near Winton, probably living with his Aunt and Uncle Harrington. As an adult he was a miner and an industrial yardman. In 1941 he is on the Electoral Roll at Strathmore St, Collinsville. Oral tradition is that he was injured in a rockfall in a mine and had to take a surface job after that. He had never become an Australian citizen and was unable to get the pension when he retired as a consequence. He was also required to register as an Alien (Alien Registration Certificate 359104) in June 1954 and was naturalised on 16 Dec 1954. He was married and had one daughter. He passed away in 1972.

24 Dec 1954 - Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld)

WILLIAM PETERSEN, of Collinsville, was naturalised the other day, at a special ceremony in Bowen.

The point of the story is that Mr. Petersen is 68, and came to Australia in 1887, at the ripe age of about 17 or 18 months. At 21 he went on the electoral rolls and has been voting in State and Federal elections ever since. It wasn't till he tried to get his old age pension that the lapse was discovered. Specially invited for the ceremony—the first of its kind for Bowen — was Member for Whitsunday (Mr. Lloyd Roberts) .^[1]

^[2]

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Sources

• Birth & Baptism - either "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG8J-S5T3 : 15 March 2018), Vilhelm Sofus Pedersen, ; Birth, 16 Jan 1886, 5, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen. or "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG8B-YNTV : 15 March 2018), Vilhelm Sophus Pedersen, ; Birth, 16 Jan 1887, 7, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen.

• Marriage - QLD BDM Marriage index - William Samuel Petersen; Event date: 04/10/1916; Event type: Marriage registration; Registration details: 1916/C/3156; Spouse: Rose Ethel Hutchinson

• Death - QLD BDM Death index - William Samuel Petersen; Event date: 19/08/1972; Event type: Death registration; Registration details: 1972/C/4873; Mother: Sophie Johnston; Father/parent: Neil Petersen

• Migration to Australia per "Jumna" 1887 - Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 38682, http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Image/DigitalImageDetails.aspx?ImageId=38682, (p 5 of 15)

• Australian Naturalisation - National Archives of Australia - PETERSEN, William Samuel - Nationality: Danish - arrived Townsville on unknown vessel July 1887 - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4064043

• 1935 - Elected to Collinsville Hospital Committee - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202565872

• 1947 - Holiday in Mackay - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62911097

1. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169647459
2. ↑ Entered by Mark Rogers, Dec 20, 2011