Searching for Cummings Family, South Australia

Question

Hello,

I'm looking for any information anyone might have on the Cummings (Cummins, Cumming etc) family in South Australia.

I only know as far up as my Grandfather, but this is what I do know;

1. He was/is P J Cummings born Oct 1931 in South Australia.

2. He was at one point married to Myrna Betty Willshire (1931-1986).

3. They had two sons, and I think two daughters

4. I am the child of one of his Sons

5. They divorced/separated (date unknown)

6. Myrna Willshire later had another Son to a different father

7. The surname "Gibson" is also associated with the family somehow. The Willshire side of the family is wonderfully documented (back to the 1600s), so I am 99% sure that the Gibson link comes from the Cummings side.

8. I know of two Gibson children who are slightly older than myself (b. 1970-1980?), and are possibly First Step-Cousins of mine

9. The Cummings line if memory serves me, goes back to Scotland (but I'm not sure how long ago that was)

I've looked everywhere I can online without success, and I'm trying to avoid parting ways with $50 to South Australian BDM if possible. So if anyone has any detail of the family / family tree in question that they can share with me, or point me in the right direction - It'd be profoundly appreciated.

Answer 1

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45786995 The Advertiser, Wednesday 21 November 1951

WILLSHIRE — CUMMINGS. — The marriage of Myrna Betty, daughter of Mrs. S. Liebich and late J. Willshire, to Peter John, only son of Mrs. T. Connor and Mr. J. Cummings, will be solemnised at St. Augustine's Church, Unley, on November 24, at 6.30 p.m.

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From: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48925245 The Advertiser, Saturday 31 October 1953

CUMMINGS (nee Willshire).— On October 30, at Q.V.M.H., to Myrna and Peter— a daughter (Sheryl Anne). Thanking all in   attendance.

Comments

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36351507 The Advertiser, Saturday 5 February 1949

WILLSHIRE — CUMMINGS. — The engagement is announced of Myrna Betty, daughter of Mrs. R. Liebich and late Mr. Trevor Willshire, to   Peter John, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cummings.    

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http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90893326 Chronicle, Thursday 12 January 1933

WILLSHIRE (nee Sylv. Griffiths).— On the 10th January, at Westbourne Park Private Hospital, to Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Willshire, Unley— a son (Trevor John).

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http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90490263 Chronicle, Thursday 26 February 1931

WILLSHIRE.— On the 18th February, at Westibourne Park Private Hospital, to the wife of Trevor Willshire, Malvern — a daughter (Myrna Betty). Special thanks Dr. Gault and Sister Hopkins. No visitors till 23rd.

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This is possibly Trevor:

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77739789 Border Watch, Tuesday 11 September 1923

Mr. Trevor Willshire, of the Millicent post office staff, has been promoted to Mount Gambier. He is a native of Millicent,

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There are other newspaper reports of various school activities from 1914 in Millicent.

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You will note that Mr & Mrs J Cummings (parents of Peter John) parted company between 5 Feb 1949 and 21 Nov 1951. Ex Mrs Cummings remarried to a Connor.

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http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91078528 Chronicle,  Thursday 20 September 1934

WILLSHIRE. — On the 12th September, at private hospital, Trevor James Herbert, dearly beloved husband of Sylvia Florence Willshire nee Griffiths) , of Opey avenue, Hyde Park, and loving father of Myrna and Trevor John, aged 30 years. Loved by all who knew him.

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My Great Grandmother was a cummings she was born in Jamestown, South Australia. Marjorie Jean Cummings, her father was Joseph cummings and mother was Laura Louisa Cock-Cummings.

Answer 2

Because SA doesn't have a whole lot of stuff online I suspect you'll have to part with the money for the transcriptions. I assume you've looked here:

https://www.genealogysa.org.au/resources/online-databases.html

Have you tried Trove?

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/search?adv=y

Answer 3

This is another good SA site - http://www.familyhistorysa.info/

Answer 4

Don't be hasty to part with $$$ to the SA BDM. Genealogy SA has the original records on microfiche and will provide transcriptions for a lot less. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/services/research

Your local AEC should be open, and you can search Australia-wide on the current electoral roll.

Answer 5

Myrna Betty Cummings, nee Willshire, married Peter Ronald Cox at Campbelltown on 7 Dec 1974. Published in The Advertiser 10 Dec 1974.

Vicki Lee Cummings, daughter of Peter and Myrna, nee Willshire, born at Queen Victoria Hospital 1 May 1955. Published in The Advertiser 3 May 1955.

Myrna Betty Willshire died 9 Dec 1988. Funeral 13 Dec 1988. Published in The Advertiser 12 & 13 Dec 1988. Also Memoriam notices 14 Dec 1988, 9 Dec 1989, 8 Dec 1990. She is buried at Centennial Park. https://www.centennialpark.org/memorial-search/myrna-betty-willshire-171664/

Comments

Paul Trevor Cummings, son of Peter and Myrna, nee Wilshire [sic], born 18 Sep 1959. Published in The Advertiser 19 Sep 1959.

Can't find any death notice in the newspaper for Peter John Cummings.