Change of Name/Migration to Australia/Australian Marriages and families: John Gerdes was born John (Johanne ?) Johnson (spelling unsure) but changed his surname to Gerdes after migrating to Australia when he was possibly between the age of 15 to 18 years, arriving before 1876. It appears John came to Australia on his own and not with his parents. John possibly arrived in Australia from New York. John may have worked on ships (his father, Klas Johnson was a Mariner) also and then continued onto Australia but not known for sure. John appeared to give false information on most of his legal documention and supposedly the truth was only known verbally within family members. Unfortunately those family members are no longer around to confirm with.
It is listed on John's Death Certificate that he was born in Hamburg, Germany. By the age showing on Certificate, John would have been born about 1850. Yet, it is believed by family members that John was in fact born in Finland. Also another family member has supplied a Birth date of 29 Jan, 1854. Again, not sure which is correct.
John married Frederica Louisa Haas on 24 Nov, 1876 at Holy Trinity Church, Sandridge, Victoria, Australia. John and Frederica had 6 children, Margaretta Energy, Louisa, Richard John, Private Claude Henri, Marion Frederica and Gertrude May. Frederica died on 13 Dec 1899, Carlton, Victoria, Aust.
John later married Eva Jemima Ring on 21 March, 1901 at 448 Queen Street, Melbourne, Vic, Aust. John and Eva had 2 daughters, Olive Rita and Eilleen Doris. Eva died on 25 May, 1906 at 10 Madden Grove, Richmond, Vic, Aust. Eva's sister Edith Violet Ring helped care for her during her terminal illness.
John later married Edith Violet Ring on 10 Dec, 1906 also at 448 Queen Street, Melbourne, Vic, Aust. John and Edith had 2 sons, Horace George and Sydney Claude. Edith also took on the role of Stepmother to her niece, Olive Rita who was 4 years old when her mother, Eva died. Eilleen Doris died at the age of 3 weeks on 22 July 1903. Edith died on 20 Dec 1927 at 94 Neville Street, Marrickville. New South Wales, Aust.
John was widowed 3 times and is buried with his 3rd wife, Edith Violet at Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia
John and Edith moved from Melbourne, Victoria to Marrickville, New South Wales sometime after they married in 1906 and before 1915 when their 2nd son, Sydney Claude was born in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Aust. Horace George was born in South Yarra, Victoria, Aust.
John is my Great Great Grandfather and his son, Richard John is my Great Grandfather. I did have a Researcher in Hamburg, Germany look into John's Birth/Baptism in Hamburg checking under numerous spellings of Johnson but found nothing.
Written by Jennifer L Gerdes
It is listed on John's Death Certificate that he was born in Hamburg, Germany. By the age showing on Certificate, John would have been born about 1850. Yet, it is believed by family members that John was in fact born in Finland. Also another family member has supplied a Birth date of 29 Jan, 1854. Again, not sure which is correct.
John married Frederica Louisa Haas on 24 Nov, 1876 at Holy Trinity Church, Sandridge, Victoria, Australia. John and Frederica had 6 children, Margaretta Energy, Louisa, Richard John, Private Claude Henri, Marion Frederica and Gertrude May. Frederica died on 13 Dec 1899, Carlton, Victoria, Aust.
John later married Eva Jemima Ring on 21 March, 1901 at 448 Queen Street, Melbourne, Vic, Aust. John and Eva had 2 daughters, Olive Rita and Eilleen Doris. Eva died on 25 May, 1906 at 10 Madden Grove, Richmond, Vic, Aust. Eva's sister Edith Violet Ring helped care for her during her terminal illness.
John later married Edith Violet Ring on 10 Dec, 1906 also at 448 Queen Street, Melbourne, Vic, Aust. John and Edith had 2 sons, Horace George and Sydney Claude. Edith also took on the role of Stepmother to her niece, Olive Rita who was 4 years old when her mother, Eva died. Eilleen Doris died at the age of 3 weeks on 22 July 1903. Edith died on 20 Dec 1927 at 94 Neville Street, Marrickville. New South Wales, Aust.
John was widowed 3 times and is buried with his 3rd wife, Edith Violet at Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia
John and Edith moved from Melbourne, Victoria to Marrickville, New South Wales sometime after they married in 1906 and before 1915 when their 2nd son, Sydney Claude was born in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Aust. Horace George was born in South Yarra, Victoria, Aust.
John is my Great Great Grandfather and his son, Richard John is my Great Grandfather. I did have a Researcher in Hamburg, Germany look into John's Birth/Baptism in Hamburg checking under numerous spellings of Johnson but found nothing.
Written by Jennifer L Gerdes
