#52ANCESTORS WEEK 23 - GOING TO THE CHAPEL

Week 23: Going to the Chapel

Maybe "going to the chapel" makes you think of weddings. Perhaps you have a member of the clergy in your family tree. Is there a particular church that features prominently? Chapel or Church as a surname?



"Going the Chapel….and we’re….." 

My Great Grandparents, Alfred Ludwig Brandt and Louisa Barker were married at the Chalmers Manse of the Church of Scotland in Launceston on 10th January 1883.⁠[1] 

This church is still standing today although it is no longer used as a church. On a recent visit to Tasmania, I was able to view and take photos of it. It is sadly in need of restoration but the current owners are unable to finish it.

The Church as it was in 2017 ( my photo)

Current Owners 2017 (my photo)

I have written on this blog previously a creative non fiction story on Louisa. I still have much to research on this couple, but for now I will outline this particular couple’s “Going to the Chapel” story. 

Alfred and Louisa became parents to their first born Alfred Lewis Brandt in Tasmania in 1870.[⁠2] 

They migrated north in the next year to Gulgong where they had another three sons, Magnus, Peter and John in the next five years.⁠[3] 

They continued further north after this and settled in the town of Gunnedah, New South Wales. It was in this town that the rest of their children, two boys, George and William and a girl Ethel were born between the years of 1878-1882.⁠[4] 

So have you twigged to the “Elephant in the Room” yet? 

These seven children were all born out of wedlock! Look again. Alfred and Louisa were married in 1883, some thirteen years after their first born and about three months after their last child. 

My Great Grandparents did indeed “Go to the Chapal”. They did indeed “get married”! 

But why did they wait thirteen years? 

I doubt I will ever be able to answer this question with any degree of certainty!
_______

1 Marriage Record of Alfred Brandt and Louisa Barker, #RGD37/1/42no685, https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fNAME_INDEXES$002f0$002fNAME_INDEXES:894563/one

2 Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #44 Alfred L BRANDT [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, http://www.ancestry.com.au,  accessed 12 August 2015 

3 Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #135592 Magnus BRANDT, Index Reg #14877 Peter BRANDT; Index Reg #15707 John BRANDT; [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 http://www.ancestry.com.au accessed 12 August 2015 

4 Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #22850 George BRANDT; Index Reg #25169 William BRANDT; Index Reg #17610 Ethel BRANDT; [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 http://www.ancestry.com.au accessed 12 August 2015