Find Ancestors

I have recently found an obitary notice for a person I believe to be my great grandfather. His name is Frederick George Biggs and he was born in 1904. The family lost touch with him after my great grandmother died in 1956 in the Kolar Gold Fields in India and we now believe he went to the Gold Fields of Arrarat in Victoria Australia. According to the obitary he is buried in the cemetery in Arrarat. There doesnt seem to be any online records of Electorial rolls so I am stuck as to what to do next. Any ideas would be most welcome. I have sent an email to the Victoria record office about obtaining a death certificate but have not heard anything back. Although he is the only grandfather my dad ever knew and my dad lived with them in India, he was not direct line. The obitary was for 1989. We believe he probably arrived in Australia in about 1957/58. Hoping someone can help, thanks Anita.

Hi Anita

Is this his birth?



Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922

Name:Frederick George Biggs

Birth Date:
6 Jan 1903

Father's Name:
George Herbert Biggs

Mother's name:
Wilhelmina Henrietta Brandt

Birth Place:
Queensland

Registration Year:
1903

Registration Place:
Queensland

Page Number:
1939

Registration Number:
B006216



Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980

Name:Frederick George Biggs

Gender:Male

Electoral Year:1954

State:Victoria

District:Corangamite 71 Queens st

Subdistrict:Ararat

Also at the same address: Nellie Evelyn & Lional Biggs

No he was born in Farmborough Somerset on 11/08/1904.

I cant see him after the 1954 ER posted above


Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980

Name:Nellie Evelyn Biggs

Gender:Female

Electoral Year:1963

State:Victoria

District:Corangamite

Subdistrict:Ararat

Also at the same address: James & Lional


Looks like Nellie and Lional were married. How are they related to Fred?



Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950


Name:Nellie Evelyn Taylor

Spouse Name:Lionel Biggs

Marriage Place:Victoria

Registration Place:Victoria

Registration Year:1919

Registration Number:10720

http://www.ozburials.com/CemsVic/ararat.htm

(not seeing on above, two other)

Chris :)

http://ryersonindex.net/search.php

(or above)

For our info/reference

Births Sep 1904 (>99%)
BIGGS Frederick George Clutton 5c 462

1911 census transcription details for: 1 Kingwell Cottages Kingwell Timsbury

Print Close
National Archive Reference:
RG14PN14646 RG78PN888 RD315 SD3 ED3 SN221
Reg. District: Clutton
Sub District: High Littleton
Parish: High Littleton
Enum. District: 3
Address: 1 Kingwell Cottages Kingwell Timsbury
County: Somersetshire
Name Relation Condition/Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
BIGGS, David George Head Married M 31 1880 Labourer Agricultural Farmboro Rd Bath
BIGGS, Florence Noah Wife Married 10 years F 30 1881 Sigford Devon
BIGGS, Florence Gwendoline Daughter F 8 1903 Farmboro W Bath
BIGGS, Frederick George Son M 6 1905 Farmboro W Bath
BIGGS, Elsie Norah Daughter F 2 1909 Farmboro W Bath
BIGGS, Bernice Georgena Daughter F 0 (9 MONTHS) 1911 High Littleton W Bristol

He was in India in 1954. The last record we have of him is him travelling back to India after a 3 month visit in 1957. After Independance in India in 1947 the british were given about 10 years to leave so after the death of my great grandmother who was Anglo Indian in 1956 he came to England for a visit went back to India and disappeared. We believe that he went to Australia and the obitary I found in 1989 seems very likely to be him. Seems odd that he wouldnt be on the ER.

yes Stuart thats him :)
He married my great grandmother, Ivy Grace Biggs in Lahore in 1929

Gins I dont think they are anything to do with my Frederick but I dont know whether he did have any relations there.

UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960



Name:Frederick George Biggs DOB 11/08/1904 (gold mining agent)

Gender:Male

Departure Date:23 Aug 1957

Port of Departure:Southampton, England

Destination Port:Colombo, Sri Lanka

Ship Name:Corfu

Search Ship Database:
Search the 'Corfu' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

Shipping line:P and O Steam Navigation Company

Master:
L Jm Penny

Thanks Chris Im going to email them :)

yes Gins thats him last record I have of him :(

The obitary was in the Victoria Funneral notices 1981-1997. It reads
Frederick George
Biggs
1989
Ararat Cemetery
Birth, Marriage, death and Parish records
Deaths and Burials
Australasia

State:Victoria
Country:Australia
Given names:Frederick George
Surname:BIGGS
Year:1989
Cemetery:Ararat Cemetery
Record source:Newspaper Funeral Notices for country Victoria
Data provider:The Genealogical Society of Victoria

(as above Find My Past)

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/help-and-advice/international-records/australia-new-zealand-records

(comes under above)

All of these transcripts and images are included in our World subscription, or you can purchase PayAsYouGo credits to view them.

Chris :)

Thanks Chris but thats where I originally found the obitary. What I wanted to know is how to find out where he was living from the Electoral Rolls, but cant find any online for 1989

Hi Anita ...the 'VIC State Library' (on-line) has an 'Ask Us' librarian service -they will check elelctoral rolls -past & present for you ..especially as you have lots of clues for them to begin with.

Valerie
WAus

Thanks Valerie, I couldnt find him on one of the other sites where I have found Australian electoral rolls, which is puzzling seeing as he is buried in Ararat cemetery. Im assuming he was local to be buried there.