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Judy Webster's Genealogy Tips and Indexes for local, interstate & overseas folk with historical records in Queensland and other Australian States. © Copyright, Judy Webster.    Search this site Why I use and recommend Findmypast

Maintenance Payments to Deserted Wives / Children

Records of maintenance payments to deserted wives or children are useful for family history. Those currently open to the public include some for Boonah, Brisbane, Charters Towers, Clermont, Croydon, Georgetown, Herberton, Ingham, Kingaroy, Maryborough, Mount Morgan, Roma, Thursday Island, Toowoomba, Townsville and Warwick.

Original records of maintenance payments usually show the complainant's name (and occasionally an address), defendant's name (and often one or more addresses for him), date of the maintenance order, dates and amount of payments, and whether the order was for a deserted wife or child. Additional details vary, but may include the death date of the subject, spouse or child; references to prison sentences for non-payment (these can lead to other sources); the date when a couple resumed living together; etc.

Explanation of names below:

• Date range: earliest 1899, latest 1925 (but with gaps).
• This is an ongoing project. When more names are added, I'll announce it on What's New and in my email newsletter.
• '..' means that I could not decipher some letters.
• Scroll through the list. Names may have been spelled incorrectly in the records.
• A question mark means handwriting was difficult to read, so the spelling here may be wrong.
• Names beginning with 'Mc' precede other 'M' surnames.
• Apostrophes have been removed from names such as O'DOWD.
• If there is more than one entry for a name, the same person may be mentioned more than once, or there may be several people with the same name. Check *all* such entries, because some may be more detailed or more accurate than others.
• For names below, see how to get information, or copies of the original records.

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Genealogy is my business (not just a hobby), and I've spent over 35 years learning about (and indexing) original records, so I charge fees for my time (to consult my index, travel to a record office, find the bundle/volume and file/page, obtain copies and send them to you).

You don't pay for '(see...)' cross-references. For example, if the list said
    BLOGGS Joe
    BLOGGS Joe
    BLOGGS Joseph (see BLOGGS Joe)
then you'd request '2 x BLOGGS Joe' and pay for 2 entries (not 3, because the 3rd entry is just a cross-reference).

Option No.1:  Maintenance INDEX: Record Series & Quote.

$4 for one entry, plus $2 for each additional entry (same name or different names). If you get details from my index, you will sometimes see that the record must be for a different person with the same name, and you won't waste money ordering a copy that's irrelevant.

What I'll tell you (from my index):

• 'Document was created sometime BETWEEN [year] and [year]'.
• Possible contents of the original document.
• Notes (if any) that I made during indexing (sometimes with identifying details).
• No-obligation quote (it will be a discount price) for a digital image of the original document.

To send a request, follow these steps:

1. Calculate the cost ($4 for one entry, plus $2 each for extras).
2. Send payment by bank deposit or PayPal as explained here (opens in a new window).
3. In an email, type 'Maintenance INDEX: record series & quote', and...
4. List the entries you want. Don't send biographical details - just the names.
5. In your email, tell me the payment date, amount and method, and (if you have one) an alternative email address.
6. Send your email to the address shown on the payment page.

Option No.2:  Maintenance record: Digital COPY.

The cost will depend on the record series, because the number of pages and record format varies (eg: loose page within a bundle; microfilmed file; hardcopy register; etc). Use the Record Series/Quote service above.

Other Suggestions

Records that name the biological father of a child born out of wedlock.

My other genealogy sites have additional advice and names.

Search this site  (do NOT use apostrophes; read search results page carefully)

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