Charles Michael Andrew Merrin
James Merrin > John Merrin > Charles Merrin > Noreen Merrin
Charles Michael Andrew Merrin was my great-grandfather, the tenth child and youngest son of John Merrin and his wife, Catherine. Note that Charlie's father had a younger brother called Michael who died in 1862 and I think it's likely that Charlie's second name was given to him to honour the uncle he never met.
Charlie was born on 13 May 1877 in Gulgong where his father was the Sergeant in charge of the police station and a respected member of the community.
In 1881 when Charlie was four, John left the police force and the family moved to Mudgee where they lived until 1900, with John being employed as "acting warder" at Mudgee gaol for some of that time [reference required]. The family was well-regarded in the Mudgee community.
On 18 March 1905 Charlie married Lavinia Jane Bennett Laws (known as Lillie) at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Charlie worked as a travelling salesman and Lillie sometimes worked behind the bar at the hotel in Macquarie Street in Liverpool where her father was the licensee. Lillie told her daughter and grandson (my father) that she and Charlie met when Charlie stayed at the hotel.
Charlie was obviously an adored and adoring husband and father. He travelled for work and sent lovingly-worded postcards to his daughter and wife.
Charlie was born on 13 May 1877 in Gulgong where his father was the Sergeant in charge of the police station and a respected member of the community.
In 1881 when Charlie was four, John left the police force and the family moved to Mudgee where they lived until 1900, with John being employed as "acting warder" at Mudgee gaol for some of that time [reference required]. The family was well-regarded in the Mudgee community.
On 18 March 1905 Charlie married Lavinia Jane Bennett Laws (known as Lillie) at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Charlie worked as a travelling salesman and Lillie sometimes worked behind the bar at the hotel in Macquarie Street in Liverpool where her father was the licensee. Lillie told her daughter and grandson (my father) that she and Charlie met when Charlie stayed at the hotel.
Charlie was obviously an adored and adoring husband and father. He travelled for work and sent lovingly-worded postcards to his daughter and wife.
Residences from the Sands Directories
Charlie worked in Mudgee for some years, initially at Kellett & Sons, Flagstaff Stores, Westend. Later he worked at Loneragan's with his brothers, Jim and Arthur.
Catherine Merrin died on 22 December 1903 and the first listing under Charlie's name in the Sands Directory is in 1904 so I suspect he lived in Mudgee until 1903 and moved to Sydney soon after his mother died.
1904: 72 Marian Street, Newtown
1908: 21 London Street, Newtown
1909: 18 Duxford Street, Paddington
Catherine Merrin died on 22 December 1903 and the first listing under Charlie's name in the Sands Directory is in 1904 so I suspect he lived in Mudgee until 1903 and moved to Sydney soon after his mother died.
1904: 72 Marian Street, Newtown
1908: 21 London Street, Newtown
1909: 18 Duxford Street, Paddington
Death
Charlie died at his home at 18 Duxford Street, Paddington, on 27 April 1909. He was just 28 years old and his daughter, Noreen, was just three years old.
Burial
Charlie was buried on 28 April 1909 at Rookwood Cemetery in an unmarked grave. He was buried in the same grave as his sister, Lena Roberts, who had died at the age of 25 years in 1899, possibly in childbirth. Lena died or was buried on 12 August 1899 (family note in Nanny Bent's file).
The grave reference is SEC*M1*N**717. The GPS co-ordinates are -33.865207,151.052540. Grave #714 has a headstone in the name of Kilfoyle which may help to locate Grave #717. I think Charlie and Lena's grave is located where the bare patch of earth is in the first photo below.
These photos were taken by me on Saturday 15 May 2021.
The grave reference is SEC*M1*N**717. The GPS co-ordinates are -33.865207,151.052540. Grave #714 has a headstone in the name of Kilfoyle which may help to locate Grave #717. I think Charlie and Lena's grave is located where the bare patch of earth is in the first photo below.
These photos were taken by me on Saturday 15 May 2021.