My great-grandparents Patrick James Collery (1900-1950) and Sheila Iris Marriott (1916-1982) got married on the 25th of April 1936 in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia at the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories. Denomination: Catholic. They had 5 children together in 10 years.
On their certificate of marriage, Patrick claims to be 31 years of age, but a birth certificate found dated in 1900 would make Patrick 35 years of age at that time, turning 36 in May of 1936. And Sheila was 20 years of age. Patrick’s occupation was listed as a labourer, and Sheila’s occupation listed as a waitress.
The birth certificate found for Patrick James Collery states his birth was on the 9th of May 1900 in Monegeetta, Romsey, Victoria, Australia. His father, James Collery, grazier, and mother, Ellen Elizabeth Bradley.
As for Patrick’s childhood I am aware that he attended ‘Bolinda Primary School’ in Victoria as records there contain his name. Patrick grew to work as a labourer, storeman, packer and most likely did some farming growing up as his parents were farmers. Patrick James had two younger sisters, Catherine Frances and Ellen Elizabeth.
Patrick mourned the loss of his younger sister Catherine Frances after she died at Austin Hospital in April of 1938 in Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. She was only 35 years old. She was not married, and her death certificate states the cause of her death was – ‘spinal tuberculosis, renal tuberculosis and pyonephrosis’. She was buried at Lancefield Cemetery. Patrick and Sheila would later name a daughter, born 1939, Pauline Frances. Patrick’s mother Ellen Elizabeth Bradley passed away at the age of 84, in 1943, and his father James Patrick Collery passed away in 1948, aged 82. Patrick James would pass away two years later, after his sudden death in 1950.
Sheila Iris Marriott was born on the 10th of March 1916 in the ‘Smith Ward’ at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to parents Thomas Charles Marriott, house painter, and Mary Ann Ryan. Sheila’s childhood must have been tough as her father Thomas deserted Mary and their six children in 1918. He did so to be with Mary’s previous and first daughter, Kathleen Mary Ross, his step-daughter, by the time she was 19 years old. The children never seen their father again. You can read more about her father’s story here. Sheila Iris had five siblings: Jean Lenora, Mervyn Charles, Cecil George, Charles Raymore and Melba Hinemoa. Sheila was only 2 years old at the time and likely didn’t remember her father at all, however her oldest sibling Jean Lenora was aged 11. Mary Ann never remarried and raised her children on her own as a single mother.
In 1919, when Sheila Iris was 3 years old, her half-brother she never knew about would be born, Mervyn Clarke Thomas; born to her father Thomas Charles Marriott and her step-sister Kathleen Mary Ross in Junee, New South Wales, Australia. Thomas and Kathleen had made their way from Victoria to New South Wales. Here they would reside secretly and have six children together: Mervyn Clarke, Iris, Kevin, Noelene, Arthur and Jack. However, as Thomas Charles was wanted on warrant, he changed his name to an alias name upon moving with Kathleen, his name now known as; Gus Thomas in the area of NSW. Thus, his children with Kathleen would carry the surname Thomas.
Sheila attended the Methodist Ladies’ College and was a member of the Methodist Ladies’ College Old Collegians’ Club in 1931. Sheila and a few other women organised a return ball in the Ormond Hall for August of 1931. ‘Tickets could be obtained from Miss Sheila Marriott, of 7 Fuller Avenue, Glen Iris’.
Patrick James Collery died on the 20th of April 1950, at the age of 50, on the premises of 511 Little Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Residing in the suburb of Sunshine with his wife and children at the time of his death. Their home being at 27 Dickson St, Sunshine, Victoria. Leaving behind three daughters and two sons with Sheila, named and ages: Bernice Sheila (12), Pauline Frances (10), Maureen Lois (6), Trevor James (4) and Rodney Charles (2). His death certificate stated he died from ‘myocardial fibrosis’ – ‘cardiac failure’. My grandfather (Trevor James) says his father Patrick passed away at work. The city coroner, Mr J. R. Burke ordered burial of the body without inquest. He was buried at Footscray Cemetery on the 22nd of April 1950.
Sheila Iris remarried, a year later, to Harold Bertrud Lightfoot (1914-2007), on the 25th of August 1951, at St. Mark’s Church, in Sunshine, Victoria, Australia. Harold was born in Runcorn, Cheshire, England, and was working as a machinist. On their marriage certificate, Harold was aged 37 and Sheila aged 35. On their wedding day, Sheila wore a blue moss crepe frock and hat to match with pastel shaded flowers and black accessories. Sheila’s eldest sister Jean Lenora attended and wore a junior navy frock with grey accessories. She carried out the duties of hostess. Sheila had three children with Harold Lightfoot, one passing as an infant, named Harold, the two surviving sons named: Russell John and Milton John Howard Lightfoot.
Thomas Charles Marriott would pass away in 1933, at the age of 54, in Bradfordville, New South Wales, Australia. Kathleen Mary would pass away two years later in 1935, in Goulburn, New South Wales, aged 36, from complications after child birth to her 2nd child to her second husband, Roy Joseph Charles Mungovan. It wasn’t until a year after all of this had already occurred (1936 now) when Sheila would be marrying my great-grandfather Patrick James, and her first child, Bernice Sheila being born the following year May of 1937.
Sheila and Patrick Collery were married for 14 years before Patrick’s sudden death in 1950. And unfortunately, Sheila would face another death around this time, the passing of her mother Mary Ann, a few years later in 1953, when Sheila was 37 years old and now married to Harold Lightfoot.
Sheila’s older brother Mervyn Charles died in Pimpama, Queensland, Australia in April 1978, when Sheila was 62 years old. Months later, in July of 1978, her older sister Jean Lenora died in Talbot, Victoria, Australia. Sheila Iris Lightfoot (formerly Collery, née Marriott) died on the 28th of January 1982, in Portarlington, Victoria, Australia, aged 65 years. Her cause of death being ‘left cerebral glioma, diabetes mellitus and hypertension’. Married to Harold Lightfoot for a period of 31 years.
Beth’s Ancestry | Family History Research 