[Major update 7/9/2019]
A great deal more has been discovered about the speculative questions outlined below.
I have corrected the family tree information accordingly, but much does not fit in the family tree structure.
Anyone with interest in the family is invited to contact me to obtain the latest information, while I get around to organising it in a more accessible format.
[More updates 1 May 2015]
[Minor facts updated 30 April 2014]
[Updated 12 December 2013]
There's been a lot of progress since this blog was last updated. I'm looking at a different way of recording the family history research, so I won't be using this for detailed updates from now on. I'll update links to the new resource as it develops.
For the curious, an extended interactive online family tree can now be seen at: http://www.thwaites.com.au/famhist.
The main discoveries as of May 2015 are:
0a. George's parents were Thomas Thwaites of Ripon, and Eleanor Coates of Topcliffe. Eleanor died in Ripon when George was about 13, and George was sent back to Topcliffe to live with his mother's sister, Anne [Coates], who had married a local farmer, James Whittaker.
George had two younger brothers, Thomas and John. They appear in the rolls of the Jepson's Hospital in Ripon (a kind of charitable childrens' home and school) even though their father was still living in Ripon. Thomas senior was a hosier in Ripon, and also Governor of the House of Correction - a municipal prison for minor offenders and debtors (now a Museum in Ripon), and Thomas junior George's father) was in the same business at a different address in Ripon .
1. George's eldest daughter Eleanor Thwaites married Frederick Broadbent in Topcliffe in 1863. She died following the birth of a son, Tom, in 1864. Tom Broadbent grew up to be a machine-builder and moved south to Surrey, where other descendants of George may now be awaiting discovery.
1b. George and Hannah had two sons who died in infancy, Thomas, born in 1851 and died the same year in Topcliffe, and another John died soon after birth in 1842. Later generations seemed not to know of these lost sons.
2. George had a younger brother, John Thwaites, who lived at some point in Bradford, where he married Jane Settle. John and Jane had four children, and operated as grocers in Leeds, but the entire family died in the 1860s, presumably of infectious diseases, with the exception of the youngest son Harry (probably John Henry Thwaites) born in Bradford who is recorded in the 1871 census staying in Topcliffe with his grandfather, George. There may be other Thwaites descendants of George through this Harry, but he cannot be traced. This would indicate Harry may have emigrated or joined the armed forces and died overseas.
3. Jack Thwaites, youngest brother of Robert Ernest and Francis William, died in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1965 (not 1975) leaving a widow Annie and a son Richard Thwaites. This Richard had a wife Vi and four children: Robert, Judy, Gail, and another son named either John or Ricky (both names used in different obituraries, all living in Trail, British Columbia in 1965. This information is from obituaries of Jack and Annie in the Melfort local newspaper, and has not been confirmed from other Canadian records. Contact has now been made with John R Thwaites in Vancouver.
I have also obtained substantial records of Jack's war service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War 1, when he served in northern France. After the War, Jack was granted a soldier settlement farm block in far northern Manitoba but seems not to have had the capital to sustain it. He became a farmer in central Saskatchewan. In World War 2 he managed the Officers' Mess at an allied Pilot Training base close to where he had farmed, then worked with the Swifts meat company and finally with a rural hardware supply company's branch in Melfort. All this far from his beginnings in industrial Ossett, Yorkshire as youngest son of a draper, then growing up in the rural Yorkshire town of Boroughbridge.
Another John Thwaites had settled in Swift Current, Alberta, Canada a decade or so earlier. I have to wonder if this was a relative. Later study of Jacks Canadian immigration papers indicate that he arrived aged 18 as a sponsored immigrant under a "British Bounty" scheme, with a pre-arranged job as a farm labourer in Saskatchewan.
[Updated 30 March 2012]
The attached table shows the direct descendants of George Thwaites of Topcliffe, Yorkshire.
The sources for the Yorkshire material are primarily the UK online births, deaths and marriages indices, plus the Topcliffe gravestone information. In some cases this differs from the material provided in a family tree drawn up by Joan Lenker (Seattle) in 2008. The official registers have Lizzie Hardwick's first name as "Phebe" not "Phoebe" (both spellings are used in different documents, and have Francis William Thwaites born in 1883, not Francis Hardwick Thwaites born in 1885.
[This has now been updated using material from the UK census sheet copies provided by Christopher Thwaites (California) and from other web searches]
Joan Lenker had recorded two sisters of Ernest and Francis who "Died as children after being out watching a parade (Dec 8 and 10, ~1900)". When first posting this, I had found no trace of them, so speculated that perhaps this was a family recollection that really referred to the two sisters in the previous generation, Eleanor and Ann, daughters of George, who died before their mother, both in their twenties, recorded on Hannah Thwaites' gravestone (see previous post).
A further search of Yorkshire births and deaths, using the Census information on the location of John Thwaites' family, showed that there were indeed two more sisters, who died in different years but at the ages of 6 and 3.
The two biggest gaps in my knowledge are tracking down Jack Thwaites descendants in Canada; and how do the historic Rayner family connect to the Hannah [Rayner] Thwaites.
The family tree can be viewed on the web here , but you might have to sign up to see all the generations. I can make a range of files and reports to send people by email if they contact me.
If you see errors or omissions here, or have extra information to contribute, please let me know by blog comment or by email.
Descendants of George Thwaites of Topcliffe:
[NOTE THAT THE tree linked two paragraphs above is more up to date]
1st Generation
1. George Thwaites was born in 1816 in Ripon, Yorkshire, England and died in 1891 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England. He married Hannah Thwaites [Rayner] on Aug. 8, 1836 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England. Hannah, daughter of Rayner (?), was born in 1811 in Lofthouse, Yorkshire, UK and died on Dec. 26, 1866 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK.
Other events in the life of George Thwaites
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Marriage
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Aug 8 1836
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Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK
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Children of George Thwaites and Hannah Thwaites [Rayner]
i.
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2.
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Eleanor Thwaites was born in 1837 and died on Dec. 15, 1864 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK.
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ii.
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3.
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Christiana Holgate [Thwaites] was born in 1839 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England and died in 1914 in Thirsk, Yorkshire.
Jane Thwaites was born in 1840 in Topcliffe and died in 1912 in Topcliffe. She married Frederick Barker (a widower)in Topcliffe, and bore a son Frederick Barker who died in India in 1919. | |
iii.
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4.
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Ann Thwaites was born in 1843 and died on Jun. 27, 1866 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK.
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iv.
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5.
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Elizabeth Ward [Thwaites] was born in 1845 and died in 1879 in Thirsk, Yorkshire, England.
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v.
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6.
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John Thwaites was born in 1849 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK and died in 1914 in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, England.
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2nd Generation (Children)
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2. Eleanor Broadbent [Thwaites] was born in 1837 and died on Dec. 15, 1864 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK.
3. Christiana Holgate [Thwaites] was born in 1839 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England and died in 1914 in Thirsk, Yorkshire. She married Abraham Holgate in 1885 in Thirsk, Yorkshire. Abraham was born in 1831 in Driffield, Yorkshire and died in 1915 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England.
4. Ann Barker [Thwaites] was born in 1843 and died on Jun. 27, 1866 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK.
5. Elizabeth Ward [Thwaites] was born in 1845 and died in 1879 in Thirsk, Yorkshire, England. She married John Ward. John was born in 1845 in Thirsk, Yorkshire, England and died in 1915 in Pickering, Yorkshire.
6. John Thwaites was born in 1849 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, UK and died in 1914 in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, England. He married Phebe Elizabeth Thwaites [Hardwick]. Phebe Elizabeth, daughter of William Hardwick and Jane Hardwick [Hoggard], was born in 1855 in Pickering, Yorkshire, England and died in 1926 in Pickering.
Children of John Thwaites and Phebe Elizabeth Thwaites [Hardwick]
i.
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7.
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George Hardwick Thwaites was born in 1877 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England and died in 1941 in Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire, England.
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ii.
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8.
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Robert Ernest Thwaites was born on Jan. 13, 1879 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England and died in 1947 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
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iii.
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9.
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Eleanor Thwaites was born in Dec. 1880 in Batley, Yorkshire, England and died in 1887 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England.
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iv.
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10.
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Francis William Thwaites was born in 1883 in Batley, Yorkshire, England and died in 1954 in Seattle, Washington, USA.
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v.
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11.
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Elizabeth Emma Thwaites was born in 1886 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England and died in 1889 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England.
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vi.
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12.
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Eva Hardwick Thwaites was born in 1888 in Osset, Yorkshire, England and died in 1977 in Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire, England.
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vii.
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13.
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John Rayner Thwaites was born on Jul. 24, 1895 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England and died in 1975 in Canada (Manitoba?).
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3rd Generation (Grandchildren)
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7. George Hardwick Thwaites was born in 1877 in Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England and died in 1941 in Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire, England.
8. Robert Ernest Thwaites was born on Jan. 13, 1879 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England and died 17 Feb 1946 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. He married Jessie Elizabeth Thwaites [Nelson]. Jessie Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Muir Nelson, Sir and Janet Nelson [McIntyre], was born on Apr. 1, 1879 in Dalby, Queensland, Australia and died 26 August 1946 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
Children of Robert Ernest Thwaites and Jessie Elizabeth Thwaites [Nelson]
i.
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14.
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Michael Rayner Thwaites was born on May 30, 1915 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and died on Nov. 1, 2005 in Canberra, Australia.
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ii.
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15.
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Peter Nelson Thwaites was born on May 11, 1917 in Brisbane and died on Feb. 11, 1984 in Melbourne.
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9. Eleanor Thwaites was born in Dec. 1880 in Batley, Yorkshire, England and died in 1887 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England.
10. Francis William Thwaites was born in 1883 in Batley, Yorkshire, England and died in 1954 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He married Marguerite Thwaites [Williams] on Dec. 22, 1917 in Milom, Cumberland, England. Marguerite, daughter of George Williams and Christina Mary Williams, was born on Sep. 18, 1885 in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England and died in 1978 in Seattle, Washington, USA.
Children of Francis William Thwaites and Marguerite Thwaites [Williams]
i.
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16.
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Donald Hardwick Thwaites was born on Sep. 13, 1918 in Birmingham, England and died on Jan. 22, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.
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ii.
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17.
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Christine Lenker [Thwaites] was born on Jan. 3, 1922 in Wenatchee, WA, USA.
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11. Elizabeth Emma Thwaites was born in 1886 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England and died in 1889 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England.
12. Eva Hardwick Thwaites was born in 1888 in Osset, Yorkshire, England and died in 1977 in Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire, England.
13. John Rayner Thwaites was born on Jul. 24, 1895 in Ossett, Yorkshire, England and died in 1975 in Canada (Manitoba?).
4th Generation (Great-grandchildren)
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14. Michael Rayner Thwaites was born on May 30, 1915 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and died on Nov. 1, 2005 in Canberra, Australia. He married Honor Mary Scott Thwaites [Good] on Dec. 23, 1939 in Oxford, UK. Honor Mary Scott was born in 1914 in Young, New South Wales, Australia and died in 1993 in Canberra, Australia.
Children of Michael Rayner Thwaites and Honor Mary Scott Thwaites [Good]
i.
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18.
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Robert Muir Thwaites was born on Dec. 28, 1940 in Dumfries, Scotland and died on Jan. 14, 1941 in Dumfries, Scotland.
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ii.
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19.
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Peter Roland Wettenhall Thwaites was born on Jul. 20, 1942 in Chester, England.
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iii.
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20.
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Penelope Mary Jackson [Thwaites] was born on Apr. 18, 1944 in Chester, England.
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iv.
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21.
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Richard Nelson Thwaites was born on May 2, 1948 in Melbourne, Australia.
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v.
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22.
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John Duncan Thwaites was born on Oct. 10, 1950 in Melbourne, Australia.
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15. Peter Nelson Thwaites was born on May 11, 1917 in Brisbane and died on Feb. 11, 1984 in Melbourne. He married May Thwaites [Pask]. May was born in 1916 and died in 2006.
Children of Peter Nelson Thwaites and May Thwaites [Pask]
i.
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23.
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Michael Jonathan Thwaites was born in 1945 in Australia.
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ii.
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24.
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Anne Hardwick Keddie [Thwaites] was born in 1946 in Australia.
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iii.
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25.
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Timothy Thwaites was born in 1951 in Australia.
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16. Donald Hardwick Thwaites was born on Sep. 13, 1918 in Birmingham, England and died on Jan. 22, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. He married Josephine (Joy) Thwaites [Nelson] in Colorado. Josephine (Joy), daughter of Victor Nelson and Goldau Nelson [Porter], was born on Apr. 7, 1913 and died on Dec. 11, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.
Children of Donald Hardwick Thwaites and Josephine (Joy) Thwaites [Nelson]
i.
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26.
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Christopher Nelson Thwaites was born in 1947.
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ii.
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27.
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Victor William Thwaites was born in 1949 in USA.
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17. Christine Lenker [Thwaites] was born on Jan. 3, 1922 in Wenatchee, WA, USA. She married Gaylord Lenker in 1956 in Seattle, Washington, USA.
Children of Christine Lenker [Thwaites] and Gaylord Lenker
i.
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28.
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Brian Lenker.
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ii.
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29.
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James Lenker.
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iii.
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30.
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Joan Wait [Lenker].
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5th Generation (Great(2)-grandchildren)
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18. Robert Muir Thwaites was born on Dec. 28, 1940 in Glasgow, Scotland and died on Jan. 14, 1941 in Glasgow, Scotland.
19. Peter Roland Wettenhall Thwaites was born on Jul. 20, 1942 in England. He married Rosemary Denison Thwaites [Phelps] in 1973 in England. Rosemary Denison, daughter of Peter Phelps, was born on May 24, 1948 in England.
Children of Peter Roland Wettenhall Thwaites and Rosemary Denison Thwaites [Phelps]
i.
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31.
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Michael John Anthony Thwaites was born on Apr. 9, 1976 in Sydney, Australia.
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ii.
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32.
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Veronica Catherine Brown [Thwaites] was born on Jul. 23, 1978 in Sydney, Australia.
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iii.
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33.
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Robert Peter Thwaites was born on Jul. 23, 1978 in Sydney, Australia.
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20. Penelope Mary Jackson [Thwaites] was born on Apr. 18, 1944 in England. She married Edward Oliver Jackson in Dec. 1981 in London. Edward Oliver was born Calcutta, British India, on 3 December 1922 and died in 2009 in London.
Children of Penelope Mary Jackson [Thwaites] and Edward Oliver Jackson
i.
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34.
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Matthew Edward Christopher Jackson was born on Mar. 4, 1983 in London.
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ii.
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35.
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Lucy Christina Mary Jackson was born on Jan. 24, 1986 in London.
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21. Richard Nelson Thwaites was born on May 2, 1948 in Melbourne, Australia. He married Dilber Thwaites [Kahraman] on Dec. 20, 1980 in Peking. Dilber, daughter of Ayup Halilhaci Kahraman and Hatice Halilhaci [Yolvas], was born on Jul. 1, 1950 in Turkestan.
Children of Richard Nelson Thwaites and Dilber Thwaites [Kahraman]
i.
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36.
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Adam Richard Thwaites was born on Apr. 13, 1982 in Hong Kong.
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ii.
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37.
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Denise Penelope Thwaites was born on Jan. 14, 1986 in Sydney, Australia.
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22. John Duncan Thwaites was born on Oct. 10, 1950 in Melbourne, Australia. He married Ann Lone Thwaites [Uhrenholdt]. Ann Lone was born in 1949 in Denmark.
Children of John Duncan Thwaites and Ann Lone Thwaites [Uhrenholdt]
i.
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38.
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Anna Solveig Uhrenholdt Thwaites was born on Dec. 18, 1987 in Canberra.
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ii.
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39.
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Daniel Thwaites was born on Aug. 16, 1989 in Canberra, Australia and died on Aug. 17, 1989 in Canberra, Australia.
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iii.
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40.
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Julia Kirstin Uhrenholdt Thwaites was born on Jun. 25, 1991 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
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23. Michael Jonathan Thwaites was born in 1945 in Australia. He married Eve Thwaites [Borthwick]. Eve was born in 1946.
Children of Michael Jonathan Thwaites and Eve Thwaites [Borthwick]
i.
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41.
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Hilary Christine Thwaites was born in 1974.
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ii.
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42.
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Rayner Bartholomew Thwaites was born in 1975.
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24. Anne Hardwick Keddie [Thwaites] was born in 1946 in Australia. She married John McKay Keddie.
Children of Anne Hardwick Keddie [Thwaites] and John McKay Keddie
i.
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43.
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Jane Francesca Keddie.
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ii.
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44.
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Thomas McKay Keddie.
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iii.
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45.
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James Alexander Keddie.
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25. Timothy Thwaites was born in 1951 in Australia. He married Lilit Maria (Siska) Thwaites [Zekulin]. Lilit Maria (Siska) was born in 1952 in Canada.
Children of Timothy Thwaites and Lilit Maria (Siska) Thwaites [Zekulin]
i.
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46.
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Richard Gleb Thwaites was born in 1978.
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ii.
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47.
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Andrew Peter Thwaites was born in 1980.
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iii.
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48.
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Nicola Thwaites was born in 1982 in Melbourne.
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26. Christopher Nelson Thwaites was born in 1947. He married 1st Ellen Thwaites [Brockman] in 1968 in Tremonton, Utah, USA. He married 2nd Ruth Thwaites [Ellison] in 2004 in Santa Rosa, California.
Other events in the relationship of Christopher Nelson Thwaites and Ellen Thwaites [Brockman]
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Divorce
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1999
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Santa Rosa, California
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Children of Christopher Nelson Thwaites and Ellen Thwaites [Brockman]
i.
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49.
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Christopher Jason Thwaites was born in Ogden, Utah, USA in 1968.
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ii.
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50.
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Joshua Kai Thwaites was born in Ogden, Utah, USA in 1974..
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27. Victor William Thwaites was born in 1949 in USA. He met 1st Karyn Perry. He partnered with 2nd Michael.
Other events in the relationship of Victor William Thwaites and Karyn Perry
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Friends
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Other events in the relationship of Victor William Thwaites and Michael
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Partners
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Children of Victor William Thwaites and Karyn Perry
i.
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51.
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Noah Thwaites was born in 1971.
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Children of Victor William Thwaites and Michael
ii.
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51.
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Noah Thwaites was born in 1971.
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28. Brian Lenker. He married Virginia Lenker [Davies].
Children of Brian Lenker and Virginia Lenker [Davies]
i.
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52.
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Elizabeth Lenker.
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ii.
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53.
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William Lenker.
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29. James Lenker. He married Sue Lenker [Whitcomb].
Children of James Lenker and Sue Lenker [Whitcomb]
i.
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54.
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Owen Lenker.
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30. Joan Wait [Lenker]. She married Lowell Scott Wait.
6th Generation (Great(3)-grandchildren)
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31. Michael John Anthony Thwaites was born on Apr. 9, 1976 in Sydney, Australia.
32. Veronica Catherine Brown [Thwaites] was born on Jul. 23, 1978 in Sydney, Australia. She married Rick Brown in 2002 in Canberra. Rick was born in Hobart, Australia.
Children of Veronica Catherine Brown [Thwaites] and Rick Brown
i.
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55.
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Jesse Brown was born in 2006 in Canberra.
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ii.
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56.
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Victoria Brown was born in 2008 in Canberra.
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33. Robert Peter Thwaites was born on Jul. 23, 1978 in Sydney, Australia.
34. Matthew Edward Christopher Jackson was born on Mar. 4, 1983 in London.
35. Lucy Christina Mary Jackson was born on Jan. 24, 1986 in London.
36. Adam Richard Thwaites was born on Apr. 13, 1982 in Hong Kong.
37. Denise Penelope Thwaites was born on Jan. 14, 1986 in Sydney, Australia.
38. Anna Solveig Uhrenholdt Thwaites was born on Dec. 18, 1987 in Canberra.
39. Daniel Thwaites was born on Aug. 16, 1989 in Canberra, Australia and died on Aug. 17, 1989 in Canberra, Australia.
40. Julia Kirstin Uhrenholdt Thwaites was born on Jun. 25, 1991 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
41. Hilary Christine Thwaites was born in 1974.
42. Rayner Bartholomew Thwaites was born in 1975.
43. Jane Francesca Keddie.
44. Thomas McKay Keddie.
45. James Alexander Keddie.
46. Richard Gleb Thwaites was born in 1978.
47. Andrew Peter Thwaites was born in 1980.
48. Nicola Thwaites was born in 1982 in Melbourne.
Children of Joshua Kai Thwaites and Genevieve Albers
i.
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57.
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Mara Kai Albers Thwaites was born in 1998 in California, USA.
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51. Noah Thwaites was born in 1971. He married Renae Denise Thwaites in 1993. Renae Denise was born in 1968.
Children of Noah Thwaites and Renae Denise Thwaites
i.
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58.
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Jordyn Thwaites was born on Nov. 30, 1994 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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ii.
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59.
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Lauryn Thwaites was born on Apr. 4, 1996 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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iii.
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60.
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Alexis Thwaites was born on Sep. 14, 1999 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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iv.
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61.
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Sydney Thwaites was born on Sep. 14, 1999 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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52. Elizabeth Lenker.
53. William Lenker.
54. Owen Lenker.
7th Generation (Great(4)-grandchildren)
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55. Jesse Brown was born in 2006 in Canberra.
56. Victoria Brown was born in 2008 in Canberra.
57. Mara Kai Albers Thwaites was born in 1996 in California, USA.
58. Jordyn Thwaites was born on Nov. 30, 1994 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
59. Lauryn Thwaites was born on Apr. 4, 1996 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
60. Alexis Thwaites was born on Sep. 14, 1999 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
61. Sydney Thwaites was born on Sep. 14, 1999 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
