I am researching the ancestry of my wife’s first husband Leo Burmeister and I have so far got back to William Burmeister born about 1843 who married Cecelia Cowley in Apia, Samoa.
Below is a descendants’ chart for William Burmeister. If anyone is interested please contact me.
Descendants of William Charles Burmeister
Generation 1
1. WILLIAM CHARLES
1 BURMEISTER was born about 1843 (Germany? England? South Africa?). He died on 24 Oct 1924 in Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (TBC). He married Cecelia Cowley, daughter of William Cowley and Tasiaeafe Laumatiamanu, on 22 Dec 1871 in Apia, Samoa (by British Consul. Occupation-Boarding Master). She was born on 14 Apr 1856 in Vaigaga, Upolu, Samoa. She died on 25 Sep 1926 in Vaigaga, Upolu, Samoa.
Notes for William Charles Burmeister:
Checked Australian BDM – no Burmeister born c 1843. Likewise, no death 1892-1925. Did he
move to Qld when he arrived in 1892? No death in Qld. No Publican License in NSW for a
Burmeister.
Deceased Estate record for a William Burmeister who died inPaddington in Oct 1924. I am not sure
if he is the right one but the age linesup. This William Burmeister died Intestate. He was described
as a Bachelor.Apparently he rented a room in Goodhope St, Paddington, Sydney and he left
theboarding house 3 years before (don’t know where he went) and paid rent for hisgoods to be
stored in a trunk. The storage charges were paid to a G Lumsden.His estate was worth about 3564
pounds (quite a bit), which I think must havegone to the State as nowhere in the deceased estate
file did it mention aname.
He was described as a bachelor but I think it could havebeen him – his son (Charles had
pre-deceased him) and we know he left Ceciliayears before.
Need to find his death record.
William Charles Burmeister and Cecelia Cowley had the following children:
2. i. KATHERINE2 REES was born in 1862 in Apia, Samoa (Father: John Rees. Mother –
Mary ? Adopted by William Burmesiter). She died in 1925 in Apia, Samoa. She
married KARL CHARLES MUGELE. He was born in Wettenberg, Biberach,
Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
3. ii. CHARLES BURMEISTER was born in 1874 in Apia, Samoa ((Marriage cert says
Sydney)). He died in Apr 1909 in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
(Lost at sea – see TROVE articles). He married Ellen Margaret Douglas, daughter of
James Douglas and Elizabeth “Bridget” O’Shanassy, on 05 Apr 1899 in Carlton,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (St Georges Presby. Occupation-Carpenter). She
was born on 14 Mar 1874 in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia (Frazer St). She died on
30 Nov 1948 in Ivanhoe, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Generation 2
2. KATHERINE
2 REES (William Charles1 Burmeister) was born in 1862 in Apia, Samoa (Father: John
Rees. Mother – Mary ? Adopted by William Burmesiter). She died in 1925 in Apia, Samoa. She
married KARL CHARLES MUGELE. He was born in Wettenberg, Biberach, Baden-Württemberg,
Germany.
Karl Charles Mugele and Katherine Rees had the following children:
i. LOUISA3 MUGELE. She died in 1927 in Lotopa, Samoa (murdered).
4. ii. FRITZ MUGELE. He married SEFAU FONOTI.
3. CHARLES
2 BURMEISTER (William Charles1) was born in 1874 in Apia, Samoa ((Marriage cert says
Sydney)). He died in Apr 1909 in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Lost at sea – see
TROVE articles). He married Ellen Margaret Douglas, daughter of James Douglas and Elizabeth
“Bridget” O’Shanassy, on 05 Apr 1899 in Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (St Georges
Presby. Occupation-Carpenter). She was born on 14 Mar 1874 in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
(Frazer St). She died on 30 Nov 1948 in Ivanhoe, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Notes for Charles Burmeister:
Not on Apia Samoa Baptism record.
His nationality would have been British.
Did he return from South Africa to marry or did he register with the Trade Union in South Africa
before he moved there?
Generation 2 (con’t)
Did he arrive in Sydney aboard the Aorangi – travelling as a Carpenter’s Mate. From London (via
Capetown, South Africa) Arrived in Sydney 3 May 1897.
Charles Burmeister and Ellen Margaret Douglas had the following children:
5. i. CORALIE ELLEN3 BURMEISTER was born on 22 Jan 1900 in Alexandria, Sydney, New
South Wales, Australia (Buckland St). She died on 23 Jun 1967 in Canberra,
Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
6. ii. CHARLES DOUGLAS BURMEISTER was born on 26 Sep 1904 in Jeppestown,
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (199 Market St (have BC)). He died in 1982
in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia. He married Elsie Teresa Nelson, daughter of David
Guy Nelson and Ellen Tighe, on 15 Oct 1930 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (St
John’s Church; Have MC). She was born in 1903 in Collingwood, Melbourne,
Victoria, Australia. She died in 1984 in Boronia, Victoria, Australia.
iii. NELL BURMEISTER was born on 24 Jun 1906 in Jeppestown, Johannesburg,
Gauteng, South Africa (199 Market St). She died on 16 Aug 1992 in Canberra,
Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Jindalee Nursing Home).
Notes for Nell Burmeister:
Moved to Canberra to be near her niece Patricia and husband Brian Kennedy.
Ellen never married, although she was engaged to a chap who was killed in the
war.
Generation 3
4. FRITZ
3 MUGELE (Katherine2 Rees, William Charles1 Burmeister, Karl Charles). He married SEFAU
FONOTI.
Fritz Mugele and Sefau Fonoti had the following child:
i. NILO “NERO”4 MUGELE. He married SESELE AAITUI TUFUGA ATOA.
5. CORALIE ELLEN
3 BURMEISTER (Charles2, William Charles1) was born on 22 Jan 1900 in Alexandria,
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Buckland St). She died on 23 Jun 1967 in Canberra,
Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Coralie Ellen Burmeister had the following child:
i. ELLEN PATRICIA “PAT”4 DOYLE was born on 07 Apr 1927 in Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia. She died on 07 Nov 2001 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory,
Australia. She married J BRIAN M KENNEDY. He was born in 1927.
Notes for Ellen Patricia “Pat” Doyle:
Born out of wedlock and taken into a baby’s home. After about 2 years she was
adopted by Coralie’s parents (Ellen and Mick Doyle) and raised as their own.
6. CHARLES DOUGLAS
3 BURMEISTER (Charles2, William Charles1) was born on 26 Sep 1904 in
Jeppestown, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (199 Market St (have BC)). He died in 1982 in
Box Hill, Victoria, Australia. He married Elsie Teresa Nelson, daughter of David Guy Nelson and
Ellen Tighe, on 15 Oct 1930 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (St John’s Church; Have MC). She
was born in 1903 in Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She died in 1984 in Boronia,
Victoria, Australia.
Charles Douglas Burmeister and Elsie Teresa Nelson had the following children:
i. LEO CHARLES4 BURMEISTER was born on 26 Aug 1934 in Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia. He died on 26 Sep 1996 in Syndal, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He
married MARGARET MARY LISTON. She was born on 08 Jan 1936 in Melbourne,
Victoria, Australia.
ii. Living BURMEISTER (male).
iii. Living BURMEISTER (female).