Walter Earnest Mears (1901 - 1984)

Born 3 Feb 1901 in New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 11 Apr 1984 at age 83 in New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Annetta Karam [send private message]

Biography

Walter was born about 1901. He is the son of John Mears and Alice Hodson.

Walter was twice married: 1. 8 Mar 1930 to Violet "Vera" Rose McLean (nee Woodhatch), divorced 1936; 2. 1940 to Ivy Olivia Collings / Kempster.

First wife Violet committed bigamy by marrying Walter because they had been living together and fell pregnant (the baby died a few months after birth).

Nine years earlier on 26 Sep 1921 she had married Frederick McLean at Kingston, Surrey, England. After the baby's birth Violet went back to her first husband, but he again turned violent and he reported her for bigamy.

• Fact: Burial (1984) Matraville, Randwick City, New South Wales, Australia

Sources

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 19 November 2021, 23:23), entry for Walter Ernest Mears (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LDFX-TLN ); contributed by various users.
• BDM NZ Birth Registration Number: 1901/1042, Family Name: Mears, Given Name(s): Walter Earnest, Mother's Given Name(s): Alice, Father's Given Name(s): John. www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
• BDM NSW Australia (State of New South Wales Department of Justice). Marriage Registration Number 1. 529/1930, Groom's Family Name: MEARS, Groom's Given Name(s): WALTER E, Bride's Family Name(s): MACLEAN [MCLEAN], Bride's Given Name(s): VERA, District: SYDNEY; Marriage Registration Number 2. 12909/1940, Groom's Family Name: MEARS, Groom's Given Name(s): WALTER ERNEST, Bride's Family Name(s): COLLINGS [KEMPSTER], Bride's Given Name(s): IVY OLIVIA, District: WOOLLAHRA.
• NSW State Archives. NRS-13495-14-323-1255/1934 | Divorce papers Walter Ernest Mears - Violet Rose McLean (Falsely Called Violet Rose Mears). 16-07-1934 to 16-04-1936. https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1ebnd1l/ADLIB_RNSW110956322
• BDM NSW Australia (State of New South Wales Department of Justice). Death Registration Number: 7944/1984; Name: MEARS, WALTER EARNEST; Father's Given Name(s): JOHN; Mother's Given Name(s): ALICE. https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2BY-H948 : 21 July 2020), Walter Ernest Mears, 1984; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. Name: Walter Ernest Mears, Death or Burial Date: 1984, Death or Burial Place: Matraville, Randwick City, New South Wales, Australia, Death or Burial Place (Original): Matraville, Randwick City, New South Wales, Australia, Cemetery: Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Death Date: 11 Apr 1984, Photograph Included: N.
• "New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1865-1957", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68NP-Y413 : 1 October 2021), Walter Ernest Mears, 1928. Name: Walter Ernest Mears, Sex: Male, Event Date: 1928, Event Place: South Island, New Zealand, Event Place (Original): Wairau, South Island, New Zealand, Event Type: Voter Registration.
• Trove newspapers website. The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954). Sat 4 Aug 1934, Page 1, Advertising. "LEGAL NOTICES. IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES-MATRIMONIAL CAUSES JURISDICTION. No 1255 of 1034. Between WALTER ERNEST MEARS Petitioner and VIOLET ROSE McLEAN (falsely called Violet Rose Mears) Respondent. TO VIOLET ROSE McLEAN (falsely called Violet Rose Mears late of Newtown near Sydney In the State of New South Wales. TAKE NOTICE that the said Walter Ernest Mears has commenced a suit against you in this Honourable Court and Is applying for a Decree that the marriage celebrated between him self and yourself be declared null and void. AND TAKE NOTICE that you are required to enter an appearance to the said suit at the proner office of this Honourable Court on or before the twenty-third day of October next and In the event of your not doing so within the time limited or obtain ing further time the petitioner will proceed and the suit be heard and determined your absence notwithstanding. A copy of the Petition filed herein may be had on application to the undersigned Solicitor free of charge. Dated this 24th day of July One thousand nine hundred and thirty-four. JOHN W. SMYTH. Solicitor for the Petitioner, 14 Martin-place, Sydney. For the Registrar, E. L, DICKSON (L.S.), Chief Clerk in Divorce." https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229563586
• Trove newspapers website. Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954). Sun 22 Nov 1931, Page 16. BIGAMY FOR BABY'S SAKE. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169122541
• Trove newspapers website. Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954). Sun 20 Dec 1931, Page 12. NOT DONE: Vi's Two Husbands Meant Trouble. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169124697

See also:

• Violet Rose Woodhatch's first marriage to Frederick McLean: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZK-H8QB : 9 October 2014), Frederick Mclean and null, 1921; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1921, quarter 3, vol. 2A, p. 1254, Kingston, Surrey, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. Name: Frederick Mclean, Event Date: 1921, Event Place: Kingston, Surrey, England, Registration District: Kingston, Event Type: Marriage Registration, Page: 1254, Volume: 2A, Affiliate Line Number: 49, Registration Year: 1921, Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep, Spouse Name (available after 1911): Woodhatch, Possible Spouse: Violet R Woodhatch.