Sunday 3 April 2011

David Yates


David Yates is the third eldest of Josiah and Mary Ann. He married Bessey Smith, who was 17 years, at East Charlton, Victoria. Bessey being bought up with not much money signed her name with cross signaling that she could not write. Both the Yates family and the Smith family wrote false details on the wedding certificate. Bessey's mother Isabella who was the widow of John Smith and the wife of Theophilus Haylett gave her name as Isabella Smith not her married name Haylett which caused a lot of curiosity. Also David wrote that his father was a drover and his mothers maiden name was McGown instead of O'Connor. Although no officials caught them lying it was a big scandal in the town as no one new what was going on behind closed doors. David Yates was also the owner of the Keilor Racecourse Hotel and it was there that two of his young sons drowned in the creek. David and Bessey had a big family of eleven children. Their children are David William, Joseph John, Kenneth, Edward Humphries, Bessie Ellen, Sophia, John Smith, Clyde Stephen, Charles Adrian, Herbert and Thelma. 

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