I can’t say I really believe in ghosts but I do entertain myself sometimes wondering if Jean Serisier knows I’m losing sleep over a book about him. In fact, I want him to know how much of an effort this is to research his life (and I have helpers, thanks Sandra, William and Cynthia!), let alone write down the details into a novel that anyone might like to read, even if they have never heard of Dubbo or have a vested interest in the town’s history.
My recent find of Rene Bertaux’s birth records in a French archive in Telmontier, Oise, north of Paris, done online via a digital archive that is by far the best I’ve encountered, is a case in point.
From the moment I finally got around to start looking for the said document to having it appear on the MacAir for my Florida, USA-based eyes, it was possibly an hour. An hour? NOTHING I have set out to find in any archive has been concluded in an hour! This task is about burning time and lots of it.
So, I started a little joke with myself: did Rene want to be found? It was just way way too easy and as if “another hand was guiding my search”. OK, before you cue the spooky music, it wasn’t quite like that but it suits his personality, at least what I’ve been able to piece together about him.
From what I’ve read in newspaper clippings and before I knew how old he was in Dubbo in 1878/9, I considered him a young man. It was because I thought he’d be around 29 years old that I was able to choose the right Tables Deccennales (a list of all births, deaths and marriages in a certain decade) and voila, there he was. He was 26 when he arrived in Dubbo and 30 when he married the 45 year-old widow of Jean Serisier.
Now before you go assuming Margaret was a bit of a cougar, she was probably the wealthiest woman in town so I’d say quite a catch. From her side, getting married again solved a lot of worries widows have endured since time immemorial; 1880 being no exception.
Despite his cataclysmic flaws as a businessman, Rene was a popular man. I imagine him as someone you could readily befriend. Like his easy to find records, I think he was easy to find as a person. How he managed his financial affairs or what his agenda was, well they’re different stories.
As for Jean, I have searched countless, countless hours to the point where I have vowed to myself I will never research another history again. It is just so hard to find his birth record. Part of his search did involve a learning curve on how the French archives work, and each Department is slightly different, but I do know Jean’s birth date and where he repeatedly said he was from: the belle city of Bordeaux.
In context though, I know what it’s like to live as an expatriate, and when people ask me where I’m from in Australia the easiest response is to say “near Sydney”. I then go on to explain it’s a 5 hour drive west from Sydney, but in the context of the 9351.8 miles distance between Sydney and Fort Lauderdale, Dubbo’s is “near” Sydney at a meagre 257 miles apart.
So when Jean said Bordeaux, did he really mean “near” Bordeaux and should I be looking around Bordeaux in at least a 5 hour radius (5 hours by horse of course).
There are sooooooooooo many Serisier’s south east of Bordeaux, perhaps his roots are there? Believe me when I say I have read just about every record on those possible rellies. Nada.
At any rate, the fact he is so hard to round off with a birth record, makes me laughingly think his ghost is actually negotiating with me on this book, like he negotiated with everyone in his life and a skill that was probably the key to his many, many successful ventures.
He’s definitely not giving up his story easily. Its like it’s a story that’s on the bargaining table and he’s already decided which ever way our negotiation goes, he’ll be walking away with a win, no matter what.
I wonder did his many business associates have the same feeling that there would be more giving from their side than receiving. He was the one, after all that was said and done, who grew remarkable ventures out of remote bushland. His resourcefulness lingers, so I like to think, in the many contemporary regional business people doing great things today.
And now a post script on ghosts.
My husband took this shot of me sitting in the courtyard of a motel in Tucson, Arizona a couple of years ago. I had done a tour of The Bird Cage Theatre (a popular ‘haunt’ of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday in the 1880s) the day before. From the minute I stepped outside the Theatre (it is bucket list material if you’re into all that OK Coral stuff) and was able too, I started writing a story and wrote incessantly (like I was possessed according to hubby, hahahaha) in the car all the way to Tucson about an hour and 20 minutes away, and as soon as I woke up the next day.
Then he took this picture which looks suspiciously like lens flare but in the context passes very nicely for a spectre that followed me out of the Bird Cage Theature which apparently is one of the most haunted buildings in the USA!!
King of Dubbo 
Looking forward to the book. Glad there is forward movement on the research. Cheers, Val
Thanks Val. I’m in so deep now there is no turning back. I think of your words of wisdom OFTEN!! Here’s a thought and I’d like to hear back from you. 2014 is 100th anniversary of Margaret Serisier/Bertaux’s death (December) and 190th anniversary of Jean’s birth (April). I was thinking of writing a couple of 10 minute plays to commemorate both. Sorry to be a pain but could you remind me please of the parameters. Also, I’m thinking about … look, a whole bunch of stuff. I’ll email you. Jean’s birth ought to include a connection to Bordeaux (definitely some wine!)… might need to start Skype conferencing with you and Alicia to talk about some ideas… but I will email you. How’s things at your end and what projects have you got going on? MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How you going with working out what you want to talk to Alicia and me about? Gradually building up momentum. Some things have knocked me around but bouncing back.
Cynthia … I read your comment and replied but WordPress isn’t letting me reply and I’ve no idea why I can’t see it here? Here’s my reply anyhow… Hi Cynthia. I haven’t seen the poem, though you’ve told me about it. I’d like to see it.
Not sure about the Noumea connection. Here’s a link to a ship in 1889 with a Mr Serisier on board coming via Noumea from Marseilles but its 1889. Could have been one of his sons returning from a trip to France though. http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1889/05/112tan.htm I think the Marseilles port would have grown in popularity as an exit point after the opening of the Suez Canal (1869). So it doesn’t seem likely but then I haven’t explored comings and goings in the 1830s out of Noumea. Here is a link, in French to a website about French colonial settlements plus archives (http://www.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/anom/fr/) and I’ll explore the Noumea connection. I’ll ask the family members I’m in touch with too. Someone may know something. Good lead.
It’s recorded on his naturalisation certificate that he arrived on La Jeune Eliza de Bordeaux in 1839. The Jeune Eliza left Bordeaux on January 15 in 1838 and arrived in Sydney laden with goodies on May 22. One passenger, probably the agent/merchant. Jean apparently was a midshipman. He was 15 and would have had his 15th birthday on board during the four month trip.
Why it’s 1839 on the naturalisation certificate is a mystery. He may not have given it a thought between when he arrived aged 15 to when he naturalised at age 31. He’s achieved alot already, including starting a town from scratch, so it might have been a hurried piece of information he threw out there during the ceremony. Or a combination of youth/a four month sea journey/an illness upon arrival (rumoured) and then establishing himself in a new land… might have played with his memory.
My mother Lorna Noonan (nee Serisier) is a descendent of Jean Emile Serisier. She was born in 1922, daughter of Emile Louis Serisier, whose family moved to Western Australia in the early 1900s. Lorna lives near Mundaring outside of Perth and has a keen interest in the family history. Much of what iss written above accords with what my mother has told me of the family’s history.
Dave… I am so excited to see your comment here. I’d love to get in touch with your mother. I hope you’ll follow the blog and spread the word amongst the family. You are of course all a living a resource of information that I will never find in archives, newspaper clippings or official documents. Any contribution is welcome. While my intention is to make the book a lasting testament to Jean’s legacy for the city of Dubbo but the blog will hopefully prove to also be a lasting resource for anyone interested in the founder of the city. Regards Yvette
hi all I have a copy of his naturalisation papers my Nanna left me, She married John Franklin Serisier. It all goes back to Louis then Jean Emile.
Fascinating to find this. My Uncle Richard Seriser bought the old chateau de Cadillac in Bordeaux, renovated it, made wine, invented a breathable cork whoch improved the wine making process, not top popular in spain though where the best cork in the world comes from he finally sold not too long ago and has returned to Australia.
I have birth certificate as well.
Bonjour, Je vous ai transmis une information, il y a quelque temps, sur le bateau “la jeune Eliza de Bordeaux”. je ne sais pas si elle vous est parvenue. Je vous la redonne: mon arrière-arrière grand-père était matelot voilier sur ce bateau. Il est décédé en mer le 5 mai 1838 à proximité de la Cochinchine (39°9 latitude sud et 120° longitude est). Le décès a été enregistré le 25/3/1839 à Nantes date probable du retour en France du voilier. Donc à priori “la jeune Eliza de Bordeaux” ne pouvait être à Sydney en mai 1838 comme c’est inscrit dans votre texte. Cela vous permettra peut-être d’éclaircir certains points.
Bien à vous
J.F Cléro