George FUSSEN 1852-1926

George FUSSEN is my great grandfather.

According to his Australian Naturalisation papers and other certificates, he was born 19 May 1852 at Tours, Indre et Loire, France.  Unfortunately, to-date, no record has been found of his birth in France.

His Grand-daughter, great aunt Mary Frances O’NEILL, nee FUSSEN passed on this oral history which had been told to her by her parents George FUSSEN and Mary McNEIFF / McCUNNIFFE …

At 18 George fought in the Franco-Prussian War (1871). His first family didn’t come to Australia and he later found that they had died in France [?]. He came to Australia on holidays but was robbed and forced to stay. He went to live in a boarding house in Pyrmont run by the Ryans (Brother-in-law and sister of Mary McNEIFF / McCUNNIFF). He met Mary there and they were married at St. Patrick’s in Grosvenor Street, Sydney by Father Ginisty

It was also believed that George may have come to Australia from Canada.

N.B. – Most of the letters appear to be written by Mary and not George – his signature appeared to be written by a child – perhaps he wasn’t good at writing?

George’s Naturalisation papers also included the following about his arrival in Australia …

Stated as 1886 on his Application for Naturalization – on the ship Caledonien.  Immigration / shipping record not yet found.

His marriage to Mary McNEIFF / McCUNNIFF in Sydney in 1890 has been found as have subsequent Directory entries confirming residence and births of children.

All I need now is to find some sort of reference to George prior to his arrival in Australia.

I have opened up a FUSSEN DNA project as there are other FUSSEN families around the world – USA, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany are the main areas.  It is quite possible that our Australian FUSSEN family is connected to these families, however to-date no documentary evidence has been found to link them.  It is possible that DNA is the option that will prove a connection between these families.

If you are a male with the surname of FUSSEN I would love you to participate in this FUSSEN DNA project.  Please contact me!