Anna Matilda Müecke
1862–1932
Born: 16 May 1862 · Tanunda, South Australia, Australia
Died: 17 October 1932 · Corowa, New South Wales, Australia
Family
- Father
- Gottfried Muecke
- Mother
- Ernestina Schulze
- Spouse
- James sibWilliam g3 Keen regd Kane
- Children
- Emma Amelia “Ella” Keenes
Biography
Born 16 May 1862 at Tanunda, South Australia. Current evidence points to Gottfried Muecke and Ernestina Schulze as her likely biological parents, not the previously linked Hugo Carl Emil Muecke and Margaret Elisabeth Julia Le Page. Anna was recorded as adopted: the Walla Walla trek story says six-year-old Anna Mucke travelled in 1868 as the adopted daughter of Peter and Julianne Christiane Hennersdorf. She married James Keenes/James Kane on 16 April 1880, later married Robert Keenes on 17 July 1896, lived at Buraja with her son Alf in later years, and died at Corowa Hospital on 17 October 1932.
Sources & Records View on Ancestry ↗
Superseded Ancestry parent link: Hugo Carl Emil Muecke and Margaret Elisabeth Julia Le Page
Anna Weike/Mucke/Keens memorial plaque
Anna Keenes probate/administration index card
Mrs Keenes senior death/funeral notice
Overland from South Australia to Walla Walla
In 1868 eight German families and two single young men left South Australia on a six hundred mile trek by wagon to southern NSW in search of agricultural land. Amongst their numbers was a six year old Anna Mucke who was listed as being the adopted daughter of Peter and Julianne Christiane Hennersdorf. The settlement near Albury was named Ebenezer and re-named Walla Walla in 1878. Supplies and machinery were sent ahead by paddle steamer to points along the Murray River and unloaded at Corowa. The party reached the Albury district about 19 November, then camped near present-day Jindera while land selections were made. Peter Hennersdorf selected 60 acres on Portion 38, Parish of Castlestead, at the south end of the settlement.
Gottfried Muecke and Ernestina Schulze marriage, 17 Mar 1859
User-provided family document photo, reviewed 31 May 2026
Typed notes: Born - 1827. No death certificate found for Ernestina. Married - 17th March 1859 in Gawler S.A. Gottfried aged about 63/64 yrs & Ernestina 31/32 yrs. Extracted record: married 17 March 1859; Gottfried Muecke; Ernestina Schulze [surname reading uncertain]; fathers Christian Muecke and Christian Schulze. Family notes: They were married rather late in life and married less than 12 years when Gottfried died. It is believed Anna was an only child. Anna’s parents both arrived in South Australia in 1859, the same year they married. Anna’s mother was known to be in Tanunda at some time. Perhaps they parted or she died before the trek to NSW.
Photos
Documents & Records
41529_308740-03495
Probate/administration index card for Anna Keenes. Relevant original/index evidence for death date, address, and administrator.
Transcription
NAME: Keenes, Anna. No. 83361. ADDRESS: Hopefield near Corowa. OCCUPATION: widow. ADMINISTRATOR: Alf Keens. DATE OF DEATH: 17.10.32. DATE OF GRANT: 6.11.33.
Key facts
- Anna Keenes died 17 October 1932.
- Her address was Hopefield near Corowa.
- She was a widow.
- Administrator: Alf Keens.
- Grant date: 6 November 1933.
Screen Shot 2020-02-14 at 4.44.45 pm
NSW marriage-index screenshot. Strong evidence for Anna/Annie Weicke marrying James Keenes in 1880 at Albury.
Transcription
Registration Number: 2368/1880. Groom's Family Name: KEENES. Groom's Given Name(s): JAMES. Bride's Family Name(s): WEICKE. Bride's Given Name(s): ANNIE. District: ALBURY. PDF availability: Unavailable.
Key facts
- James Keenes married Annie Weicke in 1880.
- Registration number 2368/1880.
- Marriage district: Albury.
rdaus1901_100377__0002-00123
Electoral roll page for Corowa subdivision, probably relevant because it lists Keenes household names/addresses, but it is a broad page and needs follow-up to tie each entry to the right person.
Transcription
Visible relevant entries include: Keenes, Anna, Burraja, home duties, F; Keenes, Robert, Burraja, labourer, M; Keenes, William Henry, Lowesdale, contractor, M. Other Keenes entries are present on the same page.
Key facts
- Anna Keenes appears at Burraja in a Corowa electoral roll page.
- Robert Keenes appears at Burraja as a labourer.
- The page also lists several other Keenes entries requiring relation checks.
Screen Shot 2020-01-06 at 4.08.41 pm
Newspaper death/funeral notice for Mrs Keenes senior. Highly relevant narrative source for Anna’s final illness, household, and burial.
Transcription
MRS. KEENES, SENR. On Monday last the death took place at the Corowa Hospital of Mrs Keenes, who has lived at Buraja with her son, Mr. Alf. Keenes, for some years. Deceased, who was 71 years of age at the time of her death, had been ailing for the past eight months or more, and suffered from rheumatism in an acute form. A husband and family of six sons and three daughters are left to mourn their loss. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon last, when the remains were interred in the Corowa Old Cemetery. The Rev. Canon Ross-Edwards read the burial service, and Mr. J. Squires had charge of the funeral arrangements.
Key facts
- Anna died at Corowa Hospital after illness of eight months or more.
- She had lived at Buraja with her son Alf Keenes for some years.
- The notice gives her age as 71.
- She left a husband, six sons, and three daughters.
- She was buried in Corowa Old Cemetery; Rev. Canon Ross-Edwards read the service.
31242_100436__0002-00115 (1)
Electoral roll page for 1932 Corowa subdivision. Relevant because it lists Anna and Robert Keenes at Burraja, but mainly a supporting residence source.
Transcription
Visible relevant entries include: Keenes, Anna, Burraja, home duties, F; Keenes, Robert, Burraja, labourer, M. Other Keenes entries are present nearby.
Key facts
- Anna Keenes appears at Burraja on a 1932 Corowa electoral roll page.
- Robert Keenes appears at Burraja as a labourer.