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Genealogy Search for Abraham Solas (aka Cyrus Abraham)

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Civil Records (Births, Marriages, Deaths)

Start with official civil registration indexes to find vital records:

  • Queensland BDM Index: Queensland’s historical Births, Deaths, and Marriages index can be searched online for free. This may show any marriage or death registered in Queensland for Abraham Solas (or under the surname Cyrus, if used). For example, if he married in Brisbane in the early 1960s, a marriage record might be in the index (though note Queensland’s public marriage index currently only covers marriages older than ~75 years). Likewise, a death between 2000 and 2011 would not yet be publicly indexed in QLD due to privacy cutoffs, but you could apply to the registry with proof of death for a certificate. Check other state BDM indexes too if he lived or died outside Queensland (e.g. New South Wales indexes cover marriages up to about 1975 and deaths to 1992). These indexes can confirm spouse names or parent names.
  • Verify Name Variations: When using these databases, search under all possible name variations. Try “Abraham Solas,” “Solas Abraham,” “Abraham Cyrus,” or “Cyrus Abraham” as the system might have recorded the surname and given name in different orders. It’s possible his surname was recorded as Cyrus in some records (for instance, if “Solas” was used as a middle name or an alias). If you find a likely match, the index entry will give you a reference you can use to order the full certificate for details like parents, spouse, or children. Also consider searching for Solas as a family name in those years—for example, a “Solas” death or marriage might show related family members.
  • International Death Records: If Abraham Solas/Cyrus died overseas (since no QLD index entry is available for 2000s), look at international record databases. The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) (via FamilySearch or Ancestry) and obituaries in the country of death can be useful. For instance, there is an obituary in the United States for a Cyrus “Cid” Abraham, born 1925, who died in 2012 [4] (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/news-press/name/cyrus-abraham-obituary?id=19108838). That obituary (from Davison, Michigan) notes he was born in Flint in 1925 to Sargis and Hannah Abraham and served in the U.S. Navy, marrying Norma Jean Brannan. This American Cyrus Abraham may or may not be the same person as “Abraham Solas”—the birth year (~1925) is close and the first/last names are reversed, but further evidence (such as mention of Australia in his life story) would be needed to confirm any connection. If you suspect they are the same, you could reach out to the funeral home or look for clues in that obituary’s full text (e.g. names of children) to see if anything matches your known facts. Otherwise, focus on Australian leads and treat the Michigan Cyrus as a potential lead pending proof.

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Electoral Rolls and Residency Records

Australian electoral rolls are a key resource for tracking adults’ addresses and occupations. Since Australia doesn’t have public census data for the mid-20th century, electoral rolls serve as a substitute. They can show name, address, occupation (for years up to 1980), and often you’ll find family members listed at the same address (spouses often enrolled together) [2] (https://www.library.gov.au/research/family-history/electoral-rolls-research-guide).

  • 1960s Brisbane Rolls: Search the 1961–1963 electoral rolls for Brisbane to find Abraham Solas. If he was a British subject or naturalized Australian, he would have been eligible to vote. (If he was not yet a citizen, he might not appear until after naturalization.) Ancestry.com.au has a searchable collection “Australia Electoral Rolls, 1903–1980”, and Findmypast also offers Australian electoral roll searches [2] (https://www.findmypast.com/discover/census-land-and-surveys/electoral-rolls/australia-electoral-rolls). For example, a search might reveal an “Abraham Solas” in a 1963 Queensland roll, possibly listing his address in Brisbane and occupation. It could also list a woman at the same address with a similar surname—potentially a spouse. Similarly, try searching for “Cyrus Abraham” in case he switched the order of names.
  • Residency and Directories: In addition to electoral rolls, check Sands & McDougall directories or phone books for Brisbane in the early 1960s. Sometimes immigrants or temporary residents might appear in phone directories even if they hadn’t enrolled to vote. The State Library of Queensland or local historical societies might have Brisbane phone books/business directories for 1961–62 that could list an Abraham Solas (or any Solas family) at a given address. These can confirm his presence and possibly occupation (e.g. a profession or business listing).
  • Clues from Other Solas Family Members: The surname Solas is uncommon in Australia, so any occurrence might be related. Notably, local Brisbane history records show a Solas family active in the early 1960s. Juan and Rosa Solas, for example, were Spanish immigrants who owned property in Brisbane (Petrie Terrace) in the 1950s [3] (https://www.flickr.com/photos/basalamant/50253761818). In 1963, “the Solas family” even applied for council approval to build units for the Spanish Club in Brisbane. This suggests a family unit in Brisbane’s Spanish community—possibly Abraham was part of this family (perhaps a son or relative). If so, searching for Juan Solas in electoral rolls (e.g. around 1963) could indirectly lead you to Abraham (if they lived together or near each other). Similarly, an E. N. Solas appears in 1961 newspapers as a veterinary surgeon in Ainslie, ACT—maybe a coincidence, but worth noting the surname’s rare usage. Keep an open mind that “Abraham Solas” might have been known by a different first name in the family; for instance, if he had a Spanish name (like Abrán or a nickname) or if “Cyrus” was a middle name he adopted later. Tracking all Solas entries in Australian records around mid-century can help piece together family relationships.

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Newspaper Archives and Obituaries

Historic newspapers are invaluable for finding addresses, family events, and obituaries:

  • Trove (National Library of Australia): Use Trove to search Australian newspapers for “Abraham Solas” or “Solas” in Queensland. Trove covers many papers up to the mid-20th century. For the 1961–1962 period, check Brisbane papers like The Courier-Mail or The Brisbane Telegraph. While an exact name hit might be rare, you could find relevant mentions—for example, community news about the Spanish Club or letters to the editor. If Abraham was involved in the Spanish community, there might be a mention of him in relation to events or even a personal advertisement. (Trove did show an August 1961 classified ad for “E. N. Solas, B.V.Sc.”, but that was in Canberra [5 6] (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/271042845). In Brisbane context, perhaps look at the Courier-Mail social pages or the 1962 sections around when he may have left town.)
  • Trove Gazette and Government Notices: Don’t forget to search Trove’s “Gazettes” section too. If he ever anglicized or changed his name officially, it might appear in Commonwealth or state gazettes. Sometimes name-change declarations or naturalization announcements were published. For instance, naturalisations used to be listed in the Commonwealth Government Gazette—a search there for Solas or Cyrus around the 1960s might yield something if he became a citizen and perhaps altered his name order.
  • Modern Obituaries and Death Notices: Since Abraham likely died 2000–2011, try searching contemporary papers or online obituary indexes. The Ryerson Index (https://ryersonindex.org) is a free index of death notices in Australian newspapers (mostly from the 1990s to recent). Search Ryerson for the surname Solas or Cyrus—if a death notice was published for him in Australia, it should appear with a reference to the paper and date. (As of now, the surname Solas is very uncommon, so any entry is worth checking.) If he died abroad, you might find an obituary on sites like Legacy.com or in newspapers from that country. For example, if family remained in Australia, a death overseas might still get a notice in an Australian paper (“... passed away in [Location]”). So search major Australian newspapers’ websites or archives (The Courier-Mail, Sydney Morning Herald, etc.) for the name around those years.

Trove’s planned expansion may in future include more recent decades’ newspapers, but for now you may need library database access for post-1950s news. The State Library of Queensland provides access to NewsCorp archives (Courier-Mail, etc.) and Fairfax archives which could cover 2000s death notices. Consider visiting a library or using their e-resources to look up an obituary if you have a date of death. An obituary or funeral notice is ideal to confirm family relationships—it often lists spouse, children, or siblings.

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Immigration and Travel Records

Given Abraham Solas’ background, immigration records could clarify his identity and family:

  • National Archives of Australia (NAA): Search the NAA’s RecordSearch database for Abraham Solas or Solas Abraham. NAA holds naturalization files and immigration documents for post-WWII migrants. If he was born ~1930 and in Brisbane by 1961, he may have arrived in Australia in the 1950s (possibly as a Spanish refugee or an assisted immigrant). A naturalization certificate file (typically titled with the person’s name) could be gold—these files often contain birth details, former names, name changes, and sometimes names of spouse and children. For example, if Juan and Rosa Solas were his parents and all came together, you might find a family group listed on an immigration manifest. Use keywords like “Solas” or “Cyrus” and filter by dates in the 1950s. If a file is found and its status is “open,” you can request a digital copy from NAA. (If it’s not yet digitized, there may be a small fee but it’s worth it for the genealogy data within.) Naturalization records would confirm if he officially anglicized or altered his name—perhaps explaining the Cyrus/Solas name variation [1] (https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research).
  • Passenger Lists: Also check passenger arrivals to Australia. The NAA and Ancestry have passenger lists for arrivals by ship and air. Ancestry’s “Australia, Passenger Lists, 1946–1971” might list an Abraham Solas or Solas family coming into a port like Sydney or Melbourne (many post-war Spanish migrants came via ship to Sydney). If you find an entry, it can give date of arrival, ship name, and possibly the intended address in Australia. Similarly, if he left Australia later (say in the 1960s or 70s), he might appear in outward passenger lists or inbound lists of another country (for instance, the UK Incoming Passenger Lists if he traveled to Europe, or U.S. arrival records if he went to America). Ancestry and Findmypast have UK incoming/outgoing passenger indexes where you can search for “Solas” or “Cyrus” around the mid-1960s.
  • International Travel and Aliases: The name variation is especially important in travel records. If “Cyrus Abraham” was an alias or a reversed name he used, a passenger record might list him that way. For example, someone named Abraham SOLAS could be recorded by immigration officers as “Abraham, Solas” (surname first) which might be misinterpreted. Or if he adopted “Cyrus” later, perhaps he traveled under that name. Be sure to search both “Solas” and “Cyrus” as surnames in passenger databases. If any hits look plausible (even if first name or ages vary slightly), follow up on them. Immigration files in the NAA may also cross-reference aliases—a dossier might say “also known as …”.

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Additional Research Avenues

To confirm family relationships, you might need to cast a wide net and then connect the dots:

  • Family Trees and Genealogy Websites: Websites like FamilySearch, WikiTree, or MyHeritage might have user-contributed family trees or records. Try searching for Abraham Solas (born ~1930) or Cyrus Abraham in those sites. FamilySearch’s free records include some Australian electoral rolls and cemetery indexes; they also have the FamilySearch Family Tree where someone researching the same person might have added details (for example, a relative could have noted “also known as X”). Keep an eye out for any tree entries referencing Brisbane or Australia in the 1960s. (As an example, one might find a tree listing parents Juan Solas and Rosa [Surname] with a child named Abraham born 1920s/1930s in Spain—that would be a strong clue.) Always verify any user-submitted info against the actual records.
  • Local Historical Societies and Archives: Since Abraham Solas was associated with Brisbane in 1961–62, the Brisbane City Archives or Queensland State Archives might hold useful records. For instance, Brisbane City Archives might have electoral registers or residence records by street. If you know an address (from electoral roll or correspondence), rate books or city directories could list the householder’s name. The mention of the “Spanish Club” is telling—perhaps check with Brisbane’s Spanish community organizations. The Spanish Centre in Brisbane (Spanish Club) might have historical membership lists or newsletters from the 1960s that could mention him or his family. Oral histories or community documents could confirm relationships (e.g. “Abraham Solas, son of Juan Solas, was the secretary in 1962”—hypothetical example).
  • Newspaper Obituary (if not found digitally): If you strongly suspect he died in a certain place but can’t find an online notice, consider traditional methods: visit a library that holds newspapers on microfilm for the timeframe and region. For example, if family oral history says he died in 2005 in Brisbane, look at the death notices in The Courier-Mail around that date. Or if he died abroad, see if an obituary was placed in his hometown’s paper. Sometimes funeral homes publish on their own websites (as in the Cyrus “Cid” Abraham case).
  • Linking Solas and Cyrus: Given the possible alias, once you gather several records, you may find a pattern. It could be that “Cyrus” was a middle name or a translation of a name he adopted later in life (Cyrus is reminiscent of the Spanish name “Ciro”). It’s also possible “Solas/Cyrus” refers to a double-barreled surname. Could it be he had two surnames (as is common in Spanish naming conventions)? For example, if his name was Abraham Solas Cyrus, he might appear in some records under the second surname. Check if any document shows two surnames or an initial that could stand for another name.

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Useful Genealogy Websites & Resources

Below are some key resources with links, which you can use for further investigation:

  • Queensland BDM Family History Search: The official QLD registry search for births, marriages, deaths. (Requires a free login to search; provides index info and certificate purchase options.)
    [1] (https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research)
  • National Archives of Australia – RecordSearch: The database to search for immigration/naturalisation files and passenger records. Start at the NAA’s RecordSearch and use keywords like Solas or Cyrus with date filters.
  • Trove (National Library): Newspaper archive for historical articles and notices. Use it for mid-century news on the Solas family and any references to Abraham.
  • Ryerson Index: Free index of Australian death notices (useful for 2000–2011 range). Search by surname for any entries that might match.
  • Ancestry.com.au or Findmypast: Subscription databases that have Australian electoral rolls, passenger lists, and possibly military or immigration records. These can be accessed at many libraries for free if you don’t have a personal subscription. Look for Abraham under both surnames here.
  • FamilySearch.org: Free genealogy database – search their collections (they have some Australian indexes, and global collections like the SSDI). Also try the FamilySearch Family Tree for any user-contributed info on Abraham Solas or Cyrus.
  • MyHeritage and Geneanet: Additional databases where European or international relatives might have posted family trees. Searching those could be a long shot, but worth a try with name variants.
  • Local Archives/State Library: The Queensland State Archives (for immigration and naturalisation records copies) and State Library of QLD (for newspaper archives and electoral roll access) are great resources. The State Library’s genealogy staff might be able to assist in locating electoral roll entries or newspaper clippings if you reach out.

Using a combination of these sources should help triangulate Abraham Solas’s life events. For instance, you might find a naturalization record confirming his birth name and date, an electoral roll confirming his residence and spouse in 1962, and a newspaper obituary confirming his death and children. Each piece will build a clearer picture. Good luck with your research—given the multiple name variations, be persistent and double-check each lead across Australian and international records!

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Sources:

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