Megan Albert Charles Brackstone couldn’t have been older than 16 when he’d last heard the bells of Sherborne Abbey ring. Now, almost 55 years later, in a radio broadcast, their sound reached him again. The occasion moved him to write a letter to the vicar, Rev. W. M. Askwith, some of which was printed in the … Read more Albert Charles Brackstone (1866-1947)
Hillgrove is situated 30 km from Armidale in New South Wales, just off the Waterfall Way. It is situated on a plateau above Bakers Creek and it is down the side of this escarpment where the mines that attracted industry and people to the area are situated. Antimony was first discovered there in 1876 but … Read more Connections to Hillgrove
This is not the usual story of a poor young women with an illegitimate baby. After a sad start to life that meant she was working in a cotton mill and looking after herself at 13, Margaret Sharp’s life actually improved some years later when she had her son, Alexander GIBBONS (1853-1910). It has taken … Read more Margaret Sharp (1826-1881)
I always wanted to believe that James MATHER (1821-1881) was my great great grandfather, but up until a few weeks ago the paternity of my great grandmother was not watertight. James and my great great grandmother, Fanny Cross were not married when my great grandmother, Sarah Mather Cross was born and there was no father … Read more Mather DNA Match and Bonus
This post is in response to Jill Ball’s invitation to take part in this activity. As it is one of my goals for 2020 to report on my family history on a more regular basis, I decided to take part. As instructed by Jill, I have completed only as many statements as I wish or … Read more Accentuate the Positive Geneameme 2019
It is quite easy to use Google Maps to track the lives of our ancestors. I used this blog post: Google and Maps for Genealogists: Tracking Where You’ve Been to find out how to do it. The map below shows the journey of my gggrandparents, Angus McKenzie and Margaret MacDonald, who both were born near … Read more Tracking Where People Went
I must admit I wasn’t originally convinced that DNA testing could enrich my family history research. As such I didn’t take a DNA test until late 2017. By then there were established testing companies and the price was quite reasonable. It must have been reading Peter Calver’s newsletter at LostCousins (https://www.lostcousins.com/) that managed to persuade … Read more The Value of DNA Testing
On a recent trip to the UK, I was able to spend a weekend in Fermanagh near the town of Kesh on Lower Loch Erne. My Morrow and Allingham ancestors lived nearby before emigrating to Australia in the 1840’s and 1850’s. I purchased an Ordinance Survey map of the area. The image shown here is … Read more Visiting Fermanagh
Edwin’s family was typical of the period. Three of his elder siblings did not survive childhood and one of his younger brothers died of “disease of the heart” at just 9 years old. When Edwin married Sarah Mather in 1876 and settled near Glossop he left his siblings in Lancashire and assimilated with Sarah’s family … Read more Edwin Williams’ Siblings
This house had special meaning for my Williams family. It was the family home of my great-grandfather, Edwin Williams, almost from the time he arrived in Australia until his death. My Williams cousins all seem to have a similar photo of the house as the one displayed here. Unfortunately, the house is no longer standing. … Read more Ardwick Cottage – Erskineville Road Newtown