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
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
John Williams and Susannah Jones were married on 3 October, 1837 in the Parish Church (St Giles) in Wrexham, North Wales. During their entire marriage they lived in Brook Street, Wrexham (I am not sure if they went to live in Brook Street directly after they were married, but they are listed as living there … Read more John Williams and the Missing 1861 Census
I have always wondered about Sarah Mather’s birth. Her parents, James MATHER (1821-1881) and Fanny CROSS (1822-1867), were unmarried when she was born and her father wasn’t even listed on her birth certificate. However, both parents were listed on her baptism and they did get married later on. Over the past couple of weeks I … Read more The Circumstance of Sarah Mather’s Birth
Imagine being a teenager in Russia during the 1860’s. Not exactly the normal life for a middle-class girl of the period. But Sarah Mather’s life had not been normal from the start. When Sarah was born on 13th June 1852 her parents were not married. In fact, her father’s name was not included on her … Read more Sarah Mather – a well traveled girl
During the 1870’s Edwin Williams worked on several construction projects in and around the Manchester area. An entry in the Cyclopedia of New South Wales 1907 for Edwin states as follows: “and for several years did some good work in the northern counties, superintending, amongst other buildings, the erection of the John Barnes Convalescent Hospital, … Read more Edwin Williams meets Sarah Mather
Who would have guessed that my great grandfather, Edwin Williams, was ever in the army? Thanks to a document and letter in the possession of my cousin, and graciously shared with me, I was able to find out about Edwin’s short army career. The document below is a pass for Acting Corporal E Williams (army … Read more Edwin Williams was in the Army?