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
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