the official journal of the central coast family history ... · history society inc. 2013 journal...

The Official Journal of the Central Coast Family History Society Inc

Number 7 December 2013

PATRONS Lawrie McKinna, Mayor of Gosford Council

Chris Holstein MP State Member for Gosford Lucy Wicks MP Federal Member for Robertson

Members of NSW & ACT Ass. of F.H.S. - A.F.F.H.O. & F.F.H.S. United Kingdom

Executive: President Rene Jamison 02 4322-4118 Vice President Wendy Condon 02 4388-2517 Secretary Marlene Bailey 02 4384-7913 Treasurer Yvonne Potts 02 4341-4591 Research Centre Manager Kay Radford 02 43245164 02 43446512 A/H

Committee:

Bennie Campbell, Lola Cormie, Marlene Davidson, Margaret Ertner, Warwick Forrest,

Barry Porter, Kay Radford and Kay Rawnsley

RESEARCH CENTRE

Building 4, 8 Russell Drysdale Street, EAST GOSFORD NSW 2250 Phone: 4324 5164 - Email [email protected] Open: Tues to Fri 9.30am-2.30pm; Sat 9.30am-12.00pm

Thursday evening 7.00pm-9.00pm Research Centre Closed on Mondays for Administration

MEETINGS

First Saturday of each month from February to November Commencing at 1.00pm – doors open 12.00pm

Venue: Gosford Lions Community Hall Rear of 8 Russell Drysdale Street, EAST GOSFORD NSW

MEMBERSHIP ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION GST INCLUDED

Single Membership $43.00 Joint Membership $60.00

Joining Fee $5.00

Central Coast Family History Society Inc

1 e-Muster – December 2013

The e- Muster is the Official Journal of the Central Coast Family History Society Inc as The Muster it was first published in April 1983 The new e-Muster is published to our website 3 times a year - April, August, and December. The Society does not hold itself responsible for statements made or opinions expressed by advertisers or authors of articles appearing in e-

Muster.

© Central Coast Family History Society Inc. 2013

JOURNAL EDITOR Kay Radford

All articles to: [email protected] e-Muster deadlines are March 20 July 20 November 20

Type in 16 pitch with narrow margins please.

Surnames in CAPS

All images to be sent separately.

December 2013 – No: 7

REGULAR FEATURES Editorial ...........................................................................1 President’s Piece ..........................................................2 New Members List ......................................................3 Society Events and Information Christmas Luncheon .........................................4 Research Centre Closing dates .....................4 Family Tree Maker help ..................................4 Education ...............................................................4 Membership Fees ...............................................4 2014 Calender of Events - planning ...........5 Speakers for 2014 ..............................................6 Assigned Duties ..................................................7 Grant Recipients .................................................8 Expressions of Interest – workshops ........8 ARTICLES Come on! Own up. Who had a Billy Cart? ..........23 What’s in a name? ........................................................27 A Death Certificate Delayed ....................................29 The Hon. Mr Pery – Earl of Limerick ...................30 Stories of Jack Applitt/Aplett..................................33 A Dim View .....................................................................34 Eureka! She Said ...........................................................36 Building Bridges ...........................................................37 SPECIAL FEATURES Vale – Bruce Dunlop ...................................................9-10 Central Coast Family History Fair ........................11 Patron – Mayor opens Fair ......................................15 CCFHS Writers’ Group ...............................................18 Vale – Ken Cook ............................................................20 My Thanks to CCFHS ..................................................21 Deceased Online ...........................................................32 Soldiers’ Wills and Last Letters Home ................40 Heritage Focus ..............................................................41 ADVERTISING New Products from the Society .............................16 Gosford Council Printing Service ..........................17 Transcription Agents .................................................26

mailto:[email protected]

Page No: 1 e-Muster – December 2013

Editors pick for favourite story in this issue is from Rhonda CETTA-HOYE. Come on own up! Who had a billy cart? Rhonda has a knack of encouraging us to look back on our childhood and once again she’s done it very well. New contributors this issue are Wednesday volunteer Brian DAVIES and Leonie PINSON who has under the guidance of Heather SUSHAMES found long lost family. Sometime earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting a lady at our centre who came to us for help in locating her birth mother in England. Out of courtesy I will not mention her name but will say that the Wednesday team were over the moon to be able to help her become united with a brother she didn’t know she had 61 years after her adoption. One can only thank goodness for FreeBMD and the fact that the NSW privacy act is not in place in the UK, because without these records we would not have been able to help her. It can only happen in countries where records for births do not contain such ridiculous embargos like our 100 year rule. Please read her story and if the goose pumps get to you like they did to me – you’re still breathing! Other items in this issue are made up from reliable members always ready to put fingers to keyboard for the journal. It is with great sadness that we said farewell to two members who passed away in October. Bruce DUNLOP and Ken COOK two gentlemen who thrived on their family history and who will be sadly missed. I would like to thank Gwen Dundon for the tribute to Bruce a very close friend. I have done what I can to remember Ken who was not quite as well known by members, but nevertheless a great chap to have a mag with. Items for the April e-Muster are due in by 20 March 2014 – do you have an Anzac themed story waiting to be told? I already have the promise of one. Muster Cover: Our Cottage today

Editorial – Kay Radford

e-Muster – December 2013 2

I look at the date and wonder at the fast approach of the end of 2013, and then I think about what a busy year this has been for us with activities within our Research Centre and visits to other organisations on the Central Coast and further afield.

Our Society goes from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of our Committee and members who give freely of their time to help with whatever task might present and to assist those who are new to genealogy to become experienced researchers.

There are many people who deserve a mention in despatches, too many to name here …. but, in all conscience, I cannot omit acknowledging Wendy Condon for her amazing organisational skills. Thanks to Wendy’s dedication to detail and her determined networking, we have just experienced a spectacular Fair, so well attended by many visiting Family History Societies and representatives providing resources and products necessary to research. 250 people signed our Attendance Book, indicating that the general public also demonstrated interest by their presence. Wendy’s official title is Membership Secretary, but she obviously wears more than one hat!

Many thanks to all who assist in the Research Centre in any capacity ….your efforts are very much appreciated.

I send you all Best Wishes for the Festive Season and a Healthy, Happy 2014.

Rene Jamison.

Photo: Events Coordinator Wendy Condon with Patron Lord Mayor of Gosford Lawrie McKinna.

President’s Piece – Irene Jamison


We wish to extend a very warm welcome to our new members. We hope they have many happy researching and social hours with us. Please remember to lodge your Members’ Interest with Bennie Campbell for inclusion on the Website. 1878 McMULLEN Heather 1895 MOORE Kerry 1879 BROWN Margaret 1896 MURPHY Irene 1880 GREEN Christa 1897 BENSON Jude 1881 BLACKWOOD Eric 1898 MUFFETT Sharon 1882 KING Michael 1899 CLARK Ruth 1883 HILTON Alan 1900 McGILL Sandy 1884 LARGE Cheryl 1901 WINTERS, Anna 1885 MITCHELL Barbara 1902J EWING Lindsay & Kathy 1886 CLIFT Chris 1903 HAINES Judith 1887 ROSE Sueanne 1904 FRIEND Jenny 1888 REINHARD Theresa 1905 LIND, Malcolm M 1889 ROYSTON Kaz 1906 MONTGOMERY Suzanne 1890 WILSON Lindsay 1907 RYAN Kate 1891 SZUPRYTOWSKI Karen 1908 ELLIOTT Karen 1892 HOOK Ann 1909 SMITH Judith & Clifford 1893 KERR Maureen 1910 KELLY Christine 1894 MITCHELL Colin 1782 SIMMONS Margaret (renew)

SCOTTISH RESEARCHER Please update the contact email address for Jean Gibb, in Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland. Jean’s business cards are available from the research centre.

New Members


CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON Will take place at the Lions Hall on December 7th 2013 – 1pm Our new Patron Ms. Lucy Wicks Federal Member for Robertson will collect her Patrons Citation on this day. You will have a chance to talk to Lucy and her family, as well as our Mayor Lawrie McKinna and Mrs. McKinna. Remember the Mayor likes the crackling!

RESEARCH CENTRE CHRISTMAS CLOSURE The Research Centre will close for the Christmas break after 12 noon on Saturday 14 December 2013. We will reopen for business on Tuesday 4 February 2014

FAMILY TREE MAKER ONE ON ONE HELP SESSIONS Further to our comments in the last issue, Kay Rawnsley (better known as Kay2) has organised to have one on one help sessions on Tuesday mornings. These sessions MUST be booked ahead. Kay can set up a program for you on your laptop and get you going. She can also sort out any problems you are having. The new Version 2014 is on its way, keep in touch with the Centre for further information. During the year we will see if we can organise a larger get together on a Saturday afternoon. Nothing has been organised at this stage.

EDUCATION Our ongoing education program is under consideration at the moment. Margaret has a couple of ideas already. FamilySearch – how to make the most out of the new website. Military Records – The Australian War Memorial

MEMBERSHIP FEES 2014 will fall due on 1 March. Annual Membership Fees for 2013 will be: Single Membership $43.00 Joint Membership $60.00 Re Joining Fee $ 5.00

Society Events and Information for Members


You will be able to download a membership renewal form from the NEW website when it is up and running. If not they are available to be sent out via email on request to [email protected] Please note there will be no rise in membership fees for the 2014-2015 membership year.

2014 CALENDER OF EVENTS – planning stage. SENIORS’ WEEK – Heritage Focus Seniors week this year will be celebrated on the morning of March 1. We plan to hold a special day for members and local seniors. The question is asked “if you were preparing a Heritage Memory Box what would you put in it? What treasures would you like to see set aside in your memory? What treasures do you have from your ancestors to add to your Heritage Memory Box?” The format is still in the early planning stage. Although we will be encouraging members and visitors to bring along treasures they think could be included in such a Heritage Memory Box. Some perhaps could be encouraged to give a short description on their items in the afternoon. If planning to bring along a treasure please type out its provenance to display with your items. Displays to be set up in the Hall before 10am our doors will open at 11am. Please read pages 42 and 43 for some thoughts on the Heritage Memory Box. MAY - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING This will take place on 3 May 2013. AUGUST - NATIONAL FAMILY HISTORY MONTH We now have a full month in which to celebrate this event. No plans are at yet in place but we will definitely be doing something during the month of August. SEPTEMBER NSW & ACT ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES INC ANNUAL CONFERENCE to be hosted by ILLAWARRA FAMILY HISTORY GROUP INC Dates: 12 – 14th September 2014. Venue: Fraternity Club Fairy Meadow.



February 1st – Lisa MURRAY –Dictionary of Sydney Lisa is a committed public historian who is interested in the intersection between family, local and urban histories. Her recent research projects have included articles for the Dictionary of Sydney and a book presenting the social and urban history

of the southern city industrial areas of Redfern, Waterloo and Alexandria. Other research interests include cemeteries, cultural landscapes and memory. In telling us; about the Dictionary of Sydney Lisa will explore the impact of the digital age on the practice and production of family and community history.

March 1st – Seniors Week Event – Heritage Focus This event is still in the planning stage. See item under 2014 Calender of Events.

April 5th – John SHARPLES - The Men’s Shed Movement John is a retired woodwork and metalwork teacher and is currently the President of the Bateau Bay Men’s Shed. He also presides over the 10 sheds in Zone 8 of the Movement, from Murrurundi to Umina. In his talk he shows pictures of “Men at Work” and explains the rationale of the movement and its amazing growth since it began nationally in 2007. This speaker is still to be confirmed in 2014

SPEAKERS FOR 2014


ASSIGNED DUTIES The following is a list of who does what to keep the society running as smoothly as it does. Assistant Treasurer Margaret Ertner Bookstall Coordinator Barry Porter Bookstall meeting helper Warwick Forrest Bus Trips and Tours Marlene Davidson CD Publishing Wallace Russell Education Officer Margaret Ertner Event Coordinator Wendy Condon Grant Applications Marlene Davidson Grant Application Proofreader Warwick Forrest Guest Speakers Jon Fearon Housekeeping Jenny Richmond It and Computer Network CC Mobile Computers LDS Film Hire – FamilySearch Kay Rawnsley Librarian Yvonne Potts Librarian’s Assistant Lynn Thompson Membership Secretary Wendy Condon Membership Secretary’s helper on meeting days Lola Cormie Members Interests Bennie Campbell The e-Muster Editor Kay Radford Pelican Press Editor Kay Radford Muster Proofreading Rene Jamison and Margaret Ertner Nic Nac Stall Rosemary Wiltshire Overseas Book Monitor Heather Sushames Property Officer Lola Cormie Publication Projects Kay Radford Public Officer Marlene Bailey Publicity and Advertising Deborah Buist Raffle Organiser Bennie Campbell Catering Margaret Ertner Research Officer Margaret Morters Unrelated Certificates Kay Rawnsley Web Page Administrator Kay Radford Welfare and Hospital Visits Rene Jamison


GRANT RECIPIENTS

These projects are supported by Arts NSW’s Cultural Grant Program, devolved funding program administered by The Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government. Central Coast Family History Society were once again recipients of a cultural grant under the above mentioned scheme. Pictured is Lola Cormie collecting our cheque for $1000 for our work on the Lisarow Cemetery – Forget us Not – Unmarked Graves. This project has been released in CD and Book format see our advertisement on page Lola also received a cheque for her latest project which is well underway Brewarrina on the Barwon. This title stirred a lot of interest at the recent NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies Conference in Canberra. Printing of these projects were or will be carried out by Gosford Council Printing Services. The Editor

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST We would like to hear from members regarding what type of courses you would be interested in attending in 2014. Research Centre Orientation Workshops are always popular, Land Titles and Trove come to mind. How about something based around the Australian War Memorial and what it has to offer within its Family History Search Room? We collected a set of their Information Sheets when we were down there in September. Ask to browse these when we open for business in February 2014.


SPEAKERS CORNER (A note on guest speakers at recent meetings)

3 August 2013 Gail Davis NSW State Records Always available to advise and assist our members, Gail Davis gave us a comprehensive up-date on her ‘top 20’ of the diverse records available from NSW State Records. So much more than just BDM’s. 7 September 2013 Peter Cane The Sydney Heritage Fleet A long-term sailing enthusiast, Peter Cane has a passion for old ships and is a keen member of Sydney Heritage Fleet. Peter spoke of his involvement with the Fleet, a volunteer organisation dedicated to the restoration of old ships. Seven, including the James Craig, have been restored for use on Sydney Harbour and work continues to restore others. 5 October: David Deasey Australians in the Boer War Lieutenant Colonel David Deasey was a career high school teacher but from early days has been an active member of the Australian Army Reserve. David spoke about his particular interest in the role of Australian troops in the Boer War and his involvement in the New South Wales Boer War Memorial Association.

VALE BRUCE DUNLOP

Many members of our Society were saddened by the death in October of our member and good friend Bruce DUNLOP of Wagstaffe aged 86. He was born at Murrumburrah NSW in 1927, the fourth child of William C. DUNLOP and Beatrice Annie, nee HILL who later moved to Sydney to live. Although his early life was marred by the death of his mother in 1938 when he was 11 he was sustained by the care of his relatives on both sides who lived in the Hardys Bay-Wagstaffe area, and with whom he spent his holidays.

He had two trades. He became a qualified coppersmith, working for a firm engaged in many facets of the engineering industry and the war effort, including shipping. When he was 38 he completed four years of training as a plumber, drainer and gas-fitter.


Bruce married Irene MORGAN in Sydney in 1949, and some years later they built a holiday home at MacMasters Beach where he had holidayed as a child with his aunt Mrs WARING. His family had a long association also with the Hardys Bay–Wagstaffe area from 1918. He told how his great aunt Mrs Mary Ann MONTGOMERY and husband William first came to the Bay in 1911 and bought land in 1918 at Heath Road, Hardys Bay when there were only two houses in existence. George and Mary WARING purchased the same year, followed by his grandfather Hugh DUNLOP and Thomas DUNLOP on their return from the Great War in 1919. Hugh’s house was called Goodenough and the

MONTGOMERYS dubbed theirs “U and I” (no house numbers then). Bruce also enjoying chatting about other quaintly named houses at Hardys Bay such as So Long Letty which was the name of a popular musical show staged in Sydney in 1915.

Holidays spent with Mrs MONTGOMERY in childhood were magical for Bruce and he never tired of recalling the joys of them. There was the popular Aboriginal identity Teuro Down there too, whose phenomenal memory allowed him to greet holiday makers by name as they arrived by ferry. Just like one of the family he would call out “Hullo Brucie!” And in his turn was not forgotten.

Bruce’s pursuit of his DUNLOP ancestry in Ayrshire Scotland was of never-ending interest to him. He found time for many things however, and was a Kincumber Rotarian and foundation member of the Probus Club. He attended meetings until ill-health overtook him not long before his death. He was pleasant, kind and humorous. So long Bruce. We extend our sincere sympathy to Irene and daughters Jennifer, Christine and Suzanne. Gwen Dundon – Member 134


An amazing day – the weather was kind to us even if it was a bit hotter than we had hoped. About 250 people signed the Visitors’ Book on the day. Of these 155 were non-members. Our visiting Exhibitors were kept busy all day. It was unfortunate that we did not have more space in our centre to hold more people to hear the talks given by Joy Murrin, Gail Davis, Brad Argent and Margaret Ertner. It was standing room only on each occasion. It was a very profitable day for the Society and we need to thank Wendy Condon and her team for the months spent working on making this event one to remember. After expenses have been deducted we should clear just over $5,000. A special thanks to our Publicity Officer Deb Buist for her hard work and also for being camera ready on the day. Also thank you to Marlene Davidson (speaker organiser) who also was seen snapping away during the day. I know Wendy will want me to thank everyone who worked very hard on the setting up of the hall and the cleaning up afterwards. To dear non-member spouses Dave and Ken who gave up their time to work alongside members on the Friday and Saturday – a great big thank you. Margaret and her kitchen helpers did a wonderful job feeding the masses. As did Brian and Ken on the BBQ. It is my wish to acknowledge everyone who helped make the day a success – I sincerely hope I don’t miss anyone out. Friday 1 November Hall Set up – 2pm Working on the plan measured up by Brian Davies and placements made by Wendy and yours truly – everything went very smoothly with the help of Brian Davies, Andrew and Barbara Melville, Carol Batterbury, David Condon and several others who just popped in whose names escape me. Chairs needed to be moved from the hall to the cottage, and tables needed to be moved from the cottage to the hall. Brian, David and Carol thank you for a job well done. Denis Jamison picked up and dropped off the Bendigo Bank

CENTRAL COAST FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC FAMILY HISTORY FAIR 2013-


gazebos, thank you Den. The ladies from Taree Family History set up their stall on the Friday and we had a visit from the folk from Brisbane Water Historical Society to see where they would be placed. Also Warren Meyer and Linda Nicholson from FamilySearch – Family History Centre at Wyoming checked in. Our raffle ladies set up the raffle display to the sub-committee meeting requirements – well done! Sandwich preparation Margaret Ertner, Rene Jamison, Freda Summerfield, Marlene Davidson

Saturday 2 November Setting up outside – 7am Brian Davies, Ken Radford and David Condon set up the three Bendigo gazebos and the Society gazebo first thing on Saturday morning. Brian and Ken set up the BBQ and also moved tables from the hall to various spots outside the buildings for exhibitors and staff. Ken has a new job – Parking Lot

Attendant. Whilst in the Kitchen: Margaret Ertner, Freda Summerfield, Marlene Bailey, Yvonne Potts, Heather Sushames, Margaret Melnyk, Dee Ritchie (also on raffle table) and Lorna Cullen prepared for the days onslaught. Donations of Slices: Sherilyn White, Deborah Buist, Marlene Davidson, Pip Preston, Dee Barham, Monica Scott, Barbara Mann and Leslie Scotchmer. Welcome Table: Rene Jamison, Barbara Mann, Judith Tagg, Dorothy Mulholland. I prepared with the help of the Wednesday volunteers Brian and Freda, 100 hand out information packets. These were soon all gone so we needed to run off some more Pelican Press copies to at least be able to give visitors something. Talk about underestimating our requirements. Bookstall: Barry Porter, Lyn Hall and Warwick Forrest. Barry and the bookstall team also did a tremendous job of selling our publications. Many of them new and prepared over the past couple of weeks by my production team. The Lisarow ladies, June and Lorraine, Bench Books team under the


direction of Margaret Ertner. Her team of Rene and Maeve are well on the way to our second instalment of this series.

Raffles: Bennie Campbell, Carol Evans, Trish Michael. Bennie and her team sold heaps of raffle tickets for the huge raffle, prizes which were mostly donations sourced by Kay 2. Thanks to new member Lindsay Wilson for collecting the plants from the nursery for us. Family Tree Maker: Kay Rawnsley – sat there all day next to Brad Argent must have been a difficult task – (I

don’t think) she took orders for the new 2014 Edition of the program which are expected in very soon. Multifunction Room Speakers: Marlene Davidson coordinator, working with Pam Williams and Carol Batterbury. The three ladies did well organising this aspect of the day. It was difficult because we only had 40 chairs available. They managed to fit a few more in – standing room only. Sausage Sizzle: Brian Davies, Ken Radford. Brian is our Wednesday volunteer and is one of the most pleasant chaps I have come across in my almost 17 years of working at the Centre. Nothing is too much trouble for Brian, his wife Beth is a fellow patch worker who sews at the adjacent Textile Arts Cottage on the precinct – Beth sews and Brian looks after our computer problems and anything else we ladies can’t fix, so the day suits them both. Ken of course is my other half, and in the past has been on BBQ duties but took a rest when several of our members put their hands up for the job.


Nic Nac Stall: Rosemary Wiltshire, another one who sat in that heat all day on her own on the Nic Nac Stall. She told me she was very happy with her result. Memberships and Cottage Helpers: Kay Radford. I had the task of taking new memberships on the day, due to a painful back I was limited to do much else. I think our Treasurer will have words with me because I did put money to the wrong account in a few transactions. See, I have so many helpers at the centre I don’t need to do memberships very often, what’s the old saying “If you don’t use it you lose it?” So true! I also worked on the signage for everywhere and running off additional stuff as required. I would like to mention here Heather Sushames for watching the door and generally helping out, also to new member Lindsay Wilson who watched the phone early in the morning when we were trying to get things sorted. Hall Pack up: Jon Fearon, David Condon, Ken Radford, Brian Davies and Carol Batterbury. Brian tells me there were a heap of our ladies doing relay with the chairs from the cottage to the hall – whoever you were our thanks for assisting with getting everything back in place so efficiently and with much speed. Deborah and Marlene took over 100 photos on the day – these will be shown using a PowerPoint display at our Christmas Luncheon. CDs of the entire collection will be available to purchase on CD for a small donation. I have also Included on the CD the photos from last year’s Christmas Luncheon. Kay Radford - Editor

CCFHS bookstall


Patron - MAYOR MCKINNA OPENS FAIR

We were delighted that Mayor McKinna found time in his busy schedule to spend a little time with us during the day. He officially opened the Fair at 11am and stayed around to share a quick morning tea with us. SPEAKERS: Joy Murrin, Gail Davis, Brad Argent and Margaret Ertner


NEW PRODUCTS

Lisarow Cemetery – Forget us Not Unmarked Graves The publication contains information of more than 500 unmarked graves in the old Lisarow (St John’s Church) Cemetery. Available in either Book Form or CD. Book $30.00, CD $30.00 or buy both for $50.00 Postage and Packaging: CD only $3.00 Book/Both NSW $10.00 Interstate $13.00

HOLY CROSS CEMETERY SOUTH KINCUMBER Memorial transcriptions and Digital Images, church history, plot plan and information from the original parish register – now in PDF format CD: $25.00 packaging and postage add $3.00

BENCH BOOKS AND

COURT CASES in the

DISTRICT OF BRISBANE WATER 1826-1874

Part 1: Court Cases: DEPOSITIONS (1) 1835-1842

Price: $55.00 plus $3.00 postage

Transcriptions and Digital Images of the original documents


CCFHS WRITERS’ GROUP

In the last Muster Terry Heffernan outlined the aims of the Writers’ Group which started in 2010. We met for six two hour sessions. We held these monthly, on a Saturday afternoon, starting in March. We were unable to run the course this year but are happy to do so again in 2014 if we can get 12 keen people. As Terry mentioned, the workshops were designed for participants to pursue their own personal interests, to look at how to start writing and follow through to publication. The workshops were very popular and the results amazing. People who were convinced they couldn’t possibly put pen to paper came up with so many different approaches. I would like to give you a few examples of these and perhaps inspire you to come along in 2014. Have you ever thought about the different places where your family lived? You might like to incorporate those into your family story but isn’t it boring to just say, ‘My grandparents lived in …… Then a few years later moved to …. This is how Lindsay approached this: I feel so much better now as I rest here on the work bench in the garage; thank goodness the Missus decided to clean up that draughty, sometimes damp lane at the side of the house where I had been wasting away. ………… In my old age I have become somewhat nostalgic as I spend my time thinking of bygone days and the experiences. …….. My earliest recollections take me back in time to the 1920’s when I was on a bench in a shed at number 46 Gordon Avenue, Hamilton. It was a multi-purpose box, coming in handy to hold all manner of things. The residents of that address were Ivy and Clyde Watts and their family of lively young children. Life was good for me. ………… Lindsay called this piece ‘The Reminiscences of a Box’ and traced the family’s movements over ninety years by personifying a box that had moved each time with the family. She went on to compile a booklet of short stories called ‘A little bit of this and that,’ covering all sorts of family history. One story I particularly liked was; Grandma. What’s a ……;?’ Haven’t we all been asked a question like that?


Another writer didn’t have a lot of early information about her ancestor but made the story much more interesting by questioning her ancestor, including factual details and adding information about where she lived. Marlene personalised her story by starting with a conversation with her ancestor……… Where are you Christina? Mystery surrounds you still. You have so much to tell us about your German family, your ancestors, your pioneer days in Stroud, Walcha and other parts unknown. Where is your last resting place? We know you were a winter babe, born 30th July 1862 at Stroud, that town designed initially by the Australian Agricultural Company …… What did you do for your teenage years? You signed with your mark when at just 19 you married that young German lad Charles Stier, farmer at Stoney Creek Walcha, so seems schooling had not been an option for you. ………….She went on to write about the family in more detail. During one session we looked at a birth certificate and worked on fleshing out what was often minimal information to write something interesting. It was surprising how a few facts could lead to a page of interesting writing. We didn’t aim to write a best seller, just to enjoy writing and learn about editing and publication. Publication can be a printed version just for you, family members or even the completion of a book which has been in the offing (or on bits of paper) for years. It’s all about what you want. We all learnt from each other and had a very pleasant time so if you think it’s about time you gathered together some of that wonderful research you have done over the years come and join us in 2014. If you would like more information please contact Terry or me. Marie Riley - Member 796 Tel: 02 4381 2759 Email: [email protected]

Terry Heffernan – Member 658 Tel: 02 4328 3726 Email: [email protected]




VALE KEN COOK – Member 1052J

15 April 1941 – 18 October 2013

Ken and his wife Pat have been members of the Society since they first joined in 2003. They took a break and re-joined in 2007. My best memory of Ken is when I spent some time talking to him and Pat about their forthcoming trip to England to research their family roots. It was a lifelong ambition for Ken and both he and Pat were very excited in anticipation of what they might unearth whilst on their quest.

I did speak to them both after they returned and although my memory is a little vague about that particular discussion I remember them being just as thrilled afterwards as before. Ken passed away on 18 October 2013 and whilst we mourn the loss of our second of three members to leave us this year, we also celebrate their lives and remember the friendships shared. Kay Radford - Editor

MEET OUR NEW IT PEOPLE

Marg Morters and Wendy Condon recommend their services


MY THANKS TO CENTRAL COAST FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY “Where to begin” I really didn’t have much of a yearning to track down my natural parents until earlier this year after having a few very unpleasant incidents with my adoptive mother. I was talking to a friend one evening about my recent experiences and after several wines ....she said she knew where to go to see if my natural parents could be tracked or at least find out something about them! So my friend began to make inquiries to the Central Coast Family History Society, said I was going to be a handful...I believe....and made an appointment. So off we went on the said day to this place in Gosford, after I had worked all morning, with only two pieces of proof about my adoption. There was very little information especially as I was born and adopted in the UK. ..but the staff all volunteers I might add “jumped to it”. They were very sensitive to me, probably one look mirrored to them my anxiety and mixed emotions....I wanted to know but after 61 years of not knowing I was frightened. Within half an hour they had tracked my mother, still alive at 82, she had married and in what year to whom. The staff also discovered that there was a son, my brother, who, someone else offered to “google”. By this stage I was in a state of collapse and said I would have to get my friend who was entertaining herself in their library as I was unable to take it all in. On googling my brother they found that he was a Company manager of a large factory in China and had received the “Key to the City “for services to China. I agreed to the Society applying to the UK for some Certificates which included my Birth Certificate that I had never had. The weeks passed and I hadn’t heard from Gosford......little did I know that they had been emailing my brother with no response. The staff had also found where my mother was living suggesting I write to her sending proof of my identity, photos and just letting her know that I had lead a good life and if she wanted to see me I would return to the UK. In the meantime...my friend had contacted her family who were also in Business in China asking could they try and contact my brother he may respond Company to Company and presto!. He did! He knew nothing about my existence. The same information I sent my mother was sent to him. My brother phoned his mother and she said it was correct. It had been a skeleton in the cupboard all these years.


My mother has not responded to me as she told my brother that I would never be able to find her.....she didn’t know the skill of the Central Coast History Society!!!! Although they said if I had tried some years earlier I wouldn’t have been this fortunate. After several weeks of my brother communicating with my friend and her family in China ....my brother and I connected by email and so my real story evolved. After just 6 months my brother, his wife and girls came to Australia for a visit. What a strange experience it has been to hear how much like my mother I was in mannerisms. I also have similarities to my brother. It has been a wonderful journey and I no longer question “who were my real family”. I have not found my father as there is no information, my mother holds that key, I do have another brother who is yet to be told about me. To think my natural mother only lived 10 minutes from me in the UK. but I had to come to Australia to find her. My brother not known to me yet went to the same school as myself and we were separated by a corridor and 20 minutes between the boys leaving school and the girls! I acknowledge the support and help of “my Friend” who has been by my side with many glasses of wine during this journey, together with the knowledge and professionalism of the team at the Central Coast Family History Society lead by Kay1 and Margaret. Thank you all so much for making me feel I was important enough to help me to begin to find........ My Story Authors name withheld for privacy reasons. Ed

UK ONLINE WILL SERVICE COMING SOON? If you were thinking of making a trip to High Holborn to obtain a copy of a post-1858 will, don't - according to an announcement on the Society of Genealogists website the search facility has moved to Court 38 at the Royal Courts of Justice, in the Strand. Our source understands that this move is a prelude to the launch early next year of an online service, which will presumably work in the same hybrid way as that for soldiers' wills. (see further article in this issue)


COME ON! OWN UP. WHO HAD A BILLY CART? Our street had one, the first of many. It was a rough, thin, almost brittle, apple crate made from cheap pine wood. The hurried construction had utilised a hammer and long nails. Health and Safety was not yet invented and we didn’t think to knock down the pointy end of the nails, resulting in sliced limbs which today would require an ambulance being called. Back then it was spit on a grubby hand to stem the bleeding. In severe circumstances a run home to Mum would mean pepper poured on the wound and wrapping it in a torn up white Actil sheet did the trick. No coloured sheets then either. Our Mum also used Fornax which in reality was a mild antiseptic. The pink label claimed to cure everything from bunions to burns and all in between. The clear glass bottle had a pink label, a sketch of a man with an arm in a sling and the uncompleted Harbour Bridge in the background. The wheels for our wonderful chariots were sourced from the twice yearly Council Cleanup, or when a younger sibling and all the cousins had finished with the family’s old pram, you know the kind, cane, rounded with a top that went over the front or back. The timber length to the front cross bar was a paling from a fence in the back lane. This early model only went straight because we didn’t own any bolts or nuts. That was convenient because our street was straight, with a big hill at each end and a dip way down in the middle. Imagine the excitement when nuts, bolts and metal washers were discovered, maybe found and followed us home before they were lost. These proto-types were original “Rolls-Can-Ardly” (Rolls down the hill and Can Hardly get up the other side.) The next Model evolved into quite a beauty. We now had “borrowed“, Long and Barden soft drink crates and screws and a hand operated brace and bit to drill the holes. For many years I thought it was called a “Brazen Bitch“. These billy carts were smooth, hardy timber, with no jagged edges, nails or splinters. Hand holes were already there plus a cross bar which actually turned to the demands of the attached rope and driver.


By now we all had our own billy carts with assorted names, Red Rocket, Silver Swift and such which showed imagination as none were painted - paint was expensive then and certainly unavailable to kids. We wrote the name with lumps of so-called chalk one of the kids had found. In hindsight it was more than likely a lump of asbestos. About this time the ball bearing wheel made its appearance and our billy carts became aero dynamic, lowered at the front and still with pram wheels on the back. We would start at the Post Office managed by Mr & Mrs NEWBOLD at a minute or two between us, on the corner of Christie St and the Pacific Highway, speeding down the hill with the opposite hill to slow us down and finally stopping. We must have been terrifying to little old ladies, about the age I am today. Luxury inclusions were a piece of thin apple crate about the size of a twelve inch wooden ruler. The flash rulers had small samples of timber from Tasmania which a wealthy aunt had brought back from her holiday. The cheaper ones had paper photos of Taronga Zoo on them, the very basic just numbers. As we went past a certain chunky chain wire fence we would run the ruler along it to make a loud clacking sound. One after another we’d whizz past. The lady in this house asked us to stop it as her husband was very sick so we did, but boy! when we found out she didn’t have a husband she got twice as much clacking for telling fibs. We soon got tired of worrying this poor woman and had courted trouble as we were pestering people who dreaded coming out of their own front gates. Street cricket became the go with a paling off someone’s fence for a bat and a galvanised garbage tin for stumps. Dear Readers, yours truly being so skinny was sent into the subterranean depths to retrieve the grotty, sodden tennis ball every time it went down the drain. It was time to grow up a little. As traffic increased from one car a day to a regular traffic jam of half a dozen, cricket was banned.


One very elderly lady in our street, elderly to us anyway , who would have been at least 40 years old, had a phone and neighbours would only ask to use it in a genuine emergency, so the public phone box around the corner was in constant demand. Saturday was the busiest day with people lining up to place bets with the local S.P. Bookie. What rotten kids we were. We hung around that red phone box with the black domed roof and glass windows all around, including the open-out door. When people came to ring the Bookie we would be on the phone pretending to be talking to a friend. We would be paid to nick off and leave the phone free. After the last race at Randwick or wherever, the phone would be empty until the following week, and we would count up the “take“, ready for lolly purchase when the corner shop opened again on Monday. Then we would do it all again, until our parents found out. Back then it was good clean, very profitable mischief. Today in our politically correct world, it would be terrorising, extortion, maybe even enterprise bargaining. What sissies these kids are in the photo, the ones with shoes on.

Oops, some don’t have shoes, just filthy feet. Our bare feet were our brakes. Photo is from Fairfax Archives, Sydney Morning Herald Shop. Permission sought but not required as photo is pre 1955 and out of copyright. Rhonda Cetta-Hoye - Member 1307


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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Varied spelling of names is one of the challenges in tracing families. A lot depended on the literacy of the people doing the reporting and the recording. If the notifier couldn’t spell a name then the recorder would write something that phonetically resembled what they heard. In a place like Australia there was such a mix of accents that this wasn’t always easy.

Modern search engines on the internet make life much easier by building in variants but they don’t anticipate all possible combinations. I’ve been researching some Botting ancestors and I get different results from Familysearch if I put Botting – results include BOTTING, BOTTIN, BOTTEN, BATTEN – or if I put BOTTINGE – results include BOTTINGE, BOTTYNG, BOTTYNGE.

There are also problems of mis-transcription when trying to decipher old forms of running writing. Another line of my family is WORLDON – variously spelt over time as WALDON, WALDEN, WORLDEN, WALDRON and WORLDRON. But on ticket of leave and pardon indexes for my gg-grandfather the name was transcribed as WALKEN. Lesley Uebel’s Anthology has WALDEM. Luckily he always gave his middle name so although his surname was spelt in many different ways he can be identified because he is “James Baker W...”.

A prime example of coping with different spellings was finding the family of my wife’s gg-grandmother Fanny TOFT. We knew she lived in Port Macquarie and was married to Thomas Denham. It wasn’t hard to find their marriage on 21 March 1866 in Port Macquarie (registration 2945/1866 as Fanny TOFT). She was born on 15 September 1845 in Port Macquarie but it took some experimentation to find her birth registration - V1845452 44A as Fanny TOFF with father George and mother Mary.

The next step was to look for a marriage for George TOFT/TOFF and Mary pre 1845. Our first searches in NSWBDM couldn’t find anything. By using given names and expanding the date range, then sorting by groom’s surname, we eventually found a slightly belated marriage in 1846 at St Andrews, Port Macquarie, NSW between George TORT and Mary McGRATH (V1846625 77).

From that point it wasn’t hard to track down convict records for George TOFT. He was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire in 1816. He was convicted of picking pockets at Chester Quarter Sessions on 26th June 1837 and was transported for 7 years on board Lord Lyndoch arriving in Sydney on 2nd April 1838. He


was issued a Ticket of Leave in Port Macquarie in 1843 and a Certificate of Freedom on 3rd July 1844. He died on 6th February 1882 in Port Macquarie (8929/1882 parents George and Margaret).

So far so good, but who was Mary McGRATH? She died in 1899 in Port Macquarie (3012/1899 parents Alexander and Elizabeth). But still we couldn’t find her through any of the conventional sources. There was an enigmatic reference on an Ancestry family tree to a possible Mr MacGRUNTHER. So we tried a Google search and found a couple of Rootsweb Blogs” Robert Campbell GROUTHER/McGRUTHER/McGROWTHER (lots of different spellings), died 1844 when a tree landed on him, and his wife Mary (Johnston) who later remarried George Toft in 1846. Apparently Mary was the local midwife - she died in 1899, in Port Macquarie.” and “Robert Campbell MCGROUTHER/MCGROWTHER married Mary JOHNSTON around 1830s before coming to NSW, Australia with their young family.”

This was the breakthrough we needed. NSW State Records showed Robert McGRUTHER 33 and Wife 28 arriving in Sydney on 12th August 1838 on board the Lady Kennaway. The Historyaustralia website showed Robert McGAUTHER a 33 year old Stirling Ploughman and his wife aged 30 and 4 children on board Lady Kennaway. We found that Robert Campbell McGROUTHER was born on 13th August 1803 in Stirling, Scotland – son of William McGRUTHER and Isabel Campbell. Robert married Mary Johnston on 9th May 1830 in Stirling, Scotland. There is a coroner’s inquest showing Robert McGROUTHER was accidentally killed on 16 March 1844 but we cannot find a death entry in NSWBDM. He was working with timber as was George TOFT. They probably knew each other which would explain how George and Mary got together after Robert died.

The only baptism we can find for Mary JOHNSTON, a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth, is on 25 October 1801 in Strathblane, Stirling. This doesn’t match her ages on the migration records and would make her 44 when Fanny was born – possible but leaves unanswered questions. Parents on death records can be problematic but if we ignore them we’re left with at least five baptisms near Stirling that would match the age range. So, the next challenge is - who is Mary JOHNSTON?

So if you can’t find a family member try some lateral thinking about spelling. Brian Davies – Member 1698J


A DEATH CERTIFICATE DELAYED

My father was killed during the Second World War in 1941 while serving in the Royal Navy in the submarine service. For years we were unable to obtain any information on the circumstances of his death and certainly could not obtain a Death Certificate. In the late 1940s we were advised of the circumstances but still no Death Certificate.

The lack of a certificate was probably of no great concern to my mother but some 50 years later it became of interest to me as I immersed myself in family history and genealogy.

So, when reviewing recent additions to Find My Past I found under the “Full List of United Kingdom Records” a section titled “Life Events (BMDs)” which in turn listed “GRO War Deaths Naval Ratings Indices (1939 to 1948)”. From that Index I found my father and applied online for the certificate which, for information of the detail it contains, is printed below.

I hope that this experience may help any other members who have been in a similar situation. The section referred to also lists Army, RAF etc.

Ian McConnochie OAM - Member 904


THE HON. MR. PERY – EARL OF LIMERICK’S QUEST TO OBTAIN A COPY OF HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE

In the late 1870s the NSW Parliament passed a bill enabling it to obtain BMD records of the Church of England, of the colony, from the earliest records to 1856.

It was disclosed that a Mr H. Kerrison JAMES made copies and indexes of these records so had these most valuable records in his private possession. Mr H Kerrison JAMES was the Secretary and Diocesan Registrar under Bishop BROUGHTON. He made a very decent living out of his efforts in copying these old registers.

He is said to have regulated his fees by the attitude of the applicants. He knew they could not do without the record so charged one guinea for search and two or three and sometimes 5 for a copy depending on the attitude displayed toward him by the applicant.

The Earl of Limerick had been sent to the colony by his father because he had been a “rather wild young man”. Mr PERY arrived in Sydney and was given a job in the General Post Office in Sydney. Later Governor BOURKE sent him to Norfolk Island under the strict disciplinarian, Major ANDERSON.

There he stayed at Government house until a house was built for him when he joined the officers’ mess at the Military Barracks.

On 16th April 1838 he married Susannah SHEAFFE and by her had a son William Hale John Charles PERY who was born on the Island 17 Jan 1840. Susannah died on 21 August 1841.

On 6th April 1842 he took a second wife, Margaret Jane HORSLEY, who after having 7 children by him got a judicial separation in 1863 and died in 1875.

The Earl succeeded his grandfather as Lord GLENTWORTH, Earl of Limerick, on December 7th 1844; he died in January 1866, and was succeeded by the boy born on Norfolk Island on 17th January 1841, and there by hangs a tale.

The new Earl who was 26 years old, could not take his seat in the House of Lords as he was unable to produce his birth certificate which was necessary to prove his claim to the peerage.


The Earl’s early search for his birth certificate was long and tedious. He asked a Tasmanian friend to obtain the certificate at whatever cost. Mr JAMES made a search and found the record in the Norfolk Island records. JAMES replied to the Tasmanian man he could have the record for 20 guineas. Annoyed at this the Tasmanian man wrote to the Governor, the Governor wrote to the Bishop, the Bishop wrote to Mr JAMES, who took pity on the Earl and sent a copy of the baptismal record to the Earl’s solicitors in London. At the same time Mr JAMES wrote to the Earl demanding payment for a copy of the certificate. Limerick at once sent his solicitor to the lawyers of Mr JAMES. James’s lawyer consented to the request. The copy was produced and endorsed “the enclosed is a true and faithful copy of the birth of the Earl of Limerick, at Norfolk Island a dependency of New South Wales in 1840”. This was signed, H. Kerrison JAMES. The Earl was able to take his seat without giving Mr JAMES a penny. On taking his seat - The Earl, who sat as Baron FOXFORD – made a bitter complaint of being “kept out of his own” for so long but he did not say how he diddled Mr JAMES out of his fee. But then his solicitor’s efforts must have cost him some. The Government recovered the historic registers, giving Mr JAMES a money compensation. Extracts from “The Sydney Truth Newspaper of 1 December 1907 “

Pam Williams – Life Member 52L Note: Stephen McDONALD, son of Hugh, quarter master for Governor Macquarie, received a grant of 300 acres by Popran Creek, now part of the Glenworth Valley Riding School. Stephen named his property after his friend Lord GLENTWORTH, Earl of Limerick “GLENTWORTH” appears on the first title deeds but over time the t” been dropped from the name.

Remember the NOTS of Genealogy..... Not everyone was recorded or reported..... Not everyone has an obit.... Not every record is correct....... Not everyone knew how to spell their own name...... Not everyone tells the truth.....

From Margaret Morters – Member 406


LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON: RECORDS FOR 2 CEMETERIES

NOW AVAILABLE

Deceased Online has added all burial records for two cemeteries in the London Borough of Sutton in the south of the capital. The two cemeteries are Sutton Cemetery (off Oldfields Road) with records starting in 1889 and Cuddington Cemetery (Worcester Park) with all records from 1902 Burial register scans and grave details are immediately available and cemetery section maps for graves locations will be added soon. All records for Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery (AKA Garth Road Cemetery) are already available on the website. Records for Brandon Hill Cemetery (Wallington) will be added early in 2014. SEVEN WILTSHIRE CEMETERIES BACK ONLINE All Burial records for Wiltshire Council* in the England’s Southwest have now been added to www.deceasedonline.com The data, which dates back to 1856, is from all 7 cemeteries managed by the Council These records were briefly available on Deceased Online in the spring of 2011 but were withdrawn for further enhancements. The 7 Cemeteries are: Bradford-on-Avon Cemetery, Holt Road, Bradford-Upon-Avon. Hilperton Cemetery, The Knap, Hilperton. Holt Cemetery, Gaston, Holt. Melksham Cemetery, Western Way, Melksham. Trowbridge Cemetery, The Down, Trowbridge. Warminster Cemetery (also known as Pine Lawns Cemetery), Folly Lane, Warminster. Westbury Cemetery, Bratton Road, Westbury

http://www.deceasedonline.com/


Please check out the website for full details

STORIES OF JACK APPLITT/APLETT I was interested to read Ken HARRIOTT’S article in the August issue of The e-

Muster. He mentions (p34) Jack APLETT the foot runner whose childhood was spent in Parkes. A few days before, I had been reading some memories written by my grandfather’s cousin, Ern WILLIS. He was writing about his father Joseph who had spent his childhood travelling with his parents and siblings from Melbourne, through the various gold fields of Victoria and NSW from the mid 1850’s till 1874 when they finally settled in Forbes. Although Ern spells the APLETT name APPLITT, I feel sure it must be the same person. Ern wrote this in 1970: During my father’s sojourn on the Weddin1, he became acquainted with many young men who later moved onto Forbes. He was especially friendly with a lad of his own age named APPLITT. Together they roamed the ranges after brumbies which were plentiful in those days. In the early 1880s Dad again met APPLITT and the friendship was renewed. Many a footrace was organised in Forbes and other country towns in the early days. Often large sums of money changed hands as men bet on their favourites. I remember Dad telling me of a footrace in Parkes between Jack APPLITT and Bob WATSON of Scone. WATSON was well known at the time as a champion runner and the excitement was intense. For eighty yards the two men could not be separated and only in the last ten yards did APPLITT forge ahead to win. Another contest between APPLITT and Jim WATSON of Victoria created great interest. The local runner easily beat WATSON who was regarded as one of his state’s best. In my memories of Jack APPLIT the foot runner, I may mention that my Dad and two ex Grenfellites, brothers Austin and Ted DAVIS, helped to train APPLITT on the old St Vincent’s ground, now the Forbes Rifle Range. Jack was a drover in those days and during his months on the road, he put on a lot of weight. Dad used to sit him on2one of the old fashioned washing tubs full of hot water and cover him with two or three blankets to sweat him down to running condition. Father used to say that the effort was harder than a day’s work with a pick and shovel.

1 The Weddin Range near Grenfell NSW 2 Do you thinks he meant to write in? TH


Another memory is the story of a race between a New Zealander, known as “The Maori”, and APPLITT. The Maori was, during a period of weeks, doing the rounds of the local hotels. In a very boisterous and rowdy mood he issued a challenge to a race. After a time, Dad and his friends accepted the challenge, subject to the approval of APPLITT. The Maori had suggested a distance of a hundred yards over hurdles. When APPLITT came home from a droving spree, he accepted the challenge on the condition that the distance be 130 yards – the last thirty yards being a flat race with no hurdles. As it turned out, these conditions won the day for APPLITT, as the Maori was a hurdler, beating APPLITT over every bar. It was only on the flat that the local lad was able to catch and defeat the New Zealander. The Maori left Forbes soon after Terry Heffernan – Member 658

A DIM VIEW

We were members of an amateur dramatic society and we had rehearsed for a long time to get this three act play ready. It seemed a pity to perform it for just two or three nights so we had offered it to any charity able to arrange a hall and an audience. Response had been gratifying and we were gaining a lot of experience as well as the satisfaction of doing something for charity. Tonight another performance had been arranged for us and we arrived straight from work, and got busy arranging props and all the backstage work. There was little time for socialising and the one member we had on the door didn’t get much time to get backstage to relay any messages. I was the one who spoke the opening line and our heroine came back with a response that set the scene for the whole show and had usually brought lots of laughs. Tonight there was just a dreadful silence and we were uneasy from the start. Laughter had been part of the play and without it we felt a little uneasy. As witty lines and situations followed, no laughs greeted us. We had become used to laughs in particular places and paused, only to be greeted by a long silence and a stony reaction. We prided ourselves on being a good amateur group. We had several very experienced members, our producer had been an


old professional and we had even won a prize. But we hadn’t learned how to handle failure and here it was, greeting us at the end of almost every line. The name of the charity didn’t mean much to us and we hadn’t seen the audience. On stage, with the lights in our faces, we could barely make out figures in the front rows. So we were almost stunned when word got to us that the first few rows were all that there was. Not only were we playing to an unreceptive audience in a small hall, the hall was almost empty. The first act raced on and we began to feel more dejected. The low hum of talking made it even worse. Even a faint occasional giggle would have been appreciated but they were TALKING - no doubt criticising us! Then, in the break, as we changed clothes and scenery, word got through to us that “they were enjoying it”. That cheered us a bit and although we continued to grumble to one another we tried to make our characters full of vitality. Then at last, came the final scene. The curtain closed and the lights in the hall came on full. We assembled for our bows but I for one, was wondering if there would be any audience there when the curtain opened. It did - and for the first time we could see the audience. And at once we realised that they could not see us. There were about forty people there and almost half of them were blind. Each was supported by a friend, still talking in a quiet whisper describing the cast. We wanted to bite our lips and wipe our eyes. Hands reached up to us as we hopped from the low stage to be introduced by our stage names to the most appreciative audience we had ever had. I suppose many of us have sat in a theatre and looked towards the stage and seen a hero. We had played a role for a few hours and had tried to wrap ourselves in the glamour of the footlights. But the true stars that night were those people who gave us not only a few hours of glory but also a lesson to remember for life. Frank Cardiff – Member 11

Ex-Libris Members Mailing List – several members have been removed from the mailing list by their providers over the past couple of weeks. Offending providers were Yahoo and live.com.au If you use either of these providers and you suddenly stop receiving messages please let me know so I can check out your status. Kay 1


EUREKA! SHE SAID

I have only been researching my family for a few years and with help, I have learnt how to look up BDM’s and other records. My excitement a fortnight ago on finding my gg/grandmother’s date of death had me over the moon. Heather had suggested I try using TROVE and was most patient whilst I struggled on. The person I was looking for was Bridget GRAHAM (nee LARKINS) who came out to Tasmania from Ireland in 1851 and married a convict James GRAHAM in 1852. They moved to NSW and I was able to trace her through various records up to 1907 but her death eluded me. As she had left her husband, I thought she may have reverted to her maiden name but looking at records I found too many other Bridget LARKINS had arrived in Australia to attempt trying to trace them. As Bridget had also been known as Delia on two birth transcripts of her grandchildren, I then started looking under this name and there she was!! A notice in the Sydney Morning Herald stated her funeral left her son in laws house in Arncliffe and proceeded to Rookwood C of E Cemetery where she is buried with other members of the family. As a matter of fact I have probably seen her grave when I photographed other graves. Not knowing she was later known by her second name, this is why I couldn’t find her until I sent for copies of her grandchildren’s birth certificates which noted Delia Graham, grandmother, was present at their birth. I would never have found Bridget Delia if I had not sent for her grandchildren’s birth certificates or used TROVE, so a lesson was learned here, use every available source when you start your search and perhaps you will have success like I did. Leonie Pinson - Member No. 1582

ANOTHER EUREKA MOMENT

Following on from Leonie’s above find, last week I also let out a shriek of joy as I found my gg/grandfather’s baptism in the 1700’s which also showed his birth date and then found the marriage of his parents, grandparents etc. As my g/grandfather George CREASSEY had Christmas as a second Christian


name, and seeing he wasn’t conceived or born around Christmas, I thought he could have been given the surname of one of his ancestors and kept looking as records became available over the years. As George and his parents were born in London I concentrated on Middlesex records but seeing the names CHRISTMAS and CREASEY in Suffolk records, I started to look there as well. FindMyPast now have Suffolk Parish Registers online and there I found all my CREASEY and CHRISTMAS ancestors – oh what a feeling!! It’s taken me over 30 years to find, but I’m glad I never gave up – just hang in there and one day your ancestors might just pop out of the records too. Heather Sushames - Life Member No. 651

BUILDING BRIDGES

The Beginnings Joseph MONIER was only 23 years old when, in 1846, he was the gardener at the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, responsible for the orangery. Winter was coming and Joseph had the task of moving the orangery’s potted orange trees into the greenhouses for protection against the cold. But sometimes the containers broke during transport so Joseph sought ways to make stronger containers, and quickly perfected a method for making large, strong containers using cement reinforced with steel rods. Joseph realised the technique was suitable for many other purposes, including troughs and containers for collecting and storing water for the gardens. In 1849, when still only 26 years, he opened a private workshop and began taking on outside landscaping projects. By 1869 his work included rockeries using hollow artificial boulders, garden pavilions, drainage pipes and ornamental pools. During this period he applied for his first patents, initially for containers and pipes and later for cladding, pavers and tiles. So began the use of Monier technique for construction using reinforced concrete. MONIER obtained a patent for reinforced concrete bridges in 1873 and he designed the first iron-reinforced cement bridge ever build, constructed at Castle of Chazelet in 1875. He took out patents throughout Europe, often registering in the name of a local patent agent but the annual renewal of each licence was costly so he sold his rights outside France to


businessmen. One such was Gustav Adolf WAYSS who gained control of the Monier patents throughout Germany and Austria. The Unfolding Story From the early 1890’s, Monier patents were taken out on behalf of WAYSS, in Australia. At that time, a German immigrant engineer, William Julius BALTZIER, was working for the New South Wales Public Works Department. BALTZIER had a keen interest in the new method for construction of civil engineering works and kept informed on Monier developments, including visits to Germany. He was unable to interest his PWD colleagues in the potential of the new technique so BALTZIER left the department, joined with several businessmen and, through WAYSS, obtained Monier licences to cover the Australian colonies. In 1892, the civil engineering firm of CARTER, GUMMOW and Co. (CG&Co) was formed, with BALTZIER as Chief Designer/Chief Engineer and holding the Monier patents in Australia. This firm was to develop, expand and dominate Monier construction works in New South Wales and Victoria for the next decade. CG&Co won contracts to build large sewage aqueducts over Johnstone’s Crook and White’s Creek in Annandale, Sydney, completed in 1896. Another businessman, George FORREST (my great grandfather) joined as a principal in CG&Co. George FORREST then went onto partnership with Frank GUMMOW to form a separate firm of GUMMOW, FORREST and Co (GF&Co), operating independently of CG&Co.

In 1897, GUMMOW travelled to Melbourne to promote professional interest in the Monier construction method. The Melbourne firm of MONASH and ANDERSON recognised an opportunity to become established as CG&Co’s representative in Victoria. The immediate interest of both firms was a proposal to replace the decaying timber

Engineers gather for test load,

20 July 1899

George Forrest is 5th from left

Photo: Australian National Library

MS 1884


bridge over the Yarra River. ANDERSON became the local representative for CG&Co and undertook the main liaison with the Victorian Government and Melbourne City Council during the design and tender period (that firm’s senior partner, MONASH, later Lt General Sir John MONASH, was away for much of this time and so was less involved.)

The tender for the construction of the Monier triple-arch Anderson Street Bridge was awarded to CG&Co in March 1898 and George FORREST moved to Melbourne to supervise its construction. He also advised on aspects of construction of nearby Faynsford Bridge and Wheeler’s Bridge in Melbourne, constructed by MONASH and ANDERSON.

The firm of GUMMOW, FORREST and Co went on to be a major civil engineering player in New South Wales. From its site near Darling Harbour established for the manufacture of concrete pipes, GF&Co undertook diverse contracts including the supply of monier cylinders for construction of the Landsdown Bridge over Mulwaree Ponds, sewerage pipes for the Middle Harbour system, marine piles, a T-beam for NSW Railways Commissioners and were involved in the construction of the Dunolly Bridge over the Hunter River at Singleton Though George FORREST died in 1902 at the age of 62 years, the firm of GUMMOW, FORREST and Co continued to operate until 1914 when the firm was wound up as a public company and the Government purchased the works site, contracts and stock. Frank GUMMOW, a German national, returned to Germany at the outbreak of World War 1. The Question? How do we know George FORREST of GUMMOW, FORREST and Co. was the same George FORREST, my great grandfather?

Anderson Street (Morell) Bridge

Photo c.1996

Source: vicnet.net.au


It happened that in 1896 a Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Mr Varney PARKES, was concerned about the administration of the Public Works Department with respect to contracts entered into with CARTER, GUMMOW and Company and a Royal Commission was convened. Much of the detail from this period comes from the daily reports of the Commission’s proceedings. Amongst other details, we learn that George FORREST and David SNODGRASS were partners in an earlier firm of CARTER & Co and, independently, CARTER, SNODGRASS and FORREST part-financed projects of CARTER, Gummow AND Co. The connection with SNODGRASS is the clue. FORREST and SNODGRASS were not only business associates. George FORREST and D G SNODGRASS are the recorded witnesses to the burial of Great Grandfather George’s wife, Elizabeth, following her death in 1894. The firm of GAMMOW, FORREEST and Co continued for 12 years after George FORREST’S death in 1902, and evidently one of George’s sons, Robert (my grandfather) had a continuing involvement in it. Robert was an accountant when the firm was wound up in 1914 “…Messrs Wm J BALTZER, Robt. FORREST and David STRATTON have been appointed liquidators”. Sources: Joseph Monier: Wikipedia John Monash. Home.vicnet.au/aholgate Trove: Various SMH extracts from 1896-1914; re Carter, Gummow and Co; Gummow, Forrest and Co; and George Forrest BDM certificates: George Forrest, Elizabeth Forrest, Robert Forrest

WARWICK FORREST – MEMBER 1552

SOLDIERS' WILLS AND LAST LETTERS HOME The Probate Service (UK) is for the first time making available the wills and last letters home of 280,000 soldiers who died in the Great War, There is a charge of £6 to download a document, which is the same as the standard charge for a will. For further information: there is an article on the BBC website which refers to 230,000 soldiers, but the Ministry of Justice press release gives 280,000 as the total. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23861821

http://home.vicnet.au/aholgate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23861821


HERITAGE/MEMORIES BOX – ONE GENERATIONS STUFF IS A FUTURE GENERATION’S KNOWLEDGE.

Background - As a primary teacher of many years and a multicultural consultant I was charged with the imparting of knowledge and understanding of topics including-cultural heritage, identity and belonging, values, social

history, cultural diversity and multiculturalism.

In those days computers and the now enormous resource base for these topics was only in its fledgling period and had not obtained the level of interest and popularity it enjoys today. As well I had come into possession of a great plethora of “primary sources” from my own family.

I originally put the “Heritage/Memories Box” concept together when asked to speak to primary teachers who wanted a “more practical” approach to a unit of work on “Cultural Identity”. I wanted my box to contain both visible and tangible traces from “antiquity” to a more recent times and in doing so create a conversation-“Oral History”, that would ensure the recognition of a families past, values and traditions would be maintained and passed on to future generations.

Rationale - Today we have bountiful technological resources at our fingertips, to which in some ways we and our younger generations have become too reliant on and attached to. In no way am I devaluing technology, which is a must have resource for storing and the information we gather.

We are often to ready to eliminate, downsize what may first be seen as “rubbish/excess” but in doing so we could unknowingly throw away a generation or more of content for our family story-past, values and traditions. We have all heard the saying –One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! It could well be. One Generations stuff is a future generation’s knowledge. Some people have said that they have nothing from the past. The answer to this is you start the tradition, even an annotated photo of your houses; events and new items from your own generation are the base to future generations understanding their family story.


“Tangible heritage is inextricably bound up with intangible heritage”. The Heritage Cycle. *By understanding (cultural heritage) - people value it *By valuing it - people want to care for it *By caring for it - comes the thirst to understand *From enjoying it - comes the thirst to understand (Reference-Culture in Development) On a personal note, I firmly believe if you create a knowledge, appreciation and understanding for an item however repulsive or seemingly uninteresting it may seem to you and your loved ones, the message of its value in one’s family story will be understood and passed on. This comment is borne out of a relative questioning me on, “How do I know my children will appreciate and value my love of china etc.”. After all heritage is defined as something that comes to you by reason of birth and more importantly education.

Questions you might ask or explore as you make your choices: Who gave it to you? Where did it come from? How did you or

your family acquire it? When did you get it? Describe it and what you know about the item. Why is it important to you and your family’s story? Where/How will this item take you to next?

I then set about gathering items for my own “Treasures Box” that reflected both sides of my family and what made us who we are today.

Some of the items I included were my own first walking shoe and that of my eldest daughter, my “Woodbadge Beads”- a symbol of training in the Scouts where I had met both my husbands and so had my mum and dad, a journal kept by my great uncle documenting a variety of aspects of my father’s family from the mid 1800’s, photos from Gallipoli, a pipe cleaner doll and old hanky carried at family weddings. The finished box was filled with “Primary sources” with background information which I had thoughtfully selected and helped to bring history and cultural heritage to life, without touching a computer!

Deb Buist – Member 1316

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