Graham began this month’s segment on ‘Writing and Sharing Family Stories’. In recording the histories of his fifteen original ancestors’ arrivals in Australia in 'Leaving the Shore', Graham has given each person context, placed himself in their shoes and produced enjoyable and engaging stories. Graham brought a beautifully crafted model sailing ship as a ‘prop’, along with family research books from his library to share.
Barry O’Connor, whose recent contact with a cousin resulted in considerably more family information, provided suggestions on organizing new information. During the circulation of the family history book Barry has shared with his family, David recognised Barry’s cousin, Frank O’Connor. David and Frank worked together some years ago but had recently lost contact. Email addresses have been exchanged!
Andi Stevenson described how she has used her family data, including photos, to create a fascinating family tree. Copies have been printed and framed to be gifts for extended family members.
While keen to share information, Andi is mindful that not all family members share her level of interest. Using photographs in the framed family tree has stimulated interesting talking points with other family members, for example, the noting of similar facial features and the development of photography over time.
While keen to share information, Andi is mindful that not all family members share her level of interest. Using photographs in the framed family tree has stimulated interesting talking points with other family members, for example, the noting of similar facial features and the development of photography over time.
In our ‘Pains and Gains, Tips and Tricks' segment, Andi described locating the property in Belfast Street, Brunswick where her ancestors once lived (though sadly the original house is not there). David attended the Wodonga Family History open day; Graeme discovered a relative with a connection to the East India Company and Marg reported that, despite going to a great deal of trouble to send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Paris for information on her relatives, she has still not received a response. Perhaps Jane’s friends, soon to be in Paris, will be able to assist!
Malcolm described an enjoyable lunch recently at the Mitchelton winery where he presented his cousins with the family history he had written for them. He also brought along a 1900 half sovereign in a small container handed down from father to son, through four generations so far. The story attached to this coin, is that when the current holder is ‘broke’, they can use the half sovereign, which remains quite valuable, to get themselves out of trouble.
Malcolm described an enjoyable lunch recently at the Mitchelton winery where he presented his cousins with the family history he had written for them. He also brought along a 1900 half sovereign in a small container handed down from father to son, through four generations so far. The story attached to this coin, is that when the current holder is ‘broke’, they can use the half sovereign, which remains quite valuable, to get themselves out of trouble.
During the break we celebrated National Family History Month with afternoon tea - lots of slices, muffins and chocolates brought along by class members to share!
Stories on this month’s topic, ‘Correction’, were shared after the break. David P reported having written a letter to correct information in a recent article in the Guardian. The article referred to his great grand uncle, Thomas Austin, then of Winchelsea, having imported 24 wild rabbits in 1859, influencing the spread and DNA profile of rabbits in Australia. Keen to set the record straight, David explained that, according to his mother and other family historians, the imported rabbits were a mixture of 17 wild and 7 domesticated rabbits.
Bev described making corrections after discovering that ‘her’ Ellen Frances was not the proprietor of the Ellen Frances Hotel, but the proprietor of the Farmers Arms Hotel in Violet Town, while Marg described finding several errors in a handwritten copy of her paternal side’s family tree going back to her great great grandfather James Ryan.
Malcolm provided a text-book example of how a mistake made in one tree can be perpetuated in others, warning of the need to be vigilant if an unexpected person turns up in a family tree; while Barry discovered information causing him to correct and reassess his GGF’s wealth at the time of his death.
Graham’s story described realizing that the reason a marriage certificate wasn’t available for a marriage was almost certainly that a first wife had experienced mental illness, which meant that remarriage wasn’t possible.
Andi worked us through a sequence of BMD registrations in which she had found an error, while Jane spoke about research by PHD historians on Churchill Island which has uncovered contradictory information, with subsequent corrections not being accepted well by local people.
For August’s alternate Topic - ‘Member’s Choice’ – David H shared valuable information on the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland - a project to recreate the Irish Public Records Office records. The website includes David’s slide show presentation and the post below details David's suggestions of links about the Virtual Record Treasury to follow up, along with Graham, Barry and Andi’s suggestions for creating, writing and sharing family histories.
As Jane commented in her notes, “it was a lovely session, and fun to catch up with likeminded sleuths”.
Next month’s topic is ‘Occupations’… Looking at occupations of your forebears, are there any patterns? Describe them and try to find out about the circumstances surrounding them. Do you see any links in terms of yourself and your generation? Next month’s session includes Margaret Jenkin’s approach to writing her family history and a presentation by Jane on ethical issues which can arise during family research.
Bev, Jane and Barry
Bev described making corrections after discovering that ‘her’ Ellen Frances was not the proprietor of the Ellen Frances Hotel, but the proprietor of the Farmers Arms Hotel in Violet Town, while Marg described finding several errors in a handwritten copy of her paternal side’s family tree going back to her great great grandfather James Ryan.
Malcolm provided a text-book example of how a mistake made in one tree can be perpetuated in others, warning of the need to be vigilant if an unexpected person turns up in a family tree; while Barry discovered information causing him to correct and reassess his GGF’s wealth at the time of his death.
Graham’s story described realizing that the reason a marriage certificate wasn’t available for a marriage was almost certainly that a first wife had experienced mental illness, which meant that remarriage wasn’t possible.
Andi worked us through a sequence of BMD registrations in which she had found an error, while Jane spoke about research by PHD historians on Churchill Island which has uncovered contradictory information, with subsequent corrections not being accepted well by local people.
For August’s alternate Topic - ‘Member’s Choice’ – David H shared valuable information on the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland - a project to recreate the Irish Public Records Office records. The website includes David’s slide show presentation and the post below details David's suggestions of links about the Virtual Record Treasury to follow up, along with Graham, Barry and Andi’s suggestions for creating, writing and sharing family histories.
As Jane commented in her notes, “it was a lovely session, and fun to catch up with likeminded sleuths”.
Next month’s topic is ‘Occupations’… Looking at occupations of your forebears, are there any patterns? Describe them and try to find out about the circumstances surrounding them. Do you see any links in terms of yourself and your generation? Next month’s session includes Margaret Jenkin’s approach to writing her family history and a presentation by Jane on ethical issues which can arise during family research.
Bev, Jane and Barry
