Family history stories from Dalton, Gunning, Bevendale & beyond
During my family history research project, I have investigated the lives and movements of over 100 of my direct ancestors in New South Wales. Surprisingly the geographic range that these families have covered in the past 190 years is not overly extensive. All of my ancestors in Australia began their new lives after arriving in... Continue Reading →
Photographs of our Australian colonial ancestors are hard to come by. Painted and sketched portraits are even rarer. Fortunately, one of my ancestors (my maternal grandmothers great-grandmother) was not shy of camera or canvas. Stashed behind an old refrigerator, in my grandparent's garage, are two portraits that were among items passed down and stored after... Continue Reading →
During my family research project a number of convict ancestors were discovered. Five were discovered in all; four of which belong to this (my maternal grandmothers) line of my family ancestry. Three belong to the Whittington side and one to the Noakes side. The other convict belongs to the Alchin side (my maternal grandfathers), but... Continue Reading →
In November 1863, during the height of the Australian bushranger period, the Melbourne Age reported that "the hitherto quite village of Dalton, on Jerrawa Creek has become the theatre of as daring an act of bush ranging as the already famed Canowindra". Only a handful of accounts exist that detail the incident which involved three... Continue Reading →
Personal objects can often be overlooked when conducting family research. It may be that they are seen as merely possessions, however objects can provide us with rich and invaluable information and stories. While consulting a well-crafted genealogy publication, concerning the Holgate family, I observed an interesting note. On the pages that were of interest to... Continue Reading →
To have a village named after yourself, or at least known locally in your families’ name, usually means you made significant contributions to the social and economic life of the area. That seems to be the case with my 4X-grandfather (on my maternal grandmother’s side) William Taylor and his family who settled at Charleyong, near... Continue Reading →
Between the years of 1848 and 1850, it is estimated that over 4000 young orphan girls were sent from various Irish workhouses to the new Australian colonies. Those who arrived during these years did so under what was to be called the 'Earl Grey scheme' (thousands of other Irish orphans arrived outside of these years as part... Continue Reading →
Image: House near Kiowarrah (Bevendale) where my great-grandmother, Evelyn May Noakes lived for a short while with her son, William Charles Noakes who was working on the property.
It has been recognised recently, through campaigns such as the United Nation's International Day of Rural Women, and initiatives like the Invisible Farmer Project, that rural women are often overlooked and left out of our rural histories. Many of the newspapers of our past often removed a woman identity, tying them to the name of their... Continue Reading →
On Easter Sunday, 1947, a diamond wedding celebration was held at 'Mayfield' (near Bevendale) for James and Emma Noakes. According to the Goulburn Post, every descendant of the couple attended, 160 in all, celebrating in a marquee decorated with bright streamers and flowers. Even the couple's elderly bridesmaid was there. Toasts were made and messages... Continue Reading →
County of King 