Monday 29 July 2013

Opposite Directions

NEW VIDEO!

This one is about my Great Great Great Grandparents David Gill & Alice Wright, who decided to go in opposite directions…literally.

Enjoy! :)

Sunday 28 July 2013

Coroners' Inquest: Sylvia Crispin

Sylvia Alice May Crispin was born in 1901 at Macksville, New South Wales, Australia, to parents Charles Crispin & Charlotte Florence Gill. She died in 1902.

Below is a copy of the Registers of Coroners’ Inquests, 1796 - 1942, for Sylvia (Thank you Ancestry.com.au!)

Coroner's Inquest for Sylvia Crispin. Source: Ancestry.com.au


Date when held: April 2, 1902.
Where held: Commercial Hotel, Nambucca.
Date when received: April 8, 1902
Age: 9 Months
Where born: Taylor’s Arm, Macksville, NSW, Australia.
Locality of Death: LS “Nambucca” on voyage from Sydney to Nambucca.
Verdict: Natural causes, probably failure of the hearts action.

Sylvia was my first cousin, three times removed. Poor little thing. After she died, her parents Charles & Charlotte had two more children before moving to Illinois, USA.

Census Sunday

The US 1930 Census featuring my Great Grandparents.

1. Wiley Durwood Robinson & Maud Ella Robinson nee Sharp.
They lived in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, USA. Maud’s mother Julia Sharp is living with them, as well as a Lodger, Alice Wilson. Wiley & Maud adopted my Grandma a couple of years later.

US 1930 Census for Wiley & Maud Robinson. Source: Ancestry.com.au




























2. Roscoe Eugene Renfrow & Ethel Eva Renfrow nee Thompson.
They also lived in Corsicana, Navarro Country, Texas, USA. In 1930, Roscoe & Ethel had 3 young children - Flora, Roscoe Jr & James. My Grandad was born a year later.

US 1930 Census for Roscoe & Ethel Renfrow. Source: Ancestry.com.au





























Thursday 25 July 2013

31 Genealogical Activities to do in August!

Shauna Hicks, the co-ordinator of NFHM13, has come up with 31 things for societies & individuals to do in August.

31 Genealogical Activities to do in August!

First Genealogy Video!

My first official video about my genealogy is up! Sorry it took so long :)

You can watch it HERE.

Next month (August), is National Family History Month in Australia & New Zealand.
Check out the website here to find out what events are going on in your area. You should also go like their Facebook page here.

I’ve been invited to the Brisbane launch of National Family History Month next Thursday! So excited, and very grateful to have this opportunity!

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Why aren't you buried together?

While in Sydney on holidays a few weeks ago, I found the graves of my Great Great Uncle Robert William Gow, & his wife Mary Agnes Ryan. Robert was born in Scotland, and I believe Mary was from Ireland (I’m still yet to prove this though). They married in Sydney in 1886. They are both buried in Macquarie Cemetery in Sydney. I found Mary’s grave first, pictured below.

Grave of Mary Agnes Gow, Macquarie Cemetery, Sydney. June 2013.
Personal collection.
She died in 1923, in Sydney and is buried in the Catholic Section. It looks like there is plenty of room on the headstone for another inscription. I would have assumed for her husband. I began to wonder why Robert was not buried with her.

My Aunty & I then found Robert’s grave in the Presbyterian Section, buried with his & Mary’s eldest child Myrtle Gow.

Grave of Robert W. Gow & Myrtle Gow.
Macquarie Cemetery, Sydney, June 2013.
Personal collection.
Upon finding Robert’s grave, my Aunt realized why Robert & Mary are not buried together - their different religions. He was Presbyterian, she was Catholic. We hadn’t at all thought that religion would play a part in this. According to my Aunt, during the time that Robert & Mary were alive, different religions weren’t allowed to be buried together.

I don’t know much about the history of religion, but apparently it was looked down on if a Catholic & Presbyterian married. It would have made for an interesting marriage I would think. I’m very curious to find out which church they married in & by whom. Time to order their marriage certificate! I’m hoping this will also provide me with information about Mary’s possible Irish background & her parents.

I wonder if Robert & Mary knew that when they passed away they were not going to be buried together…hmm…