I'm going to Canberra!

I am on holidays for a month y’all! I am getting back into my much loved genealogy and figuring out which ancestors I would like to spend more time with over the next few weeks.

This Saturday I am off to Sydney for two weeks to hang out with my Aunty. During my schooling years, we went to Sydney 3 – 4 times a year. Now, it is usually one or two. I really love Sydney and know my way around the CBD better than my Dad & Aunt sometimes! My Aunty has all the family heirlooms so I imagine I will be taking some photos, recording details, and scanning while I am there.

One exciting part of my holiday is that my Aunty & I are going to Canberra for a couple of days. For my overseas genea-friends, Canberra is the capital of Australia and is where the Federal Parliament sits. The last time I went to Canberra I was 12 or 13, so I wasn’t really into history or politics then. But now I am, and I’m very excited to check it all out. The initial reason for going to Canberra is that I am going to a Criminology conference at the Australian Institute of Criminology on Friday, July 4^th. As I was going to be in Sydney anyway, I was originally planning to fly to Canberra on Thursday night and fly back to Sydney after the conference or early Saturday morning. However, my Aunty suggested that we make it a road trip of sorts and spend a couple of days there exploring. We are arriving on the 3rd and leaving on the 6th. I am so keen and spent some time procrastinating before my exams by researching the places we must go. So, here is our current to-do list…

1. Australian War Memorial (AWM)

When I began my adventures in genealogy, I discovered that my Great Grandmother’s 1^st Cousin’s name, Alexander Croal, is inscribed in the Roll of Honour. It is the #1 thing on our list.  

2. National Archives of Australia (NAA)

I am really keen to check out the NAA. It is where Shauna Hicks is having the launch of National Family History Month this year. After reading a recent post of hers about her visit to Canberra and the NAA, I am keen to check it out and see their current exhibition, A Place to Call Home: MigrantHostel Memories.

3. Paperchain Bookstore

Shauna also recommended a bookstore called Paperchain. I love books and reading and cute little bookstores! 

and genealogy! :D

4. National Library of Australia (NLA)

If we have time, I’d like to see the NLA and have a sticky beak at their Treasures Gallery & Canberra: Then & Now exhibition.

5. Cockington Green Gardens

A distant cousin recommended that my Aunt & I visit the Cockington Green Gardens. I had never heard of it before, but after some googling and browsing their website for a good while, we definitely have to go! It looks so cute! Their website states that it is a 'delightful and fascinating display of meticulously crafted miniature buildings set within beautifully landscape gardens.' 

Cockington Green  Gardens
[Source: Google Images]

If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know, particularly food places too as I am sure we will be eating out a lot!

Happy Easter.

I hope all my genea-friends have a wonderful Easter! 

Here's a little snippet I found on Trove about Easter in Brisbane in 1933. 

The Central Queensland Herald
Thursday 27 April 1933, page 48
[Source: Trove]

A Mother & Sons.

My Great Great Grandmother Mary Frances Smith (1861 - 1955) with her sons. Corsicana, Texas, 1940s.

Left to Right: Great Grandfather Roscoe Eugene Renfrow (1892 - 1982), Ernest Bascom Renfrow (1888 - 1979), Arthur Otis Renfrow (1894 - 1982), Frank Daniel Renfrow (1897 - 1962), Luther Marvin Renfrow (1887 - 1965).

A Century Milestone.

Church News for Friday, Oct. 4, 2013

Blooming Grove United Methodist Church (Blooming Grove, Texas) will be celebrating 100 years in its present location next weekend.

The Church originally began as a Methodist mission church in 1869 in a building constructed on land on Rush Creek, which was donated by Richard and Susan Gowan nee Peacock.

Richard & Susan Gowan were my Great Great Great Great Grandparents! They also donated land for White Church Cemetery near by, which is where they are buried.

Donald Walter Croal: An Independent.

It’s a Federal Election here in Australia today. I haven’t been able to discover much about my ancestors’ political views, nor do I know of any who were in political parties, except one guy, my Great Grandmother’s cousin Donald Walter Croal. He was born in 1886, Sydney, New South Wales, to parents Alexander Croal & Margaret Munro.

Donald Walter Croal
From my personal collection

In 1919, he ran as an Independent Candidate in the by-election for the New South Wales state seat of Petersham. He did not win, as you can see below. He received only 2.91% of votes.

[Source: New South Wales Parliament]

In 1925, he decided to try his luck at the Federal level. Things did not really go to plan. His nomination for the Federal seat of Parkes was rejected by the Commonwealth House of Representatives. Why? Because he refused to pay the fee required when he submitted his nomination papers.

Below is a letter Donald wrote to the House of Representatives regarding this matter.

Letter from Donald W. Croal to Commonwealth House of Representatives

And this is the response he received -

The last paragraph: “The Chief Electoral Officer reports that although you tendered a nomination you declined to comply with the requirements of the Electoral Act by furnishing the required deposit. In the circumstances there was no alternative to rejecting your nomination.”

Here’s some more information below which includes the relevant piece of legislation mentioned above.

So, he refused to pay the nomination fee! With that, Donald returned to try things at the State level again. In 1927 he ran for the New South Wales seat of Dulwich Hill as an Independent. He did not win this one also, as shown below, with 0.88% of votes.

[Source: New South Wales Parliament]

He doesn’t make an appearance in the world of politics after that.

Donald never married, and died in Sydney in 1967.

Wordless Wednesday - Bowraville Cemetery.

Wordless Wednesday.

Great Uncle Claude Dyer & My Great Grandparents James Albert Dyer & Eva Florence Mackay.
Bowraville Cemetery, NSW.

Father-Daughter Genealogy Day.

3rd January 2013.

While spending a week at Coffs Harbour, NSW during the holidays, Dad & I took the chance to have a genealogy day. My Nanna grew up in Bowraville, & my Poppa in Macksville - both of which are about 90 minutes away.

Main Beach, Nambucca Heads, NSW. Jan '13.
Image from Author's personal collection.

First Stop: Nambucca Heads.
My Poppa was a lifesaver at the main beach in the 1930’s. My Dad & Aunty also remember camping & visiting one of Nanna’s Aunts there. The road down to the beach is a very very steep hill. Dad & I walked down it…and then back up!

Second Stop: Macksville.

My Poppa grew up about 10-15 minutes outside of Macksville in Gumma. His father is buried in Macksville Cemetery. Sadly, we didn’t make it to the Cemetery on that day, but it’s in my diary for our next trip. Dad & I drove out to Gumma to see where my Poppa grew up. We couldn’t find the exact place his house & the farm was, but we got pretty close. It was my first time there. I was pretty amazed at how far out it was from Macksville. In the early 1900’s, it would have been quite a journey to get to Macksville. My Poppa went to primary school in Macksville, and also went to school in Nambucca Heads I believe.

Mary Boulton Cottage, Macksville, NSW. Jan '13.
Image from Author's personal collection.

One of his longtime school friends, Mary Boulton, donated her house to the Nambucca Shire Council. It wasn't open when we went past, but it's something on the to do list for next time.



Third Stop: Bowraville.

This little town, where my Nanna grew up, is about 30 minutes North West of Macksville. In the days of my Grandparents, it would have been much longer. People in Bowraville did not travel far to marry. The same family names keep popping up in my tree. Cousins married cousins, siblings in one family married the siblings in another family. Two of my Nanna’s cousins on her Dad’s side married her Aunt & Uncle on her Mum’s side. You name it - it’s probably in my tree.

Dad & I stopped for lunch at the Coach House Inn, which is in the main street - High Street. Dad kept joking that we had Burgers in Bowraville! Lol. Then it was off to Bowraville Cemetery. I had been wanting to go there ever since I started researching my family tree in 2009. I don't think Dad had ever been there either! It’s a pretty little cemetery. I must say though, that I am related to at least 80% of the people buried there, and perhaps at least 50% of the people who still live in Bowraville.

Bowraville Cemetery, NSW. Jan '13.
Image from Author's personal collection.

I finally got to say hello for the first time to many relatives & ancestors, including my Great Grandparents, my Great Uncle, & my two Great Uncles-in-Law. It was amazing! I could have spent all day there.

Bowraville Cemetery, NSW. Jan '13.
Image from Author's personal collection.

After that, we drove off to see the property where my Nanna grew up. It’s out the back of Bowraville on a dirt road. What is that road called you ask? Dyers Loop Road. It’s named after my Great Grandfather James Albert Dyer & his family!

Dyers Loop Road, Bowraville, NSW. Jan '13.
Image from Author's personal collection.

We saw the property that my Nanna grew up on. The original house isn’t there anymore - hasn’t been for a long time. It burnt down and the owners rebuilt. What we noticed though, is that it now has a number! It did not have a number in the past. It’s a very cute sign too.

We kept driving for a while, dirt roads and all. We saw a wallaby with a joey, & we almost hit a cow. We eventually ended up in Argent’s Hill! Argent’s Hill is named after the Argent family, and yes, we are connected to them. There is nothing in Argent’s Hill except a house, an old warehouse-community-hall-type-building and an old church. There is a cemetery where more of my ancestors are buried, but we couldn’t find it. I can’t even find it on Google Maps! We turned around and made our way back to Bowraville. Dad was so delighted when the road became sealed again.

After passing through the main drag of Bowraville once more, it was time to start making our way back to Coffs Harbour. But not without a detour - Dad decided that he wanted to go to Bellingen. I’ve always wanted to go there, so, naturally, I agreed. It took about 30-45 minutes to get there. We were only there for about 15 minutes just driving around, but from what we saw, it’s very beautiful and they have done a great job at preserving the history of it. They do have the Bellingen Historical Society after all. Definitely a town I want to go back to & explore.

And with that, the Father & Daughter Genealogy Day came to an end and we headed back to Coffs Harbour with many photos & stories to share.

Tombstone Tuesday.

Happy 125th Birthday In Heaven to my Great Grandfather, James Albert Dyer!

I’ll be coming to visit you in Bowraville Cemetery for the first time in approximately 2 weeks. 

Photo: http://austcemindex.com/inscription.php?id=7597454

Sunday's Obituary.

The obituary for my Great Great Grandfather James Lewis Renfrow.

Born: 1861, Mississippi, USA.

Died: 1939, Texas, USA.

He had 7 children with his wife Mary Frances Smith. 

James L. Renfrow & Mary F. Smith

My Great Great Grandparents James Lewis Renfrow & Mary Frances Smith.

James Lewis Renfrow
Born: 1861, Mississippi, USA
Died: 1939, Texas, USA

Mary Frances Smith
Born: 1861, Mississippi, USA
Died: 1955, Texas, USA

They married in 1885 in Mississippi & moved to Texas sometime between June 1892 & May 1894.

Daniel G. Smith & Louisa C. Brister

Louisa Clementine Brister.

Born: 1827, Virginia, USA.

Died: 1912, Mississippi, USA

 

Daniel Guyton Smith
Born: 1824, South Carolina, USA.
Died: 1877, Mississippi, USA

My Great Great Great Grandparents who married in 1857 in Mississippi, USA.

Wordless Wenesday.

Great Grandfather Roscoe Eugene Renfrow, Grand Saline, Texas, USA. 

Wednesday's Child.

Leonie Beth Small.
Daughter of Enid Dyer (my Great Aunt) & Leonard Small.
Born: 1952, Bowraville, NSW.
Died: 9 Sep 1954, Bellingen, NSW.
Buried: Bowraville Cemetery, NSW.

Amanuensis Monday.

Letter from Jean Gow (Auchterarder, Scotland) to her son William Gow (Sydney, Australia), 27th of September 1893.

"Dear Son,

I just received your letter this morning & always glad to hear from you. You have got the paper of your fruit you think it might have had a better it was a mistake of me but I did not see it till I saw it in the paper & I could not help it then. In deed I was so bad of myself if Uncel [Uncle] Peter had not come. I dowt [doubt] you would not seen in the paper at all you think I might kept more to my self. I was so proud of you sending them that I could not hide your thoughtfulness of sending them so far to me I will be more so if you will send me some of your Oranges & I will know better if they are good or not. You saw I did not say if they were good you know heat corn is never good. They were very pretty to look at did you get the letter that they were corn & more as the young Sadie that wrote it was so kind to me. You have sent me Robert [William’s brother] address but I think you are making a card(?) of me now when you put Esquire to it. I will send his papers to you until I hear from you again & you can send them to him. Will he be far from where he was? Missie is gone to Kinross her address is Hygh St Kinross. I sent your address to Jeannie [William’s sister] long a go but everyone is so much taken up with themselves they have not much time to think of others at least it appears so. I had a letter from John [William’s brother] a long with yours this morning. He is thinking of coming for some days only if he can get away. You might come & join his company the days he will be here. I hope this will find you will & free of toothache. I am better than I have been for a long time so I will draw to close.

I remain your affectionate mother

Jane Gow.”

There was a significant lack of punctuation in the letter so I inserted full stops where I thought appropriate.

What were the main points I got from this letter?

• Jean would like William to send some Oranges to she can judge the,
• Jean is very proud of William for doing well on the farm
• She will send Robert’s papers to him, and he will forward them on to Robert
• Jeannie is busy, everyone is taken up with themselves, therefore not much time to think of others
• John is thinking of coming to Scotland from Ireland for some days
• Jean is asking William if he might join John’s company and visit Scotland as well.
• Jean is better than she has been in the past for a long time.

The 15th of December.

I was unable to post this yesterday because I was travelling.

Yesterday, the 15th of December 2012, was one year since my Great Uncle Curly died. He was an amazing man with a wide variety of interests - growing huge vegetables, inventing cleaning products & bee-keeping to name a few. He worked right up until the day he died. Funnily enough, the 15th of December 2012, marks four years since my Great Uncle Noel died. He was Uncle Curly’s younger brother. I didn’t know Uncle Noel, but I know he was a great man. I’m hopefully going to meet his wife soon. Uncle Curly & Uncle Noel were my Nannas' younger brothers.

Earl James Dyer
Born: 1918, Bowraville, NSW.
Died: 15 Dec 2011, Gold Coast, QLD.

Noel George Dyer
Born: 1925, Bowraville, NSW.
Died: 15 Dec 2008, Gosford, NSW.

They died on the same day, 3 years apart.

Rest In Peace Uncle Curly & Uncle Noel <3

Funeral Card Friday - Christian Croal

FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY.

The funeral card for my Great Great Grandmother Christian Croal nee Alves.

She was born in 1843 in Scotland. In 1869, she married my Great Great Grandfather David Croal in Edinburgh. They arrived in Sydney, Australia with their 3 children in 1883. She died on the 31st of August 1909 and was buried the next day. She is buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney with her grandson Adam Gow (1905 - 1905).

A Precious Heirloom.

TREASURE CHEST THURSDAY.

This is my Grandmother’s gorgeous vase. She died in 1980, 10 years before I was born, so I never knew her. She was very much into genealogy, one reason being that she was adopted. She passed down her love for genealogy to my Aunt & Uncle. My Mum didn’t catch the “gene bug” which we call it in our family. It skipped her, and I caught it instead. My Aunt gave me my Grandmother’s vase in 2009. When I have children, I will pass it down to them…and hopefully they will catch the “gene bug” too! When my Grandmother died, her children (my mum, aunt & uncle) were not able to have much of her things, so this is very special, especially since my love for genealogy comes from her. <3

Happy 150th Birthday Newtown!

Happy 150th Birthday to Newtown, Sydney, where my Great Great Grandparents David Croal & Christian Alves lived from 1890 - 1904. The first photo, is them standing in front of their house in 1891/1892. After David died in 1893, Christian remained in the house until 1904. She moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, my great grandparents, Elizabeth Croal & William Gow, until her death in 1909. William & Elizabeth lived in Stanmore, one of the neighboring suburbs.

The second photo is the same house, taken in 1993.

James & Eva's Wedding.

Great Grandparents James Albert Dyer (1887 - 1966) & Eva Florence Mackay (1888 - 1976) on their wedding day in 1913, Bowraville, New South Wales. He was 26. She was 25. Eva was a shy & quiet person. I think you can see it in her eyes.

James & Eva.

My Great Grandparents James Albert Dyer & Eva Florence Mackay.

James was born on Christmas Day, 1887 in Bowraville, New South Wales. He died on June 1st, 1966 in Bowraville. Eva was born in 1888 at Bowraville. She died 10 years after her husband on May 14, 1976 in Bowraville. They married in 1913. Where? You guessed it. Bowraville. They had six children - Claude, Eunice, Earl, Vera, Noel & Enid. Only 2 are still alive today.