Hi. I'm Caitie. I have been researching my family history since 2009, and love going to genealogy conferences, cemeteries, archives and all that! This blog is all about my adventures in genealogy.
The death notice of my Great Great Great Grandfather Donald Mackay, who died on the 22nd of November, 1912. Published in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 26th of November, 1912. (Source: Trove). I need to research more about him as I'm curious to know what made him one of Nambucca's pioneers.
Everyone is a bit sad today, but we know you’re in a much better place. I hope you’re having a good day with Poppa up there, watching the French Open. You sure loved the Tennis! I miss watching it with you and talking about who your favorite players are.
My Great Grandfather William Gow was born on the 21st of May, 1868 in Cairn, Muthill, Perthshire, Scotland (see birth certificate). His parents were William Gow & Jean/Jane Drummond. He was the youngest of 5 children. His older siblings were John, Robert, Isabella, Jeannie.
William left Scotland and travelled to Australia in 1886 by himself when he was 18. His brother Robert was already in Sydney. Growing up in Scotland, he learned how to be a landscape gardener. When he arrived in Sydney on October 5th, 1886, he became a landscape gardener at the home of Sir Adrian Knox, a barrister and chief justice.
William was only supposed to stay in Australia for 2 years, however, much to his mother’s dismay, he remained here.
He joined the police force in Sydney in November 1896. On his application form, he stated that he had been a gardener and fruit grower for 14 years.
On the 14th of December, 1904, he married Elizabeth Croal. In late August 1905, they had a son, Adam, who sadly died after being alive for only 24 hours. On February 2nd, 1910, they had another son - William David Drummond Gow (My Grandfather, known as David throughout his life).
William Gow was well known throughout the Traffic Department of the Police for 16 years. In 1912, he resigned and returned to farming. He was requested to reconsider his decision but believed farming was his true occupation. In late early 1913, William, Elizabeth & David moved from Sydney to Gumma, near Macksville, NSW where they lived & owned a farm. One of their favourite things that they grew were tomatoes.
'Tomato Stakes' William Gow & William D. D. Gow. November 1941, Gumma, NSW
William remained in Gumma until his death in 1943. He passed away at ‘Jalna’ private hospital in Macksville on the 28th of November, aged 75. If William had returned to Scotland after 2 years, I probably wouldn’t be here, writing this. So William, I thank you.
My Nanna grew up on a farm on this road - in fact, quite a few of my ancestors and relatives owned farms on this road. Dyer’s Loop Road is named after her father, my Great Grandfather, James Albert Dyer.
Graces Road was named after the Grace family, some of whom were Nanna’s cousins. A recent drive up there in January 2013, revealed that Grace's are still living in the area.
They married in Beckley, England on 20 June, 1826 and arrived in New South Wales on 11 October, 1837 on the vessel “Augusta Jessie.” They had 12 children! Wowza!
This is a photo of my Nanna & I in late 1993/early 1994 just after I turned 3. I love that I'm looking up at her. I really did look up to her. She was a wonderful wonderful woman.
It’s her first birthday since she passed away 11 months ago. Hard to believe she’s been gone for almost a year. I miss her so much. There are so many things I wish I could tell her. Nanna, I hope you’re having a lovely day in Heaven with Poppa.
