About me

Pauleen CassWelcome to my blog! Thank you for visiting.I appreciate your interest and welcome your comments.

My personal interests are family history, emigration history, photography and travel.

Before I tell you a little more about my story, let me give you some tips about this blog:

  • You can leave comments in the bubble near the header of each story or post.
  • If you want to read previous posts scroll down the right hand column for “Recent Posts” or use the drop-down box on the right sidebar to search for the categories that interest you.
  • You can also subscribe if you want to receive new posts by email.
  • If you want to find something specific eg World War I, Kunkel, you can search in the box at the top right of the photo.

Who Am I?

Although I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Queenslander, I lived in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia, commonly called the Top End for nearly twenty years. The climate is tropical with all that entails – hot, humid weather; cyclones or the potential for them; storms, lightning and thunder then clear skies with no rain throughout the Dry. From time to time I’ll talk about what’s happening here & sights and sounds of the Tropics. Since this was true for much of the time I’ve blogged, I’ve left it here, but I’ve now returned to my roots.

I started my family history in 1986, in the pre-computer, pre-digitisation era. The changes in the ways we can research family history have been enormous but those early skills can prove invaluable when brick walls come up, or to  build up a broader picture of the family and their lives. I am an avowed family historian with a determination to learn firstly who my ancestors were, then to learn more about their lives and the places they lived, and from that to tell their stories.

My Families

I have Irish, Scottish, German and English ancestry with one line sitting on the English-Welsh border so I think there’s probably a Welsh connection there. The religious affiliations are as diverse with Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists being represented.

In Australia my families are true Queenslanders and many lines go back to the mid-1850s when Moreton Bay was still a colony of New South Wales.  As such they played a role in the development of the new colony of Queensland after Separation from NSW in 1859. Railway lines run in the blood stream with many branches having generations of affiliation with Queensland Rail, or indeed even with Irish railways. Like most Australian immigrants, the immigrants were poor working classes but all showed a strong work ethic successfully establishing large families in the state.

I have published the family history of one set of my ancestors: George Kunkel and Mary O’Brien. It is called Grassroots Queenslanders: the Kunkel family and to my great pleasure it won a couple of prizes when it was published.

Other Research and Blogs

My broader research interests include emigrants from Dorfprozelten, Bavaria to  Australia especially those who came under the vinedresser schemes of the 1850s; emigrants from Broadford and east County Clare, Ireland to eastern Australia 1848-1872; and anything to do with Murphy’s Creek at the foot of the Toowoomba range, but especially its early history and people.

You can find a list of the blogs I write under the Blogroll tab on the sidebar and some tips for researching under Resources (a drop-down box). My blog is copyrighted to me. While I am happy for people to reference something in them, I would appreciate that the reference lists this website. Many thanks!

Details of how to contact me can be found under the Contact Me tab.

Once again, thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts in the comments.

Cheers

Cassmob (Pauleen Cass)

 

134 thoughts on “About me”

      1. Hi I too am relative of the Zollers who arrived on the Commodore Perry from Bravaria. Have just started on my family tree bit it appears thwe Zollers came to Newcastle [ Maitland] and did a name change to Seller[s]. Not sure why but will post anything that comes to hand

        Like

      2. hi Gary
        Thanks for getting in touch. There are other people who are researching this branch of the Zollers/Sellers as well. Let me know if you’d like me to pass on your email to them. It seems like only young Oswald went to Newcastle or that’s the indications. His parents and siblings appear to have stayed in Sydney -either that or they went to Sydney as soon as their employment contract was completed. Happy researching! Pauleen

        Like

  2. Many thanks for giving me access to your earlier research.

    I am a descendant of Joseph Nebaur, the father of Eugene Nebaur. I am related to Eugene’s sister Anna Rosina who travelled to Australia sometime after Eugene along with their mother Elizabeth (nee Platz). Their father, Joseph, had already died at the time of Eugene’s migration. The family went initially to Lochinvar (near Maitland) and then on to Jerry’s Plains which to this day is still a wine-growing area although the horse industry and open-cut coal mines are taking over.

    Elizabeth is buried at Jerry’s Plains.

    You have inspired me to visit Dorfprozelten next year.

    I regret this doesn’t add anything for your own research.

    All the very best and thanks again.

    Trevor

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Trevor

      Thanks for your post. I’m pleased that this has helped inspire you to visit Dorfprozelten. While you are there try to get hold of a copy of Dorfprozelten teil II, a book by the local historian Georg Veh, which is very informative on Dorfprozelten people c1844. If you had a look at my Flick link you’ll see some photos of Dorfp. as well.

      I did know about Anna Rosina but just now can’t retrieve the full details -I felt sure I had her immigration but I didn’t know about Elizabeth coming out. I visited the Hunter Valley a few years ago and did some searching for the Dorfprozelten families locations but didn’t get to Jerry’s plains. I’ll email you if I locate the details I feel I had.

      Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hi Pauleen
        I wonder if you can help me with a bit of a puzzle regarding the Nebauer family or to refer me to someone who may be able to help.

        I have an image of the birth (or baptism) certificate for Eugene Nebauer. it clearly shows his mother’s name was”Elizabeth Plaz”. On his death certificate, however, his mother’s name is given as “Elizabeth Kifelein”(informant Eugene’s son Charles).. Anna Rosina’s death certificate shows her mother’s name as “Elizabeth Kauflien” (informant – her youngest daughter Mary).

        I can understand the differences in spelling as both informants (grandchildren) may not have known the correct spelling.

        Could it be that Elizabeth was married to a person of the name Plaz prior to marrying Eugene’s father Stephen Nebauer?

        Do you know of a family that has a surname similar to “Kifelien” or “Kauflien”?

        Thanks for giving this request your consideration.

        Regards

        Trevor

        Like

      2. I love that you’ve bought certificates – so many people don’t and they’re missing out. Elizabeth was born a Platz and to the best of my knowledge only ever married Eugen Nebauer. The Käufleins (Kaufline in Australia, quite often) were relatives through Elisabeth’s sister’s family and so I imagine this is where the confusion originated. The Germans were literate generally so the information they gave on certificates was generally accurate though they sometimes Anglicised their names to how they sounded. Another trap with German records is that if indexed under Platz, Elizabeth’s parents would be shown as Nicolaus and Magdalena Geyer, where Nicolaus is Platz and Geyer is the mother’s maiden name. This occasionally led to issues with immigration information. The source of my information on the family in Germany is from the excellent book “Dorfprozelten Teil II” by G Veh. I’ve also emailed you with information.

        Like

  3. Hi,

    What an interesting website.

    I’ve been studying German for a couple of years and although my wider family are very interested in family history, I haven’t been. I’m not sure why I wanted to learn German but didn’t think it had anything to do with our German heritage.

    But lately they keep talking about it and so I did some googling about Dorfprozelten, the village they originally came from, and there was your website. Like I said, very interesting!

    My grandfather (Arthur William Nebauer) was a grandson of the original Eugene and Caroline and grew up at Gungal (near Merriwa) in the Hunter Valley. I think Eugene is buried at Merriwa.

    My parents (Ron and Shirley Nebauer) have photocopies of letters written by Eugene to his relatives back in Bavaria. You are probably aware of them as I think the originals are in a museum at Dorfprotzelten. I haven’t seen them yet, but like I said, I’m just getting interested. I’m looking forward to seeing if I can translate any of it. 🙂

    I grew up in the Hunter Valley, not far from the place where they first settled, but haven’t thought much about it till now.

    Is your paper They weren’t all Lutherans… available to read? I’d be interested.

    Kind regards
    Janelle (Nebauer) Hardy

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Janelle

      Thanks for your interests. I hadn’t seen the letters but would love to do so. If you want to see photos of Dorfprozelten I have a few on my Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/cassmob/sets/72157600185994835/

      Another good source of info on the Geman immigrants of this era who were brought in for wine-growing (well that was the theory!) is AncesTree, the magazine of the Burwood and District Family History Group which has fantastic articles by Jenny Paterson on some of the German immigrant ships.

      My paper on the Dorfprozelten Germans was published in the proceedings of the 11th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Family History (Darwin 2006). It should be available in any family history society library.

      I will be in touch via your email. Thanks for your comments.

      Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  4. Dear all, My mother was Kathleen Nebauer who was the daughter of Francis & Elizabeth (Dennewald) Nebauer. Francis was son of Eugen & Caroline (Umscheid) Nebauer. Eugen’s sister came to Australia and I have contact with some of her descendants. I have had copies of Eugen’s letters for many years and the translations. I have much information on the Nebauers and Dennewalds which I would be happy to send to anyone.
    Regard,
    Monica O’Brien. happy for my email to be posted

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks Monica for this offer which will be of interest to anyone with those families. I’ve also replied directly to your email. Monica has indicated that her email can be published so here it is monica.21 @ bigpond .com (without the breaks of course -spam control). It’s intriguing how much more evident these German Catholics have become in recent years. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  5. Thanks for sharing! I especially enjoy how you add meaning with the stories and context. I like the way you describe yourself as an avowed family historian (rather than an genealogist).

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting Sheryl. I’m a dyed in the wool family historian….I need the stories and context to our ancestor’s lives…which is what your doing with your diary reports.

      Like

      Reply

  6. Greetings Ms. Pauleen Cass!
    My Name is Bob Miltner.
    I am an American living in Dorfprozelten Germany. I was given your “Session IC: Pauleen Cass: They weren’t all Lutherans” Document by a Mr. Hubert Brand with hopes that I could translate the document for him. My story is long… and my German is not so good. I will ask for help from my 12 year old son to help me translate the document unless the you have already translated it? There is also an english teacher here that might be able to help out with the translation. Has the document been translated yet?
    I am also not sure of how much contact you have presently with the village? Might be interesting for you to have a local contact by email. I have travelled around the world and spent much time in Australia. My son was what brought me to Dorfprozelten. One of my favorite hobbies is photography so you might be interested in some of my photo’s from Dorfprozelten and surrounding area’s.
    My email address is:
    balibob@yahoo.com
    Let me know if you welcome the contact!
    all the best!

    Bob Miltner

    Like

    Reply

  7. Hi Bob, Definitely pleased to have the contact! No, the article hasn’t been translated into German -my German is no longer up to scratch. Happy to help though if you want to send me the draft -I can read German better than writing or speaking it. I’ll email you directly too. Thanks Pauleen

    Like

    Reply

  8. Hi, Pauleen, I hope this reaches you as I seemed to have trouble finding out how to reply to your comments to me (I am not very technically minded) . Thank you for writing to me on our shared family history in linking Leith in Scotland and North and South Shields in Northumberland. .Thank you, too,. for an earlier query to my posting on Childhood Fashions – “What is a liberty bodice?” It was a children’s winter underwear garment,of the 1940’s and 50’s, a bit like a thick woolly vest but with rubber buttons down the front and often rubber inserts. It could be itchy, hot and sweaty to wear as the weather got warmer. Not to be recommended!

    Like

    Reply

  9. Dear Pauleen, a big thank you for all the comments you have taken the time to make on my recent postings. I really do appreciate them and we seem to have a lot in common. It is amazing to think that I made the last posting around 4.30pm and it winged its way to Australia and back again by 7.30pm. The wonders of technology! .

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Susan, you’re very welcome. I enjoy reading your posts even when I don’t comment. Technology is indeed amazing…helped by the fact I was awake in the middle of the night and reading blogs;-)

      Like

      Reply

      1. Dear Pauleen – thank you again for your comments to my postings . I do like the way you come up with such thoughtful contributions. Re my brick wall of my grandmother, it had occured to me was she illegitimate, but then in that case her father’s name might not have been on her birth certificate.. Amazingly, considering my love of old newspapers, I have only just thought of seeing if there was a death announcment/obituary in the local newspaper whcih might give some clues – a long shot, but worth trying. I lot of the baptismal records for Bolton, where she was born, have been transcribed and are available online, but no joy there so far. .

        Like

  10. Hi Cassmob,

    It’s nice to find another Australian family history blogger, it’s just a shame we don’t seem to share any family! I’ve found blogging my family history research so beneficial – I’ve been contacted by many distant family members who have been searching for information on people I’ve blogged about and they often have family photos that I’ve not seen before. Good luck with your research – I hope you can knock down some of your brick walls!

    Like

    Reply

  11. Hi

    I am also reseraching the mccorkidales. can give you more info if you can give me a wee email.

    It may be that there is a link up with a patrick mccorkindale who was killed in sydney australia during the war and all have glasgwo origins etc

    Like

    Reply

  12. Hi
    My name is Barbara and I am trying to trace my ggrandparents John James Horan and Judith Mullaley they were married in Mt Gambier South Australia in 1868. Children from their marriage Honora Mary, Margaret,Johanna (Annie) Bridget,Thomas, William, Edward,John,Catherine( my grandmother, a lot of them died very young. I know that his father was Thomas Horan and that they came from County Clare, I havent been able to find when or where Thomas and John migrated in Australia before settling in South Australia, or where in Clare they came from.I do know that Judith(Johanna) Some of the names in Australia connected with both families are Ryan, Schleter,Ashby,Burn, English, Pudney, Egan, Kavanagh,Dwyer and more. i also remember my mother mentioning Bridget O’Brien but I havent been able as yet to connect her to my family, I have not been able to find anyone in Australia related to my family.

    Kind regards
    Barbara

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Barbara, I don’t know if you’ve tried Pastkeys’ Immigration Deposit Journals on CD or Richard Reid’s index to immigration to Eastern Australia 1848-1870. These are two fantastic resources that I’d have a look at. You can find some more about this by putting “Farewell my Children” in the search bar at the top of my blog. Also strongly recommend looking at the fabulous Clare Library website http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm. Have you tried buying certificates for any of the connected family -sometimes that can be helpful. Another source I use a lot is the Unassisted Passengers to Victoria. If you are in SA you might want to consider the 2012 Congress http://www.congress2012.org.au/docs/Registration3.pdf. Other than that, I’ve no immediate ideas. John James Horan does not appear in my East Clare database or the Broadford (Kilseily) parish records. Do you have their certificates of marriage or death? Obits? Any clues on the gravestone?

      Like

      Reply

    2. Hi Barbara!

      I know your post is a few years old now but I only just stumbled across it. I am from the Schleter family and I thought I would just say “Hi!” I believe we are related. Am I correct in that your grandfather was Ted? I descend from Hermie.

      Hope you found the Horan information you were searching for.

      Karen

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hi Karen,
        Just stumbled on this message, still looking for my ggrandfather John Horan, where he came from, yes my mother’s (Kathleen) married Edward Schleter, my mother spoke fondly of Hermie, love to hear from someone related to me via Schleter’s
        Barb

        Like

  13. Hi, Pauleen – many thanks for your concerns about our stormy weather here in Scotland. We had a dreadful night with wind and rain battering on our bedroom bay window. Just when we thought it was easing, it came back with renewed force. So we are feeling rather weary today. The good thing is that there does not seem to be any stuctural damage apart from losing some roof slates.. There are lots of loose branches and twigs in the garden and I mean to have a gatherng session for my daughter who has a log burnng stove. Ironically after so many grey, grey days, the sun has come out and we went on the hill behind our house tor a walk to blow the cobwebs away.

    Re PHAROS, I have heard back and think I may go ahead with the course . I would have preferred it .to include assessments to get an objective view of my work, but given writing my own history plus my blog is my key interest, I may well learn fromi it.

    Like

    Reply

  14. Hi Pauleen,
    My family is from Dorfprozelten. What Family that has left, came to USA, to New York.
    The family names are Hohmann, Schnellbach, Kotter and Koller.
    My father born 1901 came to USA in 1927. Hope to hear from you.
    Leo

    Like

    Reply

  15. Dear Pauline, I have written a book on this 1896 ‘Pearl’ event and solved most of the problems you raise. I even have a photo of Archibald McCorindale, in masonic regalia. The 1922 death registration is for his son, and is a WW1 event (it took them until 1922 to sort it all out. ‘F’ means Foreign, as in ‘fallen in foreign fields.’ We are organising the first memorial for the ‘Pearl’ on Sunday 12th February 2012, at 3.00pm at the Queensland Maritime Museum, Sidon st, South Brisbane. Hope you might be able to come. Kind regards, Paul Seto

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Paul, Thank you for getting in touch with me about this…the power of the internet. I’d have loved to have come to the memorial but unfortunately I’m in Darwin and won’t be in Brisbane at the time. Thanks also for clarifying the death notice -I should have noticed that myself. What is your book called? I’d be interested to read it and can probably get it from the National Library -won’t do your book sales any good but it helps me keep my bookshelves under control 😉

      Like

      Reply

  16. Hi Pauline. I just saw your great article on Dorfprozelten immigrant descendants in WW1. John Zeller was my great grandfather, and I found your article while doing some genealogy (and family history) research. Your article nicely puts together various family anecdotes I had heard previously.

    Like

    Reply

      1. Love this sight. Came across by chance looking for mcquillan. My great grandmother is kate,sister of john zeller. They were born to franz zoeller and Catherine (Nee beutel) after arriving peru 1855. Are u able to forward my email to John Lamb. Going to Europe 2014 so now you have inspired me to visit dorfprozelten. thank you. Katherine Zarins

        Like

  17. Hi Pauleen,
    Have just discovered your blog and realised you wrote to me concerning my Zoeller family from Dorfprozelten. Great great grandparents were Francis and Catherine Zoeller who came out on the Peru. My husband and I are going on a tour to Bavaria and was wondering where exactly Dorfprozelten was in relation to Munich. Look forward to hearing from you Judy. Yarrow

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Judy, Munich is not really close enough to Dorfprozelten to visit while touring but perhaps somewhere else you’re going is. I’ll email you directly. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  18. Hi Pauleen
    My great grandmother was Isabelle Hutchinson, her sister was Katherine Lea Hutchinson who married Charles Edmund Cass – parents of Walter Edmund Hutchinson Cass, mentioned in your artle on the Battle of Fomelles. Do you have any other information on the Cass family in Albury area – what relation are you to WEH Cass?
    Bernie Smith – Wodonga, Vic

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Bernie, good to hear from you. It’s my husband who’s descended from Katherine Lee Hutchinson so I’ve asked him to reply to you via email.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hi cassmob,
        My name is Peter Edmund Cass and My father was Walter Edmund Hutchinson Cass. He was born in 1916 and named after his uncle, who served in WW1 in Gallipoli and France (Fromelles). He had told me about having family connections in the Albury area, but I’ve never met anyone on his side of the family apart from distant memories of his father, and then a few years back I made contact with the granddaughter of my dad’s great uncle. Her name is Diana Cousens. I just happened to find your site whilst trawling the net and I’m looking forward to investigating it further. I also have a family tree that goes back to Arthur Cass marrying Jemima Pine on the 15th of March 1840 at Reading, that was passed on to me by my Dad. I’ll be very happy to hear back from anybody out there who may be related.

        Like

      2. hi Peter, it’s kind of weird to be writing to Peter Cass given that’s also my husband’s name. You’ve hit the family history jackpot as WEH Cass #1 was my husband’s grand uncle, ie brother to his grandfather. Haven’t heard of Diana though. My Peter is saving a lot of his family history up until he retires in a couple of years, though we’ve done some. We can also take you back beyond Arthur and Jemima from Reading and later Albury. I’ll get my Peter to reply to you by email. How exciting!! There’s heaps about WEH #1 in various books…I guess you have them?

        Like

    2. hi-cass mob –have talked to bernie-as a cass family had 2 hotels in albury –arthur cass had george hotel 1878- and sarah ann cass-nee walker had our hotel ralway commercial-or cass family hotel 1899–i,m still researching the exact dates of both —paul waterstreet

      Like

      Reply

      1. hi Paul, Great to hear from you. My husband, Peter, has some further info and maybe dates on the pub ownership so I will let him know and ask him to get in touch with you. Thanks for contacting me. Pauleen

        Like

  19. Hi my ancestors were KUNKEL from Germany: Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate,
    I wonder if your Kunkel family may be related to mine…funnily I never thought of checking Australia for Kunkel family and then I came across your great site and blog.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Annie, My Kunkels were Bavarian so at a guess the two families would not be related which is a shame. I do know my ancestor had a brother Philip Joseph who was supposed to have gone to “America”. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  20. Hello! I’m the Fat Dormouse who is your swap partner for Faith, Hope & Charity’s Jubilee Swop. Your blog is very interesting…You’ve done lots of research into your family, haven’t you? I’m afraid I only did a little research into my family tree – my brother’s done a little more, but not much.
    Can you tell me a bit more about yourself and your likes/dislikes? I don’t want to send you something you hate!
    I’ve got 2 blogs if you want to join me
    dormouse.wibsite.com
    fatdormouse.blogspot.com

    You can contact me through Fat Dormouse, I think!

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Fat Dormouse, good to hear from you. Just the very day I didn’t check with swap site too 😉 I’ve commented on your blog and suggested we chat via email. Meanwhile you might get some sense of what I like over on my Pinterest page https://pinterest.com/cassmob/ though many of the pics are “pie in the sky” dreaming. I like family history (obviously), travel, photography, food/eating, gardens, and the natural world. And I LOVE cats, something we obviously share.
      Given where you live I reckon it would be easy to find some little thing I’d like. Do you do crafts? I notice that on one of your posts it suggests you do.

      A word of caution re posting to Australia. We have strict quarantine rules about food stuffs and plant products so that’s a restriction. This website might be useful http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/travel/entering-australia/cant-take.

      Like

      Reply

  21. Hi
    Found your site by chance and suspect we know where your branch of the McCorkindale family fits with ours. I am descended from the marriage between Duncan McCorkindale (1842-1906) and Ann Law (1843-1869). As far as I know they had 3 children James (b1864) William (b1866) and Annie (b1868). My great grandmother was Annie McCorkindale, their youngest child and I understand she was brought up by Duncan and his second wife Annie Sim. She had an illegitimate son; my grandfather James McCorkindale (1893-1955) – and according to my late father Duncan she was disowned by her father at that point. This cannot have been a complete break with the family as my father kept in touch with some Australian relatives through the 1930s/40s. I have a copy of a letter he sent in 1941 not long after he returned from Dunkirk. According to my information the parents of Duncan McCorkindale (1842-1906 ) were James born 1808 and Isabella Morrison b 1809 and that’s as far back as I know. Do you have any information that takes things further back? Really interesting to read your blog and replies , Some other Australian relatives found us and sent us these details and we managed to meet during the commonwealth games in 2002.
    James

    Like

    Reply

    1. Wow! Great to hear from you James…I know exactly where you fit in the family and I suspect I know which rellies you were in touch with. they had the same stories about your grandmother being disowned. Which is weird as Annie Sim had already had an illegitimate child before they married. I will email you. It’s really exciting to hear from you and to “meet” you.

      Like

      Reply

  23. Hi, my ancestors were Kunkel: from Volklingen, Saarbrucken and other and I’m wondering if any relationship to your Kunkel ancestors-I’d love to find some in Australia.
    Thank you for your great site. Annie.

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Annie, Good to hear from you. I have my Kunkels in Bavaria back to the 1600s so I don’t think they can be related, which is a shame as I’m still trying to find my George Kunkel’s brother, Philip Joseph Kunkel, who went to “America”. Cheers Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  24. Hi, my Hogan ancestors came from Ballyquin Beg, County Clare and I have O’Briens on my Tree (who married O’Hallorans). Could there be connections here? I love family history and have had so much success by just asking myself “What might people do in this situation”? People NEVER change over the years – they have children outside of wedlock, they have arguments and estrangements within their own families, they have affairs outside of their marriages – they just never change. I explore every possibility no matter how far-fetched! It is amazing how much I have found by going beyond dates and places etc and exploring behaviour. What do people do with their time who are not interested in Family History? The family story is the greatest gift we can leave to our descendants.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I totally agree about how riveting family history is especially when you go beyond the mundane BDM, and yes, nothing much changes in behaviour over time. Your approach to think widely about what they might have done is both wise, and a good way to sneak under those barriers that we find. Sadly I don’t think our O’Briens connect with yours much as it would be great if they did. However I have to say it’s possible as the townlands are not that far apart. I just can’t take mine back beyond Ballykelly, but who knows, they are in the same parish.

      Like

      Reply

  25. I have only just begun on the O’Brien branch so if I come up with anything that looks like it might be a connection, I will get back to you. Serrendipitously, my Hogans who came to NSW married the Dennewalds who get a mention on a previous blog!

    Like

    Reply

    1. That would be great -you just never know. One of the O’Brien girls married a Hogan from Clare in Sydney too, so perhaps the connection will be in Oz. Some days I feel like a matchmaker with all these inter-family connections like the Dennewalds.

      Like

      Reply

  26. Hi Cassmob,we are a group of seniors in a Computer Pals Club. We have a small notebook from WW1 with 24 signatures of returned servicemen who called themselves “Boys of the Old Brigade” 2 of whom are:- Kenneth Norman Kunkel and Mathew David John Kunkel. We have researched some of their military records from the National Archives of Australia & The War Museum & have found that Mathew came from Springbluff & Kenneth came from Toowoomba. We are trying to make up a booklet reuniting these men. Ideally we would like photos & details of the battles they were involved in. Your help in this project would be very much appreciated.

    Claire. Blacktown Computer Pals.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Claire, Great to hear from you! What exciting information about the Kunkel boys. I’m intrigued just what they were signing. I wonder if there were any Gavins on your list of signatures? MDJ (John) and Ken were my grandfather’s youngest brothers who sailed to war on the same ship with their Gavin cousins. I will email you for further details on the project but happy to help -I’ve published the story of these two men in my Kunkel family history. As to battles I probably have little more than you have as the sources we’ve used are the same. Would it be helpful to you for me to do a post on this blog, listing the names of the 24 men who signed the book? It might draw some other researchers out of the ether. Cheers Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  27. Hi I am Trying to fined anything on Frances/ Frank Lawrence Mc Kenna Who Lived in County Bourke Thats now called West Brunswick Melbourne he lived at 130 park st . If you have any information Ibe over the moon also His Mothers name was Mary Mckenna thats all I no thankyou

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Jamie, Sorry I can’t help you. As far as I know he’s unrelated to my husband’s family. If you are near Melbourne can I suggest you pay a visit to the state library which has a family history area. They should be able to point you in the direction of their resources for your research. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hello Pauleen and maybe Jamie
        I live in Melbourne and have also just looked up your Francis Laurence McKenna in the Australian Electoral Rolls (1903 – 1980). There are entries for him and his family from 1936 to 1980. If you would like to email me I am happy to supply you with the details. I have just come upon this blog by accident (to do with East Clare, Pauleen, as relatives of mine emigrated from there) and I am not sure how blogs and posts work. But if someone can get in touch I will do my best!

        Like

      2. hi Patsy, Thanks for getting in touch. I will email you separately. You did perfectly well getting your comment up on here so you’re no longer a novice 🙂 Cheers Pauleen

        Like

    1. Thanks Jan. Sounds like your trip continues/continued to be full of fun. I’d have thought you’d heard too many of our memories over those few days 😉 Pauleen

      Like

      Reply
  30. Pingback: Nomination: Wonderful Team Member Readership Award « Tracking Down The Family

  31. Hi Pauleen,

    I’m really enjoying browsing your blog. Of particular interest to me is your comment and photo regarding James Dryden, who died aged 2 on the Eastern Monarch and was buried on Magnetic Island in 1883. He was the little brother of my great-grandmother Agnes Dryden and, as you say, the son of Andrew Dryden and Elizabeth Lillico. I’ve seen the grave myself.. quite accidentally.. I was taking a daytrip to the island in 2007 and wandered into the graveyard out of curiosity. His grave was the first one through the gate. I already knew about him but got such a surprise to actually see his headstone! I left some flowers for my little great-great-uncle and felt sad for his family having to leave him behind.

    All the best,

    Rachel

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks for dropping by Rachel. Yes, I thought it was so sad and evocative -it must have been so hard for his family to leave him behind. I’m pleased to have “met” one of his relatives.

      Like

      Reply
  32. Pingback: Very Inspiring Blogger Award | Shaking the tree

  34. Hello,
    As I search for links to my family tree, I was connected to your page. My Great Great Great Grandfather was Andreas Kunkel b.15 SEP 1809 Bayern, Germany d. 20 JUL 1881 Dubuque County IA. I have pieced together that he came to the US in 1856. I am looking for his Father and the connections to the family in Germany before he came to America. I have found Adam Kunkel 1800-1837 b. in Bayern Germany George and Catharine were his parents. You write that George’s Dad was also named Adam. George and Catharine had 2 children Adam & Nicholas. With the research you have done could you check to see if Andreas Kunkel is listed anywhere. In America he went by Andrew.
    Thank you for your time.
    Lois Herbst
    204 Parklane Drive
    East Dubuque, Illinois 61025

    Like

    Reply

  35. Hi Pauline,
    Your site is fantastic! Thank you so much for doing such wonderful, time consuming and painstaking work for all our benefits.
    I found your site a few years back when googling McSherry and felt great excitement when it was clear we have the same ancestors, Peter and Mary McSherry. Strangely I was sitting in the kitchen of my sister at the time. Her parents-in-law live in Tullamore. I have since visited them and made a special visit to the Tullamore train station. The mother-in-law also said she was at school with a McSharry.
    I have found 16 births for Mary and Peter.
    Bridget 1882
    James Joseph 1883
    Margaret Mary 1886
    Ann 1887
    Mary Ellen 1889
    Twins – Elizabeth & Kate 1891
    David John 1892
    Catherine 1893
    John Joseph Jan 1896
    Twins Unnamed – ? still birth Dec 1896
    Patrick 1898
    Peter Augustine 1899
    Agnes Philomena 1900
    Mildred Patricia 1903

    I’ve also found our common cousin (not really common at all!) Jeanette, who recently came to Melbourne to visit with me and meet some more of her cousins. Being one of 11 children with 25 great nieces and nephews I feel that is almost proof enough that we must definitely be McSherry descendants.
    Annie McSherry is my grandmother. She was added into the 60th wedding anniversary photo, I suspect as she lived in Townsville but more so as her parents did not approve of her non catholic husband, Edward James Jacobson, whose father arrived into Queensland around 1880 from Varsi, Finland, Russia. She had 9 births of which my father Peter Hart Jacobson was the youngest. Sadly, apart from my mother, all of his generation have now passed,
    I have been researching all my immigrant ancestors finding the first to arrive was also our only convict, an Englishman John Buttress, aged 18 years, He arrived into Launceston in 1821. My earliest ancestor into Port Phillip was in 1842, a young Scottish girl, Elizabeth Brison, also aged 18.
    I find I have Irish, Nth Irish, English, Scottish, Finnish (Swedish), Greek, Italian and possibly German ancestry.
    Once again, thank you especially for the information of James and Bridget and Bridget’s family.

    Best regards,
    Bev

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your kind words Bev. I’m glad you noticed the additional two names -best go & change that post. I felt sure they’d had two twins but I must have been writing from old notes (oops!). I will email you. I’m pretty sure that I met your grandmother as I think she lived in West End, TSV, not far from Mum’s friend Thelma. I was told the woman on the left was Lil but if it’s Annie then that makes sense as my grandfather married a divorced Protestant (still can’t figure that one out myself given his strong Catholic leanings). Will email to discuss in more detail.

      Like

      Reply

  37. My dad Singh Raj Tuladhar was one of the Nepalese pavilion who has contributed in building Nepalese Peace pagoda 88 with his wood carving skills.

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Sarita, How amazing that your family was so closely involved with the Nepalese pavilion. I was delighted when they decided to keep it at South Bank because it does have such a peaceful feel. Thanks for getting in touch. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  39. I’m so glad I found your blog! My family is very interested in genealogy although I’m more interested in contextualizing all the birth, death, and marriage certificates. What advice do you have on where to look for resources putting our family past’s in context?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting Halee. I’m a huge advocate for putting those bare biographical data into a wider context. Archives and libraries are your go-to places, and I’ll cover lots of resources through this theme…or you can look back at my Beyond the Internet posts – check the categories box on the sidebar.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  40. Pingback: A-Z Roundup | CurryAus
  41. Pingback: Monday Memories | GeneaDictionary

  43. I am not sure if Ennistymon is east in Co Clare but my 91yr old Mother’s grandmother was born there in 1861. Oral history her parents Patrick O’Loughlin and Bridget Annie/Anne O’Loughlin (nee Woods ) died of a flu like illness a short time of each other. Mary E O’Loughlin aged 14 yrs B abt 1853 was escorted to Rochester NY and reared by an aunt. She went on to marry Farley and remained at same address having 7-8 Children. James O’Loughlin D in Adelaide SA 1929. Beatrice O’Loughlin went to SA married Charles Traboldt B in New York to German parents..no off spring. Annie O’Loughlin B 22 April 1861 Ennistymon Co Clare was Mother’s grandmother. Not certain when she came to Aus but settled in NSW/Vic but spent 8yrs in Adelaide. She wed John P Smith 21st Nov 1885 they had 9 children.
    I havent been able to find birth details in Ireland nor death dates in Ireland. I had a two day visit to Co Clare last yr and info from Kenafiora genealogy was on Valuation 1856 Bridget O’Loughlin widow owner. Patrick O’Loughlin son and farmer Lisdoony West, co clare. Your advise please…have tried Clare library in fact visited them but sent to ?Spelling Kenafiora genealogy society.

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Lynette, Ennistymon is in West Clare. Not sure where the library sent you – was it to Kilfenora? I’m surprised though as the Clare library people are very helpful. Are you aware that the parish registers have been digitised and can be seen through Ancestry or FindMyPast via subscription but also free via http://registers.nli.ie/

      Happy searching, Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  44. Hi. While browsing Gilli Gilli Papua I read your interesting info. My aunt and uncle DOll and Norman Izod lived in Samarai from 1912 or 1913. My father went to Papua in 1926/27 and was manager for Gilli Gilli Plantation (have many photos and stories), my mother went there in 1932 when they married. My brothers born Jan 1st 1932 were the first white twins born in Samarai. Both premmy and not expected to live they went home by small boat. NOw in their 80’s. After the war we lived in Port Moresby. One brother lived there until independence. I was a teacher during the 60’s. Apart from aunt and uncle as far as I know rest of family did not go to Gilli Gilli. , I was Valasi Sparks (named after daughter of captain of trader vessel who said it was a Solomon Island name meaning princess. pron.Val ass ee)
    I am also an avid historian. Thanks again for your notes.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Valasi, thank you for getting in touch! What a long history you have with PNG and especially Samarai and Gilli Gilli. I wonder if you have ever been back to Milne Bay for a visit.

      Like

      Reply

    2. hi Valasi, thanks for getting in touch. Isn’t it interesting how we all have these little snippets of history about different places? Are you a member of the Facebook group called “I used to live in Papua New Guinea”. It’s a fascinating site and a very collaborative group sharing their experiences and PNG history. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  45. Dear Pauleen,

    Just discovered that my great great great grandfather – William Crane from Cambridgeshire in England – was on the same ship – “The General Hewitt” which arrived in Brisbane 16/12/1854 – as your relatives.

    So exciting to read your research – thank you for sharing it. I live on Moreton Bay Qld at Ormiston near Cleveland and am just starting research into this side of the family.

    Kind regards

    Carolyn Green

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Carolyn, I thought I’d replied to you but it seems not…sorry! I often wonder what friendships were formed on board ship and whether they continued once they arrived here. Where did your Crane family wind up? I expect there were advertisements in the local papers at the time to encourage people to emigrate….I need to do more follow up on that.

      Whereabouts in Cambridgeshire did your Cranes come from? There were definite links between Herts and Cambridgeshire depending on which areas of the counties they lived in. If you wish you can get in touch with me through the contact me page of the blog. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply
  46. Pingback: Geneaguru | GeneaDictionary

      2. Yes, it’s worth doing so you’re “in the pool” with others who’ve tested from other companies. Once you’re there you can learn the various tools they have. I find it useful.

        Liked by 1 person

  48. Hi Pauleen,
    Great to find your blog and find a kindred researcher. I’m not sure if we share a genetic connection but defintiely cultural ones. I share German roots as well as ancestors from East Clare and quite a few ancestors from County Cork. Of interest to you perhaps, is my McNamara heritage from the Ennis/feikle area: • John McNamara was born in County Clare in 1813. His parents were Patrick McNamara and Mary Walsh.

    • John married Margaret Welsh in Ennis, County Claire in 1845. Margaret was the daughter of Michael Welsh and Mary O’Loughlin.

    • They had two children in Ireland. Patrick was born in 1847 and John in 1849 in the Parish of Flagmont.

    • In 1850, the McNamara family emigrated to Australia. They travelled on board the Bussorah Merchant, leaving Plymouth 3rd February, 1850. They arrived in Port Phillip, Melbourne on the 26th June, 1850 – 144 days later.

    • John McNamara became a tenant farmer on Dr James Murray’s Woden property, along with a number of other Irish families from County Clare

    I also have a Bridget Flanagan daughter of Martin Flanagan and unknown who came from County Clare and could’ve come from Tulla. Her son and daughter married brother and sister McNamaras in Queenbeyan, and I’ve started to wonder if there’s a connection.

    I also have a an Irish Famine Orphan, Bridget Donovan, from Middleton Cork on my Dad’s side and have become deeply involved with researching Irish Famine Orphans.

    I noticed that there were two McNamara sisters from East Clare who went to Melbourne and one ended up in Queanbeyan so I’m trying to see if there’s a connection. Here are their details taken from the database:

    •
    • Surname : McNamara
    • First Name : Catherine
    • Age on arrival : 18
    • Native Place : Innes [Ennis], Clare
    • Parents : John & Catherine (both dead)
    • Religion : Roman Catholic
    • Ship name : Thomas Arbuthnot (Sydney 1850)
    • Workhouse : Clare, Ennis
    • Other : shipping: house servant, reads, no relatives in colony, sister Bridget also on Thomas Arbuthnot. Empl as house servant by J. McVitey, Primrose Valley, Molonglo, £8, 1 year; married John Lambkin, Queanbeyan, 18 Feb 1856; 10 children; died Molonglo 1884 [Reid & Mongan, ‘A Decent Set of Girls’]
    • Surname : McNamara
    • First Name : Bridget
    • Age on arrival : 16
    • Native Place : Innes [Ennis], Clare
    • Parents : John & Catherine (both dead)
    • Religion : Roman Catholic
    • Ship name : Thomas Arbuthnot (Sydney 1850)
    • Workhouse : Clare, Ennis
    • Other : shipping: house servant, reads, no relatives in colony, sister Catherine also on Thomas Arbuthnot; empl as house servant by F Tumbrell, Marengo, Burrowa, £8, 1 year; married George Terry, Arkstone, 28 Jul 1851, witnessed by her employer; possibly 2 children in 1858.
    • Surname : McNamara
    • First Name : Margaret
    • Age on arrival : 15
    • Native Place : Scariff, Clare
    • Parents : Michael & Mary (both dead)
    • Religion : Roman Catholic
    • Ship name : Thomas Arbuthnot (Sydney 1850)
    • Workhouse : Clare, Scariff
    • Other : shipping: house servant, cannot read or write, no relatives in colony; empl. as house servant by E Long, Gundagai, £7-8, 2 years. Im. Cor. 50/747 Yass; married colonial-born Richard Clay (Clee) [grandchild of convict James Clee per Duke of Portland 1807 at Tumut, 1860; 9 children confirmed, possibly 12; died 1913 at Tumut

    On my mother’s side, Mum’s a Queenslander and we’re descended from Bruhns, Mullers, Emmersons and Gordons. My grandfather was Pastor Bert Haebich who served in Dalby, Marburg, Concordia College in Toowoomba and I have quite a lot of archival material from him.

    Sorry to send you so much info at once, but didn’t want to forget.

    Best wishes,

    Rowena

    Like

    Reply

  50. Hi Cassmob,
    I am a Historian at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Papua New Guinea.
    I am very much interested and I am seeking permission from you if I could use your photos which you have taken during the Independence of Papua New Guinea on the 16th of September, 1975 for an exhibition early next month.
    Your response will be very much appreciate.
    Nancy Simeon

    Like

    Reply

  52. hello pauline i am sorry i dont have very good commuter skills. i;m sorry i have taken this long to get back to you you went to a lot of bother to get records of my father from nudgee orphanage back in october 2011. Just 2 weeks ago my brother and me went to crows nest qld and talked to a relative of Francis Ball Littleton, they are having a Family Reunion early April and have invited us along , that is very good of them. They did not know of us either. On 8th of this month a lady from here in Warwick died , she was Judith Kunkel a Canadian. I made myself known to her and stayed in contact a little ,more so when she lived in the nursing home where i worked, I saw her a few weeks before she died and i think she said her father relaltion was phillip, it would be good if he was one of our family.We always said that would be great, I went to her funeral, Her nephew is Jacob Kunkel from Newcastle NSW> Thank you again Joan Gillespie nee Kunkel.

    Like

    Reply

  53. Hi. My name is Sue Paterson. My father, Peter served in Korea with Rob. I spent many nights as a child listening to Dad screaming because he had to try to save Rob. Dad died in 1975 at the age of 42. I would like to talk to you about it. Hope to talk to you soon.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Sue, I’m sitting here dumb-founded. What a horrifying experience for you as a child, and obviously for your dad. Will email you with a contact phone. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  54. Hi Paulsen
    I am hoping to be able to contact you in regards to expriates who had resided in Milne Bay from the 50’s – 60’s.

    Like

    Reply

      1. Thank you so much, Pauleen. I am coordinating our next Alotau & Samarai reunion in Sept 2020 here in Queenland and am in search of those expatriates as the theme we have planned is based on these individual’s, personal journey.. I thank you. 😁
        Kind regards Ethel.

        Like

  55. Hello Pauleen
    Curious about the photo of Margaret Mary Byron (Dungog) (my grandmother+++) and your connection
    And connection to Moylan (Dungog)
    Thank you
    Bev

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Bev, I have no specific connection to your relatives…I was illustrating the usefulness of memorial inscriptions in searching family history. I took these photos on a trip to Dungog over 10 years ago.

      Like

      Reply

  56. Hi Pauline, Like many others before me, I found your blog by accident. My name is John Daniel Nebauer but I go by my middle name of Dan. I come from the line of Eugene & Caroline – my father is Leslie William Nebauer – a son of Arthur William Nebauer who in turn is a grandson of Eugene & Caroline. You maybe interested to know that we are holding a family reunion at Sandy Hollow Holiday Park over the weekend 5 to 7 Oct 2019 – my father Les is the first born of Arthur and will be the oldest at the reunion at 93 years – he has several surviving brothers – Lorrie, Frank, Kevin and Ted – he has one surviving sister Anne who is just one month older than myself . I have visited Dorfprezelton myself some years ago now and am still piecing together elements of the family tree – at least there are some good records around but Anne, my dear wife of 52 years, has been desperately trying to piece together her family tree but is roadblocked through total lack of evidence of her grandfather as her father was illegitimate – I just cannot find any way around this so far – any tips? Kind Regards, Dan Nebauer

    Like

    Reply

  57. Hi Pauleen.
    I’ve just read Dan Nebauer’s message mentioning his wife’s frustration about the brick wall presented by her unknown paternal grandfather. In this situation DNA analysis can be very useful, especially since she is only two generations removed from the mystery man.
    Ancestry DNA and similar are now very affordable. She would need some help in interpreting the results but it may be very worthwhile.

    Regards
    John Lamb

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks John, I agree it would be a helpful strategy. Dan, you can contact me via the “Contact me” page which provides an email and I can give more info. I am currently in Sydney about to attend the DNA Down Under seminar for the next three days. The key issue is that you will be dependent on someone from the grandfather’s family having tested, but I’ve found there are many more Australians in the mix these days making it quite possible.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hi Pauleen. I definitely have several matches among the known descendants of Peter Anton Zöller and Maria Seus, but no other people descended from the other known Dorfprozelten emigrants. Of course there are a lot of matches with people I don’t know, some of whom might have their roots in that part of Bavaria. Perhaps we should all collate our results on Gedmatch.
        Regards
        John

        Like

      2. I’d be happy to list my GEDmatch # on our Facebook group. Will put it on the list for when I get home. I can be found anyway by just searching for cassmob in the listings.

        Like

  58. I’m a descendant of James Kunkel, great grandson of Beatrice Nimmo, Daughter of Daisy Kunkel.
    I’m in the Ipswich area and am wondering if there is evidence of our family history still in Ipswich. Grave sites, history etc.

    Like

    Reply

    1. hi Isaiah, there are no physical traces of the Kunkel family in Ipswich as even the Catholic church that they attended has been replaced. However it’s probably worth having a wander around. If you have time and a car it would be worth the drive out to Murphy’s Creek to see the Kunkel graves in the cemetery. Their old property has recently been sold at the Fifteen Mile. You can see photos of it in the book that I’m pretty sure Beattie had a copy of. Hope this helps. Pauleen

      Like

      Reply

  59. Pauline & Peter Cass Alotau and Goroka PNG 70-73. Peter worked for Education Dept (his dad was was a Teacher? Head Master? Head of Dept?) Hung around with Pat and Ann McNeice. Pat was Treasury Rep Alotau and then Senior Kuskus at DDA Goroka. Hooked up again in Brissy in 74 in Springwood? (Memory hazy). Louisa and Leah.

    Are you them?

    Like

    Reply

      1. Have sent you an email but not sure if it is correct address. When I click on “Contact” I only get an image/picture and no link, that picture looks like …..which is what I used?

        Pat (Paddy)

        Like

      2. Sent 2 emails over last few days. No response so perhaps I am in your spam again????, although I just hit the “reply” button.

        Like

Leave a reply to cassmob Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.