I'm a Queenslander by birth and after nearly 20 years in the Northern Territory I've returned to my home state. I've been researching my Queensland ancestors for nearly 30 years and like most Aussies I'm a typical "mongrel" with English, Irish, Scottish and German ancestry.
It has become a tradition among Australian and New Zealand genealogy bloggers to remember our ANZAC family members and others on Anzac Day each year. This is my contribution for 2017 – a man I knew nothing about until this week. Hugh Augustine Moran was my mother’s first cousin, born in Ingham, Queensland on 6 … More A family ANZAC: Pte Hugh Moran (Part I)
We saw in my previous post that there were at least three siblings born to James Reddan and Mary Scott of Gortnaglogh, Broadford, Clare. Thanks to DNA matches, clues from descendants, and further research we have learned a little about children Winifred and James and their lives in the USA. However, what did happen to … More The Reddan and Liddy Families: Part II
I’ve been very fortunate that a few of my close cousins have agreed to be DNA tested, helping to expand our family knowledge. One of those tests came through from Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) last week, and as the genetic blender would have it, produced a cousin match which doesn’t genetically match in common with … More The Reddans from Gortnaglogh: Part I
The geneaglobe is hopping as many people prepare to jet off to Salt Lake City to attend the RootsTech conference which is a huge event, in size, speaker power, exhibitors and learning content. This year I’m combining it with a trip even further north to Canada, about which I’m really excited. Mr Cassmob is also … More Ready for RootsTech?
On Australia Day 2017 we reflect on our pride in our country and also, for many of us, our status as descendants of immigrants. Some will have First Australians, others will have early convicts. Some will be part of the early settlers in the colony of New South Wales or Van Dieman’s Land. For me, … More Australia Day and My Immigrant Ancestors
As they say “pride comes before a fall” and that applies in genealogy research as well. Over the years you’ve heard me say that I vastly prefer narrative documentation to conventional genealogy in trees, pedigree charts and ahnentafel numbers. My earliest genimates, in the late 1980s, both belonged to the narrative tribe and they were … More Pride, prejudice and genealogy
My good friend and genimate GeniAus reminds us each year to be positive about what we’ve achieved. Initially I felt like I’d achieved little in 2016, perhaps mainly because my blog languished for much of the year, and even my 7th anniversary went past unacknowledged but not forgotten. It seems that retirement and relocation require … More Accentuate the Positive 2016
Much of the year we rush from pillar to post, taking a lot of the good things in life for granted. I’ve recently attended a gratitude class with local Toni Powell (an amusing and engaging speaker), who presents the many benefits to our health and well-being in having gratitude for so much in our lives … More My Gratitudes
Over the years I’ve often written about battles and family members who have fought in them. Today is a little more personal. As a young bride, I went to the then-Territory of Papua New Guinea with my newly-minted husband. Nothing all that strange in that perhaps, as many young women made the same migration for … More Monday Memories, NFHM and Milne Bay
Let’s return to the McKenna family of immigrants: Elizabeth McKenna and her children William, Sarah, Mary, Catherine and Peter. What happened to them? Who did they marry and where did they settle? I will leave William for a moment and address the others first. Sarah McKenna (20 years old on arrival) was employed by John … More The McKenna maze Part II
Family history across the seas 