Trove Tuesday - A Magick Uncle Writes

I've recently been Troveing to see what I can add to the stories of fellow descendants of my ancestor Elizabeth Phipps. My Great-Great Uncle James Magick/Madgwick who lived to the ripe old age of 91 is Elizabeth's Grandson.


I have struck gold mainly in the Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942) the newspaper for the area where James resided for most of his long life. In 1934 James wrote a series of reminiscences in this newspaper. To be able to read the words of an ancestor is priceless. There are also many other articles mentioning James on Trove.

In the interests of saving space I will not post the original articles here but links to those articles on Trove.

This article found here announced the series, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681259

Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), Thursday 24 May 1934, page 6 

TURNING BACK THE PAGES  

— EARLY HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT 

MR. JAMES MADGWICK REMINISCENT 

There is probably no more picturesque figure in the Gilgandra district than Mr. James Madgwick, who recently celebrated his 81st birthday, having been born at Cobbora on 9th February, 1853. Practically the whole of his life has been spent in this district, and he is one of the few pioneers alive to-day who can reliably comment upon the remarkable changes that have occurred dur ing the past 30 years. A splendid type, a thorough gentleman and one who is highly respected by all classes of the community, it is with pleasure we announce the publication of a series of articles from Mr. Madgwick's pen. They will deal with early life along the Castlereagh and Marthaguy, as well as personalities whom the young er generation know in name only. The first article will appear in our next issue.

Links to the articles written by James:

31 May 1934
1934 'THE FIRST INSTALMENT', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 31 May, p. 10. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681342

7 June 1934
1934 'Turning Back The Pages', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 7 June, p. 10. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681461

14 June 1934
1934 'Turning Back The Pages Early History Of The District', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 28 June, p. 9. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681864

21 June 1934
1934 'Turning Back The Pages', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 21 June, p. 10. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681691

28 June 1934 
1934  'Turning Back The Pages Early History Of The District', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 28 June, p. 9. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681864

It is interesting to note that James claims to have been born in 1853 while I have a reference to a baptism for James in 1852!!! 

An instruction for my executors

Spotted at a genealogy conference.

Calling Members of the Commonwealth at Rootstech 2020

For the past few years I have organised a very casual dinner for one of the minority groups attending the Rootstech Conference in Salt Lake City. Some of my genimates have been asking about this event - the Commonwealth Dinner - never fear planning is underway.

Unfortunately as I have a date with a surgeon I won't be at Rootstech in Salt Lake City this year. I can't buck tradition so the Commonwealth Dinner will go ahead. Thanks to English genimate and Rootstech Ambassador, Heather Nowlan who has volunteered to coordinate this year's event. 

We need your help to get the word out so have set up a Facebook Group for you and other Commonwealth Genies at Rootstech SLC 2020. Please join the group and tell your friends about it. It will give you a place to meet others online and ask your questions prior to the big event.

Once Rootstech gets underway there is little time to organise  a function.  If you are new to Rootstech this dinner will give you an opportunity to meet and chat with new and old friends.   

We are extending this invitation to you, The People of the (Former) British Commonwealth now the Commonwealth of Nations to join us for a casual dinner. Please feel free to bring along your partners, travelling companions etc.

Commonwealth folk please accept the following as your invitation. 

You are invited to a casual "People from the Commonwealth" get together 

at the 

Blue Lemon, 55 West South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84111

from

6:00pm - 8:00pm on Monday 24 February 2020. 

RSVP Please leave a comment on this post or in our Facebook Group

As the restaurant closes at 9:00pm please arrive in plenty of time to dine and chat. We will gather at the rear of the restaurant so we won't cause too much disturbance to other patrons. After closing time new found friends may wish to adjourn to a neighbourhood establishment to continue their conversations.

 NB - Images on the left are of some attendees at the 2019 event in Salt Lake City

Accentuate the Positive Geneameme 2019 - The Responses

Although I have not had as many responses to the Geneameme Challenge this year as in earlier years the quality of the responses tells me that it is a worthwhile exercise. I owe a HUGE thank you to everyone who put their fingers to the keyboard for this exercise. A shoutout also goes to
these people Jonny Perl, Blaine Bettinger and this event DNA Downunder that got so many mentions in the responses.

Back in the day when I was a Teacher/Librarian we had a big push to teach Information Skills that could be applied to any task which the students undertook. These are life skills that can be applied to everything from making a peanut butter sandwich to breaking down a brickwall in a family tree. 

The Information Skills Process

It's interesting to note that not only schools have a commitment to information skills. A quick tour of Google found that many universities have information skills programs.

So often we genealogists are so keen to attend to the next task on our list that do not take the time for step 6 ie to assess or reflect on our work. If we do not take time then we may continue to repeat our mistakes. Now I will step off my soapbox and share the reflections of those committed genies who took up my challenge.

Alex Daw  https://familytreefrog.blogspot.com/2020/01/accentuate-positive-geneameme-2019.html

Bobbie Edes  https://gsq-blog.gsq.org.au/accentuate-the-positive-geneameme-2019/

Harrison  https://harrison2214.wordpress.com/2020/01/04/accentuate-the-positive-geneameme-2019/

Jacquie  https://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2020/01/saturday-night-2019-positive-geneameme.html

Jane  https://janeologist.blogspot.com/2020/01/accentuate-positive-reflection-on-my.html

Janelle Collins  http://janellestree.blogspot.com/2020/01/accentuate-positive-geneameme-2019-as.html

Janice Sellers  http://www.ancestraldiscoveries.com/2020/01/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-accentuate.html

Jenni  jengenie.wordpress.com

Jill Ball  https://geniaus.blogspot.com/2020/01/accentuate-positive-geneameme-2019.html

KerrieAnne   https://asteelygenesjourney.wordpress.com/2020/01/12/accentuate-the-positive/

Kirsty Gray  https://family-wise.co.uk/blog/

Lilian Magill  http://researchbylily.blogspot.com/2020/01/accentuate-positive-2019.html

Linda Stufflebean https://emptybranchesonthefamilytree.com/2020/01/accentuate-the-positive-geneameme-2019/

Lisa Gorrell  https://mytrailsintothepast.blogspot.com/2020/01/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-accentuate.html

Lois Willis  https://loiswillis.blog/2020/01/12/sunday-afternoon-genealogy-fun-accentuate-the-positive-geneameme-2019/

M. Diane Rogers  https://canadagenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-merry-new-year-ahead-in-2020.html

Maureen Trotter  https://geniaus.blogspot.com/2020/01/accentuate-positive-geneameme-2019-from.html

Megan Franklin  http://meganfranklin.com/accentuate-the-positive-geneameme-2019/

Pauleen Cass  https://cassmobfamilyhistory.com/2020/01/03/accentuate-the-positive-2019/

Randy Seaver  https://www.geneamusings.com/2020/01/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-accentuate.html

Robbie Stockfeld  https://robbiesspot.wordpress.com/2020/01/11/accentuate-the-positive-2019/

Samantha John  https://lyfelynes.com/accentuate-the-positive-geneameme-2019/

Shauna Hicks  http://www.shaunahicks.com.au/accentuate-the-positive-geneameme-2019/

Vorfahrensucher @kafeldu Tweeted her responses.

Sincere apologies if I have missed anyone. Please let me know and I will add further responses here.