30 Bob for Daphne

 Indulging in some Sunday afternoon newspaper browsing on Trove  I found this mention of my mother-in-law, Daphne Gillespie from 1931. I wonder how she disposed of her 30 bob?

1931 'Advertising', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 1 January, p. 6. (LAST RACE EDITION), viewed 18 Jul 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224659981

Real People at Last

 While I have enjoyed communicating and collaborating via Zoom and other online tools during Covid times I have missed interacting with real people in a face-to -face situation.

I finally had a chance to present two face-to -face workshops about the Trove newspaper collection to the members of The Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest Family History Research Group yesterday. The members of this Group are to be congratulated for their fundraising efforts in the local community which resulted in their local newspaper, NOTA, being digitised and added to Trove.  They thought it timely to host some Trove workshops and I was the lucky person who scored this gig.

I had a super day with the participants whose Trove experience ranged from experienced user to a gentleman who said "I only heard about it this week". It is so much easier to engage with people when one is together with them in person. We had two lively sessions (separated by a yummy lunch) with lots of laughter, learning and sharing of tips. I tried a different approach with my talk and, after just a few introductory slides, demonstrated application of my Trove Tips live on the Trove site. This provided a more effective learning experience as I was able to integrate participants' interests into the workshop.

While I enjoyed my time with the members it was a surprise that I received that put the icing on the cake of my day.  

I was seated beside a delightful gentleman who was recounting the story of his Christening; his name didn't ring a bell with me but when he mentioned  his wife's name, Shirley, I looked at him and said "she's my cousin". He responded with a bemused look until I said we share Elizabeth Phipps as an ancestor. We were both flabbergasted that serendipity had thrown us together in Tea Gardens. I had Shirley in my tree but I was unaware of her current whereabouts. I exchanged details with the gentleman and look forward to sharing ancestor stories soon. 

Sadly I forgot to grab a photo with the gentleman before he left but one of the Group members sent me a copy of one that I have cropped, it's a bit fuzzy but captures the moment of our surprise.

ASerendipitous Meeting for GeniAus

A Reference from Macarthur

Read to the end of this article and you will know why I felt like dancing.

My ancestor Patrick "Paddy" Curry has been the subject of a number of my blog posts. The last time I told Paddy's story was here in 2016.

In a recent weekly members' Hang Out with SAG  on Zoom the theme was emigration so I decided to share Paddy's interview on "The Advantages of Emigration" with Caroline Chisholm. Prior to the Hangout I set up my browser with several websites so that I could share my screen and show the interview during the hangout. 

After I reread the interview in the Sydney Morning Herald I gave some thought to the original source of the article "Douglas Jerrold's Paper" and realised that I had never followed that up.

1848 'Advertising', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 8 June, p. 3. , viewed 17 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12902254

After a little bit of googling I discovered an article about Jerrold on the Victorian Web. He was "a boy with minimal schooling from a lower middle-class family raised in a dockyard town in Kent goes up to London, where, after an apprenticeship as a journalist, he emerges in the 1830s as one of the country's most popular writers."

Listed on the page of Jerrold's works on the site I found that Jerrold edited "Douglas Jerrold's Weekly Newspaper, 1846-1848" and that fitted the timeframe for the original article. I popped that title into Google and, hey presto, found a link to a record in the catalogue of the National Library of Australia.

NLA Catalogue Record

I was on a roll. I found my NLA Library Card and logged into their site from the link on the catalogue record which took me straight to the digitised paper in the Gale collection. I did a search for Caroline Chisholm and found three articles. One of these was the one I was seeking. In addition to the article that was published in the Sydney Morning Herald the original contained the following introduction written by Caroline Chisholm. 

Gale Document Number  

GALE|FRNYPS256237397

"I have a great respect for him, have always found him most trustworthy, honest and punctual."

Any tenant would love to hear a reference like that from his landlord! 

On reading that sentence from one of the McArthurs I was elated. This was my best geneafind of the year. Being able to share it with my genimates from SAG on the day I found it was a bonus.

Paddy was a convict but like so many fellow convicts he was a victim of his times. My great (x3) grandfather, Paddy,  was a good man

It's a boy!

Recently on Twitter I replied to a Trove post stating "How about genealogists correct some personal notices? #genealogy #payingitforward.

That is in the same vein as what I, as a Voluntrove, have been doing for the past hour. I entered the search term "birth son" into the newspaper zone on Trove and I have been correcting some of the entries that I find.

I'm sharing some of the good news stories with you here to demonstrate how so many geneafacts can be found from such entries. Please join me as a voluntrove and correct some personal notices.

1938 'Celebrated Birth Of Son', The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), 31 January, p. 10. , viewed 11 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247397601

1937 'Birth Of Son', The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938), 22 June, p. 9. , viewed 11 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236453468

1950 'Birth of a son', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 4 July, p. 18. (LATE FINAL EXTRA), viewed 11 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229620737

1952 'BIRTH OF SON EXCUSE FOR CELEBRATION', Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), 20 August, p. 4. , viewed 11 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96522929

1983 'BIRTH', Nota (Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens, NSW : 1970 - 1999), 1 April, p. 3. , viewed 11 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255033719

 

1932 'Birth of a Son', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 10 March, p. 19. (FINAL EXTRA), viewed 11 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229893533

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - Z is for Zachery and Zita

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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Zachery and Zita are just two of Elizabeth's many descendants

Zachery is a young chap so I am not going to share any of his personal details. He is a Great-Grandson of Thorpe Egbert Price and a descendant of Elizabeth Phipps daughter, Ann Westbrook.

Zita Reynolds was born in 1923.

Zita, a committed student had a long journey to school each day. I wonder if, like my ancestors in the area, she drove a horse and sulky.

1938 'All ABOUT PEOPLE', The Burrowa News (NSW : 1874 - 1951), 7 January, p. 3. , viewed 19 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102505903

In 1940 she enjoyed a holiday with a friend.

1940 'TOWN TALK', The Burrowa News (NSW : 1874 - 1951), 26 January, p. 2. , viewed 19 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102361577

In 1944 she was a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding in Gilgandra, NSW.

1944 'Family Notices', Gilgandra Weekly (NSW : 1942 - 1955), 6 April, p. 2. , viewed 19 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113241968

I hadn't been able to find much information on Zita until I realised that her name was interchangeably spelt as Zeta.  I had forgotten to examine alternate spellings!

Once I realised this I found a flood of articles about Zeta on Trove. As a child she made regular contributions to the children's pages in newspapers.

1935 'Likes Tennis, Writing and Reading.', The Australian Worker (Sydney, NSW : 1913 - 1950), 20 February, p. 20. , viewed 19 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146015004

Zeta served several times as a Bridesmaid for her sisters and friends and she was quite well known for the cakes she made for various celebrations. There is a report of Zeta's 21st Birthday party here on Trove in 1944. From Electoral rolls on Ancestry I learnt that Zeta was still living with her parents at their property, Chatswood, Gilgandra in 1954.

Zeta married Phillip George Lynch in 1957. Unfortunately I cannot find a report of the wedding as the coverage of most newspapers on Trove ceases after 1954. I would love to hear stories of Zeta's life between 1954 and her death in 2013.

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - S is for Strayed

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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The Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954) was a tabloid newspaper and scandal sheet. When reporting on scandalous doings it sometimes reported on them in a humourous manner. Such was the case with the following story that featured Clarence Victor Magick.

If you are likely to be offended by this salacious story please do not read on. 

1926 'HERBIE HAD A LITTLE LAMB', Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954), 22 August, p. 17. , viewed 28 Mar 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168727593

Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954), Sunday 22 August 1926, page 17

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Full text of the above article follows

HERBIE HAD A LITTLE LAMB

But the Magic Love of Magick Enticed It Right Away

THIS is a story of a game of love as it was played out where the horizon never ends, and where the bleat of the Springtime lamb, and the purr of the growing mint are lost in the cries of the crow Read on, and you will find how - Herbie had a little lamb — How it gambolled far away—

How Herbie fired the little lamb In Divorce the other day. It all came about because there was a weak woman, who was "lonely"; a hubby who was in love with his work, and that far from home; a neighbour, who could 'tell a tale,' and whose motto apparently was:

"Here's to love and unity, Dark, corners, and opportunity." 

The ingredients were: Herbert William Garbutt, a "Digger" and station hand of the second generation; his wife, Edith Fenson Garbutt, a Northamptonshire lass; and Clarence Victor Magick, also a station hand, with an idea that perhaps one day he might take Valentino's job as sheik.

With the three mixed together and stirred well for a long period, and the hubby skimmed off, the result was all that might have been expected.

Of course, it was a fine mixture, and baked in the Oven of Life, It ended with hubby taking a ticket for the Divorce Court, and getting a solicitor to introduce him to Mr. Justice Owen and a jury of twelve.

The prize, of course, was a divorce, with £300 extra prize-money added. Hubby asked for £500, but the twelve men gave him only £300.

Herbert is a back country man, one versed in the lore of the jum buck, a man who has spent the larger part of his 31 years 'out in the open spaces, whose fences are the stars'; mustering, droving, shearing, dagging, lamb-marking — living among sheep, eating them, dreaming of them. All these various things he did, and did well. He conquered them all.

Paddocked 

And then In a fit of abstraction, he tackled a wife, an entirely new problem —and she beat him. It was in the year 1918, and In a freezing July when the westerlies shriek across the plains that the Merrigal man felt the cold that he warmed up to the Idea of matrimony.

He began mustering the ewe lambs he knew, but there wasn't one of Aussie stock that satisfied his expert eye as a classer. Then in Sydney he discovered an English lamb, which he judged to be a pure merino. With the aid of a sky pilot, the bushman yarded and branded her with his own name In the Church of England at St. Peter's.

Originally she was Edith Fenson Wood.

After his successful muster, and the culling of his own especial pet lamb, Herb ventured to Armatree, near Dubbo, where he paddocked the lamb, seeking work at a station about eight miles from the township. Among his few acquaintances Herb had a pal named Clarrle Magick. They had often split a 'johnny cake.' and a billy of tea together, and slept under the same blanket. Herb had great faith in Clarrle, as he called him.

Clarrie was working on a station about two miles from Armatree, some six miles nearer Garbutt's lamb than her real shepherd.

Clarrie used to call around and see that the lamb was safe, while the shepherd was away from home, and this consideration for her forlorn lot made a deep impression on her.

Two little lambkins were added to the flock while Herb worked near Armatree, and everything was Christmas. 'Up to the time she met Clarrie she was a good woman.' said Herb mournfully to his Honor. 'She was a good housekeeper, and good to the children. We all lived happily together."

Some time after this Herb moved to Corvan, a considerable distance away from his home paddock, and the false shepherd, Clarrie, continued to ride boundary about the Garbutt homestead.

Soon Herb began to notice little endearments passing between Clarrie and his little lamb. So he pulled the wool out of his eyes, and dropped a warning to her.

'I think you are a bit too familiar In your relations with Clarrie,' he ventured to say.

'Oh, Herb,' she bleated. 'Clarrle Is all right; there's no harm in him.'

Mr. E. Abigail: So you let it sleep?— Well, yairs; I thought it was all right.

Later on Herb's little English lamb suggesled that a holiday to the Big Smoke would buck her up a bit, and Herb good-naturedly agreed, and handed her £10 for the trip.

On September 2, 1925, she climbed into a train, and went to the city.

Herb bade farewell to her, and she was effusively affectionate at parting, more affectionate than the fabled 'Mary's little Iamb' of our schooldays.

It was merely a coincidence that two days before the lamb's departure, Clarrie also pointed his nose citywards. He came to Herb and told that simple bush man that he was going down to the city for a few days, and then he Intended to make for Queensland, where he hoped to secure a selection through the Repat

'I have about £600.' said Clarrie. 'and I'll get a block of land.' 'I bade him good-bye,' said Herb, 'and away he went.'

When the wife went away, she left the two little lambkins with Herb. Her holiday ran into two months, and Herb was getting anxious about her.

Then she wrote to say that she would not come back to Corven any more, and she added: 'I won't write to you anymore.'

The Show Down

Unfortunately Herb had destroyed the letter. Her complaint was that the country was 'too quiet.' She loved the bright Iights. and the surge and swing of the hustling crowds.

Came an interegnum (sic) but soon after the lamb's mother wrote a letter to Herb. That epistle galvanised him into activity. He went to Sydney as fast as the rattler would carry him. Here he picked up some information about his lost sheep, and hastened to get on her tracks.

Accompanied by a Mr. Sorley and James Morrison, a law clerk from Mr. Ernie Abigail's office, he went to a house in Green St, Tempe. Arrived at the doorstep, they knock ed, and a voice, which Herb re-cognised as that of his stray lamb, bleated something.

Then she came to the door. She was asked if she was Mrs. Magick. She said she was, and Mr. Sorley asked If they could come inside.

This was agreed to, and they entered the dining room. She was asked if they could see Mr. Magick, and in answer to a call, the false shepherd, Clarrle, came into the room. He was coatless, hatless, and bootless, and appeared to have been cleaning up the kitchen for 'Herbie's little lamb.'

'Is this your husband?' asked Sorley, pointing to Clarrie, who looked as if he wished he had gone to Queensland after that block of land.

'Yes,' said the lost sheep. 'Do you know this man here?' asked Sorley, pointing to Garbutt, who emerged

'Yes, he's my husband,' was the reply.

 'Are you living here as man and wife?'

 'Yes.'

'Are you ready to sign a confession to that effect?'

 Clarrie took the lamb into the bed room to discuss the matter, and when they came out they both signed a con-fession.

Flock Reduced

It read as follows: — I,Clarence Victor Magick, hereby admit that for the past five weeks I have been living with Mrs. Edith Garbutt as man and wife at Green Street, Tempe. —
 (Signed) C. MAGICK,
March 20, 1926.

Mrs. Garbutt wrote under this con-fession her own, and signed It with the same pen In the presence of her hus-band, Sorley and Morrison.

The Joint confessions were written on the one slip of common writing paper, and the scrawl showed the agitation of the sheep stealer and his victim.
There were many large and small ink blots, but no tear stains.

After a brief retirement the jury re-turned to Court with a verdict of — dam-ages £300.

His Honor found that Mrs. Garbutt had been guilty of misconduct with Magick, at Green Street, Tempe, between June 1, 1925. and March 31, 1926.

His Honor granted the delighted bushman a decree nisi, reduced his flock by one straying sheep, and gave him the custody of the two lambkins.

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - O is for Obituaries

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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Charles Edward CLIFFORD was a first cousin of Frances Harriet ASHTON.

I don't know how close they were in life but in death they were very close.  They died within a few days of each other and their Obituaries were published next to each other in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961).

It is interesting to note that Charles was allocated more column inches than Frances.

1916 'OBITUARY.', Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1961), 2 June, p. 9. , viewed 06 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85880000

Continue to read the second obituary here: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85880000

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

Trove Tuesday - Change of name

This week a genimate changed the name of her blog. I applauded her decision because she changed it from a general title to a title that could refer to any genealogy blog to something that is unique to her.

As that set me thinking. I thought about name changes that may put barriers in the way of our research so as it is Trove Tuesday I went to Trove in search of some examples. Reading these articles gives us an indication of why the name changes were effected.

Did these name changers realise the impact that their actions would have on family historians of the future?

1902 'A Change of Name.', Wagga Wagga Advertiser (NSW : 1875 - 1910), 14 June, p. 6. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104063538

1938 'CHANGE OF NAME.', Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), 18 November, p. 4467. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225068920

1942 'CHANGE OF NAME OF DEPARTMENT.', Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973), 19 October, p. 2490. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232678464

1905 'CHANGE OF NAME.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 30 March, p. 8. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192239467

1917 'A CHANGE OF NAME.', Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld. : 1868 - 1919), 14 July, p. 7. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188170479

1949 'CHANGE OF NAME', The Albany Advertiser (WA : 1897 - 1954), 7 November, p. 3. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70514043

1937 'HOTEL CHANGE OF NAME', National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), 29 June, p. 2. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160568469

1911 'CHANGE OF NAME.', Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 - 1954), 3 April, p. 4. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158548306

1947 'TO CHANGE NAME OF KING IS. SCHOOL', Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), 29 November, p. 7. , viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69033680

The tip that comes from reading these articles is that if you hit a brick wall Search for a name change.

Trove Tuesday - Husbands

Every family tree has them, most women have them, some women even have two, three or more and nowadays some men have them too.

I have just one and am very pleased with my choice, I won the husband lottery.

As it is my husband's birthday today I was thinking about husbands. I was amazed at how many articles there are in Trove on the subject, some of the articles were very long so I restricted this post to shorter articles from more than 100 years ago. I doubt we would find articles like these in newspapers of today.

1900 'Husbands.', Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), 1 December, p. 24. , viewed 23 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169869673

1891 'Ringed Husbands.', The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), 27 June, p. 1440. , viewed 23 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163654531

1918 'HUSBANDS.', Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 5 April, p. 6. , viewed 23 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121017548

1901 'SOME "DONTS" FOR HUSBANDS', Benalla Standard (Vic. : 1901 - 1931), 28 June, p. 1. (Supplement to the Benalla Standard), viewed 23 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152317698

1918 'HUSBANDS.', The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918), 23 January, p. 7. , viewed 23 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226812723

1907 'ON HUSBANDS.', Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 24 August, p. 1. (Ovens and Murray Advertiser Supplement), viewed 23 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200201759

1909 'ON HUSBANDS.', The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), 13 February, p. 7. , viewed 23 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23598019

Remembering Wives and Mothers

The person I knew in my close family who most affected by World War 1 was my maternal grandmother, Ethel Jane Pusell but across the sea in England a mother, Sarah Jane Busby, was sharing Ethel's grief. 

I wrote the following article for a local family history society's newsletter but as that has a very limited audience and I put a lot of effort into the post I am publishing it here on Remembrance Day.

Bertie Chatfield aka John Williams

While those who served at the front had horrific physical and psychological injuries many of their kith and kin who were left behind suffered emotionally. Two women who never met were affected by the war activities of Bertie Chatfield, his mother, Sarah Jane Chatfield (nee Busby), and his wife, Ethel Jane Pusell. Sarah Jane, a widow, lived in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire while my Grandmother, Ethel Jane lived in Cobar, NSW. 

Bertie, who was born in Wellingborough in 10 December, 1888, was working as a miner in Cobar when he enlisted in May 1916. He was an interesting chap who enlisted in the Australian Army under the pseudonym, John Williams, as he had deserted the British Navy from HMS Cambrian in Sydney in 1912. He had previously worked in a colliery in England so that experience and Cobar’s distance from Sydney and the British Navy probably encouraged him to seek work there. 

Ethel Jane Pusell, the daughter of James Pusell and Mary Jane Aspinall, was born in 1899 in the small hamlet of Thompsons Creek near Burraga, New South Wales. The Pusell family moved to Cobar in the early 1900s, no doubt for Ethel’s brothers to gain employment in the newly opened mines.

Ethel married Bertie Chatfield (who was named John Bertram Chatfield on his marriage certificate), at the age of 15 and six months later gave birth to her first child, John William (Billy) Chatfield. When 25 year old miner, Bert Chatfield, set off to war as John Williams he left behind his pregnant 17 year old wife and young son, Billy. On his attestation papers Bert had named Jane Williams (ie Ethel his wife) c/o Mrs Pusell as his next of kin.

Sarah Jane had five sons in the services, Arthur was killed in action in France on 9 May 1915 so she was concerned for the welfare of her surviving sons..

Bert probably did not hear that he had become a father of a daughter, Nellie, who was born on 4 April, 1917 and lived for just two weeks. I wonder if Nellie's birth was premature or if she died of some other cause. Ethel had always told me that she had lost twin girls; although there is no official record of two births I have a copy of a family letter that confirms this.

I do not know when Ethel heard of her husband's fate but on 24 July, 1917 she wrote the following letter to the Army. 

I cannot imagine how bewildered my grandmother, young Ethel, must have felt when she received news that her husband was Missing in Action and subsequently listed as Killed in the Field. He was reported as missing in action on 3 May 1917. A Court of Enquiry held in the field on 4 December 1917 found that he had been "Killed in the Field".

Sarah Jane reported in the local Wellingborough News that Bert was missing. She must have been heartbroken at the thought of losing another son. 

Northampton Mercury, June 15, 1917

When Bert’s death was confirmed Sarah Jane enlisted the help of The Red Cross to find details of Bert's death. Bert's file contains a number of statements from soldiers who were at the front with him. As Ethel was listed as Bertie aka John Williams' next of kin I wonder how Sarah had received news of his death.

It appears that Bert or Jack as he was known to fellow soldiers sustained a severe injury to his legs and was left in a shell hole by his mates, they retreated and when they returned he was nowhere to be seen. 

Ethel had received the devastating news by 19 February, 1918 when she wrote to the Army to see if any personal effects belonging to Bert had been found. Ethel whose handwriting was nothing like that in these letters and whose composition skills were poor must have had someone in the family write these two sad letters for her. 

 

I have visited the memorial in Wellingborough on which Bert Chatfield’s proper name is inscribed below that of his brother, Arthur John Chatfield . 

Wellingborough War Memorial

I have also travelled twice to France to visit the Australian Military Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux and see the panel on which John Williams’ name is inscribed. Standing there on a winter's day when the biting wind was howling across the plains I shed a tear for Bert and Ethel and Sarah Jane and the thousands of young men who made the ultimate sacrifice for their countries. 

Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery, France

Hopefully it was some consolation to Sarah Jane that three of her sons returned from the front. 

Ethel was married at 15 and had lost two children and a husband by the time she was 18. The effect of these events on her must have been enormous. After the war The Chatfields asked Ethel and Billy to come and live with them in England but she declined. I presume that Ethel lived with her parents until she met her second husband, my grandfather Frank Duncan. She was blessed to have supportive parents and a strong family network to help her through these tough times.

Lest we forget.

A Day at the Microfilm Reader

I was delighted earlier this year when I  found an online index listing the daily contents of the Haddingtonshire Courier (now the East Lothian Courier) from October 1859 up to December 1902. The newspaper collection on microfilm  is housed in the Local History area of the John Gray Centre in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland.

Now it just so happens that Mr GeniAus has Gowans and Sibbald ancestors who were in the Haddington area during that period so I checked the index and found more than 30 reference to family members. I saved these on a spreadsheet. As we were planning a trip to the UK I added Haddington to our itinerary. Once I had a date I emailed the John Gray Centre and booked a microfilm reader for the day.

I was most impressed when Mr GeniAus dropped me off at the Centre and went to find a parking spot. When we visited a number of years ago the local studies collection was stored in an inadequate area in a loft. The new  John Gray Centre houses the local library and archives in a lovely light filled environment.

When I marched up to the reception I was given a right, royal welcome. Bill Wilson, Local History Officer,  and his staff settled me at a microfilm reader and organised  retrieval of the films I needed. Robert joined me and we bunkered down for a morning of research.

GeniAus at work

Local studies collection

 While I played with the microfilms and downloaded the newspaper articles onto a thumb drive  Mr GeniAus browsed the book collection looking for references to his ancestors.  Bill offered us a behind the scenes tour of the archives but I declined as I wanted to complete my task. Mr GeniAus accepted Bill's offer and found the tour very interesting.

Behind the scenes in the John Gray Centre 

An innovative display highlighting local identities

 When I announced on Facebook that I was headed to Edinburgh and Haddington my fellow geneablogger, John Laws, who lives in the neighbourhood suggested we meet up. Knowing that we would need a lunch break we made a date to meet John at a local cafe, The Loft. 

It was lovely to meet John in the flesh, through blogging and genealogy we had been online friends for several years.  John is kept busy with a surname study for the Laws (and variants) name. He blogs about it here at The Laws Family Register.

Meeting up with genimate, John Laws

 After our break we returned to the John Gray Centre so I could complete my task. My head was swimming after spending several hours at the microfilm reader so I was pleased to set off towards our next stop at Galashiels.

I was not so pleased when, that evening, I discovered that I had left my thumb drive containing all my saved images in the microfilm reader. Mr GeniAus displayed great restraint the next morning when we had to trace our steps to  collect my thumb drive.

I cannot thank enough Bill Wilson and the staff at John Gray Centre  who made us so welcome. I owe a debt of gratitude to the team of volunteers who have created such a valuable resource in the newspaper index.