Monthly Archives: August 2021

The Bellamys: Pioneers of West Pennant Hills.

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  The chance discovery of a small book ‘The Settlers of West Pennant Hills Valley 1799 Onwards’ in a second-hand store at Leura New South Wales a couple of years ago was timely, as I’d just begun to research my husband’s Bellamy ancestors. It mentioned the family and it prompted me to find out more about them. William Bellamy, found guilty at the Old Bailey of stealing shoes, received a sentence of 7 years. He was transported on board Active, … Continue reading

Andrew Gilmore Irvine: A bootmaker from Killyleagh.

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The fourth pregnancy of Sarah Irvine in the farming community of Ballytrim townland was no doubt a difficult time for her with three surviving children aged eight, four and two around her feet as this time her pregnancy felt different.[1] Husband James was a bootmaker in the nearby village of Killyleagh on the shores of Strangford Lough in Co Down and when Sarah gave birth to twins on 31 March 1849 it would have called on all the strength and … Continue reading

Willie Watt… “Our Father”

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Over fifty years ago, when I was newly engaged to be married and eager to meet all the relatives, I was taken to 83 Dragon Street Warwick to meet brother and sister Jack and Mildred Watt who were first cousins to my fiancé’s father. I remember the experience quite vividly including the details of their house which was situated next door to Pringle Cottage, a beautiful sandstone building dating from the 1870s which was eventually acquired by the Warwick and … Continue reading

My ancestor’s folklores – true or false?

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By Bev Murray. Way back in 1962, I went to Canberra on a year six excursion and we paid a visit to the old Parliament House (the current Parliament house was built in 1981). I have embarrassingly vivid memories of announcing to a somewhat stern-faced tour guide, that I was related to Alfred Deakin, second Prime Minister of Australia. I felt quite devastated when his interest bordered on apathy and his scepticism caused me to wonder about the validity of … Continue reading

What Discovery means to me.

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Amazing how fast these guest blog posts for GSQ come around. Each time I am left thinking ‘what will I write about this time’. This month’s choice is the word Discovery. When I talk about how fantastic Discovery is to my U3A genealogy students, they immediately think that I am talking about the Discovery television channel. Was that your first thought? Be honest. For me, Discovery is the amazing online catalogue of The National Archives (UK). It has so many … Continue reading