Monthly Archives: April 2022

In Memory of John Russell Figgis. 1892 – 1939 RIP.

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Anzac Day is an opportunity to reflect on the violence and futility of wars, and the waste of human lives that result from war. We do not seem to learn from history. The following brief investigation into the impact that Gallipoli had on my family demonstrates our desire for peace. Gallipoli was a tragedy. It originated with a plan devised by Sir Winston Churchill. His objective was to seize Turkey, thus weakening the German Allied forces and securing the Suez Canal. The AIF … Continue reading

The French Connection.

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  The story of Evelyn Rose Boulton (nee Sturgeon), my great grandmother, and the puzzle of her claims to French heritage, has taken another turn. Previous readers of this blog might recall Rose and the Frenchman, and my search for the illusive facts of this family story. Old scribbled notes taken during a phone interview with an Aunt list the tantalising words, “escaped the French revolution.” Rose’s Foulger and Sturgeon ancestors in Suffolk were mostly agricultural labourers firmly entrenched in … Continue reading

A lonely burial.

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A tiny group gathered at the burial ground in Sydney on 14 November 1792. Jane Izzy/Ezzy, and her two-year old son James were there on that summer day to bury ten-month old Louisa, Jane’s daughter. Perhaps Louisa’s father William could join them as some convicts off the Royal Admiral disembarked in Sydney before the remainder were sent to Parramatta. Newly married fellow convict and Londoner Benjamin Carver may have been able to join them as William Izzy/Ezzy had witnessed his … Continue reading

Genealogy for all.

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Recently at Rootstech I co-hosted a panel discussing ethics and genealogy. My purpose was to raise awareness and encourage community members to think about their actions when dealing with people, places, information and things in the genealogy world. During the session and after in many comments on Twitter, genies described times where they felt marginalised, ignored or hurt. These personal issues included ageism, acceptance, sexism, racism, dismissiveness, put-downs, bullying, elitism and more. Issues of sharing sensitive information, DNA use, copyright … Continue reading