Yearly Archives: 2025

Researching a female convict of Van Diemen’s land: Ann Simmons, a convict mother.

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I wrote a blog for GSQ in 2023 titled The Gift of Resilience about Ann Simmons, my three times great-grandmother, who was transported to Van Diemen’s Land in early 1823. Researching Ann was a slow process and at times more difficult than I expected because hardly anything had been written about her. Ann is mentioned in Peter Tardiff’s Notorious Strumpets and Dangerous Girls on page 600, but the information was minimal: the date and nature of her conviction, the ship … Continue reading

Metaphors We Live By: Phrases That Capture the Genealogical Journey.

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Family history isn’t just about names carefully plotted on a chart—it’s a lived experience, rich with mystery, challenge, and moments of delight. It’s the thrill of uncovering a long-forgotten story, the frustration of chasing a record that seems to vanish into thin air, the quiet satisfaction of piecing a life together from scattered fragments. Along the way, family historians—whether seasoned researchers or curious beginners—adopt a unique language. We find ourselves speaking in phrases steeped in metaphor and meaning, a kind … Continue reading

Researching women in early colonial NSW

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This Court has duly considered the evidence, both for and against you, and judges that you are not guilty of maliciously killing the deceased, Robert Morrow, the basis for the crime of wilful murder. The Court does find you guilty of the aggravated and felonious killing and slaying of the deceased. ….. You, Eleanor Irwin, have conducted yourself through this unhappy incident with great violence; highly unbecoming your sex. You will be confined in His Majesty’s Gaol at Parramatta for … Continue reading

Have you got your jacket?

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Many prompts recently have emphasised the need to write not only the stories of our ancestors, but of ourselves, for future generations. Facebook recently presented me with a “memory”, a photo of me beside a car. Not very interesting in itself, but the memories came flooding back when I saw the date. I reposted it with the caption: “Eight years ago – the obligatory ‘take a photo of the rental car so we recognise it in car parks’ photo as … Continue reading

Richard Hamilton of Newbridge.

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From Process Server to Petty Sessions Clerk, the story of Richard Hamilton of Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland When I started my family history, my g-g-grandfather, Richard Henry Hamilton, intrigued and challenge me. Growing up in a long established Catholic family in Brisbane in the 1950’s and 60’s, I was surprised to find that Richard was a practising member of the Established Church of Ireland and a very devoted one at that. Before Richard Hamilton’s appointment as a Petty Sessions clerk, … Continue reading