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GSQ Blog→Author Bobbie Edes

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William White – A country lad, railway worker and diary keeper

The bush diggings of a goldfield would not be the ideal place to be giving birth but that was the situation faced by many women in the early days of our Colony. Being Mary White’s eighth babe may have assisted in the prompt arrival of William White on Friday 27 March 1863 but conditions would have been primitive.[1]  William’s father, Henry, was trying his luck in the area near Nerrigundah in Southern New South Wales. This region is part of … Continue reading


Henry White: From Bletchingley servant to Mongarlowe orchardist

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The sixth child of William Jennings White and his wife Mary made his appearance on the last day of January, 1823. The couple baptised this baby Henry in the Bletchingley Parish church on 2 March 1823. William Snr was a cordwainer and the family lived in one of the Stychens Cottages in Stychens Lane on the left as you enter the village from Redhill direction. These cottages were built by by John Perkins, the local land-owner, in Henry’s words ‘so … Continue reading

My Webster ancestors: Part two

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This story is a continuation of my blog of 28 January 2019 The Websters in ‘Oz – Sibling James Webster Travelling to New South Wales from their home in Fife was David & Euphemia Webster’s eldest son James, born in 1829. Shortly after he married Elisabeth Redpath in January 1853, the couple emigrated to Sydney onboard the ‘Empire’ arriving on 27 July 1853.[1] [2] Elisabeth had been given a tiny bible prior to her marriage, which was embossed ‘ER’ on … Continue reading

My Webster ancestors: Part one

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Tales of a Pagan Den, stone carvings and an ancient Druid’s Well were told to me when I first visited the area that our Webster family from Fife, Scotland came from. My husband and I were staying in nearby Crail township and while chatting to the host, I told him about my purpose in visiting Dunino, the birthplace of my Webster ancestors. He relayed the local folklore, and as my visit was in 2008, it was many years prior to … Continue reading

Henry Powell – ‘He sprang overboard’

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Regular readers may recall my GSQ blog story William Powell – a man with vision, the founder of Powell Valves which was published in June this year.  This issue I’d like to share the tale of the eldest surviving son of William and his wife Elizabeth Carr.  Henry was born on 17 November 1821 in London and was a first cousin of my great-great grandmother, Harriet Powell.[1] Both Henry and his brother James joined their father in the business that … Continue reading

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