Category Archives: family histories

The French Connection.

GSQ Blog Posted on by

The French Connection 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 … Continue reading

A lonely burial.

GSQ Blog Posted on by

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.

GSQ Blog Posted on by

By Jill Ball. 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, … Continue reading

A Storyteller’s Voice Found in a Decades-Old Letter Adds to the Family Tree Story

GSQ Blog Posted on by

By Victoria MacGregor An old, yellowed, typewritten letter resurfaces and creates a context to wrap around a family tree and some photographs I’m always surprised, pleasantly of course, by who responds to the private family album invitations I send. There’s certainly no formula to it, no pattern, no particular demographic, but there’s always been an enthusiastic, almost giddy interaction by those who come back to me, those who leave comments and share stories, just seem to get it. A few … Continue reading

Going local can turn up interesting information.

GSQ Blog Posted on by

Several recent events have once again highlighted for the co-writers of this blog (Bobbie Edes and Pauline Williams) the value of ‘going local’ as information about your family history can turn up in unexpected places and may not be available anywhere else. Earlier this year we had a short holiday with another friend on Magnetic Island. One day we drove down to Picnic Bay to investigate the Island’s History and Craft Centre. One of the old buildings, the Butler Hut, … Continue reading