Category Archives: family history

An Heirloom in our Family.

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This handsome Scottish clock known affectionately as “James the Clock” stands proudly in the foyer of our home. How and why did this old timepiece make its way across the seas? James Gowans (1806-1886), the clock’s maker is my husband’s 3rd great-grandfather. The son of John Gowans and Janet Sibbald he was born in North Berwick. James had nine children with Joan Neilson whom he married in 1830. Their descendants can now be found in Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, … Continue reading

William F Thompson of Newbridge in Co Kildare, Ireland

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The very first record I found for William Thompson, my paternal great granduncle, listed him as a “car owner”. A google search enlightened me to the fact, that in the 1860’s cars were hackney carriages and jaunting cars pulled by horses and not the motor vehicles that we know today. William, born in Ticknevin, Kildare in 1832, was the eldest son of Thomas Thompson, the subject of my previous blog. A search of the Petty Session Court Records on Findmypast.ie … Continue reading

Thomas Thompson: the Patriarch of the Family.

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Thomas Thompson, my 2nd great grandfather, was described by his children on their marriage and death records as a gentleman, a farmer and a man of independent means. However, a letter that he wrote to his daughter, Eliza, dated May 15th 1855 survived, cared for by 3 generations of her descendants, that reveals he was a practising and passionate Irish Catholic, well versed in Catholic tradition and a family man. Eliza had sailed with her sister, Bridget, from Liverpool, England … Continue reading

‘Duels were now only fought by snobs’.

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Most of us would think that duelling was a barbaric and outdated way of settling an argument. Duels were originally fought not to kill the opponent (although many were killed) but to restore one’s honour by demonstrating a willingness to risk your life for it. This practice mostly fell out of favour in England by the middle of the nineteenth century This changing view of duelling can be seen in two events that I came across while researching family stories. … Continue reading

Francis Theobald Heffernan c.1840-1908: A nineteenth century literate bushman.

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This sample of poetry, carefully copied into a school exercise book by his grandson, Philip, came from an original collection of twenty poems gathered by Francis Theobald Heffernan, my great-grandfather. His original book is held within one branch of his descendants. Australian poets, Andrew B (Banjo) Paterson and Will Ogilvie feature, having written a third of the poems in the collection. Several named poets are not well known; others have pseudonyms. Some of these poems appeared in The Bulletin, the … Continue reading