In May this year I went to Ireland to walk in my paternal ancestors’ footsteps. This was something I had wanted to do for years. With only four nights in Dublin and three nights in Belfast, it was a whirlwind trip. I am hoping to do it again but that depends on health and mobility issues. You do need to do a bit of planning before making a big trip. I used the Ireland Reaching Out website and managed to … Continue reading
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
Family history clues. Most family historians with Scottish heritage quickly become aware of traditional naming blueprints. The one applied in most districts in both English and Gaelic linguistic traditions throughout the country, suggests that the eldest legitimate son be named for the father’s father, the second for the mother’s male parent and the third for the father, making allowances for possible duplications. The same scheme is used for female children with the first named for the mother’s mother, the second … Continue reading
I’ve become very interested in the early settlement of Fortitude Valley since discovering I have ancestors who lived there before and after Queensland separated from New South Wales in September 1859. Denis James Guerin, with his wife Margaret, and eight children, moved to Moreton Bay between 1856 and 1857 to take up a job as a weigher with HM Customs. This was quite a change for the Guerins as before leaving Sydney, Denis was the licensee of the Corporation Arms … Continue reading
The ABC has recently been promoting a new series featuring Shaun Micallef called Eve of Destruction. The premise of the series is to discover from a number of celebrities what is really important to them. I have seen a similar scenario on Antiques Roadshow where the experts are asked to select the three most important things they would take if they had to leave their home suddenly. It seems to me that the ‘things’ themselves are not necessarily what is … Continue reading
