Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Cornish Bob

S W T

Still no news from 'Cornish Bob'. When he finally gets back to me is he going to 'MAKE MY DAY' or totally disillusion me, that is the question?

The person in the photo S W T is the son of the J T the person I am waiting information on. S W T was born in New Brunswick, Canada and came out to Australia in February 1864. He was my husband's great grandfather. J T was born in Cornwall, England 1810 and went to Canada circa 1820 with his grandmother.

Enough, I shall just have to remain patient .




Saturday, June 21, 2008

Patiently Waining

I am still waiting for the researcher from Cornwall (we call him Cornish Bob) to get back to me with some results.

As anyone who is into researching and hiring a researcher would know it is wise to set a limit as to how much you are prepared to pay. I have sent my limit and hope that Cornish Bob can get me some vital confirmation within my limits. If so then I will consider increasing the limit.

We have been emailing over the last few days and he thinks that the information I have gathered is on the right track. If this is so then I have traced my Husbands family back to the Scilly Islands, Cornwall, 1720.

Yesterday C and I went along to the local Ulysses Club 'Tyre Kick'. The club has only recently changed Venues and I think they are on a winner with this new one. This morning we joined the group to go to Little River for a vintage bike meet. Some great bike there.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

35th Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 35th Wedding Anniversary. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!!!!!!!

We shall celebrate with a quiet dinner at home, just the 2 of us.

We had a fairly full weekend, all to do with family.

Saturday night saw us catch up my husband's cousins at the annual Cousin's Dinner. Each year a group of the cousins, all over 50, get together at a restaurant for dinner and 'CATCH UP'. This year we went to 'Alma Zette', a Turkish restaurant, in North Caulfield, Melbourne, complete with a belly dancer. As can be expected, the numbers vary each year; we only make it about every third time. Conversation was very loud as each of us was talking about our children and grandchildren. Photos were distributed with the usual, 'Oh, isn't he(she) cute.'

I was able to talk with one other researcher of this family (both of us are in-laws) and we exchanged information and new leads. Every bit helps. I am still waiting on my Cornish researcher to get back to me, so it was really great to actually talk with someone who doesn't think I am obsessed.

Sunday lunch was with my family to celebrate my elder sister's 60th. She is going overseas so we had to celebrate a little early. It was the only day we could all get together. She is off the NZ, for about 6 weeks, then onto Hawaii for 10 days and then mainland USA for about 5 months. Again the photos came out and new ones taken. Whatever did we do before digital cameras? So great to take a photo and then check that it looks OK. I have one question. Why, oh why, do I always look so much bigger than I think I am in all these photos? Yes, I guess it's time to do something about it.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Certificates - BMD

Yesterday, I purchased copies of my husband's grandparents' death certificates. The Victorian BMD site is very quick. I had only to pay and they were there for me. A little different with NSW, where a 10 day wait turned into 3 months.

The information on these certs. is quite substantial including, reg. no., when and where died, usual place of residence, name and surname, occupation, sex and age, cause of death, duration of last illness, legally qualified medical practitioner by whom certified, when last seen, name and surname of father and mother and occupation, signature, description and residence of informant, signature of Registration Officer, date and where registered, when and where buried, Undertaker, name and religion on Minister, names of witness, where born, how long in Australian States, where and at what age married, to whom married, conjugal condition at date of death, issue in order of birth, the names and ages.

These certificates actually have 3 generations on them.

The only 1 have ever had to purchase from South Australia was a death certificate for my own great grandfather. The only information on this cert. was the date, his name, sex, age, rank of profession, Suburb where he lived, cause of death, place where he died, signature, description and residence of informant, signature of registrar. No mention of his wife, children or parents. Not a very informative cert., and the most expensive to date.

I am gradually gathering as many certificates as possible to substantiate my findings.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

I have recently hired a researcher to help with my research. After tracing my husbands paternal ancestors from various parts of Victoria, Australia, through New Brunswick, Canada and back to England (most likely Cornwall ) circa 1810, I now need someone who can access the parish records to confirm my results. I found a researcher in 'The cornwall Family History Socitey' magazine.

I hope to hear in about 10 days from this researcher. Am waiting patiently (really rather impatiently) but there is nothing I can do but wait.

I currently subscribe to Ancestry.com, Genes Reunited, Scotlandspeople.gov.au and use FamilySearch.org and Free BMD.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Emily Jane

Emily Jane


About 2 years ago I stopped work. I was kept busy looking after my grandson especially last year as he was in Kinda (Preschool) and we all know how busy that year is. It was quite a thrill to be able to do this, he is a delightful little boy. I should also brag that he has an equally delightful sister 2 years younger.

Still I found I had time to kill and so decided to concentrate on a project I began in January 2000. Yes, the dreaded 'Family History'. I found this to be extremely fulfilling, very time consuming and of course very, very, very costly.

To date I have completed (although one never completes a family history) my fathers side on the family and to my extreme amazement produced a book called, 'Looking Back In Time - Our Chambers Family History'.

At time I should introduce the lady in the picture. She was my great Grandmother Emily Jane, hence the title of this blog. She has been my inspiration and I seem to spend a lot of time thinking about her and the life she had here in Australia. She was born in Somerset, England and came with her husband to South Australia in 1890. They had 2 children, one being my Grandfather and after her husband died in 1904 she went to live in Western Australia. She eventually remarried and she and her new husband ran the 'Metropole' Hotel in Boulder/Kalgoorlie.


My daughter has since moved to the country and so I now have even more time to kill. As such I have started a new project, my husbands family and am in the process of putting all the data I have researched into an book. I hope this one too is a success.