Macdougall Family Archives

My Great Grandparents, William and Sarah Macdougall were pioneer farmers on King Island, Tasmania from 1901. William spent the last 19 years of his life in a wheel chair due to an accident on the "Lorne" property on King Island. In 2007 Peter and I went to King Island and found the 2 properties I had read about in my Grandpa's diaries - "Lorne" and "Dunolly".

My Great Great Grandfather Archibald Macdougall was invited to establish Adelaide's second newspaper, the "South Australian" as their Publisher in 1838. He also published "The Life and Adventures of William Buckley" in 1852.

My Great Great Great Grandfather, John Macdougall was a Convict, having been transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1821.  John Macdougall and his 2 sons were involved in the Printing business in those early days of the Colony, having established "The Colonial Times" which ran from 1825 to 1855. Reading their editorials has given me great insights into their views on many areas, particularly their political views.

Davidson Family Archives

William Davidson was appointed the first Superintendent to the Hobart Botanical Gardens in 1828 at the age of 23 years.  I have visited the Administration Office at the Gardens to see William Davidson's signature dated February 18th 1833 etched into a window pane in the cottage built for him in 1828.  For safety reasons that window pane has now been removed, framed and is hanging in the Director's Office.  An ink sketch of William is also on display in the Director's Office.

William commissioned convict stonemason Daniel Herbert to carve a sundial as a gift to his wife Elizabeth (nee Naisbett) in about 1831.  Daniel Herbert also carved the gargoyles on the famous Richmond Bridge in Tasmania. The sundial has been passed down the female line through 5 generations and was donated back to the Botanical Gardens 1999.

William built a stone cottage at 3 Elboden Street, South Hobart about 1833. Today it is heritage listed and beautifully renovated. My blog gives much detail about the restoration of this beautiful home.

William Davidson passed away on 9 July 1837. His tombstone can be found in St David's Park, Hobart. He left a wife and 4 children.  Elizabeth married Edward Allason in 1843 and together they had another 6 children - Edward, Susannah, Robert, Sarah, Eliza, Edwin.

Allason Family Archives

Peter and I visited Low Row in 2007. It was a Sunday morning and we slipped into the back row of the Church during the service. The Minister looked up and noticed there were two visitors, bringing the congregation to 15. He immediately welcomed us and I was able to respond by saying "My Great Great Great Grandfather Rev. John Allason was the Minister here 200 years ago. We have come all the way from Australia to see that Monument on the wall which honours Rev. Allason and his family". 

Rev. John Allason was the Minister of the United Reformed Church in Low Row, North Yorkshire from 1807 until his death in 1835. While serving at Low Row he lost his wife Susannah and 5 children. A surviving daughter Rebecca married Adam Barker. Two sons, Edward and Aaron Allason emigrated to Australia in 1842. Edward Allason married Elizabeth, the widow of William Davidson in 1843 and together they had 6 children - Edward, Susannah, Robert, Sarah, Eliza and Robert Allason.  I am a descendant of Sarah Allason (my Great Grandmother) who married William Macdougall and their son was Leslie Macdougall.

Wells Family Archives

Harry and Elizabeth Wells (nee Saunders) married 8 November 1887 in Launceston. They had 3 children - Beatrice, Winifred and Gladstone Wells. Harry died 1935 and Elizabeth 1950.  Both are buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Australia.

Because Harry had experience with the British Rail system he was welcomed into the Emu Bay Rail Co. who were opening up the north coast of Tasmania. He was stationed at Formby, Leith, St Marys, Ulverstone, Zeehan and retired in 1924 as Station Master at Hobart, Tasmania.

Before visiting Great Oxendon, Northamptonshire in 2007 I had contacted a lady there because my Great Grandfather Harry Wells had come from this village before settling in Tasmania in 1887.

A 90 year old neighbour who knew the Wells family had two photos of the Wells family enlarged and laminated for easy travelling ready as a gift for me.  A cousin from a neighbouring village came to visit, armed with a huge Wells Family Tree book.  He was interested to learn how the Australian Wells family had multiplied in 125 years since Harry had emigrated.

The lady pointed out various homes that the Wells family had lived in, took us to the 13th century Church and showed us some Wells family graves. I had inherited a wooden candle stick carved from an old pew from this Church at Great Oxendon.

Saunders Family Archives

When Peter and I visited Simpson, Buckinghamshire in 2007 we met up with a Historian who gave us a walking tour of the village where my ancestors, the Saunders family had lived from the mid 1700s.  He introduced us to an 87 year old cousin.  We went to the Church where many family members were christened, married or buried.

In 2007 we spent a few days with a cousin - my Great Grandma  and her Grandma were sisters. She had a large trunk of memorabilia left from when her parents were alive. There were many photos sent from Tasmania without names. I was able to identify many of the people and places. A very special time for both of us.  

Elizabeth Saunders emigrated to Tasmania in 1887 and married Harry Wells on 8 November 1887 in Launceston, Tasmania. Harry came on ahead of Elizabeth to get work in the Railways.  He retired as the Station Master at Hobart in 1924. Harry and Elizabeth Wells had 3 children - Beatrice, Winifred and Gladstone.

Petfield Family Archives

Edward and Mary Petfield emigrated to Australia in 1888 with their 7 children and a son born soon after arriving. I am a descendent of George Petfield.

A book "The Australian Petfield Family 1888-1999" was compiled and presented at our reunion in 1999. Most Petfields still live in and around Brisbane today.

Our visit to England in 2007 took us to Brantingham, Kirk Ella and South Cove in Yorkshire. My Petfield Family Reunion book came alive as we visited the Churches and graveyards of our ancestors dating back to 1540. A family Bible belonging to Mathew (1773-1855) and Ruth Petfield is now in safe keeping in Australia. Edward was a Grandson of Mathew Petfield.

My Grandparents George and Emily Petfield were married at Kennedy Terrace, Paddington on 17 May 1911.  They had 3 children - Allan, Gladys and Joan.  George was a Builder and lived at 115 Rockbourne Terrace, Paddington most of their married life.

Brighouse/Mott Family Archives

Edward and Mary Brighouse arrived in Brisbane from Nottingham, England on 20 January 1883 with two young sons - Henry and Ernest.  Emily, Ruby and Cecil Brighouse were born in Queensland.  Mary was born into the Cripwell family and I have on my family tree 15 generations of Cripwells to 1559.

Emily Brighouse married George Petfield in 1911. Henry (Harry) Brighouse married Lydia Mott. Lydia's sister Florence Mott married Arthur Petfield, George Petfield's brother. The families were very close. George and Arthur were builders and built their holiday houses next door to each other.

The Mott family have an interesting connection with Napoleon. On 15 July 1815 "L'Epervier", the French brig of war was discovered under sail with a flag of truce up. First Lieutenant Andrew Mott relieved Napoleon of his pistols on his surrender, however Napoleon was allowed to keep his sword for the official surrender to Captain Maitland on HMS Bellerophon. The pistols had been in the Mott family until  late 1940s/early 1950s, when they were bought at auction by Julio Lobo, a wealthy businessman from Cuba.  Lobo left Cuba in October 1960 after the Cuban Revolution, but he did not take his Napoleon collection - the largest collection in the world outside France.  Today the pistols are on display in the Museo Napleonico in Havana, Cuba.

Olney Family Archives

In 2007 Peter and I visited England and went to the village of Pulloxhill where Charles and Martha Olney came from before emigrating to Australia in 1849.

We spoke to someone at the Church who directed us to "that house down there on the left. The man was 87 years old and had lived there all his life and would probably be able to answer any questions".  Well, Hubert knew that his parents had bought the 2 story thatched roof home from Olneys in 1849.  How exciting!  Hubert gave us some old photos of the house and Pulloxhill village. We also visited nearby villages of Clophill and Codicote where many Olney families had lived.

The town of Olney is nearby. John Newton, while a slave trader, had an experience with God. He later became the Curate of Olney from 1764 to 1780. In 1779 Rev.John Newton published the "Olney Hymns" including the famous "Amazing Grace" and "How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds".  William Cowper wrote "God moves in mysterious ways" and "O for a closer walk with God".  Sir William Cowper was a frequent visitor to the vicarage and lived in Olney from 1767 to 1786. There is a Memorial to Cowper in the 1325 Parish Church. Newton and his wife are buried in the Church graveyard.

Olney is also famous for the "Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race". The ladies, all Olney residents, must wear skirts and aprons with scarves as they ran down the 400 yard course to the porch, tossing their sizzling pancakes as they go. The pancakes that survived the race were given to the bellringer, who pays with a kiss.  The race was first run in 1445.

Very little was known about Peter's grandmother Doris Olney (nee Moss) until I made further research.  After Doris' mother died and her father went to the Boer War, the Glasson family bought Doris up. Four generations up Doris' mothers side, I found James Morrisby who was a First Fleeter convict that went to Norfolk Island and later settled in Tasmania. Read more about this in the Norfolk Island, First Fleeters and families Blog. Doris' father was born on St Helena, where I found an interesting connection with Napoleon while he was in exile on St.Helena, and the Moss family. Read more about this in the Solomon/Moss Family Archives below.   Through all this two families have discovered each other in Australia and in England.

Solomon/Moss Family Archives

Since writing the Olney Family Archives I took up the challenge of finding out what happened to Doris Moss after her mother Matilda died in 1898 when she was two. Doris married Arthur Olney in 1915. I now know Doris was brought up by the Glasson family (her mother's first husband's family). 

Doris' father Clement Moss went to the Boer War and ended up marrying again in 1913 in England.  They had 4 children born between 1914 and 1922.  I have found the families of all four children. Interestingly they did not know their father had a previous marriage and family in Australia.  Likewise, we did not know what had happened to Clement Moss after his wife Matilda died.  I have since been to England and met some of the family, including the two half sisters of Doris Moss. 

Clement Moss was born on island of St. Helena. The Moss and Solomon families were related by marriage and well known on the Island at the time of Napoleon's exile there. The two families were in business together. Saul Solomon was known as "The Merchant King of St Helena".  

Isaac Moss lived in "Longwood House" where Napoleon lived while in exile, and many of the Moss children were born there. Several of the Solomons went on to be Politicians in South Africa. A very interesting family.  

My research of the Moss family led me to discover that Doris Moss had a First Fleeter Convict, James Morrisby who was transported to Port Jackson in 1788 and transferred to Norfolk Island in 1790.  That has led me to visit Norfolk Island with the family and discover the many First Fleeters that became related through marriage in the next generation or two. Refer to my Norfolk Island, First Fleeters and families blog.

Riches Family Archives

James Benjamin Riches was born at Pulham Market, Norfolk in 1854.  He married Hannah Batchelder in 1874 and they had 3 children but Hannah died at age 30 in 1882.  John married Rhoda Crouch in 1884 and they had 2 daughters - Lily died at 5 years of age and Jessie was Peter's Nana.

Jessie Riches married Frederick Wallis on 19 December 1912 in England. In 1914 Fred emigrated to Australia and Jessie followed once Fred had work. Fred was a butcher as were most of the Wallis men.

There has been a family interest in the murders at "Stanfield Hall" at Wymondham, Norfolk. On 28 November 1848 James Bloomfield Rush murdered Isaac Jermy, the owner of "Stanfield Hall" and his son Issac Jermy Jermy. Rush owned "Potash Farm" next door and owed Isaac Jermy 3,750 Pounds which was to be repaid by 30 November 1848. Rush was hung for the 2 murders. Family folk-lore says that James Riches' father was a strapper at "Stanfield Hall" at the time of the murders. In early 1960's Keith Olney named Stanfield Court, Glen Waverley and we built our first home there in 1969.

Wallis Family Archives

Joy's Memoirs

I began researching my family history in the early 2000s.  It was slow going at first as I had to purchase and learn how to use the computer.  It has been quite a journey.  I have gathered together many documents, filed them in their own unique colour binders according to the family.  I have scanned my grand parent's diaries (15,600 pages) and tidied up photo albums. Peter and I have visited many of the areas where our ancestors lived.  I  started writing blogs in 2010 to enable me to share what I have on file.  I have had some interesting situations from people "googling" around and who have come across my blogs.

A Sydney researcher of famous Musicians asked for more information on William Macdougall who was a famous Musician in California in 1860. A lady in England found my Wells Blog - her uncle was my Grandma's first boyfriend in 1910. Another lady in England came across my Petfield Blog -my ancestor came to Australia in 1850 while her ancestor stayed in England. She was interested to learn about the Australian Petfield family.  Another Blog solved a 15 year problem for someone who was "googling" around. 

I have recently researched to see if I can "join the dots" between myself and Queen Victoria, also Napoleon Bonaparte. The Blog title is "Who do you think you are?"

Family history is a never ending story and most fascinating.  It keeps the mind active.

Ireland/DeCourcy/Dewhurst
Family Archives

Often when I have talked to my friend Kenneth Dewhurst about my family history, he has said that his Grandmother did a lot of family researching and told the family she had traced their family back to King William I (The Conqueror). 

Unfortunately the family threw out all that information when their Grandmother died. I was intrigued by this comment so decided to do my own investigations and found it to be true.

The Dewhurst family married into the DeCourcy/Ireland family. That family had some colourful members, including clergy from the Heyliger family.

The De Courcy name has documented roots that go way back through Ireland, England, Normandy and eventually to the Carolingian Kings of France.  Many of the Ireland family carry the De Courcy name.  In 1066 William the Conqueror successfully invaded England with a group of royal Norman knights which included Richard De Courcy.  

In 1177 John De Courcy claimed most of Ireland and King John 1 became jealous of De Courcy's growing power and had him imprisoned in Tower of London.  They reconciled at the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.

Richard Davies Ireland QC (1815-1877) (pictured) was Ken's great great grandfather.  He won the repute for his brilliant defence of the Eureka defendants in 1855 and for twenty years was Victoria's leading criminal lawyer.  His cleverness and audacity in court earned him the appointment as Queen's Counsel in 1863.  He tried his hand at being a Politician but it was at the Bar that Richard's robust, colourful character and genius as an advocate shone to the full.

The War Bride

This story was actually written by Valentini Papadopoulou, the sister of Xanthoula Wrigley.  I am a personal friend of Xanthoula and have heard her speak about her family a number of times. I am sure her story will touch your heart also. I really believe her story needs to be published, but meanwhile you can read it via this Blog.  Xanthoula grew up in the remote village of Ritini in Greece where in 1941 the family sheltered Bert (Slim) Wrigley during WW11. Xanthoula was only 15 at that time. Her father Ioannis Papadopoulos was imprisoned and executed by the Germans in 1944. 

Her sister Eleni was also imprisoned. Four years after the war ended, Xanthoula's mother encouraged her to write to Bert in Australia. I do not want to give away too much detail but there was a happy ending as Xanthoula arrived in Australia on the migrant ship "Cyrenia" on 31 December 1950. They married just 9 weeks later and spent 45 happy years together.

Scandinavia and Eastern Europe 2012

In 2012 Peter and Joy travelled to Scandinavia, using Eurail and an overnight ferry between Finland, Sweden and Denmark. We had a very pleasant surprise with snow in Helsinki and it was actually falling in Stockholm. We enjoyed a week long river cruise between Budapest and Nuremberg on "Imagery" with Avalon. A visit to Prague for several days, train to Dresden, Bayreuth and Bamberg, and a flight home from Frankfurt ended a most enjoyable holiday.

Cape York Peninsula 2012

A camping safari tour from Cairns to the Tip of Australia and return was most enjoyable, even though we had our dramas which can be typical of outback travelling. Peter was happy to sit back this time and let someone else do the driving.

England 2016

Joy had an opportunity of a life time when her son Darren invited her to join him on his 3 week business trip to England in September 2016. It did not take long for Joy to work out who she would meet and where she would visit. 

Only three years earlier Joy had discovered that her recently deceased husband's grandmother Doris Olney (nee Moss) had two step-sisters living in England. Doris' mother died when she was two years old and she was brought up by the family of her mother's first husband who was deceased. Doris' father Clement Moss went to the Boer War after his wife Matilda died and ended up in England.  Clement married in 1913 and had 4 children born between 1914 and 1 921. When Joy contacted the Moss family in 2013 they did not know their Father had a family in Australia and it was a very special time for our two families to meet. Our English Moss family had connections with Napoleon and his exile in St Helena, so Darren and Joy visited Paris to explore more about Napoleon.

We also spent a weekend with Joy's cousin on the Saunders side of the family.

Hong Kong & Vietnam 2018

As one recently widowed, going on holidays presented a new thought process.  My daughter Robyn asked "What is on your bucket list Mum?"  I had never been to Vietnam so we started to investigate the idea of starting off in Hong Kong and ending up in Vietnam.  I had been to Hong Kong in 1973 but Robyn had not been to either countries.  The holiday was booked in September 2017 so we had a year of anticipation with three days in Hong Kong and 13 days in Vietnam.

For the three months prior to our departure I was troubled with sciatic nerve pain.  Should we go or not?  Robyn booked wheelchair access through all seven airports  which made it manageable and I used a walking stick to help me get around.  Our photos are all smiles, we had a great adventure and did lots of exciting things, but at times the pain was quite severe.

I hope you enjoy visiting Hong Kong and Vietnam with us via this blog.