General Chat

Evening all . . . . just had an sms from the Queen . . . saying how she thought Toowoomba was in drought but its ppping down . . . I think the Queen has broken the drought ! Maybe she is staying at the end of muddy street at Droughbreak hotel ??? Ah well . . . the Bill is about to start so Telly goes on about now here - catch you all later . . . Oh nearly number time !! luv Laurie

Thank you, Mary ... :-) OW are ya mate...

Joy That is a lovely story..We will in due time allow you to enter OZ wothout a visa and call you a honary Aussie. Only if you can say in OZ lingo OW are ya mate... Love Mary xxx

Hurray ! Tony's adopted me ! Recently I was in Suffolk again, and having previously (twice) visited the gravestone of my great-great-great-grandparents, Jonathan and Sarah Sadd, this time I visited the church where he was baptised, the one where they were married, and the ones where his parents and his grandparents were married ! Can I share this with you - it's about brothers (or cousins, I temporarily forget which) of an ancestor of mine:- William Ling, aged 47 years, along with his half brother John, was committed to Woodbridge Gaol and charged with stealing a pig from a barn yard in Farnham belonging to farmer Crisp Plant. At the General Quarter Sessions held at Woodbridge on Wednesday 5th April 1837 both William and John were convicted over the theft of said pig. William was convicted of stealing the pig and John of receiving and eating it. They had no intention of going easily, John initially refusing to allow Constable Daniels to search his house, while brother William locked the pantry and withheld the key. Ultimately however the searches went ahead and a variety of incriminating porcine portions were unearthed around house and garden. Both men received the same sentence - transportation to Tasmania for 14 years. The men left England on board the vessel Susan on 5 August 1837, which arrived in Tasmania on 21 November and where John remained until his death in 1865. William however, did not survive the passage. He died on 17th October and was buried at sea.

Hi Laurie We got 65mm, but it then tried to clear up a bit. I hope we get a bit more tomorrow, just until the tank is full. Yes you will neeed to get out on the mower. I have been watching it grow today, and turn a lovely shade of green Bye SuzyQ

Evening All Yes as you can see by the picky of my place that we had a lovely day today 24 degrees. The flowers are beautiful there is a lovely pink rose right in the middle of the other plants in the front of the house. If anyone didnt get the pic and they want it please let me know and I will forward it, may be late tomorrow as Im out all day tomorrow and also an early night tonight. Fingers crossed for lotto tonight. Cheers Sue

Hi Wattlers. Just thought i would mention, i have now the 1851 Census of Devon, Norfolk,Warwick on cd...if anyone is interested. Tony Oz...:>)))

Yes !! . . . yipppeee . . . if Suzy is getting rain - then my plants will be getting a drink too !!! (sounds like I will have to get on the ride-on mower when I get up home. . . wont mind that one little bit) Yvette, not sure yet about 7th Dec . . . will make it if I can, where abouts are you planning to meet ??? Fingers crossed for tonight . . . luv Laurie

Suzy I am so pleased it is raining heavy up your way.We havent had much, just cloud and a bit of drizzle. I hope the catchment area has had some though.. Put a jumper on and feel a bit better. Got a bit cold this arvo.. Would be nice if we won something tonight..Just something to help with the Christmas presents Thursday 7th sounds OK for me, Just before I go to Canberra for the meet on the 9th. Leaving for Canberra on friday 8th.You know me,, Ill do anything for a feed.. Must do dinner so back later Love Mary xxx.

its chilly here too, breeze is fresh, but no more wet stuff. this afternoons cricket has been called off, kids were originally devastated, but they got over it. we've been at cricket this morning, dealt with the score updates etc this afternoon and fiddled about a bit.should do something but I'm yawning my head off. Jood, Sandra and I are going to meet up in sydney town on Thursday 7th December - anybody feel like a little time out? Tony, our relos were the same, cept they travelled about the countryside with them. Find a street with one in and all you do is go from household to household (up and down the streets) in the census to locate others. this sounds funny but i have cousins who we know we are related to, but can't get the relationship thing happening. we also have too much of a relationship thing happening too. this still happens you know. a relative of mine divorced her husband. ex h's bros wife had passed away and the bro in law was lonely. tried ever so hard to hit it off with his ex sil. It would have been workd war 3 amongst the entire (large & extended family) just thought i'de share that with you. we have a very large and varied web of ex in laws, step and halvies. love Yvette

Great pickle of your house, Tassie. Bet those roses smell wonderful. We knew you wouldn't leave that letterbox behind, lol. Very cold here this afternoon, with patchy, drizzly rain. Out for dinner tonight, but I would have liked to stay home in my pjs with a nice pizza instead, lol Fingers crossed for the big one tonight!!!!! Lew Lew xxx

Hi Mary Its getting cold here I was just thinking of putting on track pants and a warmer top. It's lovely, its pouring down. All the empty farm dams are filling up. Hope its hitting the catchment areas and the farmers further west. SuzyQ

Suzy and Tony. You both make a lot of sence. I will have to start looking at the neighbours in future..That shows you how much I still have to learn, My family were also great wanderers and didnt stay in one place for long.Though some did my line decided to branch out to greener pastures.The little buggers.. It is turning a bit cooler this afternoon, may go and put on a jumper.. Love Maryxxx

Hi Tony, They must have been a very adventurous lot. I am guessing some didn't survive the journey. Made of tougher stuff in those days and probably didn't have anything to loose. A good book to read about lives in the 12th cenyury in The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It is all about the building of catherdrals and churches but follows the life of one family. Its a bif thick book but well worth the read. SuzyQ

Hi Susy.Yes, there are many scenarios, and i was pointing out one i use a lot with Ag,Labs......but it did happen a lot. I was reading about English history from the early 1600s..people were very supersticious ( Witches & Goblins )...and they only trusted there own and very close neighbours. The Irish were the best at this, and reading a little history of the Irish in one case......i read not just a few neighbours, but a whole town in one case, packed up and moved to Australia. Cant remember the book, but it was very interesting reading. Many towns people got to gether and paid passage for one of there own to come here.......and when the word got back, that all was well ( Downunder ) ..the whole Town packed up and moved....lol Tony Oz...:>))

Hi, Yes Tony, I can understand that reasoning, I always look at neighbours in the census and often the same families live in the same street or you find families of spouse's. The exception, in my case anyway, is around the 1850's when many of my ancestors moved from Kent, Essex and Oxfordshire to Bradford. My guess is that they were looking for work in the woollen mills at the time. I also had ancestors around this time that moved to Bradford from Northumberland, obviously same reason. Still raining SuzyQ

Mary. I use the 'Birds of a feather stick together' rule of thumb. The Census 1841 to 1901 is my bible in most cases......but not always. More of a missing person newspaper...lol I categories the Rich from the Poor. The humble Ag Lab. ( Agricultral farmer )about 80% of our tree in some cases. His family were poor, and travel was usually out of the question.... apart from the later or last born children from a large family,( who couldnt wait to escape ) so he didnt move far between Census years, and if he did it was most likely to neighbouring Villages.When one family moved then you can nearly bet your bottom dollar there close neighbour moved also. ( Mateship ) When i find an Ancestor on an early Census, i also take note of neighbours and there occupation eg: Ag,Labs......and there surnames. Scenario ( marry the girl/boy next door..theory ) for poor Ag,Labs...and neighbouring families, they stuck to-gether like thieves....from the earliest records to the latest...SCENARIO: Two neighbouring Ag,Lab Farmers working in a field. One says, My son would like to court your daughter. Small Villages.... some not bigger than a shopping centre, and Mrs. Smith down the road new what Mrs. Jones was doing 24/7....lol One of many Scenario's i use. Some of my ancestors from 1600s to 1890s. in 4 neighbouring Villages within a total distance of 5 miles in a strictly Ag. Lab 'scenario' Ag. Labs with same religious denomination. 1600s Williamson marrys Raven....Raven marrys Hull......Hull marrys French....French marry's Williamson....Raven marry's French.........French marry's Smith......Potter marry's Pennock. 1700s same 4 Villages: Smith marry's Williamson.......Williamson marry's Hull......French marry's Hull........Williamson marry's Blackwell......Raven marry's Hales........Hales marry's Pudney......Williamson marry's Hales......Pennock marry's Hull....Williamson marry's Osbourne Census 1840s to 1901 1800s. same 4 to 5 neighbouring Villages. Blackwell marry's Williamson......Williamson marry's Sharpe.......Sharpe marry's Hull.......Raven marries Blackwell......Williamson marry's Smith......Hull marry's Smith........Pudney marry's Hull.......Hull marry's Hales.....Osbourne marry's Hull.......so down the generations from the 1600's to the 1890s there is a pattern, and from the Census i can track there movements. If they are missing between census, then there are questions. Moved O/seas? Died? Surname mistranscibed? Married? ( females ) Not on Census....last resort. Tony Oz...:>))

Hi Wattlers, From a very wet and windy Biddaddaba. We had 40mm over night and it has been raining ever since, sometimes very light but just now very heavy. Bewdiful I spent this morning on internal beautification technology ( h******k) and then computer cleanup and defrag. I am now ready to go. Had a couple of good hot matches, one a definate, so that makes a change. But I did update my tree last week. Have a great day Gwenda, did you get a pressie? I think the women in the 1850 were much more daring than those today. Would have made sex and the city tame. It makes you wonder how many children actually got the right surname. On Neville's side, his gt grandfather was given his mothers surname but she married a few months after his birth, if this man was the father we would have all been called Stubbs now. But we will never know. Does anyone remember the musical Sunset Boulevard staring Debra Byrne as Norma Desmond. Well, I just saw a picture of it and guess what, Debra was wearing the golden headgear that Laurie sent to Trifley. Nothing but the best for the Queen. LOL Hope The Redcliffe meet went off okay inspite of the rain, and also Trifley and Anna, hope you had a good day, or should I say day and half. Trifley, be careful when heading back down that mountain road especially in this weather. Laurie, what made you cry, was it the giraffe? Can I have a night off the naked rain dance please? Look in later Luv SuzyQ ( with fingers and toes crossed)

Arfnoon Wattlers.. Drizziling here a bit but not much. Could do with a bit more.. Tony Just loved your story about your grandparents. how on earth did you work it all out.I would have spent years going around in circles. I think in Mudgee you should give us a lesson on how to think like our ancestors in order to find out what they have been doing and thus make it easier to find them.It took me 12 months to find 1 illegitimate daughters birth.Kept thinking parents were married..Just didnt think on those lines when I was looking. Congratulations to the happy couple..Gwenda and Dave.. Just might do some FH this afternoon so back later Love Mary xxxx

Randy ole men in your tree Tony (tee hee) But then even the married ones had 10-12 children, and if the wife died, they remarried and had another 10 or so. .. The poor wimmen probably didn't know when it was safe to have 'it' or not (and probably had no choice!!) lol No, Laurie, not going anywhere till Monday. .. I wouldnt have even gone out this morning, only the lens kept falling out of my glasses, and I thought I better rush up to the optician before 12, and then I did a bit of food shopping. .. Today was the first time I'd been out since Thursday. It's winter up here in the mountains today, cold and showery .. mind you, I'm not complaining. .. I tossed up whether to go to the movies or not, then thought no, I would come home and waste time lol Will look forward to the Brizzie meet pickles .. I think that lot have more meets than any of us. Ooops - an afterthought - congratulations Gwen & Dave. Jood