~13th August 2003 ~  

Copies of the current Hawkesbury Family History Group Meeting news sheet including archived copies can be accessed at http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/community/053.html

MEETING DATES 2003

ST. MATTHEW'S C OF E WINDSOR PARISH REGISTERS 1810-1856

The Lake Macquarie Family History Group is transcribing the Parish Registers for St Matthews, Windsor NSW. This major work will provide an invaluable reference for this very historic area. The first book will cover baptisms, marriages and burials from the start of the registers in 1810 to the end of 1856, comprising over 5,000 events with publication planned for November 2003. A comprehensive index of all names (almost 13,000) will be included. Orders can now be made to the Lake Macquarie Family History Group at PO Box 3046 Teralba NSW 2284. The pre publication price is $AUD 30.00 + $10.00 postage and handling within Australia.

HAWKESBURY RACE CLUB OFFICIALS

The Hawkesbury Race Club is searching for images (photographs/paintings etc) of Officials involved with the club during the period 1829 to 1870. If you can assist with a copy or know the whereabouts of one, please contact the club with details. Hawkesbury Race Club, PO Box 469, Richmond 2753 NSW. Phone (02) 45772663 or email hawkraces@bigpond.com.au 

• Sir John JAMISON (1829-1843) Patron 
• William COX (1829-1838) Chairman 
• Archibald BELL (1829-1839) C'tee & De Chair 
• Francis BEDDEK (1829-1831) Secretary 
• John HOWE (1831-1838) Secretary 
• Laban WHITE (1839) Secretary 
• William TOWN (1840-1870) 
• Joe/Joseph ONUS (1840-1866) 
• Andrew BADGERY (1840-1847) 
• Thomas DARGIN (1840) Secretary 
• James CULLEN (1841-1843) Secretary 
• John BARKER (1844-1851) 
• George M. PITT (1845-1865) 
• William McQUADE (1852-1856) Secretary 
• Henry MOSES (1857-1865) Secretary

GOVERNOR PHILLIP'S LETTER TO MARQUIS LANSDOWNE 1788 

The State Library Of NSW recently purchased a Letter from Arthur Phillip to the Marquis of Lansdowne, 3 July 1788. This letter is very significant & Captain Arthur Phillip explains his reasons for establishing the first settlement at Port Jackson rather than the planned Botany Bay. The letter also includes Phillip's famous statement: 'here a Thousand Sail of the Line may ride in the most perfect Security' check it out on the web at http://image.sl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/ebindshow.pl?doc=mss7241/a567;seq=1 or go to www.sl.nsw.gov.au and follow the links "Arthur Phillip's letter" on the right in "What's new"

TAMBAROORA DISTRICT PIONEER REGISTER (UP TO 1920) 

The long awaited Hill End & Tambaroora District Pioneer Register (listing settlers and families in the district up to 1920) is in the process of being compiled. They were special people who managed to live and work under terrible conditions at times, far from large towns, shops or any medical help in those early days. Later, as the goldrush expanded, more people arrived, businessmen soon opened up shops and hotels and the village grew into the town we see in the old Holtermann photographs. Forms are available by email, Contact Lorraine Purcell, heatgg@yahoo.com.au or by post, c/- Hill End & Tambaroora Gathering, B.Maris,15 Gowan Brae Ave,Oatlands NSW 2217.Closing date is 30th November 2003.

GENEALOGICAL & HISTORICAL FAIR @ TAREE, SATURDAY 18 OCT 2003 

Manning Wallamba Family History Society's Genealogical & Historical Fair Saturday 18th October 2003 (10-3) at Taree Police Citizens Youth Club, Commerce Street. Confirmed speakers/site bookings include Nick Vine Hall, Society of Australian Genealogists, State Records, Terry Eakin/Irish Research, Heritage Scrapbooking, Photographic copying, Newcastle Regional Library/Local Studies, Murray Clan Ass, LDS Research Centre, various family history societies plus research. Enquiries & Bookings contact: PO Box 48, Taree NSW 2430 or email manningwallambafhs1@yahoo.com.au 

STATE CONFERENCE 2003 (19-21 SEPTEMBER 2003) 

NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies Inc. will be holding the State Conference 2003 on 19th to 21st September 2003. Hosted by Central Coast Family History Society Inc. The theme is “Voyage of Discovery – Continuing the Journey” & the venue is Central Coast Leagues Club, Dane Drive, Gosford. Registration form can be downloaded at www.centralcoastfhs.org.au/confregform.html or phone 02 4344-6512 or 4324 5164. Full registration is $75, cheaper rates per day. Registration closes 31-8-2003.

NEW LOCAL STUDIES ITEMS AVAILABLE TO CONSULT 

Recent additions to the collection. (Title, author and call no. e.g. location on shelf)

A nimble fingered tribe : the convicts of the Sugar Cane, Ireland to Botany Bay, 1793 by HALL / RL929.3944 HAL **copy** also available in lending at 929.3944 HAL

Family photographs 1860-1945 by POLS / RL929.1 POL

Australians behind the Camera : directory of Early Australian Photographers 1841-1945 by BARRIE / RL770.994 BAR

Gore Hill Cemetery Inscriptions Vol. 1 & 2 / RL929.5099441 GOR

A History of the Eather family : Vol. 5 / RL929.20994 EAT

Brooklyn : a Federationi Village by RICHMOND / RL994.42 RIC

Jewish Sydney : the first 100 years 1788-1888 by BERSTEN / RL994.004924

Arrows of hope : selected convict stories / RL365.60994 ARR (includes biographies of several Hawkesbury convicts)

The history of Granville 1919 by FOWLIE / RL994.41 FOW

QUOTE 

Family faces are magic mirrors. 
Looking at people who belong to us, 
We see the past, present and future. 
(Gail Lumet BUCKLEY - American writer)

HAWKESBURY HOMECOMING - HAWKESBURY PIONEER FAMILIES REUNION 

Will be held on the weekend of 29th & 30th November 2003, from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm at Windsor High School Hall, Mulgrave Road, McGraths Hill. The reunion is being organised by Lesley Uebel ckennedy@bigpond.net.au Norma & Ian McLean and Coralie Hird. Entrance Fee is $5, Children under 16 Free (Fee covers a person attending either one day or both days) For more information see http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/page154.html 

SURFING THE INTERNET……. SITES FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS 

Members with internet access should check out the following interesting sites. The Library has free access to the internet, contact 4560 4460 for bookings. Richmond also has access, for bookings phone 4578 2002.

Family and Friends of the First AIF Inc. ~ www.diggerhistory.info/fffaif/

Bathurst to Bourke Cobb & Co Heritage Trail ~ www.cobbandco.net.au/

UK Wills online ~ www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk

Convict Absconders 1832 NSW Index ~ www.standard.net.au/~jwilliams/scons32b.htm

Around the Rocks, Sydney (Historical exhibition) ~ www.records.nsw.gov.au/public/gallery/rocks/index.html

McAfee up-date-info on computer viruses (includes info about hoaxes as well) ~ http://au.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp

~ Let us know of sites, that you have tried with (or without) success ~

MEMBER'S PROFILE - PETER STEWART 

At various times we have been featuring a section called "Member's Profiles" providing background information of members. More are needed. Particulars required include a bit about yourself, your background, and your interest in family history & importantly the names you are researching. We will keep featuring this article as long as members contribute.

Peter Stewart is the 3rd great grandson of Daniel and Elizabeth Jurd. He was born in the copper mining town of Cobar in far western NSW in 1946, the eldest son of Kathleen Ione & Allan John Stewart who had five children, four boys and one girl. The family moved to Sydney's eastern suburbs about 1949 and that's where he grew up. He first lived in Coogee and then moved to Kensington where he lived until he left home in 1964. Peter has been a Primary School teacher for over 30 years, teaching in NSW, ACT, New Zealand and Queensland. He is a Marist Brother, and currently resides at St Gregory's College Campbelltown, where he is currently assistant Community Leader of the Marist Community at Campbelltown. His ministry is now to the Senior members of his community, being their carer and chauffeur.

Apart from his interest in Family History, he enjoys cooking, singing, a wide variety of music, theatre and Travel. He has a good sense of humour, and some might say, a warped sense of humour. He loves a good yarn and sharing a joke. He has developed a reputation as a long distance driver and most school holidays can be found touring the country side. In recent years it was in search of The Jurds.

Peter's interest in Family History began in 1992 when on sabbatical in England and Ireland, where he began researching his mother's family. Upon his return home he was asked what he'd done on his father's side. This led to contact with the Jurd family in Moree. In 1998 having some 500 Jurd descendants on the database. Realising that 2002 was the 200th anniversary of Daniel Jurd's arrival as a convict, he decided to write the story of the Jurd's in Australia & New Zealand. The book was lauched at the Jurd Reunion at Windsor in August 2002 and contains over 8500 names. Since then he has continued his research and has in excess of 9000 descendants of Daniel & Elizabeth in his database and continues to seek for further additions to the family.

The Jurd Dynasty in Australia began with the marriage of Daniel Jurd and Elizabeth Douglas at St Matthews Church of England, Windsor on 28 September 1812. Daniel was born in England around 1778, was a chimney sweep in London and was convicted at the Old Bailey of stealing 20lbs of bacon. His accomplice was Samuel French. They were transported for 7 years. Daniel arrived on 4 August 1802 aboard the Perseus. Elizabeth was the daughter of William Douglas and Mary Groves, two First Fleet Convicts.

Daniel & Elizabeth settled in Pitt Town. They had 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. Daniel received a land grant in the Macdonald Valley and this was first worked by his eldest son, and first child John, who married Mary Ann Fleming. Daniel died in August 1833, just 7 months after the birth of his youngest child, Joseph. As the family grew and land in the St Albans area became scarce the family moved to Wollombi - Cessnock area where a large number of Jurd descendants still live today. Some of the family moved further afield to Moree and the Clarence River district. Descendants of Daniel & Elizabeth still live in the St Albans area today. The Jurd family were licencees of the famous "Settlers Arms" at St Albans for 90 years.

Many of the Jurd descendants have served their country in the major conflicts over the last hundred years and several paid the supreme sacrifice that we might enjoy being a free country. Many Jurds down through the years have served their community in a variety of ways, as trustees of the Wollambine Common at St Albans, and as Councillors. Several have been honoured for their contribution to our Society, most recently Ron Jurd of Merriwa received the Centenary of Federation Medal for services to community development and Dr Peg White was honoured in this year's honours list with an OAM for services to the community.

Religon has also played a significant part in Jurd Life. Elizabeth donated the land at St Albans on which the first chapel for protestant religions was built. This year marks 175 year since that chapel was built. It has been preserved at Vision Valley, Arcadia, at the Methodist Mission Centre. Joseph Jurd donated land for the building of the Catholic Church in Moree, John Richard Jurd was instrumental in the building of the Methodist Church at Kutarere, Oportiki, New Zealand in 1912.

Peter Stewart petrusfms@hotmail.com