~ February 2007 ~  

MEETING DATES 2007

Meeting held 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10am in the Tebbutt Room, Windsor Library

INFORMATION

Chesne Jones - Citizen of the Year 2007 (Hawkesbury)

Member, Chesne Jones was recently recognised as the Citizen of the Year (Hawkesbury) at the 2007 Australia Day Awards. Most of the group are aware of her involvement in our group, as well as her voluntary work at State Records and the Genealogy Group of U3A Hawkesbury. However Chesne is also a dedicated worker within the community working with many organisations including LINCS, who provide family support for parents with babies/young children. Chesne is actively involved with Girl Guides, Macquarie Towns Garden Club, Knitters Guild of NSW, Macquarie Towns Choral Society & St Johns Ambulance Australia. Congratulations Chesne. The Award was shared equally with Terry Hoare.

SAG Library

Will be reopening shortly to the public at 379 Kent Street Sydney, in the next few weeks. For more information phone (02) 9247 3953 or email info@sag.org.au Their new website also has upto date information http://www.sag.org.au If members want to organise a visit to the new library, please let me know.

HOW I GOT STARTED ON FAMILY HISTORY?

I would like to start a new section on our newsletter, about how people got started in family history. What made you take up this hobby, how long have you been doing it, what have been the changes over the years and the challenges. Has it been a rewarding hobby and what sort of things have you learnt. If you are interested in participating, send the details to michelle.nichols@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or post them to Michelle Nichols, Hawkesbury Central Library, 300george Street, Windsor 2756

REUNIONS

Several families are holding reunions over the next few months. They are :

ROSE FAMILY

Rose Reunion, Butterfly Farm, Wilberforce on Sunday 25th March 2007.

GRONO FAMILY

Grono family descendants are planning a reunion on Sunday, 6th May 2007 at Ebenezer Church. This will commemorate the 208th anniversary of the arrival of John & Elizabeth on the "Buffalo" in 1799; and also the 200th anniversary of the arrival of David Hartley (formerly Harkenett) on the "Duke of Portland" in 1807, David married John & Elizabeth Grono's daughter Elizabeth. If there are any questions about the reunion or Grono Family generally, our contact details are:

web: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gronofamily/index.htm
email: gronofamily@gmail.com
postal address: 1 Johnston Street, Pitt Town NSW 2756
Karen Mills Ph: 02 9898 1717

EVERINGHAM FAMILY

The Everingham Family Association have advised that the Everingham Foundation Day will be held on Sunday 11th March 2007 from 10.30am at Dargle Farm, River Road, Lower Portland. Celebrating the 216th anniversary of the marriage of Matthew James Everingham and Elizabeth Rimes. For more information contact the Everingham Association , PO Box 1039, Ashfield 1800 NSW

WEBB FAMILY ENQUIRY

Kay Williams is currently researching James Webb. Kay is chair of the Pearl Beach Heritage committee & involved in researching the Woy Woy Peninsula. She is attempting to assemble a comprehensive chronology / monograph on James WEBB prior to bicentenary of his being the first settler on Brisbane Water (1823-2023). He moved about a lot and various bits of his history are recorded in various places, but nothing comprehensive.

• Cpl James WEBB arr 2nd Fleet per Scarborough 1790, (Listed as per Neptune on 1806 census) & one of first 22 settlers on the Hawkesbury
• A shipbuilder on Hawkesbury (Mulgrave Place/Portland head, Bears Hip Farm), Cockle Bay (Darling Harbour, Sydney), and Mulbong Farm, Woy Woy
• In 1823 first settler on Brisbane Water.

He married the sister of George PEAT (Peat's ferry) and as well I believe there are strong links with Andrew Thompson, Capt Alexander BOOKS and Capt John GRONO and COX family, yet to be articulated. He is also, by aboriginal lore, said to have fathered a Guringai child, Charlotte WEBB. If this connection can be established her descendants would be his only known descendants. Kay is looking for any descendants or persons interested in the WEBB family for a forthcoming research project and book contact Kay Williams williams@terrigal.net.au

TOUR TO IRELAND?

See http://www.irelandhome.com.au/welcome.html for more details. The land cost of the 2007 tour departing on Saturday the 8th of September is $A7100 twin share or double Single Supplement is $1540 The price includes: 22 days tour in modern motorcoach with driver guide; 22 nights accommodation, all rooms with private bath and/or shower; Full Irish breakfast each day; full three course dinner at your hotel or in the case of Aran in local restaurant, each evening; All visits to historical sites, houses, excursions and transfers; Fees for visiting historians, lecturers and guides during the tour and assistance and guidance with your Irish family history if needed

WILLS & PROBATE RECORDS OF VICTORIA ONLINE

Project launched in August 2006 & Free availability of wills & probate files of Victoria online. Generating 25,000 images per week, upload rate to website about 30 archives boxes of research

Index created of every name appearing in a will. At present you require the actual will number to access the material from the fiche index. For more information see http://www.prov.vic.gov.au or http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/PROVguides/PROVguide023/PROVguide023.jsp

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 at Windsor & 4578 2002 for Richmond bookings.

Society of Australian Genealogists (new site) ~ http://www.sag.org.au/

Public Record Office Victoria online catalogue ~ http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/

Digitised records ~ http://www.access.prov.vic.gov.au/public/PROVguides/PROVguide023/PROVguide023.jsp

Hotels & licences ~ http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/NSWW/Hotels/publicans-licences-intro.html ~ http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/NSWW/index.html#Hotels

Australian resources ~ http://resources.rootsweb.com/world/Australia.html

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