~12th May 2004 ~  

MEETING DATES 2004

Every 2nd Wednesday commencing at 10am, Tebbutt Room, Windsor Central Library, Dight Street, Windsor.

TODAY'S MEETING

Marilyn Rowan spoke about the NSW Births, Deaths & Marriage certificates as well as the transcription service. She outlined the history of the certificates and the type of information you expect to find on certificates. Prior to 1856 information is only from church register i.e. baptisms, marriages & burials. After 1856 it was made compulsory to register an event such as birth, death & marriages. She advised that all the information from a certificate is transcribed and no details are left out. Save money by ordering transcriptions and there are various order options including postal Marbract Services, PO Box 38, Menai 2234. By phone 02 9543-8156 email marilynr@australis.net.au Check the website for additional useful information www.marbract.com.au Marilyn's website includes additional information about searching techniques, FAQs and links.

NEXT MEETING

Don't forget that the next meeting is our annual Trivia Quiz. Come along and join in the fun. Questions are not difficult but relate to history, genalogy and general knowledge. BYO nibblies.

INFORMATION

STATE RECORDS OPEN DAY

Western Sydney Records Centre are showing what happens behind their locked doors on Thursday 27 May between 10am-4pm. There is : A Tour behind the scenes; See the Treasures; Seminars on researching convicts & shipping arrivals; Learn how death records can help family history plus Find out how to care for your records.

WATKIN TENCH DINNER

Nepean Historical Society invite members of the group to attend the above dinner to be held on Sunday 27th June 2004 at 12.30pm at the Beef & barramundi Restaurant, 3 Tench Ave, Penrith. Cost is $30 for the 3 course meal and the guest speaker is John Miller who will talk on the topic "In the footseps pf the Pioneers" For more info ring Betty McIntosh before the 5/6/04.

HAWKESBURY FHG MEETING - 8 SEPTEMBER 2004

On the 8 September 2004 we will be having "Problem-solving" morning. This is prior warning, to think of any issues you are experisencing with your family history. Bring along your problem to the meeting and a panel will try and assist. Problems can be submitted as of today up until the meeting. Give Queries to Michelle at the meetings or send queries to Michelle Nichols c/- HFHG, PO Box 146, Windsor 2756 or email mnichols@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au 

VAL THOMAS

Val Thomas late of Richmond, & more recently of Hat Head, passed away on the 15th April 2004 aged 66 years. Val was a member of the Hawkesbury Family History Group and long time subscriber to the newsletter. A card has been sent on behalf of the group to her family.

HAWKESBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE - HISTORY RELATED COURSES

Check out some of the courses provided by the Hawkesbury Community College. For more information contact Hawkesbury Community College on 4588-5466.

• Walking into History - The Rocks 16 May 2004, 11.15am - 1.15pm ($19)
• Using the Internet for Family History 29 May 2004, 2pm-5pm ($30)
• Writing word by word : creative writing - 5 May 2004 x 8 weeks ($89)

REUNIONS

JURD CELEBRATIONS

Descendants of the Jurd family are invited to attend the following celebrations. For more information please contact Peter Stewart, 100 Badgally Road, Campbelltown 2560 tel : 0417 292245 or email fmspedro@yahoo.com.au 
Sunday 23rd May 2004 at 11am at Vision Valley
Sunday 25th July 2004 at 11am at St. Jude's at Macdonald - Centenary of John's death

HOWELL REUNION

The Howell family are holding a reunion at Richmond on Sunday 13 June to celebrate the arrival in June 1804 of Hannah Hill, the mother of George Howell's family.

JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY REUNION

The John Nichols Family Society is holding a reunion in Coffs Harbour on Sunday 19th September for First Fleeter John Nichols per Scarborough and his wife Ann nee Pugh. Admission is free. Contact Robyn Melise Condliffe 28 Sandpiper Crescent, Boambee East 2452 (02) 66533615 or email condliffe@smartchat.net.au 

BYRNES & REFFIN FAMILY REUNION

A reunion is being held to celebrate 200 years since the arrival of convict Ann Reffin, who married David Burns/Byrnes (Friendship I) on Sunday 20 June 2004 at the Castlereagh Methodist Church Hall. Associated surnames are Byrnes, Jackson & Wilkinson. For further information contact: John Byrnes telephone : 02 99018789; Email byrnesj@minerals.nsw.gov.au or www.webspawner.com/users/thebyrnes/index.html

REMINDERS

SHOWCASE 28/29 MAY 2004

Final reminder re Society of Australian Genealogist's family history fair Showcase on Friday 28 & Saturday 29 May 2004 10am - 4pm. Showcase is a great opportunity for persons researching family history, check out SAG's collection, specialists available, items for sale. Tickets are $10 for 1 day or $15 for both days if purchased in advance, or $15 on the day. Contact the Society on (02) 9247 3953 or visit our website at www.sag.org.au

NEW LOCAL STUDIES ITEMS

New Local Studies items now available to consult in the Local Studies Collection at Windsor Central Library.

Langley family tree: Biographies of three generations / HOWE ~ RL929.20994 LAN

Cross Country: Family register / FORD ~ RL929.20994 CRO

Websites for genealogists / NUM ~ RL929.102854 NUM

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

Maitland & surrounds: Cemetery guide / MAITLAND CITY COUNCIL ~ RL929.5099442 MAI

READ WIDELY

It is particularly useful when undertaking any research to read widely about a subject. Family History is no different and there are a wide range of subjects that family historians are interested in as a result of their research. The following books may be of interest :-

Making contacts with relatives / AMSDEN at 929.1 AMS

Man of honour John Macarthur : duellist, rebel, founding father / DUFFY at 994.402 DUF

Greycliffe : stolen lives / BREW at 910.453 BRE (The tragic story about the sinking of the Greycliffe ferry in Sydney in 1927)

The Australian homestead / COX at 728.0994 COX

Also remember that there are a number of family history relaated magazines available to consult as well as borrow. The following are available for loan at Windsor :

• Practical family history
• Family history monthly
• Family tree magazine
• Australian family tree connections

ENQUIRIES

BRADFIELD PARK

Information is being sought on Bradfield Park in West Lindfield, the site of the 1st Australasian Scout Jamboree 1938, WW2 RAAF Base & a Migrant Hostel. Bradfield was named after Dr. John BRADFIELD who designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Please contact author, Ian Brothers "Bridgewater" Grenfell 2810.

SKINNER, REASON, ACTESON, ARNOLD, WILKINSON, McCARTHY, POWELL, MIDDLETON, PEARCE & SEYMOUR FAMILIES

Descendants sought from the following families who married at St. Matthew's Church of England in Windsor NSW. Please contact : Ian Brothers "Bridgewater" Grenfell 2810. SKINNER, Francis m. 1830 Ann REASON / ACTESON, Thomas Arthur m. 1843 Emma ARNOLD / WILKINSON, William m. 1846 to Mary McCARTHY / POWELL, John m. 1849 to Jane MIDDLETON / PEARCE, William Henry m. 1855 to Jane SEYMOUR.

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.

History of mental health in Australia ~ www.cs.nsw.gov.au/Mhealth/documents/nsw_chronology.htm

Hunterbank Photobank (Newcastle Region Library's digitial image database) ~ www.ncc.nsw.gov.au/services/culture/library/photos/index.cfm

Scotland Genealogy Links and Chat ~ http://members.shaw.ca/justgen/sct.htm

Scottish Archive Network ~ www.scan.org.uk/

Scottish Genealogy Databases ~ www.scotsfind.org/

Scottish Association of Family History Societies ~ www.safhs.org.uk/

Central Scotland Family History Society - Genealogical Sites of Interest ~ www.csfhs.org.uk/links.htm

Cemetery transcription library (Browse 7,882 cemeteries worldwide) ~ www.interment.net/

New Zealand Surname Interest List ~ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nicoleg/nzsil/index.htm

Archives New Zealand - NZ Immigration & Shipping lists ~ www.archives.govt.nz/holdings/immigration_frame.html

1901 Census of County Clare ~ www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/1901census/1901_clare_census.htm

Lurgan Ireland Ancestry ~ www.lurganancestry.net/

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