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Hi Andrew, Thank you so much for the additional information which is very interesting. It's very much appreciated. Kind regards - Jackie Parfrey

Hi Andrew Can you help with the living as well? Looking for the children/grandchildren of Eliza Butt Maggs who married Patrick Matthew Barlow. Elizas parents were Alfred Maggs and Maria Ann Notley from London. Eliza & Patrick had 10 children. They were in NSW, Redfern when they married in 1911, but Eliza died 1958 in Ermington, some of the childrens names were Robert Marion Phylis. Have you a newspapers address I could write to, in the area so I could put in an ad to find the family? Any help/ suggestions very much appreciated. Thanks so much Lynda

Hi everyone I got out my Australian atlas last night, desperately trying to find Belfast in Victoria for Jackie (Parfrey). I would have had a hard job since it has since been re-named Port Fairy, and you will find that on a map of Victoria. Also established that Macarthur is small town within a triangle region delineated by Portland, Hamilton and Warrnambool. Some of you may know that Hamilton used to be the Wool Capital of the World and others may know that John Macarthur was the first person to breed Merino sheep in the early colony of New South Wales. I had good news for Bob from Bretton, and I managed to confirm Irene's list of Cuttrisses although not everyone liked that spelling :-) - I mean they were registered under all sorts of variations of that name. Ring a bell anyone ! Michelle Pike, if you happen by any chance to still be reading this board, I would like to let you know that I found a bankruptcy record for one of your Dougans from Ashfield. Seems like there is no end of information about this family :-). Can I ask people to e-mail me directly with their enquiries (if they are able to do this), so I don't need to keep finding this board from the list. Thanks Andrew ps keep nugding it along, if you can

Hi Andrew. Thank you for your help in looking up info on my family. Re the birth/deaths I was hoping maybe to find an exact date to help towards purchasing certs. I will look forward to receiving any info on the passenger ship info if you should find it. I am a newbie so I do really appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks again for helping me and everyone else. It is very very much appreciated. Look forward to hearing from you. Irene in NZ

Hi Andrew, Thanks for trying to locate the Beckers, I know it was a long shot, but many thanks. Happy hunting, Gloria.

Hi Andrew Thanks for all your hard work. The information you have given me has really helped Jane

Hi Andrew Many thanks for your message I hope soon to get Walter Baird and Eleanor Eggby's wedding certificate and will then get back to you about Walter's age if that is o.k. Many thanks Susan

Apology to Sheila - Re Elizabeth Matthews I re-read your posting and your event occured in 1843 not 1943 as I understood (albeit wrongly). This should be fairly easy. I'm very sorry for any possible offence caused. Not that it is an excuse, but it is rather difficult when I'm posting to go back and review previous postings. Andrew

Hi everyone - need some more information - requests are rather too BIG. I cannot find everthing about everyone. I'm not THAT good :-) Irene Taylor - You seem to have amassed quite a bit of information about your Cutriss family. I'm not sure what more information can come from birth records. The answer to your question about passenger records from NZ ports is maybe - will have to check the NSW archives - the time period would seem to be OK. Will let you know asap. Note to EVERYONE - for those of you who have Scottish relatives and are looking at Scottish records you would be aware that there is a Privacy Rule regarding the release of what is deemed sensitive information - such as the birth records of living persons. Therefore please note that I cannot tell you anything from BDM indexes for most Australian states after 1920. Sheila - Your enquiry about Elizabeth Matthews fits into the criteria - I can't think immediately how to find this information regarding birthplace. Susan Duke - Any idea (from English records) of the age of Walter Baird when he married Eleanor ? If you had an age,I could look for a birth record for Walter in Oz. Without an age, I imagine there are going to be hundreds of Walter Bairds. As I explained earlier, Australian records often give parents. Can you please give me the forenames of Walter's parents. As per the explanation above, I can't look up Walter and Eleanor's children. Zena - Did the marriage to Frances occur in Australia or overseas. What info do you need exactly. Due to time constraints and lack of resources at my fingertips, I cannot really tell you much about what the family did. To anyone else considering posting a message PLEASE take note of the Privacy explanation. It means that us amateur genealogists have a terrible time trying to bring our distant lines up to our own generations (including my own tree). Unfortunately, until things are changed, we will have to live with this. Andrew

Kerry Saw your nudge, hopefully I have been able to help your friend :-) Gloria, You may have already realised that you are the only enquiry for which my search was fruitless. I searched Victorian BDM indices for possible marriages for your Beckers, but there were none that matched. Part of the problem is that I don't know how to find out where the Bryant and May factories were located. I know there is a large one in Melbourne, but there may for obvious reasons, have been others in the other state capitals. By the way, Bryant and May used to manufacture the "Wax Vestas" brand of matches, I noticed the name on the factory when I travelled past the factory on Saturday. If anyone can give me a list of Bryant and May factories in Oz, it would be much appreciated. Unfortunately, the name Becker is quite common and not as easy to find information as per the more obscure Restall, Hoddle, Parfrey and Dougan names. Keep in touch Andrew

Message for Michael Riddles - Re Robert Hoddle (Pt II) Further to information provided previously, I can tell you a few more things about Robert Hoddle. Firstly, he was born in London and secondly that he married TWICE. One source contends that at the time of his death, he was survived by his second wife and children to both marriages, which is helpful but not that helpful. Knowing that Robert Hoddle died in Melbourne in 1881, I searched the Victoria BDM microfiche for his death record. As with other treatises which I have written, you might now realise that the index includes parents' names even for deaths. So I can tell you that Robert Hoddles parents really WERE Robert Hoddle (Snr) and Elizabeth MARSDEN. He died in West Melbourne, aged 87 years, reg #11350. I think these are the same names for that record on Familysearch I mentioned the first time. Marriage records for the period show only one possibility for a Robert Hoddle. Marriage to Fanny Agnes BAXTER (presumably second wife), in 1863, reg #2309 Children to this marriage were HODDLE, Agnes, born 1867, Melbourne, reg #16883 HODDLE, Robert, born 1872, Melbourne, reg #2309 There are several possibilities for the marriage of Agnes Agnes Mary Josine (likely to be Josephine) HODDLE m Richard Sandwell WRIGLEY, 1891, Melbourne, reg #959 Fanny HODDLE m James Stuart HICKS-ROSS, 1892, Melbourne, reg #4817 Fanny Agnes HODDLE m Richard Backhurst BUXTON, 1882, Melbourne, reg #124. (perhaps a bit early !) There is also a record for a Mary Hoddle whose parents are listed as Staton Richard HODDLE and Sarah SMITH, 72 years, died 1862, born England, reg #9124. I will see if there are any articles in Melbourne newspapers which have an obituary for Hoddle since I know when he died - I didn't have time to do this today. Keep monitoring this board. Hope this helps Andrew

Message for Jackie Parfrey Re - Parfreys of Western Victoria Further to the confirmation of your family from the Unassisted migrant index from PRO Victoria, I had a look at the cumulative birth.death and marriage indices for Victoria 1851-1901. From this I was able to tell you that 1. James Washer Parfrey and Ruth (maiden name Stevens or Steevens according to the index) had more children once they arrived in Victoria, at a place called Belfast, which I have established is very near Portland. Unfortunately the three extra children all died before the age of 30, so left no family. But here are the records for their births and deaths Surname, Forename, Event, Year, Age, District, Reg # Parfrey Alfred Birth 1859 Belfast (Victoria) 14341 Parfrey Alfred Death 1860 Belfast 5902 Parfrey Henrietta Birth 1855 Belfast 8120 Parfrey Henrietta Death 1862 6 years Belfast 556 Parfrey Henry Charles Birth 1857 Belfast 11197 Parfrey Henry Charles Death 1882 24 years No district 4379 Here are the likely marriages of Thomas, James and William who were aged 4, 16 and 14 respectively on arrival in Vic. Thomas Parfrey m Jane Louise Marion BREEZE, 1881, No district given, reg # 4339. Additionally index says Thomas was born "Bris" which I am presuming means Bristol (UK). They had Parfrey Eva Irena 1884 reg # 14631 Parfrey Eva Irena Died in 1885, age 8 months, reg # 415 Mother's full name was given as "Irena Louisa Marion Sophia BREEZE !!!" Parfrey Herbert Henry 1882 reg #20930 William Stivens Parfrey m Mary Ann BAKER, 1863, reg # 3893 at Macarthur, Victoria (not sure where this is). They had Parfrey Emily Baker 1876 Macarthur who died 16 months after birth Parfrey Frank 1878 Macarthur Parfrey Martha Steevins 1869 Macarthur Parfrey Mary Jane 1865 Belfast, Victoria Parfrey Olivia Grace 1888 Macarthur Parfrey Robert Silas 1882 Macarthur Parfrey William 1867 Macarthur Lastly, James John Parfrey m Jane GRIFFITHS, 1860, Belfast, reg #2086 They had Parfrey Jane 1868 Belfast 979 Parfrey William Washer 1871 Belfast 7340 Parfrey Henrietta 1878 Belfast 12534 Parfrey George 1866 Belfast 19724 Parfrey Frederick Stephen 1876 Belfast 12939 who died 7 weeks after birth reg #7627 Parfrey Edward Griffiths 1864 Belfast 13392 Parfrey Amy 1861 Warrnambool 8637 Parfrey Florence Rosena 1884 Warracknabeal 13632 Parfrey Elizabeth 1880 Warracknabeal 25920 Finally, I ascertained what happened to the grandfather of all these children, your James Washer Parfrey. He died in 1876, age 60, father listed as William Parfrey and mother listed as Ann WASHER, birthplace listed as Bristol, registration #4411 Hopefully, these names will all have reference to earlier ancestors. As I said before, I'm fairly confident that with son called William Washer, we have the same family, and the fact that you mentioned Portland and that all these places are in Western or South-western Victoria makes sense. The only exception is Warracknabeal which is some distance from Portland, and which features for James and Jane's family after 1880. Best regards Andrew

Message for Trish O'Bryan Re: Queensland shipping records These are patchy at best and take the form of hand-written cards, on which is sometimes the name of the ship and a port of arrival but for most just a handwritten name. So a smaller smile for you, but I did find the spouses to those marriages for which you gave me the information Frances Feore (b Cork) registered as Fanny Feore, married William Conrad SCHMID in 1896 at St George, Qld - reg #000044. I checked a microfiche with St George Cemetery records and there were no instances of the name Schmid. Margaret Telfer (b Roxburgh) married John Rutherford in 1870, place not given in BDM indices - reg #54 To be brutally honest, I'm not sure that Queensland immigration records are going to be able to give you the information you wanted. Re Margaret Telfer/John Rutherford - I can check next time I am at the library for births since it gives the father's forename(s) and mother's forename(s) on the birth index. Best regards Andrew

Hello everyone Many thanks for your wishes of thanks. I have been able to help most people who submitted enquiries to this bulletin board before Saturday. I have responded to Jane Richards, Debi Coone, Michelle Pike, Lisa J. in California and Vanessa McDonald directly. We even established that Michelle's Dougan ancestor was indeed the Mayor of Ashfield and that Jane's ancestor George was indeed the son of George Grey and Ann Hollingworth/Hollingsworth. Jackie Parfrey, Trish O'Bryan and Michael Riddles - I have new information for you. Check the messages below. For those of you who submitted requests last night, please be aware that I may not be able to answer back as quickly as with the others - I can only do this in my spare time. Thanks for your understanding. And to those who are enjoying the yarns - you can do like Bob did and drop me a line - you can contact me by clicking on my name (only if you're a paid up member) Best wishes to all Andrew

Hullo Andrew, is there any chance you can find something on MG Hedaux and V Hedaux suspect that they were in the Adelaide area around 1999. I dont know when they left the UK and went TO Australia, I would like to find which branch of my family they are from.Many thanks Bob Hedaux

Wondering if you could find my grandfather's brother Augustus Vincent Taylor, b. 1887 Surrey UK , was the youngest son of Richard and Amelea. He moved to Bulimba, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, not sure when. He was married to Frances ? and adopted a son David. He died 14th February 1958 in Brisbane. The only other thing we know about Uncle Gus was that he owned a soft drink factory. Would love to find out more on this family Thanks Zena

Sorry but I'm nudging this to keep it on the board for someone I know it might help. I'm going to email them now.

Hi Andrew Many thanks for your very generous offer and I wonder if you are able to find anything on a relative of mine: Eleanor Eggby married Walter Baird (an Australian) in England at the end of the first world war and she travelled back to Australia with him. They had three children Donald (b.1920) Joan and Molly. Donald served in the air force during the second world war and visited my family in London. They never knew if he survived the war but recently I discovered on a site for the Australian forces his war record and he did indeed survive - this also told me that he was born in Sunshine Victoria in 1920. I know his mother Eleanor died in 1927 and that the family moved about quite a lot. I understand that at one time they may have been living in Brisbain. If you are able to find any information I would be most grateful. Susan

Hi Andrew. Thank you very much for your kind offer. Can you please help me with this family. I have just discovered another family member and her husband and children. They died in New South Wales, Australia. I would very much like some info on their births/deaths. Is there any info on ships that travelled from New Zealand to Sydney between 1867 and 1872. Details on the family are: Mary Jane CUTTRISS (nee Clarke) died 1926 Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia John CUTTRISS died 1904 Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. Children John T Cuttriss born 1872 Sydney Sarah J Cuttriss boirn 1868 Sydney Lucinda Cuttriss born 1872 Sydney Elizabeth Cuttriss born 1874 Sydney Florence Cuttriss born 1878 Sydney died before 1965 NSW Australia Thomas Cuttriss born 1880 Sydney death 1921 Sydney NSW William Cuttriss born 1882 Sydney James Cuttriss born 1884 Sydney died 1884 Sydney Florence Cuttriss born 1886 Sydney The parents were married in New Zealand and had their first child in 1872 in Sydney. Somewhere in those years they would have travelled from NZ to Sydney. Any info would be very much appreciated. Irene

Andrew, I am scouring the family memoirs for details about Roy, but not really to any avail. He apparently had red hair - but that's not much use! ' When war was declared in 1914, first Roy joined up and then, giving a false age, Don enlisted with the London Scottish Regiment some time around 1915. Don was injured on his 18th birthday and returned to Blighty. He was discharged in September 1917. Roy went to NSW where he settled and later married.' (The details of his daughter's birth are as given previously.) The only other info that I have is about Don. He went out to WA in 1920 and his wife to be, sailed into Freemantle in May 1921. They were married in St Mary's Cathedral in Perth, but Roy was definately not present at the wedding. They then moved to a farm in the South-west, on the Serpentine River. It can't be co-incidence that Don chose NSW independently of his brother Roy. So it's my guess that Roy was also in or around the Perth area. Roy's father was called James and I've always had a notion that this may have been his middle name. So perhaps he was known as James in adult life? So unfortunately that is really all that we know. It would be wonderful if you were able to look in the library, next time you visit. PS I can't help with the Betty's idea. Thanks so much, Hilary