Genealogy Chat

OOps! Sorry Bobby! And a big thanks for setting it straight! I DID say if my HISTORY was serving me correctly ... forgot to mention that I geographically challenged!! See! It is wonderful to have a list like this where someone is able to help you out! Sometimes it is really hard to get the fingers working as fast as the brain, isn't it?? lol Sonja in Oz (Queensland ... I think!! ;) )

Sonja, thank you so very much for the history lesson. I think that's why I've stayed with genealogy so long -- even when you can't find out information about your family, you can learn so much about the world. I found your information to be very fascinating. Thanks for including so much; don't think I ever would have uncovered that much! Bobby, there's nothing wrong with nitpickers. Hope you both are having a lovely New Year. We could use some of your warmth -- our area had over 5 inches of rain in an 8 hour period a couple of days ago! All the best.

Oy!! Wangaratta is in Victoria.(Don't you just hate nitpickers?) Best wishes to all for 2004, Bobby Heath;Victoria

Hmmmmm .. if my history serves me correctly.... John Ovens is who the Ovens River (near Wangaratta in New South Wales) is named after. John was an Irish Engineer who was also the Aid-de-Comp (sp?) to Governor Brisbane. Here is an interesting bit of ramble that you will not find in the history books: (The North Shore is the north Shore of Sydney Harbour, St Leonards is a suburb of Sydney) St. Thomas' Rest Park is the site of the former St. Thomas' Cemetery which was the first European burial ground established on the North Shore. The land for the Cemetery was donated to the Anglican Parish of St Leonards in 1845 by Alexander Berry, a prominent merchant and landholder. Berry donated 4 acres of his land in order to secure a prestigious burial place for his wife, Elizabeth, who was the sister of another important landowner, Edward Wollstonecraft. The striking pyramid monument in the centre of the Rest Park was erected in honour of Elizabeth; Edward Wollstonecraft and Alexander Berry are also buried there. St. Thomas' Cemetery contains the graves of many notable historic figures including Conrad Martens, Bernard Holtermann, Captain Owen Stanley and Major Ovens. The names of many North Shore suburbs and landmarks including Berry, Wollstonecraft, Pymble, Ives, Lavender, Blue and Milson, owe their origin to the pioneering families buried here. The first burial was recorded in 1847, and the last in 1950. The North Sydney Heritage Study Review, 1993, identifies other monuments and headstones of particular historic significance including those of Lieut. Col. George Barney, Rev. W.B. Clarke and Captain John Vine and his wife Alice (daughter of E.T. Blacket). One of the most interesting and significant of all the monuments is the Bent and Ovens' Tomb, an unusually shaped sandstone tomb with an extremely fine inscription. Before Judge Ellis Bent died in 1815, he incurred the displeasure of Governor Macquarie, who refused to allow his burial at Garden Island. He was interred at Devonshire Street Cemetery and later, in 1825, when Brevet-Major John Ovens died, Ellis Bent was re-interred with him at Garden Island. After the St. Thomas' Cemetery opened, the tomb was transferred there and is retained in the Rest Park in its original position. A special Act of Parliament was passed in 1967 to allow the St. Thomas' Cemetery to be converted to a Rest Park. Hope you can us this snippet! Sonja in Oz

Have any of the Australian members heard of Major John Ovens? He served under Governor Brisbane in the 1820's. There is quite a bit of information about Major Ovens on the internet, but I am trying to find out/confirm who his children were. Many thanks for any help.