Inside History Magazine’s Top 50 Blogs of 2013

July 15, 2013July 15, 2013kira0030

50 blogs you need to read

I was very pleased and surprised to find out that my blog had been listed in this years top 50 as chosen by Inside History magazine. A big thank you to everyone involved in the selection process I’m honoured to have my blog chosen.

http://www.insidehistory.com.au/2013/07/50-genealogy-blogs-you-need-to-read/

For those who haven’t heard of this wonderful magazine,

Inside History is a bi-monthly magazine for people passionate about Australian and New Zealand genealogy, history and heritage. Jul-Aug 2013 edition (Issue 17) is out now and can be purchased through our online shop or from our stockists. Find us in the newsagents – click here to search the Australian newsagents stocking us.

Something that I only recently found out was that as well as being available in a digital edition via the Itunes store you can also purchase it via the Zinio store for Android, Iphone/pad or PC.

South Australian Postal Worker Records

June 23, 2013June 23, 2013kira0030

The National Archives of Australia Adelaide office holds records of the state’s early postal workers so I checked to see if either of my William Chapmans (father and son) were there. I found some of their pay records and a photo of my 2x great uncle William Chapman Jnr. The photo held by the National Archives appears to be the original as it is in an old cardboard frame with faded writing on it. I was able to take a photograph of it but unfortunately I can’t reproduce it here due to copyright restrictions. I can however show you what it looked like when it was printed in The Register on 18 March 1925 on William’s 81st birthday with a long article about his life’s recollections. William died in 1930 aged 86.

Newspaper Photo

View William’s profile in my family tree here: http://kyliesgenes.com/individual.php?pid=I1205&ged=WillisonFamilyTree16Nov2011.ged

WWII Pay Records

June 21, 2013kira0030

I went to the National Archives Adelaide office today to view some records I had ordered. The WWII pay records of my uncle William Henry Willison didn’t yield much information but the records of my grandfather William Burnett Willison did. My grandfather died before I was born so I know very little about him. I have his WWI record which has been digitised but not his WWII record so I was very interested to look through his pay records.

Overseas Service Nil

Things I found out today

he didn’t serve overseas in WWII
he was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant
he was a conductor to ammunition trains
the trips for which I found records were mainly from the mid north of South Australia to New South Wales
my Grandfather’s signature is a lot like my Dad’s
he received a war gratuity which paid off the mortgage on the family home
the family lived at 163 Port Rd, Brompton, South Australia (a suburb of Adelaide)
the trip from Gladstone, South Australia to Outer Harbour, South Australia took two days on the ammunition train
Nanny had to fill out a form every six months to receive Dependant’s Allowance
Allowance reduced when Auntie Dawn turned 16yrs.

Conductor On Ammunition Train From Port Augusta, South Australia to Bogan Gate Army Base, New South Wales

I felt a little emotional reading these records today but I’m not sure exactly why. It gave me some insight into my Grandfather but not much. He had a dangerous job and must have been a responsible man, so I’m proud of his efforts in both world wars. Maybe it was seeing my Auntie and Uncle’s names in print and the reminder that Dad is the only one left now………..

Terowie, South Australia To Broken Hill, New South Wales

I got some background information from this website which others might find useful – Introduction To Military Units and Ranks http://www.ipas.com.au/images/Units,%20History%20and%20Terminology%20of%20the%20ADF.pdf

Community Exchanges And Genealogy

June 15, 2013kira0030

I belong to a Local Exchange Trading System otherwise known as LETS. Members buy and sell goods and services for units instead of cash.

http://adelaidelets.org/

I decided to offer my services as a researcher to anyone who would like a hand with their family tree or would like research done for them. I’m currently doing research for two people and will be starting some for a third person soon.

I love the excitement and discoveries when starting a new tree. Here are some of the things I’ve found so far.

I’ve been researching an English architect and came across the Royal Institute of British Architects. They have a comprehensive database of architects which includes some biographical data. I’ve emailed them and will be ordering some documents soon.

In another family I’m researching I found on a marriage registration in Victoria, Australia that the bride was born in Adelaide, South Australia. This discovery led to finding her birth record, the names of her parents and from there a branch of the family leading back to the Scottish Highlands. In researching this family I came across the Royal Commission On The Ancient And Historical Monuments Of Scotland (RCAHMS) website.

Canmore is the heart of the RCAHMS archive, providing searchable, map-based information on buildings and archaeological sites throughout Scotland.

If you have the name of a house or property in Scotland you can search for it on this website and find out where it was, what parish it was in, the current and former name of the district and the county. On a marriage certificate I had a place name which Google Maps couldn’t locate so I tried it on this site.

I don’t know for sure if this is the right place yet so I’ll keep looking for other sources to disprove or confirm it.

Open House Adelaide – Urrbrae House

May 6, 2013kira0030

I visited Urrbrae House yesterday, as part of the Open House scheme, with my Mum and my grandson Josiah.

http://openhouseadelaide.com.au/content/university-adelaide-urrbrae-house-waite-campus

Urrbrae House was home of Peter and Matilda Waite who came to South Australia from Scotland. The area was named by Robert MacGeorge after his Scottish home town Urr, and the word Brae (meaning the side of a hill).

Urrbrae House home of Peter Waite and family

Grandma Bette and Josiah

I was disappointed that they didn’t have tours running on the day and also that they didn’t state on their website that prams aren’t allowed in the building as the wheels may damage the flooring. I totally understand that however it would be good to state it on their website so that people can make choices accordingly. Gee my back is sore today from carrying Josiah and I’ll bet my Mum’s is too.

Peter Waite

On arrival in Adelaide in 1859 Peter joined his brother James at ‘Pandappa’, a pastoral property near Terowie in the north east of South Australia. Peter quickly adapted to the harsh conditions and in 1862 Thomas Elder offered him the lease of a nearby property, ‘Paratoo’. When James Waite was drowned in 1863, while crossing a flooded creek on horseback, Peter took over both stations. http://waite.adelaide.edu.au/urrbraehouse/pwaite/

Peter Waite

Peter’s connections with the already established and successful South Australian family the Elders, whose business still operates today, gave him an advantage over other Scottish and English immigrants.

More information about the Waites and their contribution to South Australia can be found here- http://waite.adelaide.edu.au/urrbraehouse/pwaite/

I’m learning far more South Australian history now than I ever learned in school!!!!

Electricity

In the late 1880s a major reconstruction and enlargement of Urrbrae House was undertaken and when completed in 1891 it was one of Adelaide’s significant mansions. Peter took a great interest in the décor of the House employing Aldam Heaton from London to advise on the furnishings. Urrbrae House was the first home in Adelaide to have electrical light in 1891 and also a refrigeration system installed in 1895. http://waite.adelaide.edu.au/urrbraehouse/pwaite/

I was fascinated with the early use of electricity in the house. This puts into perspective something I hadn’t thought much about previously. All my ancestors living in South Australia didn’t have electric light in their houses until after 1891.

Le Clanche Batteries

Architecture and Views

In The Classroom

South Australian Women’s Place In History Quilt

South Australian Women’s Place In History Quilt – Kate Cocks

School groups visit the classroom regularly to experience school from a bygone era.

School Desk

Hand Cranked Sewing Machine

Joseph Greenway’s Bible

May 6, 2013May 6, 2013kira0030

I posted on several social media sites that someone had contacted me via this blog before selling Joseph’s Bible on ebay. I’m so glad that they did, I have it now and it is lovely. It isn’t a family Bible with a family tree in the front it is Joseph’s personal Bible. Joseph is my 4x great grandfather.

Bible of Joseph Greenway Snr

The Bible tells me a few things about Joseph.

he was literate
he was a Christian
he marked in the Bible where he had read and marked some passages which were important to him
he is my 4x great grandfather because the inscription says Joseph Greenway Senior
he was living at McCallum’s Creek 11 Nov 1863, I already knew that he lived there this confirms that it is my Joseph

Joseph Greenway’s Bible

The Bible is 150 years old. It is now part of our family heirlooms to be passed down to future generations!!