Tracing Family Branches

Reginald F. Pierse was born around 1913 to Edward Pierse and his wife Ellen Jane (nee Flynn).  He died aged seven of bronchial pneumonia in 1920.  My connection to him is that he is my first cousin three times removed. Source: ALL ABOUT PEOPLE. (1920, June 10). The Gundagai Independent and Pastoral, Agricultural & Mining Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1928), p. 2. Retrieved November 28, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123641173 Transcript: Very sad was the death of a bright little lad, Master Reg. Pierse, son of Mr and Mrs. Ned Pierse, of Gundagai.  The little chap had been ill only a short while, and succumbed to an attack of bronchial pneumonia.  Death occurred on Monday.  The boy was 7 years old. NSW BDM Death Indexes 9594/1920  PIERSE  REGINALD F  EDWARD J  ELLEN J  GUNDAGAI Source: NSW BDM Death Indexes.  NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Retrieved from  http://www.bdm.nsw....

Ethel Florence Boyd who was born in 1890 at Rutherglen, Victoria was the daughter of William Leonard Boyd and his wife Elizabeth (nee Worldon).  My connection to her is that she is my first cousin four times removed.  In 1915 Ethel married Arthur Ernest Warby at St. Thomas' Church of England at Narrandera, New South Wales.  Arthur Ernest Warby was the son of James Edward Warby and his wife Sarah (nee Lakeman).  Tragically Arthur's mother Sarah and sister Amy were murdered at Billenbah in 1911.  In 1919 Arthur and Ethel had a daughter Joan Ethel.  Arthur Ernest Warby died in Sydney in 1921 and Ethel Florence Warby in Victoria in 1980. Source: THE Butherglen Sun AND Childern Valley Advertiser. (1915, March 26). Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129456745 Transcript: WEDDING BELLS .- A pretty wedding took place at St. Thomas' Church of...

The only things that my father had belonging to his father was a couple of photographs, some official documents and some of his original poetry.  I have always wondered if he had any of it published but had never found a copy of any of his works anywhere, until today thanks to Trove ! Mervyn James Phillip Donnelly was born at Bourke in 1905 the son of John Joseph Donnelly and his wife Bridget Anastasia (nee Lambert).  John Joseph Donnelly (known as Jack) was a teacher at Yantabulla at the time.  John and his brother James (Jim) had been drovers together and had studied for their teaching qualifications by correspondence.  The Donnelly brothers grew up in the Mudgee, Cooyal area and had another brother Edward who was also a school teacher.  Bridget Lambert, Mervyn's mother had been a school teacher in the 1890's and was once romantically involved with Henry Lawson. Jack and Jim Donnelly were also acquainted with Henry Lawson.  Jim Donnelly married Mary Ann ...

William Henry Bell the son of William Bell and his wife Eleanor (nee Sneed) was born in 1840.  My connection to him is that he is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.  In 1862 he married Catherine Campbell at Berrima.  William died on the 3rd April 1914 at Wingello, New South Wales and was buried at Marulan General Cemetery. Source: Obituary. (1914, April 11). The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press (NSW : 1892 - 1948), p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133369164 Transcript: Obituary. The death occurred suddenly on Friday, 3rd instant, of an old and highly respected resident of the district, Mr. William Bell, of Wingello, at the age of 73.  Deceased was born at Pomeroy, near Goulburn, and was a sawmill proprietor, living at Wattle Farm, Wingello.  He had been complaining of feeling unwell, and previously had medical attention.  Death was due to heart failure  He leaves a wife and large family.  The la...

William Henry Bell the son of William Bell and his wife Eleanor (nee Sneed) was born in 1840.  My connection to him is that he is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.  William died on the 3rd April 1914 at Wingello, New South Wales. Source: Family Notices. (1914, April 7). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved November 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129656536 Transcript: BELL. - At Wingello on the 3rd of April, WILLIAM BELL, formerly of Gundagai, at the age of 74 years. -Inserted by his sister, Mrs. J. B. Worldon. NSW BDM Death Index 8049/1914 BELL WILLIAM WILLIAM ELLEN MOSS VALE Source: NSW BDM Death Index.  NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.  Retrieved from   http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au / Source: Wingello, New South Wales, Australia.  Google Maps.  Retrieved from  https://maps.google.com

Today's Trove Tuesday post involves my grandfather Mervyn Donnelly, he would have been nineteen years old when this occurred. Source: DASHED PAST TRAM. (1925, April 1). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 10. Retrieved November 18, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117452830 Transcript: DASHED PAST TRAM Speeding Motorist Fined "This is a gross offence, and you can consider yourself lucky I have not cancelled your license." said Mr. Laidlaw, S.M., at Newtown Court to-day, when he fined Mervyn Donnelly, of Junction-street, North Sydney, £10 for having driven his motor car past a stationary tram. Constable McLaughlin said that on the night of February 14, while he was doing duty in Parramatta-road, Camperdown, defendant drove past a tram at a speed of about 40 miles per hour.  A passenger had to jump back in order to avoid being knocked down. Mervyn James Phillip Donnelly (1905-1943) His run in with the law obviously had so...

Richard James Bell was born in 1881, the son of William Henry Bell and his wife Catherine (nee Campbell). My connection to him is that he is my first cousin four times removed.  In 1919 Richard married Mary Alice Richmond.  He died in 1935 at Goulburn and was buried at Marulan Cemetery. Source: MR. R. J. BELL. (1935, January 31). Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), p. 2 Edition: DAILY and EVENING. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103380761 Transcript:  MR. R. J. BELL The death occurred suddenly in a Goulburn hospital on Sunday night last of Mr. Richard James Bell, aged  53, of Wattle Farm, Wingello. The late Mr. Bell had been in indifferent health for some time, but was not ad mitted to hospital until the day prior to his death.  He was the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bell, of Wingello, and had resided there all his life. A widow, Mrs. May Bell, formerly Miss May Richmond of Wingello, sur...

Elizabeth was the daughter of James Baker Worldon and Catherine Rhall, she was born in 1850.  My connection with her is that she is my 3rd great grand Aunt.  In 1870 she married William Leonard Boyd in Beechworth, Victoria.  Elizabeth died on the 15th August 1933 at Rutherglen, Victoria. Source: Family Notices. (1933, August 17). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4755904 Transcript: BOYD . - On the 15th August, at her residence, Rutherglen, Elizabeth, loving wife of William L., and devoted mother of William (Sydney), Steve and Charles (Western Australia), Alf  (South Africa), Frank (Frankston), Horace (Horsham), Maud, Olive (Mrs. W.H. Turner), Ethel (Mrs. Warby, England), and Beatrice (Mrs. G.H. Turner), aged 83 years. - At rest. Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922 about Elizabeth Warldon Name: Elizabeth Warldon Birth Date: 1850 Father's Name: James B Warldo...

Today's wedding involves my first cousin four times removed Eliza Ellen Bell.  She married John Robert Casburn in 1900 at Wattle Farm, Wingello. Source: LOCAL AND DISTRICT. (1900, June 30). The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press (NSW : 1892 - 1948), p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article125092082 Transcript: WINGELLO. A pretty wedding took place on the 27th instant at the residence of Mr. William Bell, of "Wattle Farm," Wingello.  The contracting parties were Mr. John Casburn of Canyon Leigh, and Miss Eliza Bell of Wingello.  The Rev. A.R. Shaw of Marulan performed the ceremony.  The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charmingly dressed in cream lustre trimmed with lace and white ribbon, as did the two Misses Bell dressed in pale blue nun's veiling and white hats with chiffon and white feathers, who acted as bridesmaids.  Mr. T. Casburn was best man.  Many handsome and useful present...

I found this story when researching the Worldon branch of my family tree on Trove this week. Source: LOCAL AND GENERAL. (1918, February 22). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 4. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130745655 Transcript: ON Sunday last Mr. J. Worldon and Mr. R. Wells got the fright of their lives.  They were seated at each end of a boat fishing, and had their eyes on their lines, when Mr. Worldon felt something unusually cold on his leg, and to his astonishment noticed a snake coiling round his bare leg.  He called out to his mate, the noise causing the snake to slip over the edge of the boat into the river, much to the delight of the occupants.  Luckily no one was bitten, but the fright they got can be better imagined than described.  It is thought the snake must have swam out and got into the boat thinking it was a hollow log.  Afte...

Sarah Jane Bell was born in 1871, the daughter of William Henry Bell and his wife Catherine (nee Campbell).  My connection with her is that she is my first cousin four times removed.  She died on the 7th March 1927 at the Bowral Hospital. Source: OBITUARY. (1927, March 9). Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), p. 2 Edition: EVENING. Retrieved November 9, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99310893 Transcript: OBITUARY MISS S. BELL, Wingello. Miss Sarah Bell, one of the oldest and best respected residents of Wingello died on Monday.  Her funeral took place at Marulan yesterday.  Death took place at Bowral hospital where she had been an inmate for some months.  Miss Bell had managed a dairy for some years and was popular throughout the district, because of her readiness to assist any good cause or deserving charity.  Two brothers reside in the district. Source: LOCAL AND GENERAL. (1927, March 16). The...

Eleanor Bell (nee Sneed) is my 4th Great Grandmother.  She was born in Sydney in 1820, the daughter of John Sneed and his wife Ann (formerly Puckeridge).  In 1838 she married William Bell and together they had a large family.  William died in 1885 and Eleanor in 1889, they are both buried in the North Gundagai Cemetery. Source: Family Notices. (1889, September 20). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved November 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123806787 Transcript: DEATH. AT the residence of her daughter, Jane Worldon, on September 8th, ELEANOR BELL.  Aged 69 years.   Mother dear, to part from you caused us pain ; But in Heaven we hope to meet again. Inserted by her loving daughters, Jane Worldon and Mary Izzard. NSW BDM Death Index 9890/1889 BELL ELEANOR WILLIAM DIED GUNDAGAI GUNDAGAI  Source: NSW BDM Death Index.  NSW ...

Today's tragic event involves the death of Edwin J. Last, who is my first cousin five times removed.  He was born in 1863, the son of George Last and his wife Ann (nee Costello).  Edwin died  on 26th February 1896 and was buried  in the North Gundagai General Cemetery. Source: The death of Mr. Edwin Last. (1896, February 28). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123567529 Transcript: The death of Mr. Edwin Last. THE news of the death of Mr. Edwin Last, son of Mr. George Last, of Fern Hill, cast a gloom over Gundagai and Tumut and the surrounding district on Tuesday.  It gave a shock to the community, for the news was quite unexpected, and the popularity of the family is widespread.  Eight or none days ago the late Mr. Last was in excellent health and spirits.  Being strong and active and only 31 years...

I came across this tragic story when researching my Great Great Grandfather Edward (Ned) Battye on Trove. Source: The Sad Story of the Lost Child. (1895, July 30). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123786462 Transcript: The Sad Story of the Lost Child. FOUR NIGHTS IN THE KIMO RANGES. FOUND IN THE SNOW. DEAD! The search party came upon the corpse of the lost girl, Ada Florence Field, early on Saturday.  She had been wandering about the Kimo ranges, since Tuesday afternoon, clothed only in a calico chemise and a turkey red pinafore.  She had been barefooted and bareheaded.  Although the weather was bitterly cold she died only on Saturday.  The girl was born on the 18th May, 1888, and was therefore a little over seven years old.  The father, Charles Field, is a prospector.  The mother is dead.  ...

Today's obituary is for my 3rd Great Grand Uncle Alexander McDonnell.  Born in 1841 in New South Wales, to John McDonell and his wife Ann (nee McDonald) who came to Australia from Scotland in 1839 on board the ship Asia .  Alexander married Margaret McInnes in 1871 at Goulburn, New South Wales. Both died at Taralga in New South Wales,  Margaret in 1927 and Alexander in 1931. Source: OBITUARY. (1931, August 28). Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), p. 2 Edition: DAILY and EVENING. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99773310 Transcript: OBITUARY. MR. A. McDONNELL. Mr. Alexander McDonnell, aged 90 a well known resident of Taralga died yesterday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Shanahan of Taralga. The late Mr. McDonnell had been a resident of the Taralga district from boyhood, his parents and family being pioneer settlers.  He married Miss McInnes, of Middle Arm, who predeceased him by about four y...