Tracing Family Branches

 Today’s post involves my 3rd Great Grandparents Henry O’Brien and Anne Smith marriage in Maitland in 1845.  After receiving a transcription of their Marriage registration from NSW Family History Transcriptions , I have now confirmed that they married on the 31st of March 1845 at Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.  Both were Roman Catholics and lived in Maitland at the time of their marriage.  Henry signed with his x mark, so he was more than likely illiterate.  Unfortunately their parents names, ages and occupations are not listed, which I had expected as it is an early church record.  I am hopeful that other family certificates may provide me with more leads on this couple in the future so I can connect more of the dots about their lives. I have previously posted about them here and here . Source:  Marriage registration transcription for Henry O'Brien and Anne Smith.  NSW BDM Marriage Index No. 329/1845 V1845329 94.  Received from ...

 Back in 2013 I discovered that my 3rd Great Grandfather Henry O'Brien committed suicide and so I wrote a post about it here .  Henry's death certificate was one of the ones on my wish list, so when I had the opportunity to order a transcription off my wish list this month his was the one I decided to get. Thanks once again to NSW Family History Transcriptions I am now in a position to update my post on Henry's suicide with information from his death registration transcription (see below). Source: Death registration transcription for Henry O'Brien.  NSW BDM Death Index No. 1863/4696.  Received from  https://nswtranscriptions.com.au/ The informant for Henry's death registration was his son John Thomas O'Brien, who was only sixteen years old at the time.  According to newspaper accounts I found on Trove John, who was a resident of Kains Flat near Mudgee at the time, had discovered his father had taken poison and immediately he went into action.  First ...

My Great Grandmother Bridget Anastasia Donnelly (nee Lambert) was the inspiration for a number of Henry Lawson's works including the one below.                                                                                                 Henry Lawson Source: The Free-Selector's Daughter. (1905, January 18). Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 41. Retrieved August 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71497959 ' When he went back in 1891 to stay for a few weeks with old Harry O'Brien, who had been a mate of his father, and who was the tennant of the Lawson home, he met and became engaged to a niece of O'Brien- Bridget Lambert, who inspired 'The Drover's Sweetheart', 'The Free Selector's Daughter', an...

Doing genealogical research you come across a lot of different 'causes of death' from natural causes and disease through to accidents, murders and suicides.  Today's Trove  article covers a case of suicide, committed by my 3rd Great Grandfather Henry O'Brien in 1863.  It is the first official one I have come across in my personal research so far and was a bit of a surprise as it was not mentioned by other family researchers I have had contact with.  Unlike some others I do not sanitise my family tree, the facts are the facts and while they can be uncomfortable for some descendants they are a part of the family history and I believe should be recorded as accurately as possible. Source: MUDGEE. (1863, July 11). The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), p. 3. Retrieved July 23, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18708458 Transcript: Henry O'Brien, the owner of the property in Perry-street, was found dea...

This weeks Trove Tuesday article really appealed to me, as this type of article can provide you with real little gems of information about the lives and circumstances of family members; the community and times they lived in.  I particularly like the expression  " There is a great nest of Irishmen out here, ". Immigrant settlers forming ethnic pockets within the population is no new phenomenon and one wonders when you hear people complain about more recent immigrants doing so, if they realise many of their ancestors probably did the same thing! Source: THE TRAVELLER. (1896, October 10). Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), p. 22. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111104258 My Great Great Grandfather James Donnelly is mentioned in the article and it helps to provide me with an insight into his life at this time.  ' Mr. O'Halloran has a son a teacher, as has also Mr. Donnelly (who comes from ...