Newsletter for September 2017 In this issue

Maitland & Beyond Family History Society Inc. Newsletter for September 2017 In this issue General Meetings.... 1 Opening Hours... 1 Membership... 1 Membership Renewals... 1 Membership Cards... 1 Fundraising... 1 BBQ at Bunnings... 1 Table Magnifier... 1 Mugs... 1 Library Bags... 2 USB Drives... 2 Future Fund Raising... 2 Website... 2 BDA-online & Findmypast... 2 Library... 2 Death of a member s parent... 3 Peek into the Past... 3 Rookwood Cemetery Presentation... 3 Jewish Cemetery Tour... 4 Upcoming Events... 4 BBQ Bunnings... 4 Rookwood Open Day... 4 Research Requests... 4

Other Events.... 5 Windows into Wartime... 5 NSW & ACT Family history conference... 5 Maitland Passchendaele Centenary... 6 The Opening of Maitland s Own... 6 Exhibition... 6 Maitland s Own Exhibition... 6 Armidale 2017 Annual Seminar... 7 Back to Gresford Day... 7 It s a Riot... 8 Dixon Family Reunion... 8 Congress 2018... 8 Glen Innes Conference... 8 Maitland Regional Museum... 9

General Meetings. The next General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 26 September at 6.30 pm. please come along and support your Society. Opening Hours The opening hours are:- Wednesdays 9:30 am. to 3 pm. Saturdays 9:30 am. to 3 pm. Membership The following are new members who have joined or re-joined since the June newsletter. Hayden Osborn, Christine Lee, Peter Purdon, Judi Purdon Diane Price, Paul Murray, Lyn Hancock Chris Daly, Janelle Cooper Jenny Winsor. Membership Renewals Membership renewal was due by 30 June 2017 for the financial year 2017-2018. Single Membership $45, Pensioner/Student $40, Family $65, Junior under 16 yrs. $5. Payment can be made by payment at the Barracks or by Bank Transfer Account Name: Maitland & Beyond Family History Inc. BSB: 721-000 Account Number: 100032654 If sending payment by Direct Bank Deposit please include your name as the Reference so that we can identify your payment. Fundraising BBQ at Bunnings For those who would like to assist at our next BBQ on Friday 13-10-2017 the sheet is available at the Barracks for personal completion or email availability to the secretary MBFH and your details will be added. Table Magnifier The Society has only one Table Magnifier left for sale. The magnifier have a magnification of 3.5 and LED lighting. The cost is $25.00. When sold out, we will be out of stock until more become available again. Mugs Only those members who have renewed their membership will continue to receive Newsletters, notices, etc. Membership Cards Membership cards for 2017 2018 are now available for members who have renewed their membership. Page 1

The Society has the above mugs with the society s new logo for sale. The cost is $10.00 Library Bags BDA-online & Findmypast As well as Ancestry we now have subscriptions to BDA-online and Findmypast. Access to these are available at the Barracks free as part of your membership. Library The books in the library are available to all members to read in the library or to take out on loan. Some special reference books are restricted. The Society has the above library bags with the society s new logo for sale. The cost is $10.00. USB Drives The Society also has for sale 8GB USB Drives for $9.00. These above items are available from the office. Future Fund Raising - In future we are considering the following as fund raising items - Aprons, Max shopping bags, tea towels, bucket hats all with our logo on. Any other fund raising suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Website Have you visited our new website? Our website has been up and running for a while now and Kerry Farley is doing a great job, so stop by and have a look. www.mbfh.org.au The electronic newsletters sent to us this month have been emailed out to all members. We are now receiving very few journals or newsletters in the mail as most are being sent electronically There have been 6 books donated to the library this month by a society. They are:- The Hunter by Scott Bevan Archaeology of the Dreamtime Australia's First Lady; the story of Elizabeth Macathur Country Sketchbook of Dubbo and District My Dear Miss Macarthur. Recollections of Emmeline Macarthur 1828-1911 A Voyage to Australia ; The Private Journal of James Bell on the Planter in 1838-1839 Page 2

giving out our pamphlets and inviting them to come and see us or come and see at the Barracks. There were not as many people attended this year, people were still interested on what we had to offer. Diane Blishen brought her information on land entitlement and was able to show people where their forbearers lived. Mark Farley was able to help a few people with information on their families enquiries. Death of a member s parent With great sadness we notify members of the passing of Kevin Farley, the father of one of our members Mark Farley, who passed away last month. To Mark. Kerry and family the society sends its sincere sympathy. Peek into the Past Rookwood Cemetery Presentation Tocal Sunday 30 July Maitland & Beyond Family History were invited to have an information stall at this year s Peak into the Past Sandi Earle, coordinator at Tocal Homestead. We were allocated an area in The Convention Centre (which was the old wool shed). Dawn Chapman was dressed as a convict and Maree Farrelly dressed as a lady of the time walked around the area This presentation was given by Mark Bundy the Operations Manager from Rookwood Cemetery. His presentation included:- An overview of Rookwood s timeline over the last 150 years. Rookwood Mortuary Station and the link between the two. Notables of interred at Rookwood. Page 3

Jewish Cemetery Tour August 20 2017 Jewish Cemetery off Louth Park Road Upcoming Events BBQ Bunnings Friday 13 October 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Friday 8 December 2017 If you can assist with any of the upcoming BBQs please advise the Society. Rookwood Open Day Maitland City Council organised an open day and walk around the cemetery. The tour was booked out days after opening as there were limited number. It was well attended by the Jewish community from various areas and the Maitland community The former Jewish Synagogue, located on the corner of Church Street and Ken Tubman Drive Maitland, was generously made available by Chromis Occupational Medicine for the tour group to visit. Chromis also provided refreshments for the group. The next open day for Rookwood Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney is having an open day on 24th September, 2017 10am to 3pm. The proposed bus trip to this event has been cancelled due to insufficient numbers. Research Requests The following are research requests that we have received since the last newsletter. If you have information on any of the requests please contact Chris Barrett via an email to the society. Interested in research on George Frederick Rowland, his son George Page 4

Henry Rowland and his wife Annie Therese Nagle and grandson Ivan Ernest Rowland. They all lived in Maitland for a time. As well as information, the enquirer is also looking for any articles or pictures if they exist. Information requested on John (William John) Evans and Eliza (Hynecyne/Hymogen) English who, according to children s birth certificates, married in Maitland in 1880. Children were George Hynecyne Fitzroy Evans, born 1881 in Sydney and William John Evans born 1882 in Sydney. John Evans and Eliza English apparently separated, with John spending time in Victoria and Eliza? married a man named Edwards and had spent time in New Zealand. Requesting information on the Holcombe/Holcome/Holme family. Richard Holme married Fanny Rotton and they had a daughter Harriet Holcome. Enquirer is mostly interested in Harriet, her husband Charles Cameron Joseph Holcombe and their descendants. Photos of headstone for Charles Henry Mitchell (died 1907) and his wife Honora Gertude (died 1936), both buried Anglican section at Campbell s Hill Cemetery. (This has been done) Request for any information on Catherine McDuff who married George Heinrich Victor Beckman. They married in Sydney in 1854 Page 5 and had four children. Catherine died in Parramatta Asylum in 1869. Would also like to know more about the Beckmann s who lived in Maitland and what is known of their German origins. Seeking information on John Sullivan who married Mary Duignam (Dignan, Duigham/Duignan) and the years they spent in the Maitland District. They married in St Mary s Catholic Church, Sydney in 1851 with some children being born in Maitland before John and family headed north, possibly as far as Queensland Other Events. Windows into Wartime State Records have an exhibition of Windows into Wartime: Home front insights through the lens of NSW Government photographers. This exhibition is free at the Western Sydney Records Centre until 9 September 2017. NSW & ACT Family history conference The 2017 NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies Conference will be held at Orange on 22 23 September 2017. The organizers will be presenting their Program 2017 NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies Conference with the theme Your Family Story: telling, recording and preserving.

Highlights include opening the cage on your jailbird ancestors, telling your family story through food, dating Australian portraits through dress, Chinese connections and guest speaker author William McInnes. There is also an exciting program of workshops with experts covering everything from writing to DNA, preservation, photography and copyright. With the exception of the Conference Dinner all events will be held in Orange s Cultural Precinct on the corner of Byng Street and Lords Place (Orange Civic Theatre/Orange City Library/Orange Regional Museum/Orange Regional Gallery). For more information and registration form go to the website: https://yourfamilystoryinorange. wordpress.com/ The Opening of Maitland s Own Exhibition An exhibition honouring our 34 th Battalion veterans, nurses and the war effort at home. Exhibition to be opened by CHRISTINE BRAMBLE Christine Bramble is a freelance historian and the author of Sisters of the Valley: First World War Nurses from Newcastle and the Hunter Region. FRIDAY 29 th SEPTEMBER @ 6.00 for 6.30 pm At Brough House, 73 Church St, Maitland $10/head includes wine/juices & finger food For Bookings: Phone 02 49334450 Email: maitlandrmuseum@gmail.com or janece.mcdonald@newcastle.edu.au RSVP: 24 th SEPTEMBER, 2017 Maitland s Own Exhibition Maitland Passchendaele Centenary From late September 2017 there will be a number of events and exhibitions to mark 100 years since the Battle of Passchendaele. The 34 th Battalion, known as Maitland s Own fought in Flanders and was at the front of the charge on 12 th October 1917. There were high casualties. Maitland will remember Passchendaele in order to remember the impact of World War 1. Visit the Facebook page https://facebook.com/groups/passchenda ele.maitland.centenary/ HONOURING OUR 34 th BATTALION VETERANS, NURSES & THE WAR EFFORT AT HOME Open FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS 10.00 am 3.00 pm 30 th SEPTEMBER to 26 th NOVEMBER 2017 At BROUGH HOUSE, 73 Church St., Maitland Page 6

Contributions of artefacts, memorabilia, stories and photographs have been loaned by the veteran s families and the Australian War Memorial. Much of this material has not previously been on public display. Entry will be by gold coin or donation (School children free). Groups are very welcome and exhibition open at other times by appointment. Morning Tea can be provided @ $6/head. For Group Bookings: Phone 02 49334450 Email maitlandrmuseum@gmail.com OR janece.mcdonald@newcastle.edu.au The theme of the seminar is AN AMAZING RESOURCE OUR FEMALE ANCESTORS These are the following speakers and their topic:- Not Just Pin Money: Colonial Women in Business Dr. Catherine Bishop Go Bush Young Lady or Get Out Graham Wilson OAM Difficult times for our Pioneer Women Jillian Oppenheimer, OAM Challenging Women?: Living Alone on the early 20th Century Australian Frontier Dr. Catherine Bishop Cost: $35.00 or $60.00 for a couple R.S.V.P. by 16 October 2017 For further enquiries please phone Margaret 0408415462 or Diane (02) 6771 4681 Back to Gresford Day When: Sunday 22 October 2017 Where: Gresford District Historical Society Museum Grounds. Gresford Road next to the Sportsground. Armidale 2017 Annual Seminar Armidale Family History will be presenting their annual seminar on Saturday 21 October 2017 9.15 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. at the Research Centre Kentucky Street, Armidale. Registration 9.15 a.m. - 9.45 a.m. Help celebrate early settlement in the Gresford Area, the pioneer years and throughout time. Meet some of the pioneering families like George Townsend, Charles Boydell and Alexander Park. St. Helen s Catholic Church celebrates 150 years with a church service at 11:30 am Page 7

There are a variety of stall and displays. For more information contact George Sales 49389 9639 It s a Riot Commemorate the lives of the Parramatta Female Factory Women on the day the convict women downed tools and broke out for freedom into Parramatta Town 190 years ago. When: Friday 27 October 2017 Where: Parramatta Female Factory site at Cumberland Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry Building Fleet Street, North Parramatta. This is a rare opportunity to explore this glorious Governor Macquarie & Francis Greenway site once home to at least 5000 of the 24,960 convict women transported beyond the seas & from whom an estimated 1-5 to 1-7 Australians are descended! Join a guided tour of the site with its beautiful sandstone buildings, hear the inspiring & touching stories of the women s lives, learn about their survival and legacy and much more! Displays from 10am - 3pm include: models of the factory site 1818-1838; site history & women s stories as well as archaeology from the recent North Parramatta site dig by Casey & Lowe (Archaeology & Heritage). * BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL FOR TOURS - 10:00 am and 1:00pm * BOOKINGS OPEN 1 st September 2017 online *EVENTBRITE: https://www.facebook.com/events/4690 21826787685 Shuttle Bus from Parramatta to Parramatta Leagues Club short walk up to Fennel St and walk down to 2 nd gate on left in Fleet Street. Off street parking only and limited. Dixon Family Reunion The Descendants of Frederick Horatio and Jane (Nee Eckford) Dixon are holding a family reunion at Maitland on 25 November 2017 to celebrate the 200 th Anniversary of Fred arriving in Australia. Some of the associated families are Baker, Bell, Black, Capp, Cliff, Coward, Eckford, Gallen, Hills, Mitchell, Muirhead, Paterson, Suters, Tait, Volmer and Walters. Contact Allan Shepherd 0419 601 226 or email alshep724@gmail.com Congress 2018 The Society of Australian Genealogists is hosting the next Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry at the International Convention Centre Darling Harbour Sydney on Friday 9 to Monday 12 March 2018 Further information can be obtained at www.congress2018.org.au Glen Innes Conference The Glen Innes & District Historical Society invites you to their conference with the theme Many Cultures Our History over the week-end of March 16-18, 2018. Page 8

The following are the presenters and their topics with more to be added:- Harry White Aboriginal language Janis Wilson OAM Local Chinese history and other migration. William Oates and Graham Wilson OAM Historic Gardens of New England John Graham Linking History with Genealogy Research Graeme Hosken - World War 1 in 1918 Greg Alder on getting the message out there, promotion, advertising, inspiration. Friday night welcome at their museum The Land of the Beardies History House Museum and Research Centre in Ferguson Street and Saturday and Sunday will be at the Services Club in Grey Street Glen Innes. Please go along and support the Museumlearn about Les Darcy's musical talent, Maitland s 1860 religious riot, see an alleged murder weapon and much more. You are also invited to become a MRM member or volunteers there are many interesting and varied tasks awaiting an eager volunteer. Also housed in Brough House is the Clothing Museum. Both Museums work collaboratively and both displays can be seen when visiting. For more information contact the museum on 02 49334450 Maitland Regional Museum Maitland Regional Museum is now open in Brough House, 73 Church St. Maitland (next to Pender Place). This is the first step in the attainment of a bespoke Regional Museum for Maitland. MRM Committee meetings are held in Brough House the first Wed each month and all are welcome. MRM Open: Sat & Sundays 10.00-3.00 pm or by appointment. Group visits can be arranged-including MT, lunch or AT and optional tours of Grossmann House-disability access available. Page 9