Meryl Naismith

Meryl has made the first post on her new genealogy blog "Ongoing search for lost or missing stories".

It is her response to the GeniMates profile questions.  Please hop on over to the post to meet my Google+ mate Meryl.

Congratulations on your entrance to the world of geneablogging, Meryl.

Sue Wyatt

Our latest Genimates profile is from one of my newer social media contacts.  As she has just recently retired from teaching and will have a lot of time on her hands I expect we will hear a lot from Sue Wyatt.

Thanks, Sue, for your prompt response to my plea for profiles.

Date: 4 Jan 2012

Name: Sue Wyatt

Hometown: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist?

Hobbyist but have done convict research for people overseas and within Australia

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?

No formal studies but have done database inputting for the Female Convicts Database in Tasmania.

How long have you been chasing ancestors?

A bit over 35 years

How did you get hooked on genealogy?

Doing some research in high school but then starting to ask questions from relatives who knew very little.

What is your day job?

Just retired but doing some Tasmanian eSchool teaching using blogs for global collaborative projects with schools around the world.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?

Probably researching convicts sent to Tasmania in particular.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups:

I was a member of the Tasmanian Genealogy Society but with so much online now, I rarely visit and have let my membership stop.

What are the lands of your ancestors?

Mostly United Kingdom particularly England.

What Family Names are you Researching?

Wyatt, England, Jackson, Chandler, Colgrave, Watkinson, Dixon, Davey, Smith, Swain, Tedman, Boyd

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?

John England because he deserved to be sent out as a convict but he turned his life around once he was a free man again.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?

Whenever I go on a long holiday, I visit U.K and have looked at churches and record offices in many of the counties where my ancestors came from.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?

At the moment, I am enjoying using Trove, the online newspapers in Australia. I have just added more people to my database and am finding some interesting articles about their lives in Australia.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper?

Some parts such as emails or snail mails from relatives.

Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer?

Yes, I use ‘The Master Genealogist’ but I have yet to update to a newer version.

Do you have your tree posted on the internet?

I have some pages of my tree posted on a personal website and some on GenesReunited but as yet, not the whole database on the internet.

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?

Ancestry, Twitter, Google+, Looking4Kin

Do you have a blog?

I have about 8 blogs but none of them relate to genealogy. I am thinking of creating one especially as I have just retired and have more time to give to genealogy. Here is the link to my image blog which also has all other blogs on it.

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?

My main hobbies and interests are genealogy, using the computer, blogging, reading and travelling .

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?

Since travelling around USA/Canada in 2011, I have started reading books by Tony Hillerman about a Navajo detective.

What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?

Sources, sources, keep those sources. Otherwise ‘Live life to the fullest’.

Kathleen Fanning

We move back downunder for our next GeniMates profile.

Kathleen also completed her profile about the time I was setting off overseas so I apologise to Kathleen for sitting on it for quite a while.

I have been following Kathleen's blog for some time now and really enjoy her well-researched and thoughtful posts.

It is an honour to be able to publish Kathleen's profile.

Date July 2011
Name Kathleen Fanning
Hometown NSW Australia
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What is your day job? Teacher

How long have you been chasing ancestors? About four years

How did you get hooked on genealogy?
My father used to tell us about his family when I was growing up and I gradually got more and more interested in my ancestry. I was lucky in that I knew exactly where in Ireland the Fannings came from. A second cousin of mine had also done a family tree and her family still live in the original homestead in Bulla Victoria. They held a family reunion there and had lots of original documents and photos. This kindled my interest. Although thinking about it ,probably the main factor has been the internet. It is now so easy and quick to trace a family history compared with a few years ago. This is especially true with Victorian ancestry.

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
I have taught myself using internet resources and some books.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?
I have specialized in Ireland and particularly North Tipperary around Thurles where my ancestors came from.

What are the lands of your ancestors?
On my father's side they all came from Ireland: Co Tipperary, Co Limerick, Co Galway, Co Down.
On my mother's side they came from England, Scotland and Ireland.

What Family Names are you Researching?
Fannin, Fanning, Sheehan, Hayes, Darmody, Skeehan, Gormley, Collins, Gribben, Dell, McSweeney, Cook, Collier, Knighton, Ledwidge, Ryan, Canavan, Mackey, Glass and more.

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?
One ancestor I am fascinated by is my ggrandmother on my mother's side. Growing up I was told both my ggrandparents had died during the Spanish Flu Epidemic. I had always imagined these very old fairly dowdy people in sensible coats. Then I discovered a photo of my ggrandmother, Annie McSweeney, and she was a stunner ! Nothing like I had imagined. I discovered she had an interesting and wild life having two husbands and having a child to the second while still married to the first. I wish I knew more about her.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
I would like to visit Thurles Co Tipperary as this is where my Fanning ancestors were born and lived and I would also like to visit Cobh which is where they left for the colonies in 1841. I am planning a trip to Ireland in 2012.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
Apart from the internet I use two books a lot: A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland by Brian Mitchell and the Index to the Townlands, and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland 1851. For starting out in Irish ancestry research I recommend John Grenham's Tracing Your Irish Ancestors.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?
Family Tree Maker 2011

Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Ancestry, Twitter, Google+

Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs? www.fanningfamilyhistory.com/

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
Bush regeneration, gardening, kayaking, yoga, reading, photography

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy?
Reading

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

If you have anything else to share please add it below:

I have two trees on Rootsweb World Connect:

My maternal side, Knighton Family Tree
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/wcus?db=knighton_torpey

and my father's ancestry, Fannings From Tipperary
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/wcus?db=fanning-tipp

I also have these trees on Ancestry.com

Peter Stewart

I am extremely grateful when I approach people out of the blue to submit a profile to GeniMates and they respond enthusiastically. I am not known to Peter and was so pleased that he must have checked out this blog and decided that it was safe to respond to me.

Peter, the President of the Campbelltown District Family History Society, is typical of the sort of person I love to profile on GeniMates. He is one of a band of unsung heroes who works in a voluntary capacity to progress the pursuit of genealogy in his local area.

Thank you, Peter, for telling us your story.

Date  May 6,  2011
Name  Peter Stewart
Hometown  Campbelltown, NSW

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Enthusiastic hobbyist

What is your day job?  Caring for Aged and infirm Religious at St Gregory's College Campbelltown, NSW. I am a Marist Brother and for 30 years taught in Catholic Primary Schools in Australia & New Zealand. My last 11 years in education I was a Primary Principal.

How long have you been chasing ancestors? Twenty years

How did you get hooked on genealogy? I had an interest in where my maternal grandfather was born and raised in Yockleton, Shropshire, England and had decided I would visit there if and when I got the chance to travel. I met grandfather's neice who was 96 at the time and wrote to a cousin living in Sydney. Joan suggested that I try and find out about the Simon and Tomlins families before they came to Australia. And as they say, "the rest is history".

When I returned home in 1993 and was telling my sister what I'd discovered she asked what I'd done on Dad's side. I had to admit - nothing. Pat suggested that I contact a 2nd cousin of Dad's in Moree, which I duly did - only to find out that Dorrie had died 3 months before Dad in 1990. Her son contacted me and sent me a copy of all his mother's info. And I went from there with the Jurd Family, my paternal grandmother's maiden name. With some 500 names recorded I mused on what I would do with them. Having seen a couple of family historys that had been produced around the time of Australia's Bicentennary and realising that 2002 was the 200th Anniversary of the arrival of Daniel Judd/Jurd, a convict, in August of that year, I sussed out a few opinions on trying to put the info I had into a booklet. Like topsy, it just grew. The book, "To Live On In The Hearts And Minds Of Descendants Is To Never Die" was launched at the reunion on the 200th Anniversary with some 8,600 descendant names recorded, and where possible stories told.

I was asked at the Reunion, "Well what now?" 'The Descendants of Daniel and Elizabeth Jurd nee Douglas  Association' was formed at the reunion. I've continued researching and writing and we've planned a 200th Wedding Anniversary Reunion for the weekend of 28-30 September 2012 at Windsor. Elizabeth was the daughter of First Fleeters, William Douglas and Mary Groves.

There are currently in excess of 13,600 descendants on my database, along with many more stories, facts etc. There will be a 2nd edition of the book launched at that reunion.

I get really excited when I hear from those connected with the family or who have an interest in this particular family. 

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? I have no formal training in genealogy. I regulary attend meetings of the Windsor Family History Group and the Campbelltown District Family History Society. I have had an immense amount of assistant from fellow researchers.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy? Enthusiasm for genealogy. Love to ferret out info where possible as time permits.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups. January 2003 joined the Windsor Family History Group and attend monthly meetings as often as possible - usually each month.

June 2003 - joined Campbelltown District Family History Society Inc. July 2003 was elected as Treasurer, August 2008 was elected as President. I conclude my time as President in August this year.

What are the lands of your ancestors? England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Australia.

What Family Names are you Researching? Began researching the Tomlins & Simon Families, then the Stewart line.

Currently working on Jurd, Stewart, Walters, Walker, Fernance, Thompson, Bailey and associated families.

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? Elizabeth Jurd, the Currency Lass. Elizabeth was only 16 when she married in 1812 and Daniel was 32. She was one amazing woman. Daniel died in August 1833 leaving her with 9 children, the youngest was 7 months old. She not only raised her family but also cared for several orphans. I see her as a woman of great strength, practical, compassionate, a woman of love and generosity. She suffered the death of 3 children in 1856 within a few months.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Colsterworth - where Mary Groves grew up, Lincolnshire where William Douglas came from and track down where Daniel Jurd hailed from. I don't know much about their lives before they were transported as convicts.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy? BDM's, Ancestry and Ryerson Index

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?  Family Tree Maker for Windows

Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
If Yes What is the URL?  Genes Reunited - a basic tree

What Social Networking Sites do  you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Genes Reunited

Do you have a blog?  No

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?  Long car drives, cooking, cake decorating; spending quality time with friends and family

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Driving

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?  Not a good reader so don't have a favourite book.

What is your personal philosophy in a few  words ? To live a happy fulfilling life, being caring and helpful to people. Trying to keep healthy

If you have anything else to share please add it below. Would love to hear from ANYONE who is related to the JURD Dynasty or who knows any of the Jurd and associated families. Feel free to put them in contact with me please.

Sharon Brennan

Our next post is from another New South Welshman and  an old mate of mine. I first met Sharon Brennan  when I conducted an internet workshop in Coffs Harbour for teacher librarians many moons ago. Since then we have kept in contact via various online tools. Not only is Sharon a connected teacher librarian she is also a committed family historian who uses a range of 21st century tools to enhance her research.

Sharon is the author of two family history books:

Crossing the seas to build a future : twelve generations of the Seabrook family 2005

Kilronan to Franklin and beyond: the story of Dr. William Lee Dawson and his descendants  1992

Date 11 March 2011


Name Sharon Brennan (Moore)


Hometown Wallangarra, Queensland


Are you a hobbyist or professional genealogist? Hobbyist

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research? I have a Graduate Diploma in Local and Applied Studies from the University of New England.
I have just enrolled in the Australian Records Certificate Course from the National Institute of Genealogical Studies from the University of Toronto. (Think I'll need to sleep less to find time to finish it.)


What is your day job? Teacher Librarian


How long have you been chasing ancestors? Since I was 10


How did you get hooked on genealogy? My aunt began researching when I was 10 years old and each time I saw her she'd fill me in on her latest finds. After I married, my husband and I walked through the local cemetery and found 2 baby girls who shared his surname. Of course I wanted to know who they belonged to. We purchased their death certificates and off I went on a journey that is still going today.


What are your areas of expertise in genealogy?  I have never really given this some thought. Can persistence and perseverance be called areas of expertise? I love the challenge and the hunt. Years of researching has given me the skills I think to know where to go to next and how to fill in the story. I enjoy internet research.


Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups I have at various times been a member of the following societies and groups:

Bourke Family History Society
Armidale Family History Group
Tamworth and District Family History Group
Coffs Harbour District Family History Society
Newcastle Family History Society
Society of Australian Genealogists


What are the lands of your ancestors? Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England and Scotland. My husband adds German to our children's ancestry.


What Family Names are you Researching? Agnew, Allsop, Birt, Brennan, Cleary, Davenport, Dawson, Fleming, Flynn, Giles, Glock, Halloran/O'Halloran, Hannah, Harrison, Henry, Hope, Kerr, Key, Lagan, Lee/Ley, McColm, McElwee, McInerney, Merchant, Milroy, Moore, Mylan/Moylan, Odgen, Perrott/Parrot, Prince, Ryan, Scheef, Seabrook, Smail, Spatch/Spetch, Squires, Tobin, Waters, White.


Who is your favourite ancestor? Why? It's difficult to choose a favourite ancestor, but I think I would have to choose Dr William Lee Dawson, my great great grandfather. He was born in 1817 in Ireland and studied in Dublin to become a doctor. He worked as a surgeon on a packet ship around the Carribean and then came to Hobart Town as the surgeon aboard the Mooltan which arrived in 1854.
I am very grateful to have the following documents that belonged to him:
* a sheet of paper detailing his birth in 1817
* copies of many certificates pertaining to his medical studies
* a diary written by him while he was a surgeon sailing to the Carribean and then again to Hobart Town
* his notebooks which contained notes of the day to day running of his life as a country doctor
* a large portrait of him in his uniform (found in the back of a cow shed)
* his surgeon's amputation saw

After writing all this I think of others who perhaps should have been mentioned.
e.g. My gggg grandmother Hanorah Flynn who came to Ausralia in 1826 with a young family to join her convict husband Patrick. What courage that must have taken!


What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why? Last year I went to Ireland and Britain and managed to visit a few places where ancestors lived. I can't wait to go back to Bellaghy (in the heart of IRA territory during the Troubles) and Ballymoney both in Northern Ireland, Dublin and London and Cork and Cootehill and Stranraer and and and........


What is your favourite resource for genealogy? At the moment it is the internet as I really don't have time to visit because I live too far away from archives and repositories. I quite like Ancestry but don't like the family trees full of errors.


Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes


Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes


What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree? Reunion for Mac but am seriously looking at The Next Generation. Perhaps that's a Christmas holiday job.


Do you have your tree posted on the internet? No


What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy? Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, LinkedIn, Twitter


Do you have a blog? Yes


What are your blogs' URLs? http://genealogymatters2me.blogspot.com/


What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests? Is there really time for anything else?????


What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy? Reading


What is your favourite (non-genealogy) book? I've had to think too long for this question so there mustn't be a favourite. I read lots of books for my day job as a teacher librarian.