~11th August 2004 ~  

MEETING DATES 2004

Every 2nd Wednesday commencing at 10am, Tebbutt Room, Windsor Central Library, Dight Street, Windsor.

INFORMATION

OBITUARY - LAURIE HESSION

Laurie Hession died Saturday 17th July 2004 following an illness. A full obituary will appear in the next Hawkesbury Crier - September 2004. Laurence Hession was born in 1923 at his parents home in Nelson. He learnt to read and write at Rouse Hill Public School. He married Daphne Vaughan, a farmer's daughter from Pitt Town and had two sons and two daughters and they all are married and he was blessed with 14 grandchildren. His great grandparents arrived in Sydney from Tuam, County Galway Ireland in 1841. They lived for some years at Pitt Town before settling down at Nelson in the mid 1850s. Laurie wrote once "I caught the virus (family history bug) way back in 1972, this affected me and night for some years, but of late, the attacks are mostly at night and do not occur as often as they used to…" He was a retired poultry farmer, but still helped out on his son's farm. He helped Arthur Brown with the publication "A Battle against the odds..." (1990) with info on Ryan, Smith, Mason & Hession families. He also had his own private musuem & collected many local history artefacts over the years. He kept himself busy writing local history & generally was occupied with several projects. Community-wise he was very involved with the bushfire brigade. Only recently he assisted with writing the history of St. John's Catholic Church, Riverstone, where he attended for his whole life. His family connections were Hynds, Lynn, Norris, Mason, Smith, White & Hession. The funeral took place on 22 July 2004 & was well attended. Several of the HFHG members were in attendance.

DO YOU HAVE A RESEARCH PROBLEM? CAN WE HELP YOU?

At our meeting on the 8 September the topic will be "Solve your family history problems" We are inviting members & friends to let us know of some of the queries they have in regards to their family history research. It may be you have got to a certain point & are stuck. Perhaps there are some certain records you would like to use but are unsure what they contain. Can we help you? It can be simple or difficult (we will see what we can do.The panel will include MICHELLE NICHOLS, LESLEY UEBEL, JOHN JONES & JOHN NORRIS. So bring along your queries or let me know by Phone 02 4560-4466 email mnichols@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or post PO Box 146, Windsor 2756 NSW or any of the panel above.

GRO ON-LINE CERTIFICATE ORDERING

The GRO has started a trial for on-line ordering from outside the UK.
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate/index.asp#0 "Following the successful launch of the on-line ordering site for residents of the United Kingdom we are now ready to offer this service to customers residing outside of the UK. Initially it will be on a trial basis, allowing us to test & monitor the success of this expansion to our service."

Read the details covering the charges involved. Under "Certificate ordering service" it states The General Register Office (GRO) holds a central copy of all registrations for England and Wales. Local Register Offices also hold records of events registered in their area. Importantly, for recent events registered within the last 18 months, applications for certificates should be made to the Register Office in the district where the birth, death or marriage took place. The Online Service has now been extended to customers worldwide following the success of a pilot service for UK residents. You will need - One of the following valid credit or debit cards Visa, Mastercard etc. Full name and postal address, An e-mail address, Details of the registration event you are applying for - e.g. birth, death, marriage or adoption. If you are using the site for the first time you will need to complete the registration process. You will only need to go through this process the first time you use the system. Alternatively you can register as a guest user. If this option is selected, your details will not be stored for future visits to the site. Ready carefully the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS at http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/faqs.asp this should assist with most enquiries.

REMINDERS

HAWKESBURY CRIER - INCREASE

Please note as of the September issue of the Hawkesbury Crier, the price will now be $2.50 per issue or $18 per annum.

JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY REUNION

Held at Coffs Harbour on 19th September for 1st Fleeter John Nichols & Ann nee Pugh. Contact Robyn Condliffe 28 Sandpiper Crescent, Boambee East 2452 (02) 66533615 condliffe@smartchat.net.au

RESEARCH WIDELY

It is particularly useful when undertaking any research to read widely about a subject and delve into a range of material. Family History is no different and there are a wide range of subjects that family historians are interested in as a result of their research. Check the catalogue at http://catalogue.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/amlibweb/ for more information. Lending items can be reserved online (if you are a member and have pin) If you would like a pin number see library staff or ring 4560-4460. The following items may be of interest :-

Women on the Rocks : a tale of two convicts / WILLIAMSON (fictionalised but well researched) ~ F WILL

It happened at school / McPherson ~ 379.944 MCP

Telling tales out of School / McPherson ~ 379.944 MCP

SURFING THE INTERNET……. SITES FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS

Members with internet access should check out the following interesting sites. The Library has free access to the internet, contact 4560 4460 for bookings. Richmond also has access, for bookings phone 4578 2002.

Statistical Accounts in Scotland (1791-5 & 1845) Log in as non-academic user & choose the tab for parish list, & year ~ http://edina.ac.uk/statacc/

Chinese Australians: Guide to NAA holdings in NSW & Guide for tracing Chinese ancestors ~ www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/naa.shtml www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/pdf/IRA_Guide.pdf

Chinese migration and settlement in New South Wales ~ http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/publications/aibs/033/page02.htm

Online Parish Registers for Dockland ancestors (Londond UK) more added!!! ~ http://www.parishregister.com/

St. John's Catholic Church, Riverstone ~ http://www.freshstartsydney.com/rivgrp/stjo/Church_History.html

St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Windsor ~ http://www.ceo.parra.catholic.edu.au/stmatthews/Schinfo/history/church.htm

St. Stephen's Church, Kurrajong ~ http://www.kac.asn.au/

St. John's, Wilberforce ~ http://www.stjohnswilberforce.com/

~Let us know of sites,that you have tried with (or without)success~