~ June 2008 ~  

MEETING DATES 2008

Meeting held 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10am in the Tebbutt Room, Windsor Library

INFORMATION

BLUE MOUNTAINS FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC SEMINAR 2008

Seminar titled Ancestors – “Where Do I Find Them” will be held on Saturday, 26 July 2008 at Springwood Baptist Church Hall, 313 Macquarie Road, Springwood from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Cost is $25 covers lunch morning/afternoon teas. Topics include: How to use the NAA for Research; Researching Military History; Unearthing Treasures from NSW Land Records & Researching Immigration. Send your name & address with payment to the BMFHS, PO Box 97, Springwood 2777.

DNA RESOURCES

Researchers involved in DNA Resources may be interested in The Family History Resources website which Jonathan Auld has recently been updated with details of DNA Resources http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/familyhistory/dna.html that include descriptions of the different types of DNA tests available,Y-chromosome and mtDNA. Hopefully this resource will go some way in helping to clarify some the mysteries surrounding DNA tests for family historians. As part of this new resource we have also started a new DNA project called the Hawkesbury DNA Project. Anyone who has a connection with a Hawkesbury Pioneer and have had their DNA tested, are invited to join the group. Details and links to the group are available on the site.

NEW INDEX ONLINE TO TICKET OF LEAVE PASSPORTS

Index to Ticket of Leave Passports 1835-69 now available to Search online at http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/indexes_online_3357.asp Ticket of Leave Passports  (11,145 entries) allowed convicts holding tickets of leave to travel between certain points, visit a certain place or to attend the city markets for a specified period of time. The indexing of the Ticket of Leave Passports, 1835-69 is now complete thanks to the efforts of State Records' Volunteers!

'BRITISH NEWSPAPERS 1600-1900'

Researchers may be interested in accessing the 'British newspapers 1600-1900' full-text database which is available via the State Library of NSW. This is an extremely valuable resource so do take advantage of it. You are supposed to be a registered SLNSW reader. The link takes you to the catalogue record, then select Connect to database. Registered NSW residents may log in from home.
http://library.sl.nsw.gov.au/search?/XBritish newspapers&SORT=D/XBritish newspapers&SORT=D&SUBKEY=British newspapers/1,150,150,E/frameset&FF=XBritish newspapers&SORT=D&5,5, 
(make sure you add this to your favourites so you don't have to type it in more than once!!) You can access the database direct in the Hawkesbury library on our PCs . If you want to access from home you need to be registered with a Readers Card (which is FREE) see http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/using/access/register_card.html 
It is a great database and very useful. It features full text searching of national & regional newspapers from the British Isles, newsbooks and ephemera and covers the 1600-1900.

REUNIONS

Ryan family reunion - 20 & 21 September 2008 

A Gathering is being planned in Windsor of the descendants of Patrick John Ryan (1866-1930) and his wife Ada Margaret (nee Blanchard) (1872-1950) on the weekend of 20 & 21 September, 2008. Patrick &  Ada Ryan lived in Freemans Reach in the latter years of their lives. Activities will include a Dinner on Saturday night and a Family Picnic on Sunday at the Freemans Reach Hall. Enquiries to Betty Hargreaves (nee Pike) tel 02 4731-1263 or Jan Chivers tel 02 6342-2270 or e-mail janchivers@hotmail.com

Cavanough Memorial Plaque – 20 September 2008

Just a reminder to ask if you would put an add in the Family Newsletter - re our unveiling the plaques on Owen & Margarets headstone at Sackville Reach on Saturday 20th September. This headstone is the one the Cavanoughs put there in 1988 - original headstone at Ebenezer and the First Fleet Plaques are supplied by the First Fleet Association. Please meet at 11.30 am meet at the Cemetery on Tizzana Road. Bring picnic lunch + B.Y.O. everything. Further details from: Pat Holdorf, 85 James Street, Punchbowl NSW 2196 or email p1234@tadaust.org.au 

HOW I GOT STARTED ON FAMILY HISTORY?

If you would like to submit an item for How I got started on family history?  for inclusion the newsletter, send to the address below or email michelle.nichols@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

NEW LOCAL STUDIES ITEMS

New Local Studies items now available to consult in the Local Studies Collection at Hawkesbury Central Library. To check the Library catalogue online go to http://catalogue.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/amlibweb/

More lonely graves of Western Australia / COATE shelved at RL994.1009922 COA

The War with Johnny Boer : Australians in the Boer War 1899-1902 / CHAMBERLAIN shelved at RL968.048 CHA

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 at Windsor & 4578 2002 for Richmond bookings.

Hawkesbury Family History Resources ~ http://familyhistory.hawkesbury.net.au/

Women Convicts Assignment Report 1798 by Cathy Dunn ~ www.ulladulla.info/historian/1798.pdf

CELTIC HERITAGE TOURS

A reminder there are 2 Celtic Heritage Tours in August and September 2008 this year in conjunction with the Australian Genealogical Education Centre & Kiama Family History Centre, lead by Ray Thorburn, past director of the centre. SCOTLAND and another to WALES & SOUTHERN ENGLAND. See www.guideposttours.com.au/celtic-heritage for full tour itineraries. Phone 1300 733323

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