Letters to the Editor Page 9
Any information that comes in regarding any of the Letters to the Editor will be passed on
to the article submitter.
L 84 March 5th 2010
Hi Trevor
I noticed your article in the Scots Magazine.It sounds like a great project and I am happy to contribute in any way.Both my wife and I have Scottish ancestors and I have done a lot of research on the families and their time in Australia.My wife's great x 2 grandmother was a Catherine MacQuarie,who was born on the Isle of Ulva in 1804.Her family was related to Governor MaQuarie.Catherine's husband Donald Mc Donald died about 1847 and after the clearances Catherine brought her 10 children to Australia in the early 1850's settling down in Branxholme in Western Australia.A lot has been written about the family.
For myself my ansestors include my great grandmother Mary Ann Gunn who was part of the Gunn family now making a name for themselves in Tasmania.
Letter kindly submitted by;John Bird,Scotland
L85 March 1st 2010
Dear Trevor
Your piece in a Scottish publication was passed to me from our UK Clan Chisholm.I am Secretary of the Clan Chisholm here in Australia and we have an active Clan Group.
Currently there are just below 100 members,we meet annually in various parts of the east coast (Gouldburn on 13/14th March this year).
Many of us come from families who were pioneers in Australia and we have produced a book on many of these families,which is now out of print.We also have connections for members to an extensive genealogy database held in the UK.
Letter kindly submitted by;Carolyn Chown,Secretary of Clan Chisholm Society,Australia
L 86 March 5th 2010
Dear Trevor
I read your letter in the March Scots Mag with interest.
My Grandfather was a William Wallace,whose home was in Arbroath and who died in 1915,having returned from South Africa where he was a mining engineer.He had several sons and daughters-two of whom were twins-my mother Janet (died in 1957) and Herbert.Another brother,William (Uncle Willie),with whom my mother corresponded,emigrated to Sydney in the early 1920's for health reasons (gas in the war).I believe he had two sons but I have no names.I was in Sydney for the New Year in 2000 and noted lots of Wallaces in the Tel Directory.I would be most apprechiative if you can point me in the right direction to trace these sons/descendants.
Letter kindly submitted by;John Black,Scotland
L 87 March 16th 2010
Dear Trevor
I was given a piece out of our local paper,The Gympie Times.I realise this is about 2 months later,sorry and I hope it is okay to reply.
I have been researching my family history for several years without much success.I only have scant details but,a link to Scotland.
My mother was a Swan.Her grandmother was a Moar and they came from Orkney,Scotland.That is all I have so far on the Moars,exept the spelling of the name,Moar/e.I have it both ways.My mother said she was clan McQueen also,so I don't know if that is the Moars or not.My family is small and no one alive to help,and mum has dementia.I would love to know more-Still searching.
Letter kindly submitted by;Gwendolyne Rogers,Gympie,Queensland
L 88 March 15th 2010
Dear Trevor Smurthwaite Scottish Australian Heritage
My name is Janet Entwistle and I live in Perth,Western Australia.I am a second cousin of Elizabeth Dickson of Dundee,Scotland who I believe has contacted you concerning the above subject.She has sent me the cutting from the Scots Magazine which you had inserted and suggested that I contact you to ascertain if there is anything of use which I can add.I would be glad to do so if I have anything of interest.
Elizabeth has told me that she has given you some information about our relative,Thomas Smith Tait,the Scottish architect and his involvement in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.In this regard I refer you to an interesting article on the web concerning Thomas in case you have not been aware of it before.The web site can be found at http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200829 ,however it is probably easier to just enter his name and Google and pick it up from there.You may already be aware of that detail.I am not confident that I can greatly increase your data other than spell out my Scots ancestry if that would be of any use.If you think that this would be useful would you be kind enough to advise me of the areas you are interested in and I will endeavour to comply.I,and my husband Alf,are very interested in the genealogy of both our family roots and we still have some important questions to be answered.So we are definitely interested in what you are doing.
Letter kindly submitted by;Janet Entwistle,Perth,Western Australia
L 89 March 1st 2010
Dear Mr Smurthwaite
In the Scots Magazine of March,I read your letter "Scots Australians" having been a reader of Scots Magazine for over 40 years.I wondered if this imformation about my late father's cousin would be of interest to you? Sir James,emmigrated when he was 18 years of age,with a few schillings,but took with him some of his tools (his trade being a cabinet maker,his father had a business in Edinburgh),at the age of 21 he had a perilous illness,and was given only a few days to live,yet lived to be 72.In 1928 he came to be Knighted at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh by King George the 5th for his achievments in Sydney for the Red Cross Society.
A friend of mine,who is very well up with the "computor age" ,when I was telling,he and his wife about our wealthy relation,gave me his history from Edinburgh to Australia,a few months later he obtained from the internet.Im just sending you a copy of his summary,(its the original copy) as I have obtained one along with other pages of all his lifes work in Sydney),if you would like to recieve them I could get them photos started for you.I am now in my 94th year of age and last of our "Anderson" clan living.Sir James did not to see any of his cousins in Edinburgh at the time of his visit in 1928,he never forgave my Grandfather who had promised to emigrate with him.
Letter kindly submitted by;William Anderson,Southport,Merseyside,United Kingdom (article about Sir James Anderson on main site)
L 90 March 17th 2010
Dear Trevor Scots Magazine Letter
I have in my possesion a series of letters written by my great grandfather,John Nelson,a ships carpenter in days of sail,around the 1870's.Those are letters he wrote to his parents in the Vale of Leven in Scotland.Those letters originated in various ports,London,San Fransisco and Sydney.I also have a letter written by William Nelson to his brother James Nelson in the Vale of Leven saying that James other son William had been found drowned on a beach near Sydney.This letter is dated March 14th 1880.With this letter was a poem written by William about this sad event.I hope this information is of interest to you and I would welcome any information on William Nelson.
Letter kindly submitted by;David C.Hamilton,White Craigs,Glasgow,Scotland
L 91 March 18th 2010
Dear Trevor www.ozgaelic.org
Thankyou for your email regarding your Scottish Heritage Research and website.We have put a link to your website on the links page of our Comunn Gaidhlig Astrailia website,and would be pleased if you could put a reciprocal link to us on your website.Good luck on your research. Les meas,
Barbara Crighton
Runaire/Secretary
Comunn Gaidhlig Astrailia
www.ozgaelic.org
fios@ozgaelic.org
Po Box A2259
Sydney South 1235
Letter kindly submitted by;Barbara Crighton,Runaire/Secretary/Comunn Gaidhlig Astrailia,Sydney,NSW
L 92 March 18th 2010
Hi Trevor
Your site is looking great!
I have been holding your email to remind me to go back and have a look at how your getting on.I will certainly add a link to your site and will put up postings mentioning you on my Facebook and Blog!Would apprechiate a reciprocal link as you suggested.We are just starting doing some 2 day breaks in Edinburgh for people wanting to do their family history research in the Scottish Records office.
Lesley Gray
Scottish Ancestral Trail
Buckrig,Moffat DG10 9RL Scotland
www.scottishancestraltrail.wordpress.com
Tel;+44(0)1683-300389
Mobile;07966265751
Letter kindly submitted by;Lesley Gray,Scottish Ancestral Trail,Moffat,Scotland
L 93 March 21st 2010
Dear Trevor
I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you with our family history information.I have had a very busy few weeks since I first contacted you.However,I have finally got around to packing up a copy of the family tree.I compiled for the reunion in 1988 and I will put it in the post for you tomorrow.I hope you find it interesting
.
I also mentioned some books produced locally which contain information about Scottish settlers in this district.Details are as follows;
"Scots Corner"-a local history
by B.L.Cameron and J.L.McLennan
published in 1971
printed by New Country Press Ltd,3-5 York Street,Sydney
"Mitchell of Barstobrick"
By Donald E.Webber
published in 1996
printed by Standard Publishing House Pty Ltd,Rozelle,NSW
"Our Grandchildren Won't Believe it" -a local history of Wongwibinda,Aberfoyle and Ward's mistake areas
Compiled by the Wongwibinda,Aberfoyle and Ward's Mistake Historical Group
Edited by Timonne Schaeffer and Francis McInhenry(Windham)
Preface by J.S.Ryan
Published in 2004
printed by University of New England Printery,Armidale,NSW2350
"Pioneer Register of New England from First Settlement to Federation"
By Armidale Family History Group Inc
Published in 2003
printed by University of New England Printery,Armidale,NSW2350
I hope this information will be of some use to the database.
Letter kindly submitted by;Ruth Mullen,Armidale NSW
