Family Tree
I picked up my grandmother yesterday from her sister's house, and my aunt (great aunt) handed me two books all about our family tree. Last year when I saw her she had these amazing pictures and I told her I wanted to know all about it, so she took me literally.
I find this mind boggling. She has traced our family tree back to 1570! How is this possible without the internet?
So today I have discovered that I am Australian royalty in that my great great great grandfather was a convict and was sent out here as punishment. Thank god for that. I could have grown up in rainy old England with a terrible accent. He stole Malt and received a 7 year sentence. He married a school master's daughter in the town that I live in right now, and they are both buried here. My great grandfather was also born here. It's funny that Greg and I bought a house in this district just because we liked it, and we always felt very drawn to the area. Today I discovered that I am related to half the people in the cemetary at St Matthews. Amazing.
My grandmother (who never speaks about her father) made a fleeting comment yesterday about what a cruel man he was and my aunt touched her on the face and said "yes, remember that time he hit you with that hobble chain?". My nan didn't answer her but Greg and I just looked at each other stunned. He hit her in the face with a steel chain and cuff used to tie up horses. Oh my god. I starting talking to nan about it in the car on the way home but she wont talk to me about it. I would hate for all this stuff to be lost forever. How do I get her to tell me - or I guess I could go through my chatty aunt. Man and I thought my dad was a hard ass.
I find this mind boggling. She has traced our family tree back to 1570! How is this possible without the internet?
So today I have discovered that I am Australian royalty in that my great great great grandfather was a convict and was sent out here as punishment. Thank god for that. I could have grown up in rainy old England with a terrible accent. He stole Malt and received a 7 year sentence. He married a school master's daughter in the town that I live in right now, and they are both buried here. My great grandfather was also born here. It's funny that Greg and I bought a house in this district just because we liked it, and we always felt very drawn to the area. Today I discovered that I am related to half the people in the cemetary at St Matthews. Amazing.
My grandmother (who never speaks about her father) made a fleeting comment yesterday about what a cruel man he was and my aunt touched her on the face and said "yes, remember that time he hit you with that hobble chain?". My nan didn't answer her but Greg and I just looked at each other stunned. He hit her in the face with a steel chain and cuff used to tie up horses. Oh my god. I starting talking to nan about it in the car on the way home but she wont talk to me about it. I would hate for all this stuff to be lost forever. How do I get her to tell me - or I guess I could go through my chatty aunt. Man and I thought my dad was a hard ass.