Quarterly journal of The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc Getting It Write New Feature Writing Autobiography and Memoir Brick Wall Corner VOLUME 31 ISSUE 8 DECEMBER 2013 $9.50 ISSN 0044-8222 Winner 2013 GSV Writing Prize Finding Shakespeare Beware the in Family Research Street Number From Workhouse to Wahring Two Most Remarkable Men Discover a world of family history The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc SEMINAR HIGHLAND SCOTTISH ANCESTRY Tracing your ancestors in Scotland – with special reference to the Highlands. Clans, Septs and Surnames M a – their origins and evolution ckenzie in the Highlands of Scotland. Special Guest Presenter: Graeme M. Mackenzie, MA (Cantab) ~ Professional genealogist and clan historian from Inverness. ~ Seanachaidh (genealogist and historian) for Clan MacMillan since 1993, and Clan Mackenzie since 1995. ~ Chairman of a wide selection of societies including; Highland a n FHS, Association of Highland Clans and Societies, and Clan M cLella Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK. ~ Creator of 'Highland Roots', a genealogical research service specialising in Highland clans and families. Ma M ron cPhe me r a Ca s c on k into MacM sh illan Saturday 1 March 2014, 1.30pm - 4.00pm See the website for full details www.gsv.org.au Level B1, 257 Collins Street Payments at GSV reception or online Melbourne VIC 3000 Bookings with payment essential Phone: (03) 9662 4455 Members $16 / Non-members $32 Web: www.gsv.org.au EDITORIAL TEAM Bill Barlow Barbara Beaumont Sue Blackwood Quarterly journal of The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc. Rhain DiPilla Volume 31 Issue 8/ December 2013 Martin Playne Jenny Redman Margaret Vines CREATIVE Editorial Rhain DiPilla PRINTER Writing our family history is an important way of handing on the fruits of our Blue Star Print Vic research in a form that can be enjoyed by our family members. This activity is clearly alive and well in the GSV as the Editorial Team was delighted by the CONTRIBUTIONS We welcome the submission of articles number and quality of entries in the 2013 GSV Writing Prize. We are pleased to on family history topics for possible announce that the winner is Kath McKay with her story ‘Finding Shakespeare in publication. Family Research’, in which she not only outlines the story of her grandmother’s The editor reserves the right early life, but shows how family history is being handed on to the youngest to edit/abridge articles to meet generation. A new writing competition will be announced in the March 2014 space constraints and editorial issue of Ancestor. It’s never too early to start writing! considerations. By submitting any written material to us for publication you agree that we may edit your writing Our other articles include Lynn Haines’s story of her ancestor’s successful life to satisfy these objectives. in Victoria after humble beginnings in England, Jenny Carter’s discoveries Submissions should be the work of about the lives of two public-spirited clergymen in the late nineteenth and early the Author submitting the article twentieth century Victoria and Barbara Armstrong’s amusing account of the and should not have been published pitfalls of the Melbourne street numbering system. elsewhere unless agreed. Although we endeavour to take care of all materials submitted for publication, Of course you will find all our usual features, with useful information from we regret that we cannot be held Linley Hooper in Research Corner on how to access the Society’s podcasts. If, responsible for any loss or damage. like most of us, you hit the occasional ‘Brick Wall’ in your research you will be It is advisable to retain original items interested in our new feature by that name. Not only are you invited to send in and submit scanned images in high your own problems, but also to solve those sent in by others. resolution JPG or TIFF file format. Looking forward to 2014, please be aware that there are some changes to the CLOSING DATES MARCH 1 JANUARY days on which some computer classes are held. The first Seminar of the year will JUNE 1 APRIL be on Highland Scottish Ancestry on March 1. SEPTEMBER 1 JULY DECEMBER 1 OCTOBER ADVERTISING Advertising space is available. For details contact [email protected] CORRESPONDENCE The Editor, Ancestor, The Genealogical Society of Victoria, Level B1, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 or email [email protected] Quarterly journal of The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc Getting It Write New Feature © The Genealogical Society of Victoria. Writing Autobiography and Memoir Brick Wall Corner VOLUME 31 ISSUE 8 Material in this publication must not be DECEMBER 2013 $9.50 ISSN 0044-8222 Winner 2013 GSV reproduced without consent. Writing Prize The views expressed in Ancestor are Finding Shakespeare Beware the those of the Author(s) and do not in Family Research Street Number necessarily represent the views of The Genealogical Society of Victoria. Our cover: Collins Street, ~1870 Image courtesy of State Library Victoria, Pictures Collection From Workhouse to Wahring (H41033/17) Two Most See Beware the Street Number Remarkable Men (pg8) for a history of some of the Discover a world of family history businesses pictured. Contents ARTICLES Finding Shakespeare in Family Research 4 04 by Kath McKay Beware the Street Number 8 08 by Barbara Armstrong From Workhouse to Wahring 12 by Lynn Haines Two Most Remarkable Men 40 by Jenny Carter 12 REGULAR FEATURES 16 Editorial 1 Honouring Our Long-Term Members 16 Pen of the President 17 About the GSV 18 How can we help you? (Bookshop and Research Services) 19 40 At the GSV Bookshop 20 Reviews 21 43 Research Corner 22 What’s On - talks, classes and courses 23 What’s On -Calendar of Events 24 What’s On at our Member Societies 26 GSV Member Societies 27 Around the Groups 28 Jottings... and library news 29 44 Additions to the Library 30 Q&A with Jenny Carter 34 45 Brick Wall Corner 35 Members Queries 36 Getting it Write 38 News from the Royal Historical Society of Victoria 43 News from Births, Deaths, Marriages Victoria 44 News from the State Library of Victoria 45 46 News from Public Record Ofce Victoria 46 Genies on the Web 47 47 GSV News 48 Wish List 48 Volume 31 Issue 8 / December 2013 2 • © The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc Read all about it! World’s largest collection of British newspapers now available at findmypast.com.au! Learn about your ancestors’ lives Uncover fascinating stories about your very own ancestors in millions of local British newspaper pages from the British over the last 250 years... Library - the collection is growing every day With the British newspaper collection Read the headlines and articles just as your ancestors read them throughout their lives Understand the key events that shaped your family’s lives Take our 14 day FREE trial and start your journey now! Facebook: www.facebook.com/findmypastAustralia Twitter: www.twitter.com/findmypastAU Winner 2013 GSV Writing Prize Thanks to: Finding Shakespeare in Family Research by Kath McKay To me, family history research is somewhat akin evoked tears. But the tears were not for me, but to reading a Shakespearean tragedy. If we stop for a sad little girl, all alone in the world, but who The author, Kath McKay, can be contacted via email address: and think, if we listen, over time we can find new found happiness in the end. [email protected] meanings. When we knew her, our Gran, or Ethel, was a This rather tatty little metal plaque was my Gran’s Bank Manager’s widow in the days when Bank (Image 1). Just the plaque, nothing attached. Managers, particularly in rural towns, were one Engraved with ‘E. Wilkinson, Worrough, Xmas step down from God. She told us a little of her 1905’. It looked as if it had once been attached to a early life, but always vague on detail. Our very box, perhaps a writing case or a glory box. proper little Gran; we did not question her; she was our dear little Grannie, she of the proper table It turned up twenty years ago when I was sorting manners, napkin rings, butter knives and edicts through my mother’s things after she too had died. of the correct way to hold your knife (never like a Why was it kept? What was Worrough and was pencil) and how to take the top of your boiled egg there anything important about 1905 that meant (with a spoon, never a knife, dear!). Memories of Gran kept this for all her long life? her are always evoked by the smell of furniture polish, dim rooms shaded against the hot summer Its significance was sun, mid-day roast dinners and date loaf for not told to us by afternoon tea. We never knew her real story. Gran. It revealed itself to me in It was not until 2011, after my retirement and layers, like peeling forty-five years after her death, that I began my an onion. And as forays into her life story. Her secrets were quickly with an onion, revealed. With our new tools of the internet, I Gran’s true story uncovered her English parents’ elopement from Image 1: Engraved metal plate ‘E. Wilkinson, Worrough, Xmas 1905’ Image 2: Sydney Benevolent Asylum late 19th century, photograph copyright State Library of NSW Parade, c 1889 Volume 31 Issue 8 / December 2013 4 • © The Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc ?? Image 3: 'Ettie's Dad by Himself' self-portrait by Harry Strongitharm Wilkinson 1892 middle class England to New Zealand, their bigamous marriage there in 1880, the birth of their four children, the death of one and their move to Australia.