In the southern autumn of 1893, a young Sydney girl, Alice Hickson, embarked with her father, John Christopher Hickson, on a journey around the world. They sailed on the Monowai out of Sydney on Monday 17th April. Sydney Harbour was as beautiful then as now, … Continue reading Missing home
Category: Origins
Places in Kerry – family origins
Our Irish forebears originated from County Kerry, in the South West of Ireland. A number of places in Kerry are significant in the family story: Killarney, home of the Byrne family, Killorglin, home of the Hicksons. Templenoe, home of the Needhams. Sneem, a few miles … Continue reading Places in Kerry – family origins
Our Irish roots
I have begun to dig into my Irish roots. My grandmother was the daughter of Irish migrants, George Byrne and Suzie Hickson. Both were born in Killarney, County Kerry, George in 1860, and Suzie in 1861. However, Suzie's parents decided to migrate to America when … Continue reading Our Irish roots
Greenyards
The last clearance in the Strathcarron was at the end of March, 1854. “… the eviction concerned twenty two families who were the residue of the much greater population which had been cleared in the name of the octogenarian landlord, the notorious Major Robertson of … Continue reading Greenyards
The Year of the Sheep
According to John Prebble there were two periods of major clearances in the Highlands, the first from 1782 to 1820, and the second from 1840 to 1854. My ancestors came from Ross-shire, which was the scene of unrest during both of those periods. The first … Continue reading The Year of the Sheep
Forgotten tales 