Who was Alice Hickson? Alice Hickson was Dad’s grandmother. She was born in 1872 in Waterloo, in the inner suburbs of Sydney. She married William Ross in 1895 and they had five daughters, one of whom was my grandmother, Winifred Ross, Dad’s mother. Although Dad … Continue reading Alice Hickson 1872-1962?
Category: People
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
Spiritual heritage
The Ferintosh burn was one of our favourite places of play. To stand where Dr Macdonald stood, to speak from his platform - this was something performed with a superstitious fear and awe. How often we heard people speak of what the great Dr Macdonald … Continue reading Spiritual heritage
Gledfield Free Church
Back in May when Hamish and I travelled around the Highlands we passed through Gledfield, the home of my Scottish Ross ancestors. We saw an old church that had no sign outside but which I took to be the Gledfield Free Church. I took a … Continue reading Gledfield Free Church
Witnessing the Strath Oykel Clearance. March 1820.
In the winter of 1819-20, the word went around that the people of Strath Oykel were to be evicted. Snow lay on the ground during that January of 1820, but it was a fertile valley; in the summer the area "was beautiful... a green valley … Continue reading Witnessing the Strath Oykel Clearance. March 1820.
Forgotten tales 