My two grandmothers, Winifred Ross and Gertrude Byrne, form the core of my family history. They were second cousins, though as far as I can tell they didn't seem to be aware of it. Their respective grandfathers were brothers, their mother's were cousins. They had, … Continue reading Mostly Irish
Tag: gertrude byrne
The Byrnes and our Irish origins
My grandmother’s oldest sister was named Kathleen Byrne, but the family usually called her Lena. She was born in 1886 in Sydney, the first child of George and Susie Byrne, who were both Irish migrants from County Kerry. Her parents were reasonably well off; some … Continue reading The Byrnes and our Irish origins
My grandmothers and their names
My grandmothers were Winifred Erquhart Ross (1901-1999) and Gertrude Marion Byrne (1899-1975). Winifred became a Holford when she married Charles. Gertrude became a Simmonds. Of course I knew them as Nanna Holford and Nanna Simmonds, though in her later life Winifred informed us that she … Continue reading My grandmothers and their names
My mother and her ancestors
Last week, 23 January, was my mother’s birthday, or at least it would have been was she still alive. Mum died in 1999 on August 28. We were living in Sweden at the time, our twins, Hanna and Samuel were not yet two years old, … Continue reading My mother and her ancestors
Forgotten tales 