In July 1874 Kate Hickson was 29 years old, an unmarried Irish emigre who had arrived in Sydney, New South Wales with her younger brother George almost 11 years previously. Teenagers when they arrived in late 1863, respectively 19 and 18 years old they had … Continue reading A death in the family
My Irish great great grandfather wrote a book called Notes of Travel, in which he recorded impressions of a journey around the world with his daughter, Alice, in 1893. Alice was 20 years of age, born in Australia, unlike her father. John’s sudden and unexpected decision … Continue reading A visit to Killorglin in 1893
Driving north from Newcastle on the Pacific Highway, the main route from Sydney to Brisbane, one passes Port Stephens, the huge and beautiful harbour which was once slated as a possible national capitol for Australia, before entering the so called Great Lakes District of the … Continue reading Great Lakes
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
Arrival of William Hickson and family in Sydney 24th February 1878. Why leave? In Kay Caball’s latest blog on her Kerry ancestry and genealogy website (mykerryancestors.com) she asks the question: “Why did your ancestors emigrate?” Her answer? To get work is the immediate answer. Opportunities for education, … Continue reading Hickson emigration from Kerry
Forgotten tales 