My great grandparents, William and Alice Ross, and my great grandfather, Charles Holdorf (Holford), lived in Mosman, arguably one of the most beautiful suburbs of Sydney’s North Shore, for many years. They were my father’s grandparents, William and Alice the parents of his mother, and … Continue reading A Mosman connection
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
It is worthy of remark that it was at the climax of its spiritual prosperity the cruel work of eviction began to lay waste the hill-sides and the plains of the north. Swayed by the example of the godly among them, and away from the … Continue reading The most peaceable and virtuous peasantry in Britain
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
Forgotten tales 