Favourite Photo

One of my favourite photos is one that I have written about before My Favourite Family Photo, not only because I believe it is one of the oldest photos I own, but because it is an Ambrotype.

Honestly, it's very hard to choose a favourite among the 1000's of photos I have. Some are prints, some slides and many digital. One of my goals is to ensure that all my printed photos are digitised for preservation purposes. 

In fact, any family photo is a favourite. 

This is a list of ancestors for whom I have no photo, and would love to come across one:

• Alexander Dunn SMITH (1823-1877)
• Helen SMITH (nee TURNER) (1816-1903)
• Philip WEINHEIMER (1827-1895)
• Clara WEINHEIMER (nee WEIBLER) (1840-1879)
• Thomas BRAY (1845-1915)
• Susan BRAY (nee HAMPTON) (c1845-1926)
• Sidney ANDERSON (1813-1877)
• Jane ANDERSON (nee ADAMS) (1813-1871)
• Elizabeth ANDERSON (nee PARKER) (1841-1880)
• John HIBELL (c1826-1915)
• Ann HIBELL (nee LLOYD) (c1829-1896)
• James DROVER (1829-1887)
• Catherine DROVER (nee RODGER) (1819-1883)

So, my current favourite photo is one of the most recent of my grandchildren, who are holidaying in Australia.

The FAN Club finds Richard PARKER

I know that we hear that you really need to research all the Friends, Associates and Neighbours (FANs)* of a person, especially if they are your brick wall.

I have one Richard PARKER, whose death eluded me. He was a tailor, but became a Wesleyan Preacher. I had only recently ‘finally’ found the death of his second wife (and my ancestor), Bridget (nee RICHARDS), but PARKER is a very common name in Herefordshire, and it really was annoying that I couldn’t pin down his death. When I found Bridget’s death in 1887, it said she was a widow.

So, using “Family Historian” (my software) hints, and the fact that FindMyPast had free access for the Remembrance Day weekend, I started working through the family. I started with Richard and Bridget. All their hints were those which I had found the details before, so I ticked ‘confirmed’. I then moved on to their children, Elizabeth (my ancestor), George and Jane. Once again, nothing new of note. Next I moved back in time to the 2 daughters of Richard’s first marriage, to Susan WORMINGTON. The first daughter, Mary Ann, had married James MILNE in New York. The MyHeritage hint for them gave me a copy of their Marriage Certificate (1), which I had not had before.

Hold on a minute…they were married by ‘her’ father, Richard! He was in New York in 1869! Wow! I was pretty sure he had died before 1871 as I couldn’t find him in the 1871 census. What if he had died in the United States? So, I did a search in MyHeritage, and BINGO I found his obituary(2) in OldNews.com. He died 29 March in 1877 in New York. He had performed a marriage ceremony only the day before, but was intending shortly to return to England to his family.

Port Chester Journal

Mar 29 1877 • Port Chester, Westchester, New York, United States

Rye.

CHRIST CHURCH

The sudden death of Rev Richard Parker cast a gloom over this community where he is so well known. At the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, and at Union Chapel, it was feelingly alluded to. At the close of the chapel service, Mr Mathews gave an impressive account of his last illness and a tribute to his faithfulness and zeal in the Master's work. Mr Parker conducted the opening services in Union Chapel under its present management and his abors were very successful.

Harrison.

DEATH OF REV. RICHARD PARKER.

This gentleman, who was pretty well known to the towns of Harrison and Rye, died at his residence in New York on Thursday morning Iast in his 71st year. Mr Parker was a native of England, and expected to return to the home of his youth to spend the remainder of his days in a couple of weeks, but "man proposes and God disposes."

The deceased was emphatically a man of work, and thousands of sick and dying beds have been brightened by his presence often in the depth of winter and at the midnight hour. These were simply Iabors of love and mercy for which the reward was alone in his own breast. His ministerial life in New York was chiefly with the City Missions, though he has occupied some of the best pulpits in that city, preaching three times on the Sabbath when the stated pastors were off enjoying the balmy breezes of the country or the cool, refreshing air of the seaside. It was Mr. Parker's wish and delight to be ever in the Master's service, and he emphatically knew no rest till he heard the voice- "It Is enough come up higher." He died with harness on. His first sermons in Harrison were preached in the Memorial Chapel. " He also preached In White Plains, Mamaroneck and Rye, his more recent labors being in the " Union Chapel " of Rye. He was, indeed, announce to preach there on Sunday evening last, but he came not - the winding sheet of death held him fast! On the morning of Sunday, 18th, Mr. Parker started from his city home for church, but returned feeling unwell. On Wednesday he united a couple in matrimony as he lay upon his sick bed, and on Thursday he died, calm and peaceful, without uttering a single word. But he was not unprepared!

The funeral services were held from the Seventh Avenue M. E. Church on Monday afternoon, several ministers taking part in the same. The body is to remain unburied, awaiting the arrival of his son, who left England on Saturday for New York. Mr. Parker leaves a widow, a most estimable lady of perhaps 70; also two daughters and the son alluded to above. In the language of the bereaved widow, Mr. Parker was worn out. There was nothing for disease to feed upon, his labors were o'er and he has gone to his reward.

MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Another brother alluded appropriately to the unexpected death of Rev Dr Parker and his life - long service in the cause of Christ.

Here are the details from Bridget PARKER's Death Registration(3):

8 May 1887 at 2 Sackville Cottages, Hay

Bridget Parker, female, 83 years, widow of Richard Parker Wesleyan Minister

Cause of death - Cerebral Haemorrhage, coma, certified by Robt J Shepperd LRCS

Informant - George Parker, son, 10 Clifton Street, Wolverhampton

(1) New York City Marriages, 1866-1949, https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-20807-1673655/james-milne-and-mary-anne-parker-born-rorker-in-new-york-city-marriages, James Milne to Mary Anne Parker, Nov 2 1869, Manhattan, New York, United States, https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-20807-1673655/james-milne-and-mary-anne-parker-born-rorker-in-new-york-city-marriages, viewed 8 Nov 2024

(2) My Heritage, United States Obituary Index from OldNews.com™,  Port Chester Journal, Port Chester Journal, https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-12003-50208506/richard-parker-in-united-states-obituary-index-from-oldnewscom, viewed 8 Nov 2024

(3) England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Death (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 8 November 2024) database entry for Parker, Bridget. Age: 83, GRO Reference: Q2 1887 in Hay, Volume 11B, Page 99.

* Credit to Elizabeth Shown Mills for this methodology, as explained very nicely by Lisa Louise Cooke The Genealogy FAN Club Principle Overcomes Genealogy Brick Walls | Genealogy Gems

Blogiversary!

Today is 11 years since I created my first post on this blog Queenie talks about her family which was the transcript of an interview with my maternal Grandmother from about 1986.

I have not been very prolific over that time, but I have plenty of draft posts just waiting for the final lick and polish to be ready to be posted.

Bing Image Creator

A "Grave" Mystery - SOLVED!!!

It has taken 10 years to solve the mystery surrounding the inscription on the headstone of Alexander Dun(n) Smith, buried in Toowoomba & Drayton Cemetery. HERE is the link to the original post about this mystery. 

This is the original photo we had to work with and, as you can see, it is a low quality photo, and zooming in did not provide any discernable details.

Last week I was able to personally visit Toowoomba cemetery, and viewed the graves of Alexander Coutts, and Alexander Dun Smith. Here is the new photo.

There is no longer any mystery about the origins of Alexander Dun Smith, as I was able to see that his headstone, although severely weathered, says "Native of Wigton", (as is known from all records). 

Close-up of relevant section of the headstone

Enhanced digitally on the word

Tracing over the lettering (digitally) to clarify what I'm seeing

The inscription below is now nearly illegible, so while we may never know what that said, (I suspect a religious text), we can now discard any notion that the family was from Angus, and concentrate all our efforts in research on Wigtownshire. 

I will also note that in the week since I saw it, the stone has been cleaned. I was hesitant about this, (fearing damage to the delicate sandstone) but, in fact, it has brought it up beautifully, and the main inscription is now very clear.

You can see this on FindAGrave Alexander D Smith (1823-1877) - Find a Grave Memorial

Family Food Memories

There are some foods from my childhood that I suspect came down through Dad's side of the family, and were from more of a German influence from Clara, (his adoptive mother, but actual grandmother). 



One that we had quite regularly, and is Potato Cakes. These are made from grated potato, mixed with some flour and eggs, and then fried in oil. I have my own version which adds sesame seeds to one side and some grated cheese to the final side. These are very tasty with chutney. These are traditionally called Latkes (or Kartoffelnpuffer), (and seem to be of Jewish origin), but we never called them that.
(Photo by Jonathunder - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5629332)


On Sundays when we had Roast, we would always make 'baked bread'. You take slices of bread (they can be stale) then put them on a flat tray and dry them out in the oven. I have since found out that this is called Zweiback (German, meaning twice baked).

(Photo by No machine-readable author provided. Rainer Zenz assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=658529)


Mum would often make Corned Beef with cabbage and White Onion Sauce. I liked the meat but was never a fan of the 'boiled to death' cabbage and Onion Sauce. In the following days, Dad would slice the left-over corned meat and dip it in batter and fry it. Dad called this "Burdekin Fish" which I think was a salute to the huge beef industry around the Burdekin River. For dessert Mum would also make banana and pineapple fritters, which were battered, fried and then sprinkled with sugar.

A special treat for breakfast was always one that Dad prepared. He would get a tank loaf of bread, cut the crusts off, cut it into cubes, then drench with hot milk which had sugar dissolved in it. The taste of this was so heavenly to me, and years later I tried to reproduce it, but my versions were always a sad disappointment as they never tasted like those that Dad made.

Some of my childhood foods came from Mum's Scottish side of the family. One of these, which she called Posset (although the definition of Posset seems different), seems quite peculiar if you think about it. Mum would place an Arnott's Arrowroot biscuit in a bowl, cover it with warm sweet milk, put a saucer over the top and leave it for a while until the biscuit was swollen with the milk. If the milk didn't have sugar on it, then sugar was sprinkled over before eating.

Grandma Anderson was a big proponent of Porridge made from oats, and I think she made it every morning. She had a traditional porridge stick (spurtle) for stirring it. The porridge was sprinkled with brown sugar and milk added before eating.

I complained of a sore throat once when staying at Grandma and Grandpa's and Grandpa made me a 'special' mixture to ease the pain. He took some butter and mixed in some sugar to make a little ball which I then sort of dissolved in my mouth. I can't remember if it actually worked, but it sure tasted great.

Mum was not a particularly good cook, but she did her best. When she first married Dad and they went on their honeymoon at a flat at Kingscliffe, Mum had forgotten to take her recipe book, so Dad cooked a stew.

The happy couple on their honeymoon

At one stage Mum got a new Sunbeam Frypan and it came with a little recipe book which had a recipe for Cabbage Cantonese. This was basically fried onion, add some mince, then shredded cabbage and sprinkle on some soy sauce, then eat with boiled white rice. This was a fairly cheap meal and became a family favourite.

Other regular meals were a dry mince curry, Sausages and veges, desserts were Ice-cream from Evaporated milk & Jelly, or sometimes a boiled pudding. We also had French Toast, crumbed brains, lambs fry & bacon, pea and ham soup made in the pressure cooker, (which Mum was given as a wedding present). 

Mum loved lambs kidneys, but Dad absolutely detested them, so they were only served rarely. One thing that they liked that I detested was tripe. The last time I can remember Mum cooking it was in Melbourne, and I got vomited from the smell. In Melbourne we often had rabbit from the rabbit man. Sunday roast was usually a chicken, but sometimes beef. Mum baked lots of things, but she couldn't get sponge cakes to work. Mum and Dad also really liked tinned soup, and we often had asparagus, tomato, or mushroom Campbell's Soup for lunch.

When we lived in Biggenden, (in 1966), Dad was the Methodist Minister, so we were fairly poor. One of his parishioners must have shot some ducks and gave some to us for a meal. I don't think Mum had cooked it before, but she baked it. We were shocked to find it full of lead pellets! I don't think any of us enjoyed it much, and we certainly never had it again!

The only take-away we ever had was fish and chips, which came wrapped in printed newspaper, and liberally dosed with salt. Dad's favourite to have with them was Potato Scallops, but he would always share one with us kids. Mum loved fresh crab, and Dad would always try to get her some when we had an opportunity for fresh seafood.

Some of Mum's cooking items, which bring back memories are:

The bowl that the Aeroplane Jelly was always made in.

There were a set of 6 different coloured bowls for 'special' desserts

The flour sifter for baking days

There was a matching aluminium sugar bowl to go with this milk jug

The Pyrex casserole dish

Dad hand-turned these wooden egg cups

These plastic canisters were the height of fashion in the late 60's early 70's

These cups (this one and below) actually came from Grandma Anderson. This one was my favourite as whenever we visited my Grandparents, Grandpa would make me a cup of very milky tea with an Arrowroot biscuit (for dunking) before breakfast every day, and mine was in this cup.

10 Year Anniversary

Wow! it's 10 years since I started this blog.

I know I've not been very prolific, with only 19 posts, but I've got over 100 in a 'working' state, and I plan to get some of them posted soon.

My goal is to share my research with family, and initially I really wanted to share an interview with my grandmother. Here is a link to the first post.

Here's to the next 10 years, and hopefully a lot more posts than 20, (this one is number 20).

Thanks 'Heartless Gamer' for your logo https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI4kypKdwY58a_0dhUvjEQG6LK9qkjnFbRscUu_1OtP4keuocUrJgdGkJHlKkgr5U-t5bs0a0ABWKzQbCvzV77Ggk1x_2ZE8pqi7cuQMJq0CO1Rpgh6Y51sqEbgwSsxy084iP8K0SZUxx/s320/10years.jpg

A lovely memory

It is my natal anniversary (thanks #LegalGenealogist for the terminology), so I guess I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.

I love this cup and saucer. 

From as early as I can remember, (until I was 13 when Grandpa died), when we visited my maternal grandparents there was a morning ritual; Grandpa would make tea for everyone in the morning before breakfast. My tea, as I was a child, was strong and milky with an arrowroot biscuit, and served in this cup. I felt so grown up being allowed to use such a precious item. I can still smell the Bushells tea, and taste the taste. Generally, Grandma would still be in bed, (her 'bedroom' was on the front veranda), and I would sit in the chair at the small round table, (both made by my Grandfather), and sip my tea, dunking my biscuit and desperately trying to time it perfectly to get soft, but quickly enough that it didn't fall apart into the tea.

Front garden beds with painted rocks that Grandpa made

This was a holiday event so would only happen occasionally really, as we lived in Mt Isa, and would usually travel down only on Christmas School holidays to Fingal Heads where my grandparents lived. I don't think we ever stayed the full 7 weeks of the Queensland school holidays. Their home at Fingal was at the very end of Lagoon Road, and was like a paradise to me. The yard had gardens filled with flowers, (as grandpa loved to grow them; his favourite was Pansies, hence became my favourite too), and at the front was a tiny patch of remnant native vegetation which homed frilled-neck lizards. There was a small 'lookout' to the lagoon, with a 

Seat and 'native patch' the lookout is behind Mum's head

bench seat beside. I was both totally fascinated and a tiny bit scared of the lagoon. I don't remember who said it, but there was definitely an inference that 'someone' had seen 'something' in the lagoon, like a Loch Ness monster, so I would go to the lookout and watch the surface of the water carefully, scanning for a sign of the 'monster'. Of course, now I realise that it was told to us to stop us trying to go near the lagoon for a swim when no-one was around.

The house itself was a simple little beach shack. Looking through the old photos I have re-remembered that it was called "Topend".

Rough Floor Plan of the Fingal House (not to scale)

You walked up the front steps to the small enclosed verandah, and on the left would be

Grandma with me at the front steps in 1960

grandma's bedroom. The width of the verandah only just fitted the length of the bed at that end. This side of the bed was a cupbard against one wall, and under the windows at the front was a chair and the small round table. A curtain allowed this area to be made 'private' if required. Then at the front was the chaise lounge and Grandma's Singer sewing machine on the opposite side. To the right of the door (under a weird internal window from the bedroom) leading to the dining room was the crystal cabinet which held all sorts of treasures, such as Grandpa's WWI medals, and lots of these beautiful teacups. To the right was the door to the bathroom. 

Bathing beauty (me) in the bucketful of water

The bath was the biggest I had ever seen, but it could never be fully appreciated, as they didn't have a hot water system. At bath time you had to fill a tin bucket with water and put in the water heater element to heat it up. So, pretty much you bathed in 2 bucketfulls of water, which barely covered the base of the huge bath.

The dining room with screen and lamp at the back

Going into the rest of the house, you first walked into the dining room. This held the large wooden table, the sideboard, with standing floor lamp, and wooden screen, fake fireplace, and chairs lined up around the remaining space. The obligatory 3 ducks flew across the wall. All the furniture (to my
knowledge) was built by Grandpa, who was a Chair Maker and French Polisher. The other half of the house was a bedroom which held a wardrobe, double bed, and a small bed against the window, where I used to sleep. It was smaller than a single bed.

The dining room

At the back was Grandpa's bedroom on the left and the kitchen on the right. Grandpa's bedroom held his small bed with the smoking cabinet beside. On the left were two cupboards, and a tallboy at the far end. On top of the tallboy Grandpa kept his tobacco, pipes and cigars (which he rarely smoked, and always outside). 

The kitchen on the right had a kitchen table and chairs, traymobile, stove, sink and cupboards. It smelt stongly of Bushell's tea and Sunshine soap (which was in a little wire cage with a handle to swish in the dishwater for suds).

Patio area before Grandpa enclosed, June,
Aunty Nettie, Grandma, Des & Uncle Gil

Out the back door was the 'patio'. Large cement slabs surrounded by garden beds and the whole area enclosed by walls covered in asbestos sheeting, (I guess it was to provide a sheltered area from the wind as the house was on the back of a sand dune behind the beach). This must have been done later than the photo on the right. The chairs were all built by Grandpa, (of course). There were two doors leading out, one at the back, which I don't remember using much, and the other to the side, which led to the outdoor dunny, and washing area at the back of the garage. 

March 1963 my birthday party outside the kitchen windows

The outdoor dunny was at the end of a cement path. I am sure there was toilet paper, but there was also cut up sheets of old newspaper and, I think, sawdust to cover up after use. Concrete laundry tubs were outside at the end of the garage, with an wringer washing machine. Grandpa had made Grandma a wooden laundry trolley which was used to take the wet clothes over behind the 'patio' where clothesline was strung between to poles, and the clothes fastened with dolly-pegs. 

The garage was a wonder to me. It smelled fabulous, of linseed oil and other rich earthy smells. You stepped down a couple of steps inside to Grandpa's work benches around the the back and one side. Huge fishing rods were up in the rafters. I never saw anyone use them, and I think I was told they belonged to Uncle Paul. Grandpa's ute was an amazing old vehicle. He only got his driving licence for the first time when he was 60! I guess it was when they relocated there from Brisbane. Sometimes we would be taken for drives and sit in the back on the seats. That definitely wouldn't be allowed now.

You could walk from the path that led to the toilet, though the She-Oaks and out onto the sand path which led straight over the dune and down to Fingal Beach, where we used to swim, investigate and play all holiday. 

Top of the dunes at Fingal Beach (lighthouse in background), me with Grandma

Fingal Lighthouse, early 1960s, Mum & I

Fingal Dunes, early 1960s, Grandma, Grandpa and I

Front of house and garage April 1964

Front steps Apr 1964 Dad, Mum, Mal & I

Front steps, bef 1960, Dad, Mum, Aunty Val, Grandma & unknown

Front of house, Apr 1960, Aunty Nettie, Uncle Will & I