My family background:

On my mother's side. Her father was a USian who came to Australia as a merchant seaman. His background was a combination of Irish and Hungarian Jew who have fled to the US during the 1840's pogroms. My maternal grandmother's family had come to Australia from Ireland in the late 19th century and settled around Maitland. Interestingly, the Irish on that side lived in a village that was a mere 20 miles from the village my maternal grandfather's family came from. So after being neighbours, one group went to the US, one to Australia and were then re-united a century later in my grandparents.

On my father's side, we had a combination of Irish and Spanish. The Irish ancestors came here around 1820 and settled in Cooma. Unfortunately, not convicts, just free settlers. It seems the elder brother came first and convinced two more brothers to come out and farm. Around 1850 one brother married a Spanish women who we assume was a mail-order bride. I'm still trying to track that side down - records aren't great. Things get a little murky around 1880 when, it seems, my great-great grandfather divorced and then married his sister-in-law and then his divorced wife married another brother. Tracking who was actually descended from who gets messy.

So mainly Irish, some Welsh, a pinch of Spanish and a smattering of Hungarian Jew. Some of them came directly to Australia, others came via the US and New Zealand. I'm currently concentrating on the Hungarian side to try to nail down their background. It seems they came to Hungry via Russia.

Hi mhaze,

Thank You so much for sharing some of you ancestry with
us. I appreciate it so very much. I'm also trying to
trace my grand-mother's Russian ancestry, but as you
pointed out - it does get messy. I know she came from
a small village. Her family were merchants (made and sold
fur moccasins). She was an excellent seamstress and cook.
She made the best potato pancakes and kugel ever.

She met and married my grandfather who was serving in the
Tsar's army. They were married in St Petersberg. He brought
her to Lithuania where my mother was born. They all fled the
Soviet Regime and eventually came out to Australia. They lived
near Maitland. Gran died at the Maitland hospital.
I still remember her folk tales and the old Russian songs.
She was a wonderful storyteller.

mhaze,

Your contribution to this discussion has lifted my spirits
greatly.

Thank You for taking the time.

Hi Foxy,

My ancestors are far more interesting that any relatives living today. My maternal great-great-grandmother was born a slave on the island of Mauritius 1824, (at that time a British possession) her mother was a 16 year old Creole (African/Indian?) slave herself, and she was most likely fathered by a French plantation owner or her actual owners husband, a very common practice at that time. GGG at the age 9 along with her 13 year old cousin, they were convicted of attempted murder, accused of adding arsenic powder to a mistresses tea (French woman charged with teaching the girls sowing). They were convicted in a short trial, about half a day, on rather scant evidence, and sentenced to transportation for life to the penal colony of New South Wales, arriving here in 1834. GGG did well, marrying a convict and eventually prospering as "grazers" in the Wellington district of NSW, they had a large family of 11 children (all surviving to adulthood, amazing in itself). Being dark skinned people many married into the local aboriginal community. Like I say, far more interesting lives than we have today.

P/s Her cousin did not fair so well, dying in poverty in the slums of Sydney in the 1850's.

Hi Paul,

Thank You for sharing your ancestry.
It certainly is a fascinating one.

It would have been very difficult times in those days.
I often watch - "Who do you think you are," and the
backgrounds of people I find fascinating.
We all have stories to tell and share.

Again - Thanks for sharing.

Dear Paul,

My ancestors backgrounds are far more interesting also.
Much more interesting than our current mob. Dad never got
over losing his country and family members. He worked so hard
to give us a start here. He died of a massive coronary at
the age of 52. But he did instill in us the importance of
working hard.

I miss dad very much even to this day. And I remember his
laugh and his legacy.