Hello to all - this is a relatively long missive, but those who have been following the settlement of the Logan should find it interesting. In 1859, George HARRISON 25, his wife Susan HARRISON 21 (nee Susan Jane WILLIS) and Infant HARRISON (Samuel born at Sea) arrived in Melbourne on board the "Gipsy Bride" May 1860 from Ireland. Refer Fiche 177 Page 004 Victorian Shipping Records. The proceeds from a crop of flax grown by George in Market Hill, Co Armagh paid for their passage. The HARRISONs were from Magheradogherty and the WILLISs from the next door land Drumnamether. Their second son William was born at Ballarat and they then moved to Bendigo - it appears that they didn't fare too well on the Goldfields. George's sister Mary and her husband Samuel HEATHWOOD had come to Brisbane in 1856 and so George and Susan decided to join them here. They lived at Brookfield where Samuel and George split timber to make roofing material for houses in Brisbane. They were known as shingle merchants. Sons Robert and George were born at Brookfield. The fifth lad, Jack, was born at Eight Mile Plains. George Snr had heard of the new country being opened up on the Logan River and he applied for a pine scrub selection. This was the first of three and cost £16/17/6 in 1869 and it was also here that their first home was built - a slab hut. A more substantial house was built and it still remains. "Broomfield" is still occupied by one of the descendants and his family. Two giant jacaranda trees at the front of the house make it easily identifiable to anyone driving towards Beaudesert. Another selection of 238 acres was taken up in 1873 for £59/10/- and then another 88 acres for £22/5/-. Before the slab hut was built, the family lived at Baker's Camp (now known as Millstream) and their first daughter Susan was born here. Alec (Alexander) was the first born in the slab hut, and then followed five more daughters - the first being Magdalene - David's Grandmother. Sadly Susan died aged 54 in 1892 and these girls were only children. On 19.07.1883 the "Jerusalem" left Ireland and arrived in Brisbane on 31.10.1883. On board were Mary KERLIN (nee Mary Jane BELL) 46, Dinah 24, Mary Jane 22, James 21, twins William and Moses 19, Sarah 16 and Samuel --- no father! They were from Ballynahinch, Co Down. Mary died on 9 January 1884 - she had contracted either scarletinia or typhus on board ship. William is David's Grandfather. This is where we come "unstuck". This family had to have lived with or near the HARRISONs. Records show that the two families were 'like one big happy family'. This is borne out by the fact that 3 HARRISONs married 3 KERLINs. The beautiful old HARRISON homestead holds many photographs but no stories. We know that the families associated with the Flanagans, and many other Irish settlers, but the young KERLIN boys are not mentioned in any of my filed material. We have photographs of GGGF James KERLIN's grave and tombstone which was erected by GGF James in 1859. We also have photographs of the old house and Ordnance Survey maps of the property in Ballycreen, a townland a little NE of Ballynahinch. Thank you for reading this. If no one on the List can help, maybe one of you knows of someone who may be able to do so. Please pass our plea to any who may be able to help. Cedar Grove must have been very close to the German settlement. Thank you again Bev [email protected] Researching: BELL HARRISON KERLIN WILLIS [Ireland] BARKER BARNETT CANTLE COURTNEY DALTON YOUNG/YOUNGS [England] GIESEMANN HANSEN HENDRIKSEN TIMM [Prussia, Denmark]