Hello everyone, As Marg Morters' suggested I'd like to introduce myself and put forward my family interests, hoping that others on the list may have family connections, anecdotes, etc that may help fill in the pieces. My name is David Armstrong and I live in Sydney. I began to investigate my family history earlier this year when I accidently discovered the NSW BDM index was available to search on-line. All I knew was that my gg grandparents were early settlers near Cams Wharf on Lake Macquarie. Since then I've discovered skeletons galore and could write a novel but I still have lots of holes to fill. This is an addiction ! My central coast ancestors were: JOHN TAAFFE and family who settled near Cams Wharf, Lake Macquarie. His wife was ELIZABETH FREEMAN, eldest daughter of JAMES FREEMAN and MARY ANN SMITH. John Taaffe (actually baptised Patrick Taafe) was born in Kent St, Sydney in 1826, the eldest son of convicts Patrick Taaffe and Mary Ann Burke. His father died in 1841 and I think his mother re-married in 1844. About that time it seems the family split up with John heading for Brisbane Waters where he met the Freeman's. James Freeman was born at Isle of Ely, c1795-98, and arrived in the colony in 1817. After several misadventures he was assigned to Robert Henderson at Brisbane Waters. He managed Henderson's dairy at Cabbage Tree and it was here that he met Mary Ann Smith who was also assigned to Henderson. Their firstborn was a daughter Elizabeth, born in 1832. I'm trying to find out how John Taaffe came to be in the Brisbane Water area. He was friendly with Thomas Boyd who had a ketch called "Turtle". Perhaps they met in Sydney, Boyd was sailing to Gosford etc...who knows. At any rate I know that John Taaffe and Elizabeth Freeman married at Gosford in 1849, and in 1853 they sailed with Thos Boyd and Elizabeth's younger sister, Eliza, to Reids Mistake where they settled. Thos Boyd and Eliza Freeman later married in 1859. I also know that the Freemans were at Reids Mistake in 1839, as one of their children was born there. This seems to be very early in the history of white settlement at Reids Mistake and I wonder why they were there. Another ancestor, who was an early settler in Yarramalong, was WILLIAM BEAVEN. But maybe that's outside the area ? If anyone has any connections with these families I'd love to hear from you. regards, David

Hi David > > JOHN TAAFFE and family who settled near Cams Wharf, Lake Macquarie. Whether of the same family I dont know but I know a Barry TAFFE, who lives at Woy Woy . His wife , Mary is abit interested in family history > colony in 1817. After several misadventures he was assigned to Robert > Henderson at Brisbane Waters. He managed Henderson's dairy at > Another ancestor, who was an early settler in Yarramalong, was WILLIAM > BEAVEN. But maybe that's outside the area ? No........ A heap of info on him and his descendants in the Wyong Pioneers books published by the Wyong FHG Have the names and addresses of the 4 contributors that I could sed direct to you ? Bye Marg Morters Central Coast Family History Society GOSFORD NSW Australia [email protected]