Hello MargM and Everyone, this latest thread is very interesting. I thought there would be quite a few people on the list with pioneer ancestors much earlier than mine so I wasn't going to mention them. However as mine are from 1841 and 1846, I guess they deserve a mention. Robert Creighton and his wife [Eliza Ann Dunlop] arrived in Sydney Cove on 19 Feb 1839 per 'Jessie', with four of their children, as free settlers. After staying in Sydney for awhile, they moved to Gosford. By the time of the 1841 Census, Robert Creighton was living in Russell Street, East Gosford. Robert Creighton is my gt. gt. gt. grandfather. John Cockcroft was a convict who arrived in Sydney Cove per 'Westmoreland' on 15 July 1835 . He was born in 1810. In 1846 he was in the Gosford district and he applied to marry Jane Ann Turner, aged 21yrs. I don't have information on John Cockcroft's TOL, so I don't know when he first moved [or was sent] to the Central Coast. Jane Ann was the eldest daughter of my Gt. Gt. Gt. grandmother, Margaret Bates, and her first husband, William Turner. Best wishes Wendy McKenzie

Our ancestors were late comers - John and Mary Flack who were in the Gosford area around 1859 They arrived from Bottisham, Cambridgeshire on the Castilian 1858 with 8 children. One son had arrived the previous year. "29 August 1861 The Bench was advised by the Colonial Architect that repairs to the Courthouse Roof were to be carried out by John Flack for the sum of Four pounds. (Source: Swancott, Charles, The Brisbane Waters Story Part 1: Gosford and the Henry Kendall Country, published 1953 Second Edition 1966 Call no 991.330-33 p74)" One of John's daughters Ann died at Gosford in 1859 (b1858 Raymond Terrace). Another, Sarah married Samuel Brooks in 1864 in Brisbane Waters and they had a daughter Elizabeth born 1865 in Gosford, Fanny born 1867 in Brisbane Waters and Samuel born 1869 in Gosford. The next child was born in Gulgong in 1871 when it seems all the Flack families left for Mudgee. John then had a blacksmith, carriage maker and undertaking business in Mudgee and Lithgow. Did any Flacks remain in the area?? Have been promising myself to obtain their certificates but have been so busy on other twigs and branches. But you have rekindled my interest abd hve ordered all the Brisbane Waters Certificates today. Regards Joanne