Morning all, Placename : Paterson Name : Caroline STONE, my 3rd g-grandmother Known to be living/working at "Elms Hall" (a property on the Gresford Road), Paterson in 1840 when she married my 3rd g-grandfather, Patrick FLYNN. She may have been a domestic servant ? I have traced her from 1840 onwards, but nothing earlier. As an aside the following article on the BUCKNELL's of "Elms Hall", written by Harry Boyle (The Way We Were) may be of interest ... Reluctant Wife of a Pioneer Paterson Farmer : "It is an accepted theory that our pioneer women followed their men into the wilderness to face whatever tribulations and danger that would confront them. While this is so in most cases there were exceptions. One such case was Martha BUCKNELL whose husband William when granted "Elms Hall" on the Paterson River had a hard task convincing Martha to come with him. Still existing is the promissory note given by him to her to persuade her to accompany him. Dated June 23, 1827, it states : "I William BUCKNELL, give Martha this promissory note that if she does not like the Hunter River I will allow her to return to England with five children and pay her expenses to Ireland". William BUCKNELL was a watchmaker, Martha was a neice of Darcy WENTWORTH and cousin of William Charles WENTWORTH. They arrived in Sydney in 1826 on the ship "Adrian". Reading his letters it is obvious that William had a hard time of it, running an outpost estate, having trouble with bullocks and horses and being injured, but being instructed what to do by Martha who evidently was a strong minded woman. They had married in Armagh Ireland and had 11 children. One son had died before leaving England, one was born at sea, and one in the Colony. The Colonial Office had given him support to assist in the Colony's water supply. He had brought out Saxon Merinos but all were lost on the voyage. Gov. Darling disliked William C. WENTWORTH and presumably his relatives and made some caustic remarks about the BUCKNELL's. William called his estate "Elms Hall" after the WENTWORTH's estate in Ireland and despite many setbacks prospered. In 1838 he opened a store on "Elms Hall" and later advertised that he would no longer sell wine and spirits there because it caused local troubles. In 1849 he pioneered cotton growing sending a bale to England. His sons became pioneer graziers and helped open up the interior. For a woman who was reluctant to come to the Hunter River she left her mark in local history. William died in 1856, Martha lived on till 1871. A local story about a descendant of the BUCKNELL's (the next few words are obliterated) tric (possibly eccentric ?), lived near Hilldale and his home was on the right-of-way for the proposed North Coast railway line. He was afraid of ghosts and always had to be home before dark. If in town and held up he would stay in town rather than be caught in the dark. When demolishing his house after his death a fortune was found amounting to $26,000. Notes were between the pages of the family bible, behind the wallpaper and it was remembered that he always insisted on being paid in gold. A search for his hiding spot was made but after allowing an extension of time to find it the Railway had to go through. The legend is today that somewhere under the line is a fortune in gold". Regards, Diane