I've been reading list input lately but like a number of other listers have not had a lot to add. However, I've been happily collecting information on my Hunter Valley families from the National Archives, NSW State Archives and the various armed service sites which if anyone has an interest in the families below I'm more than happy to share. To add more families to the current thread, my family which can be viewed at http://awt.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SHOW <http://awt.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SHOW&db=:3169387&recno=0&t i=5538> &db=:3169387&recno=0&ti=5538 includes the following Hunter Valley names: Heinrich BUFFIER (BOUFFIER on naturalisation in 1866) who arrived with wife Catherina Web(b)er and son Johannes on the Parland in 1849. They were part of the German families brought out to help establish the wine industry in the Hunter. Families in my direct line that the Buffiers/Bouffiers married into or who married into them include: GALVIN (James and Mary (O'Connor) from Clare Ireland arriving on the Garland in 1852 with Patrick, Michael and Mary). James was a farmer and is listed, I believe, at http://www.nswlocalhistory.com.au/singleton1885.htm . My grandfather Daniel Galvin, one of Michael Galvin and Catherine Flanagan's children, was, according to his birth certificate, born at Wybong Creek. Daniel was a miner, coal sinker and I believe a mine manager in the Hunter. Daniel married Catherine Bouffier, a granddaughter of Heinrich and Catherina. If anybody has an interest in the Galvins I've loaded part of a scan from their shipping records which shows where they came from and both sets of parent's details onto the Y-IRL site. I can forward the full scan on or you can join the Y-IRL group and view it there. I understood the Galvins were from Innes Clare but I'm not sure that's correct given the information on the scan. SMITH (Patrick who arrived I think on the Jessie in 1838) as an 18 year old. He was sponsored by William Rutland (King Billy). Patrick was from Blackwater Bridge, Cavan Ireland. Patrick married Mary SMITH. Patrick was a carrier and is listed in Grevilles for Cessnock. One of the interesting and sad items I collected recently was from NSW State Archives where I got a copy of bankruptcy papers for Patrick. Patrick and Mary's daughter, Mary Agnes Smith married Martin Bouffier, one of Heinrich and Catherina's sons. Martin remarried on Mary's death to Honorah McGrane daughter of Bernard McGrane. There were 16 children from Martin's two marriages so there have to be more relations scattered around the county side now. Mary Smith arrived on the George Fife in 1840 as a 10 year old. Her parents were John and Mary SMITH and they were from Ardnamurchan Scotland. John Smith was a farmer in the Hunter I believe, although with Smith as a surname it's proved difficult to get a lot of information about them. However, the same site above, nswlocalhistory, has a number of John Smiths listed in the Hunter. John and Mary's other children were Lachlan (18), Roderick (16), George (12), Margaret (9). I believe George lived in the Hunter because Patrick indicated when his creditors came calling that he had sold his brother in law George, his bullocks. I have been unable to trace Lachlan, Roderick or George, not being able to find them on a NSW marriage or death search or with listings to various boards, including the Australian Smiths board. All of these families were Catholics and I think my next step is to look for Catholic Church records/schooling etc. Having said that, there was a note about a Patrick Smith's involvement in a request made to the National Schools Board in 1866 for a school at Cessnock. This was in the book "Cessnock 1826-1954" which I think was written by William Broomfield. That book includes a lot of references to Hunter families. The 1866 request was supported by people of all denominations CE, RC and EC (whatever that last was). Other family names associated with the Bouffier family are: BRIDGE, CHAPPLE, BURKE (Martin and Mary's daughter's married into these families). ALEXANDER, ROOTS, POGNOSKI, MORSE, JORGENSEN, COTTER & BULL (Martin and Honorah's daughters married into these families). Joe Bouffier, Martin's brother married Grace McGrane, another of Bernard's daughters. Families their daughters married into include: PENTLAND, OSBORNE (A Pentland descendant has just made contact with me if anyone has an interest in this family). Finally, one of my mother's cousins was Frank HURLEY. If anyone has an interest in that family I would be keen to correspond. Not I hasten to add that I know anything more about the family than has been reported, but I would be interested in finding out whether they have any Bouffier information. I'm very keen to get any photos of the family. I have been sent photos of the various Bouffier and Smith gravestones in the Hunter Valley and was also sent very kindly by another lister, a photo of Martin Bouffier who was an early council man with Singleton Council. Happy to share these if anyone is interested. Best wishes all in your searches. Anne Whiteford

Hi Anne, When I was about 10 yrs of age, we had a neighbour--Gerry Pentland--son of an Irish doctor and the Matron of the Maitland Hospital. Gerry is an unsung Australian hero. I would like to make contact with your 'Pentland' correspondant. Wal Buffier, a Maitland cattle dealer, was well known to my Father. Thankyou Anne. Regards, Greg Ball.