Hi Listers Ellen Scard arrived in Sydney about 1866 with her husband Thomas Scard (a Surgeon) leaving their only child, Madeline, in England. They lived in Ryde, then later Balmain where he was a registered surgeon. Thomas declared insolvent - he died in 1871 - Ellen and Thomas were living at 131 William St Wooloomooloo. Daughter Madeline arrived from England in 1874 - Ellen Scard was in Sydney - possibly Balmain. Madeline married first in 1876, then later in 1917. Madeline's 2nd marriage certificate states her mother Ellen Neden is deceased. I can find a marriage of Ellen Scard to Thomas Moursteven Wright in 1880 in Bulladelah (have certificate but no way of knowing if it is the correct Ellen) but cannot find a marriage of Ellen Wright to a Neden or a death of Ellen Neden. Anyone any ideas for my "brick wall"? Lyn Sydney

> St. Peters Church Cooks River at 187 Princes Highway St. Peters is > open on Saturday, 3rd March from 1.30 p.m.-4.30 p.m.for genealogical > research associated with the death, marriage and baptismal registers, > and to view the historic church and its graveyard.The church was built > of sun dried brick in 1838 and its graveyard in the following > year.VariousD.V.D.'s can be viewed on various aspects of the church. > Of particular interest may be one on the history of the church. > The Prime Minister's, family tree was published recently in a > Saturday's Telegraph.John Howard's great, great grandmother Elizabeth > Howard is buried in the graveyard of St Peters Anglican Church on the > Princes Highway at St Peters. > Her son Jesse, the prime minister's great grandfather, and his family > feature in church records. Jesse's nephew, James, aged 19 was killed > in an accident and is also buried in the graveyard and some of Jesse > and Ellen's children were baptised at the church. > The letters of the curate of the church in the 1870's mention these > people - > Thursday, February 12th, 1874 - The funeral this afternoon was to come > at three and did not appear until past five o'clock. The funeral was a > young fellow who was killed yesterday, about eighteen, named James > Howard, brickcarter, St Peters. He was crushed to death between two > carts at the intersection of Parramatta Street, Harris Street and > Regent Street, driver of the other cart, Henry Morgan,was charged with > manslaughter but was found not guilty.There was a large gathering in > the church and at the grave, especially of young men. > Thursday,April 23rd, 1874 - Fine. More visiting and some of it very > interesting. One woman, a Mrs Ellen Howard, May Street, when we had > entered into conversation, told me that she was very anxious of > salvation some years ago and wanted some one to help her and teach > her. Her children, Edith born 1868, Clara born 1870, Walter born 1872, > Stanley born 1874, were playing there, she pointed to one of them and > said,"His name is Stanley. My neighbour stood for him and would have > him called Stanley after you!" > Saturday, May 9th, 1874 - In the afternoon I was visiting, I am still > on the 'flat' but near the McDonald Town end, where I shall go next.I > fell into conversation with a respectable looking brickmaker who had > just finished his week's work. I discovered he had read 'Joseph > Butler's Analogy' and many books of a similar and dissimilar kind, > e.g. George Buckle's works and others on subjects like that.I thought > it a strange thing for a brickmaker. It turned out that his name was > Howard too, Jesse Howard, the father of little Stanley Howard I spoke > of. > These letters have been published in the book 'Stanley' which is > available from the church. (Details on church website - > www.cooksriver.net.) > Jesse Howards is also mentioned in an article which appeared in the > The Clay Products Journal Of Australia. > Alfred Dawes Reminiscences > January 1, 1936 > 'Jesse Howard was a brickmaker who worked on the Waterloo Flat. He was > also a musician, a phrenologist and an astronomer. When I was quite a > small lad I remember having my head read by him, but I cannot recall > what the result was. He was a very good lecturer, and often commanded > good audiences to hear him. He was well informed regarding the solar > system, and on Saturday evenings, when the weather and other > conditions permitted, he would station himself on the Newtown railway > bridge with his large telescope, and charge a small fee for permission > to view the moon and stars etc, through the instrument. At the same > time he would explain to the observer the names and qualities of the > planets and answer questions about them.' > Make up your own mind as to whether genetically there was amongst this > family of 19th century working class brickmakers of St. Peters > something which would provide us with our present prime minister. > Another date for your diary 31st March from 2.00 p.m.- 4.00 p.m. Join > us on a walking tour of the Tempe area. Relive the past through the > history of its people and places.It's free, enquires and bookings > either by email or 'phone (02) 95587504.Bookings essential as there > is a limit on numbers of people. > Bob and Laurel Horton. St. Peters Cooks River History Group. > > >