This site is the "Tasmanian Family Link" I think we all know to treat information that we receive with some caution and that documentation of BDM certificates etc is the way to go for "proof". A lot of these wonderful sites actually head us in the right directions. There is even mistakes on the CD's as many of you will know. Here is some valuable information sent to me by a fellow lister. While it is nice having people take the interest to pass on "new discoveries" and share them, it is also necessary to check out the sites thoroughly. I guess you are referring to the Tasmanian Family Link part of the Tasmanian Archives site. While it can be a great boon to researchers it is also necessary to treat it with great caution. It is fraught with serious errors, misleadingly incomplete families, duplications under similar but not related names, even persons who did not exist, and so on. You need to know how it was constructed to understand this. I discussed these matters with them at some length a couple of years ago. While they were prepared to unofficially acknowledge the errors I pointed out, they regretted that time and contractual obligations meant they could (would) not make alterations, despite the claim they make on the home page. In fact some discussion on this site, and these matters flowed back and forth on one of the Tasmanian web sites which was operating a couple of years ago. So thanks for taking the time and interest, but I would also warn users to take care and check everything against other records, remembering that even records like the Pioneers Indexes also have errors and omissions. Cheryl Hower Mandurah WA chergar@southwest.com.au ICQ 33532371 researching** Hower**Burgess**Teare**Beecken**Farr**Castle**Schocroft**O'Meara**

Is this the Tasmanian Family Link database, or have I missed something else in this Tasmanian site? I have been using Family Link for some time, but you have to beware - the info, especially re dates, is often "second guessed" based on say a child's birth date. e.g. they will have a record of a child's birth in Tasmania and "guess" that the parent's marriage was about 12 months prior - when in fact this is the fourth child of the family with others born in England and therefore the marriage was in England some years before etc. Never-the-less, it does help link family members. It is not a direct BDM index, but the (fantastic) efforts of others to make the links and therefore very valuable if you are aware of its limitations. Jan Roberts Researching: SULLIVAN; LORING; WALSH; GOOD; CULLEENY; ROBERTS; HARVEY; CAPSTAFF; HEPPLE; JONES; BENNETT; PATERSON; WARD; HAWTON; SCUTT; SILK among others!

Hi All >From SKS on another list. The searchable database for Birth, Deaths and Marriages in Tasmania is now ONLINE. http://www.tased.edu.au/archives/ Cheryl Hower Mandurah WA chergar@southwest.com.au ICQ 33532371 researching** Hower**Burgess**Teare**Beecken**Farr**Castle**Schocroft**O'Meara**

James Futcher and wife Emma Manston lived in Sale, Victoria. They had a son called James born 1856 in Ballarat. He married Mary Ann Ross in 1890 in Rosedale, Victoria. They had two children Matilda and Jemima. James (Jnr) was an Ironworker/Plumber and lived in the Sale, Bairnsdale area until the late 1890s when the family moved to Western Australia. Information I am seeking is: James Futcher (Jnr) was a member of the Freemasons lodge in the areas that he lived in Victoria and there did exist a photograph of him with his lodge. It has subsequently been lost over the years, but the older members of the family know that it did exist. Can anyone supply me with an address or email address of the Freemason Lodge in Victoria - or in that area where I can start making enquiries as to whether they have a copy of this photograph. No family likeness to James exists here in Western Australia. Ofcourse I would like to hear of any connections to this family if anyone out there knows of them. Best wishes. Joy in West Aus. jcalder@netserv.net.au

Dear Listers, As part of my researches into the MATTHEWS family of Sunny Creek (near Trafalgar in Gippsland) I made contact some 4 or 5 years ago with a certain JOHN MATTHEWS, who descended from another branch of the original immigrant arrivals (JOHN & CAROLINE MATTHEWS at Point Henry, near Geelong, in 1851). Since this time I have lost touch with him, and would be grateful if anyone connected with this list can help me locate him. This should be easier than the more usual family history searches, as, far as I know, he is still alive, (in his 40's) but so far this has not been the case. The last address I was given (from which he moved about 2 years ago) was Seaview Ave Cockatoo Vic. He is a keen local artist. I believe we both have information concerning our family's early beginnings in the new colony of Victoria, which will be of great mutual benefit. Anyone who thinks they may be able to help please respond to the e-mail address shown below. Gary Matthews (gmatthews@hazpower.com)

Hello Everyone: Well, it looks like all my years of seaching here in Canada are wasted as so many seemed to have gone to Australia. I am now looking for the following family: Marion Arbuckle was born in North Uist (Invernesshire) in 1800. She married Andrew Greig on April 23, 1829 Their children were:William Murdock Greig-born August 11,1830 Ann Greig-born April 3, 1832 James Norman Greig-born December 1,1833 All were born Kilmuir, North Uist, Invernesshire,Scotland. I have Bill Lawson's book here that says they left North Uist in 1835. They may also have had more children after they left North Uist. Ann Greig appears back in North Uist in the 1851 Census at age 18. Someone has sent me info from the Pioneer's index which tells of a Greig family in Seymour. The names are very close. Would anyone know of or be researching this name or family. Many Thanks Lorraine Ottawa, Canada

Hi Listers I am looking for descendants of ALEXANDER WADDLE B abt 1777 in County Tyronne Ireland arrived VDL in 1812 aboard "Indefatigable". Also looking for ancestors and descendants of David Waddell, he married Mary McNamara in 1865 in Victoria No 888 Children were David b 1873 Lucknow 21559 Ellen Mary d 1877 age 11 years Lucknow 3678 George b 1868 Lucknow 13566 James Alexander b 1877 Bairnsdale, Any information would be very helpfull, also is anyone researching this family, I would like to correspond and share what information we have. Regards To All Ian McDonald Maryborough Vic

Geoff wrote: >Mannig Clark wrote that an historian needed a stout pair of boots i think >you have worn yours out compiling this list. > I have seen Sir Keith Hancock, Australia's first international historian (born at Bairnsdale) also use this quote, which he attributed to an earlier historian, Tawney. Hancock said: "What historians need is not more documents, but stronger boots". I'm not all that sure I totally agree with him :) But there is no substitute to getting your boots on and going out to the actual place. Cheers Linda Barraclough Briagolong List Owner: AUS-VIC-GIPPSLAND email: kapana@netspace.net.au http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/AVG/

Hi Lorene, >Could some kind person please let me know how I may contact the Secretaries >of the Maffra Historical Society and the Stratford Historical Society. I am >making some progress with my LATHAM family roots in Stratford and Maffra and >need to contact the above secretaries. Try the AVG Home Page -> Resources -> Resources Wellington Shire AVG Home Page address is in my signature Linda Barraclough Briagolong List Owner: AUS-VIC-GIPPSLAND email: kapana@netspace.net.au http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/AVG/

Dear All, I've changed my address (after a few hiccups). Thanks to all those who answered my request for Warragul information on sawmills and shipping. Are there any Williams family still residing in Warragul who could be descendents of the following: HENRY WILLIAM WILLIAMS born 1888 at Warragul ROBERT WILLIAMS born 1891 at Warragul CAROL EVALENE WILLIAMS born 1896 ELLEN WILLIAMS born ? These were some of the ten children born to my g/father, JOHN WILLIAMS who was born c. 1830 in Cape Town South Africa and died 1901 in Warragul. He married ELLEN HAYBURN MCGINNIS in 1877 at Eaglehawk. I am also have MUCH trouble finding the family of ELLEN MCGINNIS due to the numerous spelling renditions of the surname. Hoping for help. Julie from Cairns new address: muffin@cairns.net.au Researching: WILLIAMS, MCGINNIS, MCGUINNESS, etc. etc.VAN OLLEFEN (or similar), HAYES, HE(A)YBURN, CROSS, DEVINNY / DEVANNEY

peter lakeman wrote >The following large list of new/additional war memorials and honour rolls >has been added to the AVG website. snip >Peter Lakeman Mannig Clark wrote that an historian needed a stout pair of boots i think you have worn yours out compiling this lsit.

Hi all, Could some kind person please let me know how I may contact the Secretaries of the Maffra Historical Society and the Stratford Historical Society. I am making some progress with my LATHAM family roots in Stratford and Maffra and need to contact the above secretaries. kind regards, Lorene

The following large list of new/additional war memorials and honour rolls has been added to the AVG website. Shire of Cardinia: Beaconsfield Beaconsfield Upper Berwick (yes I know it is not in Cardinia, but .....) Cockatoo Emerald Macclesfield Officer Pakenham Shire of La Trobe: Boolarra Hazelwood Jeeralang Jumbuk Middle Creek Morwell Yinnar Shire of South Gippsland: Gunyah Shire of Wellington: Gormandale Thanks to Sandra McClure for the Gormandale transcription, and to John Pearson who has allowed us to transcribe many honour rolls from his book 'Duty Nobly Done: Great War Enlistments from the Shire of Morwell'. Just go to http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/AVG/ and from there to Resources, then to War Memorials. Regards Peter Lakeman

William Tampling m. Jane Cook in 1858 Geelong. Family moved to Sale area c1880. Jane died in 1884 and a son, William Jnr. in 1887. When William Snr. died in 1890 he was buried as a pauper. What became of the two youngest children of this family - Thomas Henry b1880 and Mary Ann b1881? No trace of them on Vic/NSW bdm's or the Children's Register for Vic. Were they adopted or fostered? Can anyone suggest how I can trace them? Are there school registers for the 1880's for Sale available? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Margaret. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Hi, All, Thanks heaps for the excellent response on shipping. I shall now sift through the info I have received. >From Julie in rainy Cairns, Australia

Jane ANDERSON, nee FA(E)LLOWS, age 24, died "Childbed", 7th December 1853 at Wellington, Kalkallo. (This locality presumably around present day Sale/Longford) According to her death certificate there were 5 children - John 6, Samuel 5, Agnes 4, Catherine 3, Infant 10 days. In April 1854 her husband, James, re-married, in Melbourne, to Jane MOORE of Broughshane, Co Antrim. There was no mention made of a previous marriage or children (extant or otherwise) on this marriage certificate, yet on the birth certificate (1856) for Hugh - the first child of this second union - it was clearly stated that this was a second marriage and Jane MOORE a second wife - thus authenticating the relationships. However, the certificate went on to record under the heading 'Issue living and deceased' "Two living, four dead". I cannot find any record of the deaths of those four children - either pre or post the death of their mother. I have a complete set of the Victorian BDM Indexes on microfiche, including the Early Church Records group. On the birth certificate (1857) for the next child, Christina, the 'Issue' changes to - "5 dead, 2 living". It is known that of the first group of five only Samuel survived and family tradition has it that the other four died of dysentery. The problem is to find the death records. Can anybody help here please. Further complicating this issue is the fact that Jane's death certificate states that she had been in Victoria for 11 years - making c. 1842 as the year of arrival - and that she had married at age 17 - c. 1846. As with the deaths, it has not been possible to trace the marriage. Anyone with clues on this? Any help or suggestion would be most welcome. Peter, (the older one of the tworobbos) at Bairnsdale, capital of the Victorian Riviera.

Would like to let the list know that contact has been made with Lorraine Spencer a descendant of Dr. Arbuckle's brother (who went to Canada) and we have been exchanging some lovely information about Arbuckle/McDonald families. My connection is that I am descended from John McDonald of Armidale Station, Gippsland, whose brother Alexander married Flora Arbuckle (dau of the Doctor). Regarding his daughter, Flora, I understood that Dr Arbuckle's wife had died in childbirth or shortly after, and the baby was left with relatives to rear, while the doctor decided to go as ship's surgeon on the British King leaving in Dec. 1838 and arriving Sydney in Feb. 1839. It was not until his daughter was 18 that she came to Australia to live with her father. Quite an undertaking considering it was half way round the world and she had never known her father. She married Alexander McDonald but after he died in 1881, she married a Thomas Brown in 1883 who I believe was with the Salvation Army or at least a member of it. She lived to be 90 - I haven't got her death certificate but don't believe she had any children to either marriage. I have a transcription of the doctor's grave (his daughter is buried with him) and also his obituary from the Gippsland Times. If anyone would like to read it, I can send it as an attachment just let me know. It's too long to add to this message - the obit itself is over 1,000 words - they don't write them like that anymore! Best wishes, Sandra. -- Peter & Sandra Beckett PO Box 381 Hastings 3915 Victoria, Australia Home : 03 59791237 Mob : 0419 508585 Email: pbeckett@peninsula.starway.net.au

Please note NEW email address for Julie Love in Cairns Australia. OLD ADDRESS WAS mytown@cairns.net.au NEW ADDRESS IS muffin@cairns.net.au Researching GENEALOGY for: WILLIAMS and VAN OLLEFEN - South Africa WILLIAMS - Australia - goldfields, Warragul MC GINNIS, MCGUINNESS etc from above areas Regards All Julie

Hello Again: Having just discovered that Dr Alexander Arbuckle went to Australia, I am now wondering about his sister and some nephews. They were: GREIG, Andrew and Marion with their children William b 1830 Ann b 1832 James b 1833 They left North Uist, Scotland in 1835, Andrew was a school teacher. McLELLAN brothers - William b 1850 Donald b 1853 Alexander b 1854 These 3 brothers left North Uist in 1870 but I have been unable to locate where they went. COLQUHOUN - These names were from the following ship lists to Victoria. Hugh - age 18 - Dec 1856 - Cairngorm John - age 29 - ??? 1866 - Marguerite If anyone is reseaching any of these names, I would appreciate them contacting me. Thank You Lorraine Ottawa, Canada

G'Day Lorraine I found these on the AVRI, possibly yours. This one would be the right age to be Marions brother. ARBUCKLE, Alexander CD 21919 Death Father: William Mother: Mcleod Flora Age at Death: 64 Birthplace: Scot Reg Year: 1874 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 8978 There is no record of a Marion/ Marian Greig on the AVRI, however there is a Marian Arbuckle and an Andrew Greig. He could be Andrew and Marions son, I can't find a birth cert for him in Australia so he may have been born on board ship on the way out here. I have included him and his family on the basis of his first sons name (Alexander Arbuck(le)). ARBUCKLE, Marian CD 21942 Death Father: John Mother: Holliday Susan Birthplace: Cari Reg Year: 1875 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 868 GREIG, Andrew CD 346843 Death Father: Unknown Mother: Unknown Age at Death: 53 Birthplace: Edin Reg Year: 1867 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 6759 GREIG, Andrew CM 379281 Marriage Spouse: EARL, Frances Reg Year: 1876 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 828 GREIG, Alexander Arbuck CB 802853 Birth Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Frances Event Place: Se Ym Reg Year: 1878 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 11800 GREIG, Anne CB 802887 Birth Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Frances Event Place: Seymour Reg Year: 1888 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 24641 GREIG, Edward Douglas CB 802952 Birth Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Frances Event Place: Seym Reg Year: 1884 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 20504 GREIG, Flora Mcdonald CB 803001 Birth Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Francis Event Place: Se Ym Reg Year: 1876 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 12297 GREIG, Marian Clara Har CB 803156 Birth Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Frances Event Place: Seym Reg Year: 1886 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 13797 GREIG, Norman Fletcher CB 803183 Birth Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Frances Event Place: Seymour Reg Year: 1880 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 11761 GREIG, Walter Angus Mcm CB 803240 Birth Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Frances Event Place: Seym Reg Year: 1882 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 12165 GREIG, Flora Mcdonald CD 346886 Death Father: Andrew Mother: Earl Francis Age at Death: 1 Birthplace: Seym Reg Year: 1878 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 3464 GREIG, Walter Angus Mcm CD 346999 Death Father: Andrew Mother: Frances Earl Age at Death: 1 Death Place: Seymour Reg Year: 1883 Reg State: Victoria Ref Number: 3404 Hope this is of some help. John in Melbourne Australia "E. Spencer" wrote: > Having just discovered that Dr Alexander Arbuckle went > to Australia, I am now wondering about his sister and > some nephews. They were: > > GREIG, Andrew and Marion with their children > William b 1830 > Ann b 1832 > James b 1833 > They left North Uist, Scotland in 1835, Andrew was a > school teacher. > > McLELLAN brothers - William b 1850 > Donald b 1853 > Alexander b 1854