Is anyone researching this family? John McGINNIS b. c. 1831 Hobart m. Hannah HAYS/HAYES b. c. 1829 in Cork, Ireland at Adelaide in 1850. At some time after their marriage, John had changed his name from McGINNIS to HEYBURN (a later cert confirms this.) John and Johanna's (known) children: Thomas b. 1850 - 1852 d. 1850 - 1855 (can't find record of this one) James AYBURN b. 1853 at Bendigo (have BC) d. 1863 (have DC) Mary Ann HEPBURN b. 1855 at Californian Gully/Sandhurst (have BC) Ellen McGINNIS/HEYBURN b. 1859 at Eaglehawk (my g/mother)(can't find record of birth) Catherine Heyburn b. 1860 at Fletchers Creek d. 1863 at Fletchers Creek (have DC) John Heyburn (Jnr) b. 1862 d. 1862 at Fletchers Creek (Myers Flat) Many sad stories abound on the goldfields. It appears that little Catherine died in 1863 from 'congestion of the brain' at the same time 10year old James became ill. The poor young fella died alone 3 weeks later in hospital from 'scarletina' and 'dropsy'. No antibiotics in those days. I feel that John may be the brother of Eliza McGINNIS who married Christopher BURKE, the subject of my previous posting. Regards Julie from Cairns mailto:tropikkal@mytown.net.au