Hello from Australia

[Kerbent]

Hi my name is Sandra,

As way of introduction I thought I’d describe how I became involved in the fascinating realm of genealogy.

I began my genealogical journey over 25 years ago before I turned 21. My grandmother had informed me that she would be dying soon as she was very “old”. Suddenly I realized that her old tin full of photographs had no labels or names on them, they were pictures of mostly unknown people. With a sense of urgency I began to visit her once a week trying to sort her photos and label them.

My Grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday on the 2nd June 2007, with almost all of her descendants celebrating with her.

When we sit and talk now I tease her about how she told me she was about to die those 25 years ago (she was in excellent health then as she is now), sometimes I tell her the things I’ve found in my research but we have a silent agreement she wants to hear only the good things not the bad (perhaps that’s why she lived so long?). She shakes her head with puzzlement at my interest in my family history.

I still feel that same sense of urgency that I did years ago but now I also feel a sense of responsibility of getting it all down and bringing it all together as one day I will that lady sitting in the recliner chair telling tales of things long ago. I will be giving sharing a box with CDs of pictures and copies of research and certificates, all pulled together in amateur stories for the next generation of grandchildren to reorganize and sort as they try to make sense how they fit into the larger story and prepare it once again to hand on to the next set of grandchildren.

Names I am researching:-
Maternal side:- Todman, Bassett, Ellis, Crump, Symons, Dutton, Carbis, Mitchell, Dutton, Dillon, Bartlett
Paternal side :- Williamson, Jacka, Ebbott, Walker, Munro, Jennings, Gill, Bennetts, Thomas, Knight, Nance, Moyses,
Husband’s tree:- Benton, Nichols, Lovell, Walker, Milligan, James

I live in a suburb of Melbourne Victoria, Australia. I have been researching my family history for over 20 years now and the more I information that I find the more intrigued I have become by what I’ve found.

Sandra

[tony vines]

Hi Sandra

Purely coincidence I'm sure but my employers use an organisation called Gill Jennings something or other to help with our IPR!

Good hunting

[justanne]

I have Williamsons in my family from Leicestershire. Any links ?
Anne

[Kerbent]

I have Williamsons in my family from Leicestershire. Any links ?
Anne

HI Anne,
My Williamson's originally came from Ireland possibly between 1841 and 1851 and settled in Maryport, Cumberland, England. Some of the family seem to have been stayed there for several generations, however my particular line appear to have migrated to Australia after finishing his apprenticeship in tailoring and just after marrying in the Holy Trinity Church, Hoxton, Middlesex, England in 1853. All John and Louisa's wre born in Australia.
Those Williamson's remaining behind in England were Thomas and wife Jane, and thier adult children, James who married Ann Fiddler, and Jane who appears to have been a single mum.
It would be great to come accross some else researching this line.
Sandra

[DerekHanley]

I am descended from Mitchell's and Jacka's... currently teaching in Korea... the more I look the more amazed I become with how expansive my family has become 54 families in my tree! Best wishes to all
Regards
Derek Hanley

Hello,
If Samual was born around 1771... I am descended from his older sister,Elizabeth b. 1756... his father was John Jacka b. 1726 and died 1773.... my records go back several more generations. I'd be very interested in an exchange of information.
Regards
Derek

[Beebee]

Hi Kerbent,

I have Knights and Lovells from Middlesex, and I know that at least one of my Lovells went to Australia in 1816, any link there?

[Kerbent]

If Samual was born around 1771... I am descended from his older sister,Elizabeth b. 1756... his father was John Jacka b. 1726 and died 1773.... my records go back several more generations

Hi Derek,
I don't seem to be able to identify your Jacka family on my tree however it might help if you give me a little more information.
There are several Jacka researchers that surmise that there are different clusters of Jacka’s in England.
And that these clusters can be identified by using naming patterns and geography as defining principles to identify various Jacka family groups.
Below is an outline of naming pattern "theory"

Naming Patterns 1700-1875
The first Son was named after the father’s father
Second son named after mother’s father
Third son named after the father
Fourth son named after father’s eldest brother
First daughter named after mother’s mother
Second daughter named after father’s mother
Third daughter named after mother
Fourth daughter named after mother’s eldest sister
Exceptions to the pattern occur when the naming system produced a duplication of names.
In that case, the name was taken from the next on the list.
Another break in the pattern could be caused by a death.
If a child died in infancy, then the parents would name the subsequent new born the same name.
(Taken from: Tracing your Origins. By Angus Baxter.)

Using the International Genealogical Index (IGI) a fellow researcher has labourously extract hundreds of people with Jacka surnames (although not all) he has managed to link together various Jacka families based on the patterns occurring in their offspring’s names.

On analysis they can be divided up into different groups according to particular naming patterns and occupation types.

The five groups so far identified are:-
Lands End
Land's End (Cornish name: Pedn a Wollaz) is a headland on the Penwith peninsula, located near Penzance, Cornwall, UK.

Common thread names
Abrahams
Joseph
Hugh
Common occupation
Working the land either as labourers or farmers

Mounts Bays
Common thread names
Humphrey
Benjamin
Nicholas
And further down the descendancy the name Peter and is introduced and the name Humphrey is dropped
Common occupation
Fishermen

Redruth (group 1)
Common thread names
Richard
David
Steven
Common occupation
Miners, blacksmiths, whitesmiths, stone masons

Redruth (group 2)
Originally from Perranzubloe before moving to Redruth
Common thread names
Walter
Samuel
Common occupation - not yet identified


Scatter group
Not yet identified as a single or multiple groups with distinguishing features

Of course this is only a theory a lot more work has yet to be done such as consulitng original records etc, but perhaps eventually if we can gather enough infomration and go back far enough they will link together?

From all of this information can you identiy which group your Jacka's might belong to?

Sandra

[Kerbent]

Hi Kerbent,

I have Knights and Lovells from Middlesex, and I know that at least one of my Lovells went to Australia in 1816, any link there?

Hello BeeBee,

The Lovell family that I am connected to through my husband arrived in Australia in 1913.
The original family came from around Acton, Middlesex and lived around Hammersmith and were involved in the Laundry business.

According to the 1891 Census it looks as if Francis Lovell owned his own laundry and his family were living at
161 Latimer Rd, Hammersmith, London, England
1. Francis Lovell, 64, laundry man, employer
2. Hannah Lovell 55, laundress, employee
3. Albert Lovell 19, General Labourer
4. Walter Lovell 17, General Labourer
5. Louise Lovell 10, General Labourer

It was Francis Lovell's granddaughter Louisa Lovell born 1889 who came out to Australia in 1913 and married George Walker.

Any connection?
Sandra

[Beebee]

Hello BeeBee,

The Lovell family that I am connected to through my husband arrived in Australia in 1913.
The original family came from around Acton, Middlesex and lived around Hammersmith and were involved in the Laundry business.

According to the 1891 Census it looks as if Francis Lovell owned his own laundry and his family were living at
161 Latimer Rd, Hammersmith, London, England
1. Francis Lovell, 64, laundry man, employer
2. Hannah Lovell 55, laundress, employee
3. Albert Lovell 19, General Labourer
4. Walter Lovell 17, General Labourer
5. Louise Lovell 10, General Labourer

It was Francis Lovell's granddaughter Louisa Lovell born 1889 who came out to Australia in 1913 and married George Walker.

Any connection?
Sandra

Hi Kerbent

It doesn't look like we have a link. Thomas Lovell went to Australia 1816, and my Lovell's are from the Stepney area and were not in the Laundry business. Thank you for reply.

[DerekHanley]

Hello Sandra,
I'm an old hand at research in general but a novice at genealogy... so the information you provide is much appreciated.... As to 'my' Jacka's... Common names in this branch are: Elizabeth, Mary, Samual, Jane, Grace Patience and by an outstanding majority, John. Most of this Jacka family group came from either Gwennup or Kea, near Truro.... Just from the little research I've done so far(230 or so names) I'm recognising particular patterns and can almost predict what the names of the kids will be. The men in the family were often copper and/or tin miners, and single girls were often employed on the surface in various capacities such as 'Lead Dressers".

Thanks again for your helpful responce
Derek