Writing or talking about myself is something I usually don’t like to do, but I will try my best to give a quick overview of who I am.
I was born in 1972 in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia. I am the only daughter, and oldest of 3 children, born to John McConnell and Lynette McKenzie.
My family has been in the Warrnambool area for a long time, beginning in about the 1850s. The majority of my family still live within 30 minutes of Warrnambool.
Growing up, my weekends were spent visiting family, going to Football and Cricket games, or fishing. My school holidays were divided between my 2 grandmothers, Rhoda (Absalom) McKenzie and Florence (Russell) McConnell.
In 2000, I moved to the U.S. and married my American husband. Since then, I have spent most of my free time researching his family tree, as his family is scattered across the U.S., and some of his lines are completely unknown to him and his parents.
I grew up close to family, having spent time with both sets of grandparents and 2 of my great grandparents, the others passing before I was born. I think I spent more time with my cousins than I did with my friends, and some of my cousins I classed as friends, rather than just as family.
I have 3 children, 2 of whom still live at home. My oldest has her own apartment, and my son is graduating high school this year. My days are spent helping my husband with our computer business, helping the kids with their online schooling and doing genealogy, when time allows.
Just while writing this blog post, I realize that I do not spend enough time writing about family or about myself, which I must remember to put on my To-Do List for next year. Thanks for listening!
Most people in the U.S. that I have talked to, think that because I come from Australia, my ancestors were convicts, but that is not the case. So far I have not found any ancestors that were convicts, most of my relatives came over from the U.K. between 1850-1875. Some of them I am still looking for their immigration details.
John Fuller Rose, as far as I can tell, is my earliest immigrant ancestor. He sailed from London, England to Sydney, Australia where he arrived on 18 May 1838 aboard the “Orontes“, with his wife and children.
John is listed below at the top of the page on line 35. He is 30 years old, married and is travelling with 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl. He was brought into Australia by the government and was engaged by Mr. Dawson of George Street in Sydney.
The following card shows that John is the son of John and Elizabeth Rose from Shadwell, London. He is 30 years old and his occupation is a Brassier and Smith. Ann is the daughter of William and Elizabeth Newman also from Shadwell, London. She is either 31 or 32 years old and her occupation is a House Servant.
Their children are listed as:
F. 11 years 7 Apr. 1838
John 6 years died 5 Nov. 1837
Male child born 20 Feb. 1838 at sea
Mary Ann 4 years July 1837
Elizabeth 3 years died 28 Jan. 1838
Now, here’s where the catch comes in. Of all the children listed only 3 are supposedly alive when they arrived in Australia. That would be: F. the 11 year old, the male child born at sea, and Mary Ann the 4 year old girl. Two boys and 1 girl, like the passenger list at the top says.
John and Ann went on to have at least 4 more children after they arrived in Australia. Thomas in 1840, Charlotte in 1843, Sarah in 1846 and Catherine in 1849.
The other 2 children, John and Elizabeth supposedly died on the journey, however, according to records I have found, they both got married and had families. I am still looking for more passenger list records to sort this out. I had thought that maybe they were named after the deceased children, but their birth years are the same.
I definitely need to do more research on this couple and their children. I am just glad that little Mary Ann, my 3rd great grandmother, survived the journey. As for my 4th great grandmother Ann, giving birth on a ship, I cannot even begin to imagine what that was like!
A few weeks ago I wrote about Jack Keetley, a “Legend”, who rode for the Pony Express in Missouri and had a town named after him in Utah. In this post I will write about some of the family members that I have found so far. I hope to be able to follow them down through the years at some point soon to see if they come up as DNA matches.
In Jack’s obituary in 1912, it mentions he has a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Richards who was living in St. Joseph, Missouri. So I started there and looked for a 1910 census. I found a few Elizabeth Richards but nothing conclusive.
Death Certificate search
I searched for a death certificate next at Missouri Digital Heritage, part of the Missouri Secretary of State website. There were 16 results but only one mentioned Keetley in the name.
The death certificates states that Elizabeth was born in January 1837 in England, was a retired nurse, and was divorced at the time of her death in 1913 in St Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.
Elizabeth Keetley Richards death certificate
Her parents are listed as John Keetley and Louisa Parrott, both born in England. (Jack’s death certificate also mentioned John as his father, with the mother’s name unknown).
Armed with this knowledge, and Jack’s obituary that listed his mother as dying in about 1902, I looked for a 1900 census for Louisa. I found her listed with 2 daughters in Washington Township, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri.
Louise was 90 years old, born in England in September 1809 and immigrated in 1850. She was widowed, a nurse, and a mother to 14 children, only 5 of whom were still living by 1900. She also owned her own home. Maybe there would be property records to look for!
In the household with Louise was Helen Keetley, a daughter. Helen was born in January 1853 in New York. She was 47 years old and single. Helen was not listed as a surviving sister to Jack when he died, so she must have passed before 1912.
I went back to the Missouri death certificates, and found one for Helen. This record states that she was 65 years old and born in 1844 in England. (Obviously something is wrong with the dateand location of birth when comparing it the census). She passed away in March 1910, in Washington Township, Buchanan County, Missouri. Her parents names are listed as John Keetley and Louisa Parrott, both of England, and the informant was Elizabeth Richards.
Helen Keetley death certificate
The third person listed in the 1900 census was Emma Richards. She is a daughter of Louise, aged 63 and widowed, having been married 20 years. Her birth is listed as January 1837 in England, which is the same date as Elizabeth. She is also listed as a Richards. Is this Elizabeth? It also says that she is a mother to 4 children, 1 still living.
I searched the Missouri death certificates and couldn’t find an Emma Richards.
1880 Federal Census
In 1880, Elizabeth was living with H. K. White, presumably this is the same man as listed as the Informant on her death certificate, and the Executor of her will. He is living with his mother, S. K. White, and he is working as an Attorney at Law. Elizabeth is 43 years old, working as a Domestic/Servant and is divorced.
I looked for a will for Louisa, Helen and Elizabeth, unfortunately Elizabeth’s was the only one I found.
Elizabeth wrote her will on 9 May 1905 and added a codicil on 10 May 1905 and listed several people by name and relationship.
daughter, Julia Richards
son, John Richards
sister, Louisa Riley
sister, Hettie/Harriett Keetly
niece, Cappie Cyle
daughter, Alice Fisher
executor, Henry K. White
witness, Emily B. White
witness, Sarah K. White
children of Henry K. White:
Hilda K. White
Anna White
Sarah White
Mildred White
Marion White
Jean White
witness, C. V. Hickman
witness, Sidney S. Wilson (died in the latter part of 1911)
Elizabeth then added a second codicil on 23 September 1910, due to the death of her sister, Hettie/Harriett. She also revoked the inheritance to her niece Cappie Cyle and adjusted the inheritance to her daughters Julie Richards and Alice Fisher. Witnesses to this codicil were C. V. Hickman and Lloyd E. Thompson.
Hopefully this outline of the family so far shows how it all fits together. Most of the information corroborates other sources, with only a few discrepancies that will possibly be answered with more research. For now, without knowing if Jack’s family are actually related, it’s hard to invest more time. Maybe one day someone will read this post and have the answers I need, or even if I need future blog post ideas I can revisit this.
If you are related to any of the Keetley, Parrott, Richards, Riley, Fisher or Cyle names in these posts, please send a message. I’d love to hear from you. Thank you!
Casper Born, my husband’s 2x great grandfather, lived in Dahlgren, Carver County, Minnesota. He was born in 1844 and died in 1901.
While searching newspapers I came across the following article in the Weekly Valley Herald, dated 13 October 1898.
WVH, 13 October 1898
Casper Born left in our office last week a few potatoes which he raised for the first time this summer. They are called “New Salzer’s Champion of the World Potato,” said to be the greatest yielder in the world. They are a large handsome potato, and of superior cooking and keeping qualities. He will raise them for seed next summer.
This week I will write about Mrs. Augusta (Look) Buescher, and something that happened to her that could have been avoided. A simple mistake using flammable liquids around an open flame.
Augusta Look, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Look, was born in about 1880 in Minnesota. In about 1903, she married Ernest Buescher, son of Ernst and Maria Buescher. They lived in Young America, Carver County, Minnesota.
Augusta and Ernest had at least 6 children:
Lorena born 1905
Marvin born 1913
Roland born 1916
Wilford born 1918
Ernest born 1920
Louella born 1923
In December 1933, Augusta was washing clothes in the laundry room while her son, Marvin, was dry-cleaning a suit with Naptha, a flammable cleaning fluid.
There was a buildup of gas fumes in the room and when Marvin lit a cigarette, the gas exploded causing a fire. Both Marvin and Augusta were engulfed in flames. Augusta was seriously injured.
21 December 1933
28 December 1933
On 16 December 1933, Augusta passed away, on the way to the hospital in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. She was buried on the 19 December in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Young America, Carver County, Minnesota. You can see her memorial #96351465 on Find-A-Grave.com here.
This week Ancestry.com offered free access to their database – U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999, so I went in and looked up some family names. Unfortunately they didn’t have a lot for the places my husband’s family lived, but I did find his father in 1961 and 1962.
Here is Bill’s entry for his Senior year. The photo is from 1962 at Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport, Florida.
Bill – 1962
Several years ago my mother-in-law gave me her high school yearbook for her senior year in 1966. She attended Hibbing High School in Hibbing, Minnesota so I decided to include it here too.
Sharon – 1966
Sharon and Bill at the Honor Flight reception dinner 2019
If anyone reading this has family in the 1966 Hematite yearbook, feel free to send me a message. I have the whole book, complete with photos and messages from several of Sharon’s classmates.
I also have a copy of the 20-year reunion booklet for the 1966 graduating class, that has a wealth of genealogical information included for some of the people included.
John Clements was my 2nd great grandfather, the son of Thomas Clements and Ann [maiden name unknown] from Warwickshire, England.
John was born in about 1800 and was living in Victoria, Australia by 1856. Very late in life, in 1869, he married Sarah Sedgley, originally from Gloucestershire, England. She was born in about 1845, the daughter of William Sedgley and Phoebe Hunt.
On the evening of 11 May 1887, he was killed by a falling tree branch, aged 87. He left behind a wife, and two children, William John aged 18 and Eliza Jane aged 16. The following is a newspaper article that details the event.
John Clements – The Argus 13 May 1887
I also have a copy of his death inquest, held 12 May 1887, it is 8 pages long. It gives the accounts of the evening from Dr Thomas Scott, who examined the body, his wife Sarah, his son William, Donald McQuin, a man who was working for the family, and Constable Hibblett from the Warrnambool Police Station.
The topic for this week’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks post is Comedy. I decided to write about my husband’s Paternal grandmother, Helen Sadie Legare Keetley.
One day while I was researching Helen in the newspapers, I came across the following article.
PRESS, Binghamton, N.Y., 27 July 1961
Her “exploits” were in several newspapers across the country from Florida to New York. I just thought it was the cutest article, and it made me chuckle.
Two weeks ago I talked about the Gornowicz family, and what research I have done so far. You can read about them here. This week I decided to talk about one of the children, Franz.
Frank Gornowicz was born in about 1869. He immigrated to the U.S. with his parents and siblings in April 1894 on board the ship “America”. He was going to live at 1626 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, Maryland.
Frank’s Immigration card
I have not found a 1900 Federal census for Frank as of yet. Still looking!
In 1903 Frank was living with his father, Michael, at 1626 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, Maryland. He was working as a laborer.
Frank was living at 2216 Essex Street in Baltimore during the years 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1914, 1917 and 1922 according to several U.S. city directories. His occupation was listed relatively consistent as a Tailor, Carpenter and Laborer across these directories.
On 2 June 1909, Frank filed a Petition for Naturalization. He said he lived at 2216 Essex Street in Baltimore, Maryland and was a Tailor. He was born on the 5th August 1870, in Mangelmül, Germany and immigrated from Bremerhaven in April 1894 on board the vessel “Amerika”.
Frank said his wife was Annie Gornowitz, who was from Nagozyn, Austria, which is possibly Nagoszyn. Frank said he had 1 child Katherine, who was born in 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland. He signed his Oath of Allegiance on 4th April 1910, almost exactly 16 years after coming to the U.S.
Frank Gornowicz immigration papers
Everything Frank said in his petition matches up with everything I have for him so far. The date of immigration, ship name, street address, occupation, wife and child’s name. I still need to find his place of birth, as the one he listed doesn’t seem to exist anymore.
In 1910, Frank was living with his wife, Anna, and daughter Katherine. They had been married for 8 years and it was the first marriage for them both. Anna was a mother to 3 children, only 1 of whom was living at the time of the census. Frank was a Naturalized citizen, having immigrated in 1894 and Anna in 1900. They were both working out of their home, on their Own Account, he as a Tailor and her as an Overall Maker. Frank owned his own home.
Frank Gornowicz 1910 Federal Census
Frank’s father, Michael, passed away in November 1910 and Frank is listed on his estate docket as having paid a surety. His address was listed as 2216 Essex Street.
By 1920, I found a Frank Gornova living at 2216 Essex Street. I believe this is Frank Gornowicz even though his wife’s name is now Sophie. His daughter Catherine is living with them as well, along with another daughter named Marie. Frank was working as a Laborer at a Cemetery. Frank and Sophie are both listed as immigrating in 1900, and naturalized in 1910.
Frank Gornova 1920 Federal Census
In 1920, Frank is listed in a city directory as living at 2216 Essex and working as a Laborer. He is listed with another Laborer named Dominick Gornowitz living at the same address. Is he a relative?
In 1922, Frank and Sophia were living at 2216 Essex Street. Their surname is listed as Gornowicz again. Frank was working as a Laborer.
Is this the same couple? Could Annie have also gone by Sophia? Was she a second wife? The fact that Frank owned his own home in 1910, the 1920 city directory and that they are still living there in 1922, I believe at the very least, that this is Frank Gornowicz in the 1920 census. Maybe he decided to use a different surname. Maybe one of the neighbors gave the information to the census takers and couldn’t remember their surname correctly.
By 1930, the family had moved to 5703 O’Donnell Street, renting his home for $15 per month. The census has them listed as Goosewetz. Frank was working as a Grave Digger at a Cemetery, and Mary was working as a Laborer at a Factory.
Frank Gornowicz 1930 Federal Census
Whoever gave the information to the census taker said that Frank had married at age 32, which fits for his marriage to Anna. Sophie’s age at her first marriage says 34, which places her marriage around 1913. This almost guarantees that Anna and Sophie are 2 different women, if the information on the census is accurate.
By 1940, Frank had died, Marie had married and Sophie had moved in with her. According to the census data that Marie gave, they had all lived at the same place in 1935. So they were still living in Baltimore, just not at the Fait Street address. Marie and her husband Michael Kantorski had a son who was about 8 years old, so they must have married shortly after the 1930 census.
Sophie Gornowicz 1940 Federal Census
I can not find any obituaries or headstones for Frank, Anna, or Sophie. So who is Sophie? What was her maiden name? What happened to Anna? Who’s daughter is Mary/Marie? Her age fits for the end of Anna’s marriage and the start of Sophie’s! All questions I still don’t have answers too.
If you are related to any of these family members, or know anything about them, please feel free to contact me or leave a message on the blog post. Thanks!!
Since it helps me get caught up quicker, I am going to make this weeks post really easy on me. I am just going to list all the surnames that I have proven for my lines so far.
Absalom
Anderson
Cain
Carey
Champ
Chaney
Chislett
Clements
Collins
Driver
Edwards
Foster
Gale
Gilmour
Haynes
Howard
Hunt
Hyland
Jowles
Knight
Laird
Lawrence
Lucas
McConnell
McKenzie
Mitchell
Moore
Nelis
Newman
Oak/es
Osborne
Pekin
Reeves
Renwick
Richards
Rose
Russell
Sedgley
Semple
Stagg
Thompson
Virgin
The names below are for my husband’s lines.
Bilodeau
Blanchette
Bolduc
Born
Boutin
Brinson
Buescher
Buteau
Champagne
Dallaire
Daniel
Dore
Dupre
Elliott
Elsworth
Fortier
Gornowicz
Goulet
Grenier
Grondin
Hall
Horseman
Huge
Hughes
Jamieson
Jones
Joos
Keating
Keetley
Krager/Krieger
Legare
Lessard
Nadeau
Parry
Portwig
Quirion
Rancour
Severance/Saverence
Simons
Smith
Talbot
Toussaint
Townsend
Wilson
If you have any of these surnames, feel free to send me a message. Always looking to make new connections and meet new family members!
