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Gotta Find Them All!
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WEEK 52 – YOU

December 27, 2019 by Leanne

This week in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, the prompt is “You”.

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!

WEEK 14 – BRICK WALL

April 5, 2019 by Leanne

This week in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, the prompt is “Brick Wall”.

My biggest brick wall so far for my family research would be my Paternal great grandmother, Ethel Driver.

Ethel was born in 1890 in Hotham, Victoria, Australia. Her birth is listed in the Australian Records Index at Ancestry.com. Her mother is listed as Mary Driver, and no father is named. Is he a Driver? Or was Ethel born illegitimate?

Ethel Driver birth Registration

Ethel married William Hugh McConnell in about 1910. They lived at Mepunga, Victoria, Australia until about the mid 1950’s, then they moved to Otway Road in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.

Ethel and William Marriage Registration

William died in 1968 and Ethel in 1991. They are buried together in the Warrnambool Cemetery.

There are a few trees on Ancestry that have a John Driver as Ethel’s grandfather, he apparently died in Warrnambool in 1908. There is also a Rebecca Cole who is listed as John’s daughter living in nearby Terang. She could possibly be Ethel’s aunt, a sister to Mary. Both of these people are worth looking into during my next research session on Ethel.

Neither of these people will help me sort out Ethel’s father, although knowing more about Mary and her family may help pinpoint a time and place for a connection between Ethel’s parents.

If you are connected to these families and might know something to help with my research, please send me a message. I’d love to hear from you.

WEEK 8 – FAMILY PHOTO

February 19, 2019 by Leanne

This week in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, the prompt is “Family Photo”.

Absalom descendants 1980s

This photo was taken at “Spring Valley”, Woodford, Victoria, Australia. It is of some of the Absalom descendants.

Front: Leanne, Wayne, Shane, Danial and Robert.

Back: Trevor, Lynette, baby, Rhoda and William.

I am not sure of the date but it was sometime in the 1980s. I am also unsure of who the baby is that Rhoda is holding, but it is either Kris or Maree.

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