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 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.

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.