In stark contrast to some of the impressive mausolea at Liverpool Cemetery (in Sydney's west), my great-great grandmother, Ellen Lang is buried there in an unmarked "pauper's grave" (as they were called then). She died 15 years before I was even born, so I don't know very much about her. I don't even have a photograph of her. But her life story has fascinated me for a number of years, and so for at least ten or fifteen years now, I've been "Searching For Ellen". One of the most … [Read more...]

"Who would imagine you'd get so emotional about someone from 160 years ago?" Kerry O'Brien observed on tonight's edition of "Who Do You Think You Are?" on SBS TV. The ABC-TV presenter was a little bit teary when reflecting on the plight of his ancestors. I completely understand what he was talking about, as I've often felt that way as I've researched my family history and have learned about ancestors I've never known. The story that tears me up, every time, is the story of Ellen Laing. She … [Read more...]

If you look closely at the faces of the people in this photograph, there's bound to be someone who looks a bit like me. All of these people and I have the same ancestry: a couple called John and Elizabeth Love who came to Australia in 1792. John Love, his wife Martha, and his daughter Elizabeth came to Australia on the “Matilda” which departed from Portsmouth, England on March 27, 1791. He was a member of the newly formed NSW Corps, whose role was to supervise convicts. Although I’ve … [Read more...]