Presentation to Newcastle Family History Society

 Gave a presentation to the Newcastle Family History Society at their monthly meeting (via Zoom) last night. The presentation demonstrated how you can use Land Records to enhance your knowledge of your ancestors.

I was able to show, using both Old System and Torrens Title systems, where my ancestors lived, when they bought the properties and when they were sold or passed on after death. The research also enabled me to find further relatives that were in the same area who I did not know were there.

The Old System records were for a property in Wallsend and the other was at North Lambton on Hartley Street (now known as Newcastle Road (opposite the reservoir near Croudace Street).

I have sent a PDF of the slides for the members of the Society and am also making a video of the talk for publication.

Wallsend Land Records

 Looking forward to the Newcastle Family History Society walk around Wallsend on September 11. I have been able to locate the location of the house where my Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Madsen (nee Wardle) lived in Campbell Street, Wallsend. It is now a car park and car repair shop!

I was able to use the Historical land Records Viewer (HLRV) to locate the deeds showing that my Great Great Grandfather paid 50 pounds for the land in 1865.

Transactions on Lot 10 Section 1

Village of Wallsend

COVID Lockdown activities

 Well, COVID has settled in and we are looking at undertaking some research into our daughter-in-law's paternal ancestry to pass onto our Grandchildren.

Thus far we have found three Irish family names in the Hunter Valley near Maitland. John KEYS, a convict, Bernard and James CAVENAGH and Myles KELLY. Roberta is looking through what has been found and preparing appropriate telling of their lives, while I will be looking at any Land Records that may assist us in our research.

The map below shows the Counties and Parishes surrounding the Maitland area of the Hunter Valley. Click on the map to display it full size.