Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

 I was reading recently that the Australian author Kate Grenville has been short-listed for the Women's Prize for her novel about her grandmother, Dolly Maunder. Congratulations Kate! If you don't know about Kate, she is the author of a number of books but I would suggest her best known is "The Secret River" which details the early colonial story of her ancestors on her maternal side and made into a successful TV series. Many years ago, I had the occasion to speak with Kate and mentioned that her paternal side of the family was just as fascinating as her mother’s and as such this week's blog is about her great grandfather. ALBAN GEE Alban was born in Dukinfield, Cheshire, England in October 1847, the fourth child from eight of Ira and Ann (nee Wilde). Ira trained as a mechanic at the hands of his father but became the Manager of the firm of Messrs. John McCall and Co., who owned the largest meat preserving establishment in England. It was with that firm that...

 The subject of today's blog was brought to my attention in early 2019 and has had a lasting effect upon me. A strong, formidable man who let no one intimidate him but with a strong sense of moral fortitude   whose story I believe is one that would suit the small screen; let me introduce... HENRY EDINBURGH BAYLIS  Henry was born in Edinburgh (hence the second name honouring his birthplace) Scotland in 1826, the second son of Thomas Henry Baylis, Lieutenant of the 17th Regiment, and his wife Julia Dorothea. In mid 1832 he arrived in Sydney where his father continued his military career. Henry was educated at The King's School, Parramatta, one of their earliest pupils and then trained in the legal office of the Fitzhardinge family of Sydney. He worked briefly on a pastoral property near Bathurst and after gold was discovered in the Mudgee District in 1851, tried his luck there like many others, but to no avail. Baylis entered the public service as a Clerk of Petty Sess...