George Rackley - Ludlow, Herefordshire about 1869 - was he adopted?

I get goosebumps when I see a home, although maybe a little modified, that my ancestors lived in. It's such an awesome feeling!

 

Just to put faces to names, here is George Davies and Mary Abigail Willis on their wedding day in Longreach, Queensland in 1898. George was 30 and Mary was only 18 although she looks a little older than 18 in this photo.
Thanks again for all your help!

 

Hi All, I caught up with my Mum's sister a few weekends ago. My mum and her sisters were very small when George died in 1952 so they don't remember him very well. However, my Nanna left my aunty another image of George and Mary in later life. Here it is! I hope everyone is doing well!

 

I often pop by on Google street view and look at my Nan’s houses in Lismore.
One is now not very well looked after but the other is lovingly cared for. I try to peek down the driveway hoping the sweet peas are still growing around the outside dunny. Sadly I guess not. They have an inside loo now.

 

Some of my family are from Lismore too! Google Maps is fantastic - especially for those residences far away!

 

Really?
I was born in Casino. My greatgrandparents were dairy farmers from around the area and they also were part of the founding co-op members of Norco Butter. Why we always purchase Norco when available. Sadly Aldi don’t sell it.
Forgot to mention that my great great grandmother Ann Carlill was the first white women in Casino.

 

Oh wow. That is cool. We buy Norco all the time! Yes, my Dad was born in Lismore before they moved to Ipswich. My grandfather lived in Lismore and surrounds for a number of years. My grandfathers parents were farmers also. Know any McClear's?

 

Knights in Lismore and Carlill in Casino.
Nans sisters mostly lived at Dunoon, Bex Hill, Clunes and Eltham. Pops had a dairy farm at Rock Valley. Small world but I can’t recall the name MClear. Perhaps Mum would have known them.

 

I think they may have known each other through the P A F S Lodge. Both names keep popping up together on Trove. Although over at The Channon and I’m not sure which Knights lived over that way. I know the Knights belonged to that Lodge as I have Nannas PAFS medal.

 

Looks like some quiet grinning going on there.

 

We definitely have family who lived in the Channon. My great-grandmother died sitting in her kitchen chair in her farmhouse on Dunoon Road, Grafton in 1965. The Channon, Grafton, Lismore, Ulmarra, Kyogle, Eltham, Bushgrove, Bangalow, Swan Creek - all of these places are connected to the McClears/Sabien's/Millers/Brooks family of which I descend. I'm not sure who Mrs J McClear was though but she must be related somehow because there weren't many McClear families in the area. I have never heard of the P.A.F.S Lodge before. I will look into it to see if there's another connection. Interestingly there is a Ryalls associated with one of the P.A.F.S honour boards - Ryall's is also connected to my Dad and this fellow could be a distant cousin. I will look into that too. How interesting!!

 

Oh and no Knights or Carlill's in my family tree unfortunately!! Now that would have made a good story!

 

Bangalow, now there’s a place that brings back memories. Of taking our kids to the Bangalow markets when they were about 8 and 10 or so. What an eye opener it was for them and I admit, me. They had never seen up close an unwashed, dreadlocked hippie before. I think they had all arrived from Nimbin for the day to sell their veggies and tie dyed hemp clothes
Of course places up that way werent like that before. Mostly hard working farmers and the dairying industry. Church goers and lodge members.

 

Great memories! We actually haven't visited the area often but when we're heading down to Coffs Harbour, we always drop in to the Ulmarra pub. I am sure many of my forebears had a pint or two there.

 

A banana smoothie at the Big Banana...
I worked with a girl who’s parents owned the Caravan Park at Woolgoolga back before the temple was built. There may have been a smaller temple there then. The Sikh have always worked the plantations, then they purchased them. Good on them.