The Family Detective

I haven't definitive proof that the Ellen Ross who came to Australia in 1833 abord the emigration vessel The Bussorah Merchant (AA) is our Ellen Ross as I haven't found strong enough evidence to link her to John Lees Ross. In saying that though the dates and details all do match nicely. I have tracked a few interesting things about Ellen Ross the migrant so in the chance anyone comes looking for her they can read my research and please comment why you came as shared knowledge might just be what we need to solve this mystery. This post is continually being updated as I research and is more a recount of my findings than a biography of Ellen Ross. The research journey can take me off track and back on with detours to visit other interesting places. I began this post late on July 14th and will add some dates along the way to show my research hours & dates. I will try my best to add information about where facts came from. The following abbreviations will help you know wher...

Ellen Ross may be my first direct female ancestor in Australia (unless we can prove the stories of Aboriginal Australian dalliances). Interestingly someone commented on my ancestor tree that they were looking for Ellen Ross who had married a John Seely and they believed Ellen to be Aboriginal. Unfortunately the source record was deleted and I can no longer find who had posted the comment. There is a tree on Ancestry.com that links Ellen and Seely so I am making contact to see if they have more than a hunch on it. **SEE UPDATE BELOW** Ellen Ross probably emigrated to Australia. The name Ellen is passed down to at least two descendants. We can be comfortable in thinking it is not Helen but we know many colonial people didn't stick to birth names!! To look for Ellen, first we need to understand John Ross (husband of Catherine). We know from his marriage on 6th October 1856 that he was 21yrs and 3 months and born in Parramatta. This is very specific so I feel confident we can p...

John Ross (Senior) as a person has an interesting story to tell. Transported to Australia and in and out of gaol. His final sentence was 3 years in the chain gang just before his death. The above assault charge took place in September 1833. Of interest is Ralph Howe was a fellow convict about the Countess of Harcourt. Many researchers on my line have him as Ellen Ross' husband but no records are found to substantiate this except the church records for John Ross & Catherine Torney's state his mother was Ellen Ross' (maiden name) and father was John Ross (deceased). I'm not sure who first connected the records together whether it was on Ancestry.com.au or a different platform but I've come firmly to the understanding that family trees, including my own can't be firmly reliable. I think it important to review your trees especially as new records become available. I try my best to substantiate facts with at least 2 sources and those of us who...

Greville's Post Office Directory is a handy research tool for locating some family members in 1872 who lived in rural areas of NSW. It's where I'm heading next in my hunt for John Kelly but it's nice to consider the whereabouts of other family members at the time. On the paternal side blacksmith Henry Laing is living with Sarah (nee Weatherstone) in Bigg Street, Liverpool. His son John has left home and the family name is now Lang. He is working as a labourer at Jerebatgully via Ballalaba (possibly for Thomas Hart who is also listed but Michael Hart is not). John Ross & Catherine (nee Toomey) left the Braidwood/Auraluen area around this time on their way to Quirindi.  A John Ross at Quirindi is listed as a pound keeper but has had the job since 1856 so it is not my John Ross. Catherine was born around this time as well she is the first of their children not registered at Braidwood. Some family trees & family records have her born at Auraluen but I'...

It took hours to overlay maps .. and try to narrow it down, but using Regan's Lagoon, Galong Station and Mount Bobbara as landmarks I think I have done as good as I can on this. Also the road markings can be seen in Google Earth as you get in really close. Google Earth shows all this area planted out with trees and it has part of Limestone Creek running through it as the older maps show. There are a number of parish maps from 1886 show lots 32 & 100 as Edward Cotters and later around 1891 we see he's bought Lot 60 but we can't see him as owning 32. The area circled on Google Earth is where I think lots 32 & 60 were .. though maybe out a paddock or two. But it would be in this general area at least. I'm guessing Hilltops Shire would have better land maps and could help... one day.