The Family Detective

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.