Thornetree Genealogy

10/11/2025

08/09/2025

Watchman's House - Research & Community Centre. Very welcoming and they provide a lovely morning tea on first Saturday of the Month.

06/04/2025

Today I visited the Sprigg family gravesite at the Morphett Vale Scotch Cemetery. John Whogan Sprigg, his wife Catherine (Kitty) Weymouth and their daughter Mary Frances Sprigg are all buried in the same plot. There is only a single headstone for Mary who died in 1877, but their were subsequent burials in the same plot for John in 1885 and Kitty in 1904.

09/03/2025

Map - Im not sure where this comes from but several people researching Patrick Hughes have stated that he originated from County Mayo, Ireland.

"This map shows the Clans of Mayo. It is abstracted from The Clans of Connaught map compiled by Edward McLysaght (1887-1986) former Chief Herald and Genealogical Officer at the Irish Office of Arms. This map is from his book Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins first published in 1957. Names of Norman origin are shown in red." You can see Hughes in the northeast corner as an alternative to Hayes.

My recent DNA results from put me in the subgroup of Connacht Ireland with 21% of my DNA from that region. So I'm taking that as verification that Patrick Hughes and his family originated from the province of Connacht, possibly the northeast coast of County Mayo. A starting point at least for Irish genealogy research pre-1840.

05/03/2025

Treasure/document/old - Someone posted this document to and attached it to my x4 great grandfather Patrick Hughes. At first it seemed cryptic - but then I googled "A (1852) 2659, 2797". The result came up "Index to Correspondence of the Colonial Secretary's Office - Correspondence received GRG 24/6 A (1852) 2659, 2797" This is a document held at the South Australia State Archives. I requested the document which fortunately was digital and discovered that my Patrick Hughes "A poor wretched lunatic" died in the Adelaide Gaol in 1852. I then shared the State Archives document to in the Gallery of Patrick Hughes for other genealogists and family historians to add to their research. Sharing and collaboration is key to family history research.

State Records of South Australia

20/01/2025

Headstone/West/Advice - So some of the Bengston family moved to Western Australia from Queensland around 1900. It appears that Anna separated from her husband Nils Peter and settled in WA with three of her adult children and their families. On the weekend a lovely 'cousin' took some photos of Anna's gravesite at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth for me. We found each other on through common research interests. My advice to anyone researching their family history is to delve into the "Member Connect" function of Ancestry and reach out to people via the messaging system. Introduce yourself, ask questions, share information and photographs and build relationships with your 'cousins'. Trust me, your trees will grow and stories will emerge.

19/01/2025

Shoes - Little did we know that day we picked up this little fella that our lives would be fulfilled with a special love we didnt even know we were missing. Nugget has effortlessly grown to fit with our lives and provides each of our family with unconditional love and friendship. Also great little alarm dog at anything suspicious in our vicinity. He fills those shoes as constant companion and protector, loving each of us equally. We love him as a member of our family and take him everywhere we go.

Pets are a special addition to families and feature in our family history. I just had a thought - perhaps could provide a section in their family tree software for pets. What do you think?

10/01/2025

Cemetery - We love to go for a drive around the countryside surrounding Adelaide to visit cemeteries where our forebears are buried. We even like exploring the suburban cemeteries as well. As a service to you, I can visit a cemetery you can't get to and take some photographs for you. I'm getting more and more familiar with the South Australian records, so if you suspect your forebears are buried somewhere in South Australia set me the task of finding them.

07/01/2025

Keeping secrets/DNA - As a group of descendants of Anastasia Maher we have proven, through DNA analysis the paternity of 5 of her children. Her first born Louisa, proven to be the child of Neville Francis Gray (her brother-in-law). The next three children - Mary Ellen, Catherine and Albert, proven to be the offspring of Robert West. Her last child Rita, proven to be the daughter of Catherine Maher, having raised as her child. Anastasia's death registration told a different story with two husbands listed as John Coulter and John Maher. A pure furphy to legitimise her choice to use the surname "Maher" and not that of her true husband James Wang Ah Ling.

03/01/2025

New/Document - when I discover new or overlooked information it brings me joy and excitement. I found this article on it was originally printed in the Catholic publication Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), Friday 6 May 1949, page 8 (2). There are details relating to my Hughes family. Patrick Hughes built the first one room chapel and school for the Catholic community of Mount Barker and then donated 5 pounds towards the construction of a permanent church - St Francis de Sales. I have now contacted the Archivist of the Archdiocese of Adelaide for access to their records in the search for more information about the Hughes family and early establishment of the Catholic Church in Mount Barker.

03/01/2025

I will try to link these to South Australian content for you. I'm happy for you to post here and join me also.