Forbear Friday

Mary Ann Nora COLLINS nee FOLEY circa late 1850s, originally uploaded by Aussie Maria.

Saw this title on another blog while surfing (sorry can't remember exactly where) and thought it was an idea for me to use.

I have been researching my genealogy / family history for about 13 years. Some I know a lot about, and others barely the basics.

I was lucky enough to make contact with a person who had researched one of my lines fairly well and she had contact with family who had photos and paintings of various family members - this is one of them

This photo is of my great-great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Nora COLLINS, with two of her children. The children have not been identified positively. As per all good Irish families, children were very close in age and there were 7 in total. It is believed that the photo is around the late 1850's. This still gives us a few choices as to which children they are. Is it a little boy or little girl on her lap???. Remember the times and clothing around then ☺

Mary Ann Nora COLLINS nee FOLEY was born in Moyasta, Clare, Ireland abt 1826. She married Michael Martin COLLINS in 1845 in Carrigaholt, Clare, Ireland. Mary died in 1915 in Delegate, VIC, Australia.

Both the COLLINS and FOLEY families immigrated to Australia in 1855 and settled in the region called "Monaro". Monaro is down south between Canberrra and just over the Victorian border. They settled a bit inland, round the Currawong area (yes, we have a native bird of that name too).

Now what I find interesting is that my Dad used to always comment that the family had Spanish connections. I was finally given a clue as to where this story came from, cause I could find no connection anywhere to Spain.

The story I was told was that Mary Ann would sit on the verandah in her rocking chair and sing songs to the children. Many of these songs were Spanish!!!!!!

Now to wonder where she learnt them - Spanish Armada connection????? She certainly seems to have the look

Hope I didn't bore you to much, but I just may make another family connection if I write about them

Have a great weekend

Berrima

Ok, now after the market on Saturday, we made a short trip to Berrima.

We have been here before, so I will have to dig out some of the old photos to share of the historical places as I did not take any this time around.

Berrima was initially earmarked as the hub of the southern region around the 1830's, but then the railway went through to Moss Vale abt 1860 and that was the end of Berrima.

Well not entirely, Berrima still has its goal, which is still in operation.

Actually, just as an aside, I have found records listing an ancestor of mine being here -
Honorah/Norah/Honor CONNOR/CONNORS/O'CONNOR nee COLLINS with 2 of her sons

No - they were not incarcerated (I think that is spelt right).  Berrima Goal was used as a overnight stop for those travelling between Sydney and further south.  The CONNORS & COLLINS family lived in the Monaro Region, which is south of Canberra.  Both families were from Ireland, but different counties.

Ok back to Berrima - well it has 2 sides to a street - ok not unusual, most streets have 2 sides, except that between the two sides is a lovely, very large park.  It would have been impressive if development had of progressed.

Berrima has quite a few little touristy shops - lollies, cafes, bakeries, nick-nacks, cafes, jams, ice-cream, cafes, christmas shop, cafes, clothing, alpaca shops and lots and lots of antique shops.  Actually the Southern Highlands is renown for the number and variety of antique shops - from junky bits and pieces that would be perfect in your home to internationally old, old pieces of beautiful, quality furniture.

Yes, I visited just about as many as I could squeeze in - hubby loves the timber pieces, so its not a chore or boring for him.  Just we tend to go in different directions and gets a bit frustrating wanting to show each other pieces we have found  ☺

No I did not buy anything, self-control all the way.  But next time ...... well he has been warned

One of my favourite shops has no furniture.  Sorry no photos, I was in a hurry to get inside and look.  Next time - promise. 

It looks just like a very old house from the front, the front room (which is an entire old home) is filled with all those little bits - there are drawers and boxes and drawers and boxes full of cutlery, kitchenware, tools - so much.  The next large sheddy-type room has nothing but linen - again, drawers, drawers, shelves, shelves and shelves - so much

And the next large sheddy-type room has books, books, books, books and oh yeah books

When you go outside and look sideways at the property, it looks like a HUGE farm shed attached to a house at front

Oh yeah - they also have the longest running hotel licence in Australia - The Surveyor General Inn.  There are lots of other older pubs in Australia, but not with a continuing running licence.  Did not stop in this time as we had just had yummy pies and coffee at Gumnut Bakery

We would love to take this on as a project