In writing on the Web about my family - I have just submitted my 250th
blog post - I try to go beyond just listing names and dates and adding
relatives to my tree.
How have I gone about my research and what have I noticed along the way?
My method is to be thorough. When I prepare a blog, I revisit any
earlier work I might have done and check my notes and the original
records. There's always more to know on any subject, and often there's
something new to say, though I do feel that despite more research I
can't help thinking that I don't know and understand my more remote
ancestors any better than I did. I certainly don't feel more Scottish or
Irish, for example, despite confirming Celtic DNA in my blood.
More than any other topic, I have written about my forebears and
relatives who have my maiden name Champion de Crespigny. Because this
surname is uncommon it's easier to research. People with the name
Champion de Crespigny are certainly related to me and to one another.
I have enjoyed being inspired by 'Sepia Saturday' prompts and by 'Trove
Tuesday'. It's great fun to explore the
immense digitised repository ofthe National Library of Australia, especially its digitised newspapers.
For the last four years I have joined in the 'A to Z Blogging Challenge'
in April. Trying to find ideas for every letter of the alphabet is not
easy but it has lead to some fascinating research. For example, in the
first Challenge, I was wondering what to write for the letter Z. My son
suggested the
Zulu wars. I knew my paternal grandmother's Mainwaring
relatives were in the army and sure enough I found
a second cousin of mygreat great great grandfather who fought against the Zulus. I had heard
of the Zulus, of course, but the blogging challenge led me to learn much
more. It was fun and satisfying.
I used to enjoy historical novels, but now I can find real life history
in my own family researches. Who needs fiction!?
And it's everywhere. For example, next week our family is travelling to
the Northern Territory for a short holiday. One of the main streets of
Darwin is named after my great great grandfather Wentworth Cavenagh. I
visited Darwin many years ago and knew of Cavenagh Street though I only
learned about the family connection afterwards.
I've looked in
Trove to learn more. On 13 January 1869 the
SouthAustralian Advertiser, and other newspapers, published instructions from W. Cavenagh,
commissioner of Crown Lands, to Mr Goyder, the Surveyor-General, giving
guidance to Goyder in his expedition to survey the Northern Territory.
These instructions had been tabled in Parliament. The document was more
of a mandate to proceed than detailed instructions. The
SouthAustralian Register of 13 January 1869 notes that the instructions were
in keeping with the Strangway's Government's laconic style. It was
interested to see what Cavenagh's role was and how it was interpreted by
newspapers of the day.
In the unlikely event that someone asked for my advice about writing
family history I'd say just go ahead and do it. It's great fun.
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| Cavenagh Street Darwin photographed in 1915 by Ted Ryko: Chinese shops at the north west end of Cavenagh Street, Man Fong Lau in foreground. Photograph retrieved from Territory Stories ID PH0135/0045 |
