Lilian's Tree

Yesterday a group, from the Bankstown Family History Group. met at Kingswood for a day of research and a tour behind the scenes. Once our visitors passes were issued, (I had organised this in advance), we were able to start our research. I had ordered three probate packets, before hand and they were waiting for me. The first one I looked at was for Elsie Minnie Sigrist, Paul's grandmother. Elsie had died in April 1934 but probate wasn't sort until 1944. I was puzzled by this as it was a long time. Reading all the affidavits I found the reason. The executors hadn't thought that the estate was worth much and only when the bank contacted them and said that the cottage had gone up in value, did they then apply. The will was sad as Elsie had made it in hospital, most likely when she knew that she wasn't going to make it.  The poignant words,' to be guardian of my infant children' brought tears to my eyes. Edna, (Mum) wasn't 14 and Violet was just 5. Elsie had...

Having had a day of, yesterday, for my birthday I thought I'd better do some 'work' today. I finished the ironing and then started on my genealogy filing cabinet, four full drawers! Well one down and three to go. I have sorted, culled and re-filed so that I have the correct families in the correct files. Feeling good that it is done as it has been annoying me for awhile. I still have a desk covered with misfiled certificates and paperwork to finish. In my December post, A Brick Wall Has Fallen, I mentioned that I was waiting on Arthur Galbraith's Probate Packet and it would be late January before it arrived. Well when I arrived home on January 5th, it was waiting for me. It makes for interesting reading, with him being a grocer and having borrowed money. I also found his will and reading it, he fully expected his wife to re-marry as he states that if she re-marries her portion of the estate goes to the sons.. Well going to have a cuppa and then tackle this desk pile...

I've just spent 5 hours doing research at the NSW State Archives, at Kingswood. What a treasure trove of information. I held documents that my 3x great-grandfather signed, when he was insolvent. Had copied letters my grandmother wrote, while she was a teacher. Read probate packets from other branches of my tree. A very exciting day!