#52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2021 - Week Five - In The Kitchen

Week 5: In the Kitchen

I have been cooking Christmas Cakes about forty years. When my children left home or married, I also added another one to the baking list for a Christmas present for them.This practise has seen me mixing and baking many cakes during the month of December as I also made some for friends and other relatives at different times.

My eldest son wasn’t a fan of fruit cake but his wife was and it was very gratifying each year when she asked if they were getting another cake! In successive years as my other two sons left home and eventually married they also received a cake.

My daughter also has been getting a cake even though she lives on her own and she makes the most of it by cutting it all up and freezing it, so it is on hand whenever she wants some.

I think my all time record of Christmas cakes is only eight but it was a feat in itself when I tried to do all the mixing at once! Note to self … I don’t have a bowl big enough to mix eight cakes! I learnt my lesson though and remembered to do them in batches of two but definitely no more than three!

But this year I made the decision that I had to retire this practise! As I can no longer stand for any great length of time and definitely not the time it takes to mix fruit cakes. So instead  I gave my children a laminated copy of my tattered old recipe and also my tried and tested tips on the back of it.

Who knows one of them might make me a Christmas cake one day!

Nanniemarcy's
Tried and Tested Tips

Original Recipes from

NMAA cooks – recipes for busy families.

#52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2021 - Week 4 Favourite Photo

Week 4 - Favourite Photo


As I have written about a favourite photo in a previous year’s #52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, I am going to go with the fun aspect this week.

I came across this photo of my First Holy Communion taken at St. Kevin’s Catholic Church Dee Why, in I think 1962.

We have a family online chat group with our 3 sons, a daughter and 3 daughters-in-law, where I decided to share this photo last week asking them to identify me.

Much "to…ing and fro…ing" was had over a couple of hours with many a giggle had by me, as I didn’t think it would prove to be so difficult!

It just goes to show how people in photos can be seen in so many ways. This Challenge has enabled me to turn a Ancestor's (me) photo into a funny family memory and by having this blog it will hopefully be available for future tech savvy descendants down the track.

Our Online Family Chat went like this....

My Original Post ......

Okay here is a challenge for offspring or Grandies. Which one is Nannie at 7 years old at her First Communion? It took Pa many goes and my best friend who was also in the photo numerous goes!

My Original Photo

First guess....

Captain Rich Mahogany Beard (2nd eldest son)  

First Guess

My Reply.... 

Nup!

Second Guess .....

Moon(eldest son) guess

Second Guess

My reply.... 

Nup!

Amy's guess

( 1st daughter-in-law) 

Third Guess

My reply... 

Nup!

Rebecca's guess 

(2nd daughter-in-law)

Fourth Guess

My reply ... 

Nup!

Captain Rich Mahogany Beard - 

Lily’s guess (4th granddaughter)

Fifth Guess

My reply ... 

Lily nup.

Captain Rich Mahogany Beard guess

Sixth Guess

My reply ... 

Well done Captain Rich Mahogany Beard

Captain Rich Mahogany Beard... 

I thought my first guess looked like you, and that was no good, so went with the one I thought looked like David.

My post ... 

Sorry Mexicans( 3rd son and family who live in another state) I should have held off announcing the correct one until you had commented. But now you can say that is the one you were going to say!

Tex (The Mexicans -they live over the border) ... 

We picked it straight away but just didn’t want to make everyone else feel bad!

#52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2021-Week 3

Week 3 - Namesake

As most of the people mentioned in this post are alive I have omitted their surnames as a courtesy.

I was never a fan of my middle name while growing up. Well who would like the name of Ruby? And why did I have to be named after my mother? How embarrassing! Well at least I didn’t get her middle name of Florence!

But how things change when you find yourself an adult! I cherished the name once in my adult years, more so once my darling mother was gone. I have been very proud to have it as my second name, Marcia Ruby.

The name of Ruby has appeared now over the years with my mother’s great grandchildren. We have my granddaughter Chloe Ruby and there are another three great nieces who also carry the name with an Ella Ruby, Tayissa Ruby and a Ruby Veronica.

We also have a trend for my father’s surname appearing as second names in later years with a Jessica Brandt [surname] and a Jethro Brandt William [surname].

As far as names of my ancestors go, there are many and varied names that have cropped up over and over. My tree is littered with the name Alfred, Bernard, Cornelius, David, Edward, Eliza, Elizabeth, Ellen, Fanny, Florence, Frederick, George, Henry, Isabella, James, Jane, John, Louisa, Mary, May, Rowley, Sarah, Sparrow, Thomas, William, to name just a few.

I am sure I am not alone with many fellow Family Historians having trees with names appearing over and over again.

#52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2021-Week 2

Week 2 - Family Legend

When trying to think of something to write for this prompt, I kept on coming back to one Ancestor. I have written creative non-fiction stories about her before but thought I would share a few incidents that wave the flag of “legend” in front of me whenever I go back to researching her.

I would like to introduce my paternal Great Grandmother Louisa Barker (circa 1849 - 4 December 1915.[1] 

Louisa was married to Alfred Brandt and had seven children with him, the first in 1870 and her seventh in 1882.⁠[2] It was after the birth of their seventh that she and her husband were married in 1883.⁠[3]  That in itself is not legendary but when you also add the fact that they travelled from Gunnedah NSW to Launceston, Tasmania a distance of approximately 1600 kilometres including a dangerous body of water the Bass Straight (500 ks) you could be forgiven in thinking this lady was slightly legendary!

After this marriage this couple are found back in Gunnedah with their children. You would expect that things would now be fairly ordinary for Louisa. But no. Within six months Louisa’s husband fell down a well to his death in July 1883.⁠[4] 

Louisa takes over the licensee of the Sugarloaf Inn which up to this time, she had been running with her husband. Now she was on her own with seven children.⁠[5] 

Things looked up for Louisa a couple of years later when she married August Engstrom in 1886 and they had one child a girl in 1887, before her second husband died in 1888.⁠[6]  

This is a snippet of Louisa’s life. A Family Legend? I am not sure but she certainly is worthy of a story!
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1 NSW Family History Transcription Pty Ltd, NSW Death Registration Transcription Certificate Ref No 1915/152391, for Louisa Engstrom, printed 27 September 2016

2 Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Reg #44 Alfred L BRANDT [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, http://www.ancestry.com.au

Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 Index Index Reg #17610 Ethel BRANDT; [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 accessed 12 August 2015 http://www.ancestry.com.au

3 Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Index Reg 685 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 12 August 2015, http://www.ancestry.com.au

4 Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, Index Reg#8157 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 18 August 2015 , http://www.ancestry.com.au

5 Government Gazette Notices (1884, August 29). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), p. 5884. Retrieved May 26, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225588522

6 NSW Marriage Registration Transcription, Ref No 1886/7445 Louisa Engstrom, Ref No 8938233 Printed 30 January 2017, http://nswtranscriptions.com.au

Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922, Frances Engstrom (Provo, UT, USA,,Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), http://www.ancestry.com.au

Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, August Engstrom, (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), http://www.ancestry.com.au

#52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2021-Week 1

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2021

It is a couple of years since I last participated in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge although I still followed along with the weekly emails.

I haven’t as yet managed to complete a full year. But I use Amy Johnson Crowe's words as a sort of mantra to keep me writing……

“Anything you write is more than what you had before.[1] 

So with this in mind I will try to pen(type??) a few words for each prompt and see how far I can get this year, noting that in 2018 I made it to Week 24!

WEEK 1 - BEGINNINGS

I am going to start this challenge with an ancestor who I know well! Who, I hear you ask? Well me of course!

I was born on 10/08/1955 in Bulli, New South Wales, Australia.

My parents were Garvice Galvin Brandt and Ruby Florence Brandt ( nee Briggs). I was the fourth daughter that my parents welcomed into their family and I was given the name Marcia Ruby. My three older sisters were Janyce May (1942), Lorraine Jennifer (1946) and Kay Isabella (1948).

The beginning of my Family History journey happened well after my parents died and of course I had never asked the questions that I would love to ask them now. My parents were of the opinion that it wasn’t necessary to go over the past.

The beginning of my research took off, in the 1990s when I did a Family History course with the local library. I acquired lots of hand outs and a desire to pursue this research, but family life got in the way, as it does when you have four children, husband and work outside of the home.

The next beginnings of my Family History journey came when I signed up with Ancestry and started building my Tree. I found the process of researching on the internet a great bonus as I have mobility issues and find it hard to physically get to places and research in person. Although I am aware that not everything can be found on the internet!

Further down the track my adult children introduced me to Facebook and I enjoyed the interaction with friends and family. It never occurred to me that this platform was also going to be another beginning in my Family History journey.

One day in 2015 I saw an advertisement on Facebook for an Introduction to Family History course with the University of Tasmania. This sparked my interest once again and on looking into it further I found that it was:

1. online 
2. free, 
3. the start date was June, (which was right away) 
4. the course finished before my husband and I were due to go overseas in 3 months time. 

So what was a girl to do? Of course I signed up!

This was another beginnings! My first University study at the age of 60plus! Nether-the-less two and a half years later with the completion of eight Uni Units, saw me travelling to Tasmania to join fellow students for our Graduation in the Diploma of Family History!

So as you can see there are quite a few beginnings in my Family History journey and I am not going to add anymore at this time because I have learnt over the years that you don’t have to put everything you know about an ancestor in a story. 

You may just want to use something else down the line  and I am sure there will be further beginnings in my journey. After all I am an Ancestor in my own Family History story.

_____________________

1. Email, Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 1, Jan 5, 2021

ELLEN # SEVEN

Ellen took in her surroundings. It was a large room with two beds. They had views of the boat harbour from their window.The room was much the same size as their cottage. So the seven of us will be living here for the time being. Surely it won’t be long before the Adam Lodge arrives.

“Barney can you go out and see if you can find something to eat? The children are all tired and hungry. The sooner we get them fed, the sooner we can get them to bed. Then we need to talk.”

Ellen organised all the bundles of belongings in one corner. Unpacking one of her bundles she quickly made up a bed for the two eldest boys on the floor with the linen and handmade quilts she had packed. The girls can share the single bed and Cornelius can share our bed as usual.

Barney burst through the door smiling with his arms laden with hot tatties. 

“Oh Barney, they smell delicious, come children sit down on the floor and eat these while they are hot. Wherever did you find them?”

"There is a tavern just around the corner, I got these beauties from there."

“ Oh yum Da.” 

“Where’s mine?” 

“Oh Patrick you stepped on my toe!” came responses from the children. 

“Barney, I hope we will be given the two shillings each day as you said. We should be able to keep our savings for when we get to the Australia, if it is indeed true.”  

"I am sure it is true my acushla, I will go and get our share each day we are here.  Don't worry."

Ellen smothered a yawn, as she wiped her fingers on her spare hanky, also managing to reach the faces of Cornelius and Maria. She was too far away to stop the other children wiping their hands on their sleeves. Oh well I guess those sleeves will see a lot of wipes by the time we finish this trip!

Settling the children for the night in her usual manner, Ellen arched her back in exhaustion. Oh to lay down on a bed. Why am I so tired? 

Barney had gone outside to smoke his pipe and walk around the wharf to meet other Adam Lodge passengers. Finally Ellen gave up waiting for Barney to return seeking the refuge of her bed. 

When entering the room again, Barney was met with the gentle sound of snoring coming from three corners of the room. Getting quietly into bed beside his sleeping wife, he wrapped his arms around her. “Mmmm,” was the response from Ellen.

“Ssh acushla, sleep now, all's well.”

ELLEN #SIX

‘Ah my acushla I shouldn’t have scared you like that. Look here, see what I have.” reaching into his pocket Barney pulled out two gold coins. “Dr Osbourne is giving every family two pounds for accommodation until the ship arrives, as he thinks it will be a few days before we can embark.” [1]

Blinking to clear her vision Ellen composed herself and looked at the gold coins her husband was proudly showing her. 

“But Barney, you may have the coins but do you know where we can stay while we wait for this boat?” 

“Well, that shouldn’t be such a problem should it? I am sure there are lodging houses here somewhere.” 

Ellen tried to push down the rising panic she was feeling at being on the streets with five children, with dusk fast approaching. “I will stay here with the children, while you go and find that lodging house then come and get us,” kissing him on the cheek, she also gave him a look that spoke volumes of her state of mind. 

“Alright then, I will take Patrick and Owen with me and some of the bags and come back for you when I get us a room.” 

Ellen watched Barney and her two oldest boys saunter off down the street with an air of adventure. It was an air she couldn’t muster at this stage, as the enormity of what they were doing finally hit her. Up to now it had been a grand adventure. I am leaving my home to sail to the other side of the world with my family! What made me so sure that life could be any better? Am I daft? How will I manage five children on a boat? Get a hold of yourself Ellen! You schemed for this move, now stop being a coward and look forward to the better life you have been imagining. 

It wasn’t long before she saw Barney and the boys returning. Barney had a grin from ear to ear it seemed. “Just you wait my acushla, we have found you some fine lodgings and the innkeeper has told me we are welcome for as long as is needed.” 

Barney grabbed at Ellen as she swayed again while rising from the seat she had made of her belongings. “There, there acushla, have a care, are you alright?” 

Once again Ellen gathered herself together, if only I didn’t feel so tired.  

“I’m fine Barney,I just got up too quickly. Let’s get the children inside out of this evening air and to bed. I am just tired and could use a bed myself I think.”  

So there is room at the Inn after all, I hope it is more than a stable! 

Picking up her bundle and settling Cornelius on her hip once again, she followed her husband.
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1. Osborne, Alick. 'Journal of Occurrences Connected with Emigration', 8 July 1836-17 July 1837, by Dr Alick Osborne, p 6. State Library of New South Wales, https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=ADLIB110363233&context=L&vid=SLNSW&lang=en_US&search_scope=E&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,%27Journal%20of%20Occurrences%20connected%20with%20Emigration%27%20%208%20July%201836-17%20July%201837%20%20by%20Dr%20Alick%20Osborne