News - August 2025
Tuesday 19 August – 7:30 pm General Meeting
VENUE: Old Sunday School, St Johns Park Precinct
GUEST SPEAKER: Brad Williams
TOPIC: The former Queenborough Cemetery Exhumations and Re-burials 2024-2025
This talk will detail the planning process and implementation of the exhumation project at the former Queenborough Cemetery undertaken by The Hutchins School between March 2024 and June 2025. The project involved the exhumation of 1981 individuals from the cemetery, the identification of 90% of those exhumed and the process of reburial and commemoration of those exhumed.
It will also include a discussion on what remains of the former Queenborough Cemetery, and other disused cemeteries around Hobart.
Brad Williams as a paleoanthropologist and historical archaeologist who has been working in Tasmania for 20+ years. Brad led a team of thirty-five people for the exhumation project over the course of 14 months.
More for Your Diary
Thu 21 Aug – 10am Hobart Committee
VENUE: Branch Library, Bellerive
Thu 21 Aug – 1:30pm DNA Group
VENUE: St Marks Church Hall, Scott Street, Bellerive
Thu 28 Aug - 2pm Library Committee
VENUE: Branch Library, Bellerive
Tue 16 Sep – General Meeting
VENUE: Old Sunday School, St Johns Park Precinct
SPEAKER: Andrea Gerrard
TOPIC: The Story of Mary: her travails being a "refuser" of 1789 and the voyage of the Surprise
From Your Branch President
Building Out Trees From Stubs Or Brick Walls
This month at the DNA Interest Group I am going to be talking about building research trees from tree fragments. This is useful if you have a DNA match with someone who only has a stub of a tree and you are wondering how you are related to them, but it can also be useful with your own family research if you have a brick wall, and you have a person of interest you want to know more about.
When you have a DNA match with a stub of a tree, it can be useful to copy that stub into your tree, as an unattached research tree. Then look for someone in that stub who you can work with. If they have a name and no other details, can you guess their approximate age and/or the state or country they were born in. That might help e.g. Ancestry to find them using the ‘Search' feature when you are on the person's profile.
If they have a name and year of birth but no place, if it is over 100 years ago you should be able to dig up their place of birth by searching for that name and date in e.g. Ancestry or FamilySearch, then VERIFY it using that State's BDM records if in Australia. That should give you names of parents to add to your tree. If necessary, search each State's BDM records, the NZ BDM records, or the GRO BMD records in the UK (which have more recent births). Another source is death records, which may mention parents so you can go back another generation. Sometimes it is worth buying a death certificate as it can contain details of marriage/s and children that you won't find anywhere else.
If the only identifiable person was born less than 100 years, or you are wanting to build out the other side of your tree, see if you can find who they married – using a tool like Ancestry, FamilySearch or the BDM records as above. Another angle is to estimate when they might have married then see if there is a spouse with the same name in the electoral rolls – once you have given names it can be easier to find a marriage. In the newspapers on Trove, there may even be a marriage announcement mentioning parents, and/or the births of children. Electoral rolls 21+ years later may have children still living at home.
I think we all know not to rely on other people's online family trees. But don't ignore them, just treat them with caution. Use them as clues and then do your own research to verify the facts, or otherwise.
If you are searching Tasmanian ancestry, you are in luck. There is the fabulous Tasmania BDM database on our members-only webpage, and burial records you won't find anywhere else. And if you come into the Branch Library and Research Centre there is a wealth of information such as the index of Birth, Marriage and Death announcements from the Mercury up to very recent times. There are hundreds of family trees and our very own Comprehensive Subject Index (CSI) which can take you to a publication or resource in the library which has information on a specific name, place or topic.
The next DNA Interest Group meets on Thursday 21 Aug, 1-30-3.00, at St Marks Church Hall in Bellerive. All welcome.
Ros Escott president@hobart.tasfhs.org
Vale Marjorie Jacklyn
Marjorie Jacklyn died on 25 May this year: four days short of her 95th birthday. She joined our Society in 1982 and made a substantial contribution to the branch, particularly the library, which she ran for many years. As a professional librarian with the Education Department, she organised a library to assist under-resourced schools.
After Judy Mudalier took over the management of the Branch Library Marjorie remained with us as a library assistant, using her vast knowledge to help members and other assistants.
Unfortunately, when covid came along, she found that she was allergic to the vaccines and therefore had to be isolated. We, who were fortunate to know her, missed her.
She will be remembered fondly by many of our older members as a most pleasant and knowledgeable colleague.
Robert Tanner thanked by Tasmanian Archives
The State Library and Tasmania Archives Blog at https://libraries.tas.gov.au/slat/blog/the-rollings-collection/ has a fascinating story ‘Narrow escape from crushing fate: the A.A. Rollings Collection'. It is about 2440 photographic glass plates that well-known TFHS member Robert Tanner rescued from crushing back in 1959, including a beautiful photo of Fanny Cochrane Smith recording Aboriginal songs for Horace Watson. Robert identified the photos he could and eventually donated them to the Archives in 1992. He has more recently been volunteering at the Archives completing descriptions of the photos so they could be properly catalogued. No surprise that the team there say they greatly enjoyed Robert's company, wit and knowledge.
Tasmanian Parliamentary Papers
We are pleased to announce that the expanded Tasmanian Parliamentary Papers are now available on the Parliament of Tasmania website.
The first set of digitised Parliamentary Papers (1856-1901) was launched in 2021, in partnership with the Tasmanian Family History Society.
The newly expanded collection brings this resource all the way up to the current year, providing digital copies of all papers tabled and ordered to be printed in the House of Assembly and Legislative Council. Examples of parliamentary papers include reports from Royal Commissions, budget papers, early petitions, correspondence, annual reports from government departments, and reports prepared for Members of Parliament by experts, delegations, and committees.
The Tasmanian Parliamentary Library will continue to add papers from each session of Parliament to the full-text searchable database.
Explore the collection here: Tasmanian Parliamentary Papers
Help Wanted – The Fingal Valley's German Heritage
Michael Watt has recently donated a copy of "The Fingal Valley's German Heritage" to the library. It is a fascinating book, featuring many genealogical tables and photos from the past. Michael is considering producing a second edition and would like to hear from anyone who could provide additional information, corrections, or photographs. The book is currently on the new additions shelf in the library. A flyer with Michael's contact details is on the display screen.
What's New In Familysearch and Other Useful Links
Recently, FamilySearch expanded its free online archives with over 13 million new records from 6 countries. Some exciting additions include nearly 6 million civil registrations from Italy, 2 million new records from the United States, and over 100,000 church records from Costa Rica.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-records-august-2025
Society Of Genealogists
A charity with the unique purpose of helping people to discover their place in history. Preserving the records of everyday lives and promoting family histories. https://www.youtube.com/@SocietyofGenealogists/videos
The Family History Guide
Learn how to get started with family history using The Family History Guide website (https://www.thefhguide.com) and explore research, activities, and more. https://www.youtube.com/@thefamilyhistoryguide/videos
Palaeography
Put simply, palaeography is the study of old handwriting, seen in manuscripts: hand-written books, rolls, scrolls and, most importantly for the family historian, on records. Deciphering this writing can be incredibly useful when researching your family history, but it can be a challenge! Discover how to crack those handwriting conundrums with our palaeography guide. https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/read-old-handwriting-paleography/
Angus Thornett
He has quite a few videos about the history of Hobart and surrounds. https://www.youtube.com/@angusthornett/videos
From Trove
Interested in learning more about your family history but not sure where to start? Or perhaps you've started on your family tree, but run into a roadblock?
https://trove.nla.gov.au/blog/2022/07/28/family-history-beginners
https://trove.nla.gov.au/announcement/2022/08/18/search-family-history-trove
George Town & District Historical Society Inc.
14th Biennial Conference - More Convict Stories of Northern Van Diemen's Land/Tasmania
When: Sunday 9th November 2025 (registrations from 8.45 am for 9.15 am start to 4.15 pm)
Where: Performing Arts Centre, Port Dalrymple School 147-185 Agnes St, George Town
Cost: $45 (includes morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea)
Speakers & Topics (order may vary)
- Colette McAlpine Ann Carey: convict, settler, mother 1772 - 1830
- Jeanette Thompson Felon or Forager: The Life of Thomas Jeffries (bushranger)
- Libby Prescott Should I stay or should I go? Port Sorell's Convicts – leavers and remainers
- Matthew Cunneen Where did they go? The emigration of northern VDL's convicts
- Colette & Maureen Female Convicts Research Centre website and Database
- Chris Woods Orphans of Northern Van Diemen's Land/Tasmania
- Doug Watkins Mathew Kirk and Elizabeth Edwards - Port Dalrymple 1804
- Maureen Mann The ‘useless' ones: some offences from 1830s Longford Lwr. Court records
- Registration Forms (due Fri 31 Oct.): contact Secretary, Lorraine Wootton
Ph 63 82 4412 or 0447 359 662 or Email: info@gtdhs.com Website: https://gtdhs.com/
Convict Connections Event
Taking place at the Cascades Female Factory on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August, 10am
This Family History Month, join our esteemed panel of experts at the Cascades Female Factory as they unveil the mysteries of genealogy research.
Gain valuable insights and insider tips to illuminate your family's journey through history so you can craft your own comprehensive family tree.
Meet the esteemed panel of experts:
- University of Tasmania – Family History
- Hobart Penitentiary, National Trust
- Female Convict Research Centre
- Roses from the Heart – Dr Christina Henri
- Friends of the Orphans Schools
- Maureen Martin Ferris
- State Library and Archives of Tasmania
- Tasmanian Family History Society Inc
- National Archives of Australia
- From the Shadows
Admission to the Convict Connections event is free. For anyone wishing to take part in one of the guided tours, tickets are available for an additional fee:
Convict Women's Tour: daily from 10:00am, $10 adult
Notorious Strumpets and Dangerous Girls: daily at 11.30am & 1:00pm, $15 adult
Condemned: last available experience Saturday 30th at 2:30pm, $35 adult
Maree's Mutterings
August Family History Month
Through Libraries Tasmania – go to their main web page, down page to events… search for "Family History Month"…or link https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/national-family-history-month-2025-4441213
Behind The Scenes Tour of The State Library And Archives Of Tasmania
Wednesday, 3 September 2.00 - 3.00 pm
Library Accessions 2025
The following items were accessioned during July 2025
Books
C. Dunn Gypsy Girls – Mary and Priscilla Loveridge Q 929.2 LOV
TFHS Launceston Branch Index to Court records of Launceston 1827,1828 and 1832 Q 345.99465 IND
* M. Watt The Fingal Valley's German Heritage 994.64 WAT
* Denotes complimentary or donated item