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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: PrueM on Thursday 08 March 07 06:00 GMT (UK)
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Hi all,
As usual, trying to tie up loose ends and was wondering when/where my SWAN ancestors arrived in NSW.
Henry Fairfax SWAN married Isabella Euphemia BRISBANE in January 1852 in Burntisland, Fife.
Their son Henry Brisbane SWAN was born in November 1852 in Pyrmont, Sydney, NSW.
Try as I might, I can't see this family arriving in 1852 into either Sydney or Port Philip. There is a possible sighting into Sydney on the Yarra Yarra, but Mr and Mrs H Swan are said to have two children, which my couple didn't.
Can anyone help me to find them?
Thanks in advance for your help
Cheers
Prue :)
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Hi Prue,
A Death Certificate for either Henry or Isabella will tell you how many years in the Colony which will narrow down your search.
Try www.bdm.nsw.gov.au
or a transcription agent is a cheaper alternative
www.transcriptions.com.au
I also suggest you contact the Society of Australian Genealogists at www.sag.org.au where they hold a publication
250 years of Swan family history :) / by Shirley Rae Coote. Includes an index. Privately published 1985. Your answer will most likely be in there.
I might be in there soon, so let me know if I can help.
Good luck
Helen
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Hi Helen,
You know, I hadn't even thought to look in the SAG library - I'm a member, but as I live down near Canberra I have never been up to do any research there. I think I'll contact them about trying to access that book...will probably have to go up to Sydney and view it though.
Now, I know Henry and Isabella must have arrived in Australia between Jan 1852 and November 1852 (or March/April and Nov takign into account travel time), so I doubt a death cert will be any more specific than that, but having said that, I haven't got any certs for this family, so I should start accumulating them really. Most SWAN research was carried out by another distant relative of mine, and a first cousin of mine and I have tried to contact them about a website they used to have up, about the SWANs and the BRISBANEs...they had alot of incorrect information on the site, but also some great photos etc. so we wanted to share our info with them and hopefully get piccies etc. off them, but they never replied to us and now seem to have gone AWOL along with their website :'(
The SWAN brothers (Henry, Robert and James - sons of Henry Fairfax) had a timber yard at Balmain and also ran the "Fairyland" pleasure grounds on the Lane Cove River during the early part of the 20th century. Their father at one time owned "Ewenton House" on the waterfront at Balmain. Do you think there would be any information about these concerns in the NSW Lands office records?
Thank you so much for your help :D
Cheers
Prue
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Hi Prue,
I'm sure your visit to SAG - at their new location Level 2, 379 Kent St - would be most beneficial to you :D
As would land records which are a gold mine of information ;)
I ALWAYS verify what others give me as it's so easy for mistakes to happen and at least then I know what I have is correct and the errors are not perpetuated.
Helen :)
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THanks Helen for all your help and advice :)
Can anyone suggest where I should look to see if I can find the SWAN family arriving in Australia? Presumably Sydney?
The arrival window is very small (Jan-Nov 1852), which annoys me even more that I can't find them! >:( ;D
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Hi Prue,
I have a great great grandfather James Swan who came from Fife, Scotland, and settled in Durban, South Africa, in 1862. Apparently he had a brother who went to Australia and your Henry has sons named James and Robert? My James's father was Robert Swan so wonder if there is a family connection?
Magi
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Hi Magi :)
That sounds promising :D
My Henry's father was Campbell SWAN, but he was sometimes known as Robert. Unfortunately Henry doesn't seem to have had a brother named James, at least not that I've found, but the name and dates and birthplace for your James are spot on for my SWAN family. Can you give me any more details about your James's parents, birthdate etc?
Henry's parents were {Robert} Campbell SWAN and Isabella BRISBANE. Henry was born 1819 in Burntisland, Fife.
Cheers
Prue
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Hi Prue
Passengers arriving 1852 will be on AO Reel 1279 which you can see at the SAG or the State Library, if you are coming to Sydney. I am sure the National Library would also have this (series called Unassisted Passengers arriving in NSW 1826-1900, Reels 1263 onwards). You will have to search each ship's passenger list on the reel separately. If your people came 1st, 2nd or 3rd class, you should find them. Steerage passengers are not always listed by name unfortunately.
Good luck
Diana
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Thanks Diana :) That's really helpful!
Now all I need is a day off ::) to get to the NLA and have a look ;)
Much appreciated
Cheers :)
Prue
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Hi Pru,
My James Swan was the son of Robert Swan and Helen Kay and James married Robina Webster in 1849 in Crail. He was born in Falkland, Fife in 1825.
Regards,
Magi
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Hi Magi,
I can't see those names in my Swan line unfortunately :-\ But the fact they are from Fife is encouraging for a link further back. I have not got back beyond Henry Fairfax Swan's grandfather as of yet. Henry's father was Campbell Swan...Campbell's father was Robert Swan who married Elizabeth Niddery in 1788 in Burntisland. If I ever work out who HIS father was, I'll let you know! ;)
Cheers
Prue
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Hi Pru,
Looks like we have a connection. We have traced back to Robert and Elizabeth so am sure we have a link.
Will get all my facts and post them tomorrow.
I found this as while back Robert Swan married a Simm and died in 1898 in Victoria, Australia and they had a son David Crombie Swan who died in 1935.
Now my James Swan named his second daughter Jessie Crombie Swan so really feel sure that there is a connection.
Magi
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Oooh, excellent Magi! :D
How exciting - you must get in touch as soon as you find your info, I would love to know where we fit together (if you know what I mean!)
Prue
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Hi,
This is a very "Coals to Newcastle" posting , but David Crombie Swan has a digitised service record at NAA and his mother Alice is NOK .
He marries in GLasgow to Elizabeth McPherson in 1919.
Can't imagine that Pru hasn't seen it, but funny things do happen sometimes so thought I would mention it.
Sue
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Hi,
I dont know the connection between the Swan families but thought the Crombie could have possibly been a link. Thanks for pointing out that the parents are different. We will keep on searching and find out if there is a connection. Many thanks Pru and Sue will try and locate my info and post it shortly.
Magi
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Thanks for that Sue, no I hadn't seen that NAA record, so thanks for pointing me to it :)
Magi, looking forward to seeing your info (when you find it! ;D ;) ), if you would like more detail about my branch of the Swan tree, send me a PM with your email address and I'll email you some info.
Cheers
Prue
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Hi Prue
As I mentioned in pm I asked my cousin to check the book at the SAG library in Sydney - thought I would post a reply here so others would know it had been checked - sadly without finding your folks. The note from my cousin says
Had a quick look at the 250 years of Swan Family History and there is no mention of either Henry Fairfax Swan or Henry Brisbane Swan.The first of that family to come to Australia was a John Swan earlier in the 19th Century so it doesn't look as if it is the family
Disappointing, but somewhat typical for my searching :( :(
Trish
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Oh, darn it :( Doesn't look like the same family - typical for my research too, you're not alone! ;D
Thank you so much anyway, Trish, and huge thanks to your cuz as well for doing the legwork. I really do appreciate it :)
Cheers
Prue
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The Swanns may have worked for David Crombie who rented Kilminning Framhouse, Crail. His son James emigrated to Australia on the Typhoon arriving Melbourne 4 March 1853. Another son William emigrated to Australia arriving on the Turon in Victoria on 7 January 1858.
I would be interested in any Swann Crombie relationship or did the Swanns just name their children after Crombie and his wife Jessie Webster?
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Hi Dogcatcher :)
Sorry, I'm not aware of any connection between my Swans and your Crombies...my Swans all lived in Sydney after they immigrated, and were in Burntisland, Fife before that.
If you think they might be connected, I'd really like to know about it! :D
Cheers
Prue
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Hi PrueM,
I may be entering this chat a bit late, but anyway here goes. Haha
I’m a Sydney based descendant of Henry Fairfax Swan. His Son Robert Joshua Campbell Swan is my Great Grandfather. Feel free to drop me a line if you like :)
Are you still tracing the Swans back to Scotland? I’m just trying to do the same, so I’d be interested to see how you went
Regards Dave
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Prue hasn't posted since 2013.