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Australia / Re: Elizabeth SMITH and John BAILEY
« on: Friday 09 April 10 10:23 BST (UK) »
Hi Grumpier,
Like you I'm new to the site and I'm also new to family history / genealogy but trying to begin somewhere and your enquiry came to light as a google search...maybe I can help a little.
Elizabeth Smith & John Bailey are my 3 x great g.p. My understanding is that they were a common law couple. Elizabeth was the result of a union / marriage between Joseph Smith (2nd fleet etc) and an Aboriginal lady from the local Dharug / Daruk (various spellings) people with traditional lands at Ebenezer etc on the Macdonald River. I'm trying to find some more info re the truth behind this family legend but indigenous geneaology is difficult to trace! Caroline Chisolm interviewed Mr & Mrs Joseph Smith in 1845 as part of her study / interviews on migration. It is noted that Mrs Smith was blind but makes no mention of being indigenous. Perhaps Mrs Smith was indigenous or Joseph had an earlier liasion? I'm sure you know Guvna Bailey was one of 40 children by the 2 Bailey brothers John & William and Guvna himself had 7 children with Elizabeth + 13 with his second wife Eleanor! With breeders like that anything is possible! I'm continuing to work on the indigenous 4 x great g. mother & would like to keep in contact.
Like you I'm new to the site and I'm also new to family history / genealogy but trying to begin somewhere and your enquiry came to light as a google search...maybe I can help a little.
Elizabeth Smith & John Bailey are my 3 x great g.p. My understanding is that they were a common law couple. Elizabeth was the result of a union / marriage between Joseph Smith (2nd fleet etc) and an Aboriginal lady from the local Dharug / Daruk (various spellings) people with traditional lands at Ebenezer etc on the Macdonald River. I'm trying to find some more info re the truth behind this family legend but indigenous geneaology is difficult to trace! Caroline Chisolm interviewed Mr & Mrs Joseph Smith in 1845 as part of her study / interviews on migration. It is noted that Mrs Smith was blind but makes no mention of being indigenous. Perhaps Mrs Smith was indigenous or Joseph had an earlier liasion? I'm sure you know Guvna Bailey was one of 40 children by the 2 Bailey brothers John & William and Guvna himself had 7 children with Elizabeth + 13 with his second wife Eleanor! With breeders like that anything is possible! I'm continuing to work on the indigenous 4 x great g. mother & would like to keep in contact.