The thread is a little old, but hopefully someone can answer. The following is information I have from family memoirs:
Catherine was born in 1863 in Cushenden / Cushendall, County of Antrim, Northern Ireland - first child of Rosetta (nee McNeill) and William Chard, then a coast guard officer of some distinction in Northern Ireland. She emigrated alone to Australian in 1883. Although travelling alone, her older step brother, William and step sister Elizabeth, had settled in Brisbane before her.The step brother named William may in fact be called James, the memoir is somewhat factually incorrect. I do not have a name for William's first wife, though I can't imagine that their were that many Coastguards named William Chard. Do you know Simon if Sarah Ann had those additional children? Or anyone else can answer as well =). I found the following information on the LDS index search:
Groom: William Chard
Bride: Rose Mcneill
Date: 12 Jun 1860
Place: Layd, Ant, Ire
Groom's Father: William Chard
Bride's Father: Daniel Mcneill
and here is another child of this marriage, that I found in addition to Catherine (though a record for Catherine was not in the LDS, has anyone investigated Chard's in Antrim?):
Name: Rosetta Chard
Birth Date: 16 Dec 1865
Place: Ballycastle, Antrim, Ireland (page 98 in civil register)
Father: William Henry Chard
Mother: Rosanne Mcneill
it seems he may have even married a third time, while in Ballycastle (though without additional information it could easily be someone else):
William H Chard 1867 MARRIAGE Ballycastle Registration District, volume 11, page 133
If anyone can provide additional information on these people it would be greatly appreciated!
