Right! Following on from my artist on page 2.
On my Maternal side I have an Early Settler to Otago NZ, William McAughtrie, born Barr Ayshire 1847. I became aware of him when I was given a family document way back in about 2002, when I first starting playing this genealogy game that we all love so much! This paper documented families BDM's and info re his family in the Village of Barr.
He was an Agricultural Labourer in Scotland, with an extensive farming family background, particularly in the village of Barr, where he came from to NZ. Haven't quite found the exact time iof his arrival yet, but somewhere between 1861 and 1872! Gold Rush Times. He went from being an Agricutural Labourer in Scotland to a Miner in Otago, then a sheep farmer, and many years further on find him on a list as being one of the top 10 Landholders of the area. WILLIAM is my 1st cousin,m4 removes!
So that's my exciting finds covered. Now for the skeleton!
My paternal great grandmother, Jane Dunnill, (sister in Law of the Artist in my first post).
I found a remark somewhere out there that mentioned that Jane's family were not happy about her marriage. Married an Accountant Henry Mathews 1865 at what is now Sheffield Cathedral.
In the book re the artist that I purchased, "The Victorian Lady Artist", there was a mention of a letter from England that Ann PAULSON had received, that stated "the family was extremely distressed about Jane's Marriage to Henry Mathews" I couldn't understand why, until I read the next sentence of
the letter, "Jane ran away from home to marry Henry Mathews!!
So looks like my great grandmother eloped bless her! I think I've figured out why the family didn't either, but that's another story! Nothing bad, but I think Henry's father, at the time , was an Railways Agent, Coal and Freight Manager at Sheffield Railway Station, (a recent line into Sheffield) where the family also lived!
I believe that Jane's father Charles may have been losing business to to the railways, and that would have been a huge threat to him, as he had a coaching and cartage business of his own! I'm sure it was not only the snobby thought of his daughter marrying someone who lived in a railway station, and may have been the real reason, but I guess I'll never know! Anyway they went on to have a successful life, moved around the world a bit, had 10 kids on their travels, and did ok for themselves!
So that's my 2 success stories and my skeleton story done! Now I want to go and read all the others!
Jeanne 😃