With the help of people on Rootschat I have tracked down a couple of people in my tree when I ran into a dead end.
The scope of this stage of research was to identify each direct ancestor back to the first immigrants or convicts to reach Australia. So far there are 18 convicts who are direct ancestors, plus an aboriginal branch which was never spoken of when I grew up in the 50s. It it would have been well known to my parents and grandparents. How times change.
I have one loose end before I complete the scope. Sarah Nicholls (1837-1867) is fairly well documented. The date of birth came from another family tree so should be treated with caution. What I know is:
1837 Sarah Nicholls born although I cannot find evidence.
1855 - Married James Pearsall at St. Mark's Alexandria. James was involved with horses, probably as a carriage driver at some stage, and blacksmith farrier at others.
1856 daughter Sarah Pearsall born
1858 daughter Alice Pearsall born
1859 Lily Phoebe Pearsall born
1860 Son Arthur Pearsall born. James Pearsall bought a pub - the Sydney Arms in Market St. Sydney
1863 James back working as a farrier
1864 Living in Paddington
1866 Son Isaac born and daughter Sarah died
1867 Sarah Pearsall (nee Nicholls) died
1868 Living in Randwick
1874 James died
Those are key dates for Sarah Nicholls and James Pearsall. The mystery is about the parents of Sarah. On her death record, her father was George, but who George Nicholls was is a mystery to me. Can someone cast some light on who he may have been, and any other background on George?