Family History Mysteries

In 2022, it marked 150 years since the chance discovery of the Holtermann Nugget, found in 1872 at the Star of Hope Gold Mine, Hill End, New South Wales. As manager of the Star of Hope, German migrant and prospector Bernhardt Otto Holtermann was credited with the discovery.

Daniel Herbert, a master stonemason, was sentenced and sent out to Van Dieman's Land. He earned his freedom through his work on the Ross Bridge. His masonry work is completely unique.

It is believed that Frank Butler, was possibly Australia's first serial killer. *Warning - there is graphic information in this episode*

Charles Tasman Earnshaw was the marine underwriters engineer and surveyor as well as a paddle steamer captain at Echuca Victoria from the 1870s.

Meet Nicole, the creator of the Family History Mysteries podcast. Nicole plans to upload clips when further discoveries have been made after episodes have been published. Stay tuned for the Extras Clip #1 - after further developments in the research of Thomas Creed in Episode 139 - Dr Bonnefin.

On the 31 May 1894 ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard (from Episode 133) supervised a double  execution at Darlinghurst. The two men, known as The Bridge Street Burglars, were Thomas Williams ( alias  Thomas Carroll) and Charles Montgomery ( alias  Thomas Millidge) . *Warning - this episode contains graphic information*

Thomas James Creed had aliases James Clarke and Dr Bonnefin, and was jailed a number of times for counterfeiting, larceny and obtaining goods under false pretenses in the 1870s and 1880s.

*Warning there is grahic information contained in this episode* James Flinn under one of his aliases, Henry Wilkinson, was the only man hung in Albury NSW.

Edward Hammond Hargraves was credited with discovering the first payable gold in Australia near Bathurst, New South Wales in 1851, although this was not without controversy, as a number of men felt they missed out on the credit.

Ethel Livesey was a serial fraudster who became a media sensation after she ran out on her Sydney society wedding in 1945 and was later arrested for obtained goods by false pretences.

Ethel Livesey was a serial fraudster who became a media sensation after she ran out on her Sydney society wedding in 1945 and was later arrested for obtained goods by false pretences.

Frank Pearson was an Australian bushranger, operating under the pseudonym Captain Starlight. He was a pathological liar, serial impostor, thief, conman and killer and an artist who painted and drew in his cell block at Darlinghurst. Clever and educated enough to pass himself off as a doctor, he was also a literary man, a stockman and an accountant.

Franz Oscar Wallin, nicknamed ‘Charlie’, was born in 1867 at Norrköping, Sweden. He trained as a seaman in the Swedish Navy. He jumped ship in Sydney. He originally worked as a wood cutter near Seymour, but his experience on the water drew him to Echuca and the paddle steamer trade.

Robert Howard was the hangman for NSW in the 1880s and was known as ‘Nosey Bob’. *Warning - this episode contains graphic information*

Mary De Knight was a colourful character in the publicanbusiness in England, which ultimately sent her across the globe as a convict. She became a successful and respected member of the foundational history of Tasmania.

Henry Hopwood was one of the many colourful characters associated with the early settlement of Victoria and is known as the founder of Echuca.

Christopher Crawley and his wife Elizabeth purchased a significant amount of land in Junee NSW in the 1880s they built the Monte Cristo Homestead. It is situated on a hill overlooking the town. There are claims that members of the Crawley family haunt the estate and that the homestead Australia’s most haunted house.  

Four brothers from Goodna Qld enlisted in WW1 – only two came home. This is their story.

Lieutenant Duncan Chapman from the 9th Battalion is regarded as the first ANZAC who stepped on the shore of ANZAC Cove.

Jane Getty was the daughter of convicts and was 10 years old when she arrived in NSW in 1815. She married twice and also had a de facto partner and lived at Queanbeyan.

In May 1953, Caroline Grills was arrested and charged with four counts of murder and three of attempted murder. She was suspected of lacing cakes and cups of tea with rat poison that contained thallium.

David Irvin was 22 when he enlisted in WW1 in 1915. Only 10 months after arriving on the front he was declared missing in action at the Battle of Fromelles. 90 years later DNA solved the mystery of where David was buried.

John Massey Thompson joined bushranger Captain Thunderbolt’s gang in 1865 and called himself 'The Other Thunderbolt'.

James Pope died at the Somme in France only four days after his 20th birthday. This is his story.

Kitty Rowan was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1792. At the age of 25, Kitty received sentence of 7 years transportation to VDL after being found guilty of stealing linen. This is Kitty and her descendant's story.