Family History Mysteries

I came across an article from a 1943 Victorian paper titled ‘Rich man died in squalor’. It caught my attention and I wanted to understand how someone with so much money chose to live in that way. This man was Robert Edgar Loft.

In Episode 49 on Percy Morran, the name of Heriot featured as publicans of the Sportsmans Arms Hotel in North Deniliquin, southern NSW. There is also a street named after the family in Deniliquin.

John Caesar, known as "Black Caesar", was the first Australian bushranger and one of the first people of African descent to arrive in Australia.

In Episode 42, Rose Lodge on the Broughton family, it was mentioned that William Broughton was assistant surgeon to John White on the First Fleet’s voyage and he was an acquaintance of the Broughton family. This is John White's story in his time in Australia.

I have often heard about the shearer who placed his shears into the trunk of a great river gum at Morago near Deniliquin NSW before going off to war. The shears still exist in that same gum tree today. This is his story.

William and Sarah Webb were believed to be the first recorded married couple who were bushrangers in Australia. They were both convicts who were sent out in the early 1820s.

I came across an article on the probate of Captain Charles Smith which came to a total of nearly half a million pounds in 1897! I was intrigued to find out about this man, how he amassed this fortune and how his descendants fared!

In Russell St Deniliquin, a town in the southern Riverina of NSW, there is a home that has long been named the Haunted House. This episode outlines the theories behind why the house was labelled as haunted and the story of the man who built the home.

Francis MacNeiss McNeil McCallum, better known as Captain Melville, is one of Australia’s most intriguing bushrangers. Melville was considerate to those whom he robbed, courteous and charming to women, and a nineteenth-century Robin Hood. Yet he was destroyed by the penal system which resulted in an unbalanced character.

Mary Reibey, born Mary Haydock, disguised herself as a boy when she was on trial for horse stealing in 1790. She was sentenced to 14 years transportation. She married Thomas Reibey in 1794 in Sydney and became legendary in the early colony as a very successful businesswoman.

I came across an article on a shearer who had killed a workmate on a property near Deniliquin. He was named ‘The Derwent Nugget’. This got me intrigued and I delved into finding out more about this man!

Rose Lodge is an historic home in Deniliquin that was built by John Broughton in 1865. This episode tells the story of John Broughton and his family. *Warning: there is some graphic information in this episode*

William Westwood, known as Jackey Jackey was an English-born convict who became a bushranger in Australia in the 1840s.

Frank Gardiner, born Francis Christie, was an Australian bushranger who led the gang that robbed a gold escort at Eugowra NSW in June 1862.  It is considered the largest gold heist in Australian history. Frank also had the following aliases: Andrew Taylor, Frank Clarke, Frank Jones and 'The Darkie'. His story is covered in two parts, as well as a Bonus Episode that covers Frank Gardiner&#3...

Mary Ann McCaffey, as Mary Robinson, popped up in an interesting article in 1883 in the Deniliquin Pastoral Times, when the law caught up with her for obtaining goods and money under false pretences, aged 23. She was described as a ‘girl’ in the articles. I suppose it was rare for a woman to be ‘on the run’ in those days! Little did I know that when I came across this small article, that it to unf...

Frank Gardiner, born Francis Christie, was an Australian bushranger who led the gang that robbed a gold escort at Eugowra NSW in June 1862.  It is considered the largest gold heist in Australian history. Frank also had the following aliases: Andrew Taylor, Frank Clarke, Frank Jones and 'The Darkie'. His story is covered in two parts, as well as a Bonus Episode that covers Frank Gardiner&#3...

Brothers William and Charles Mustey emigrated to Australia in 1849. Their brother Robert followed with his wife and children in 1852 and their sister Eliza with her husband in 1862. This episode tells the story of their life in Australia.

Daniel Morgan was born on the 30 April 1830. He was born John Owen or Jack Fuller, the illegitimate son of George Fuller and Mary Owen. Morgan has been described as "the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush in Australia".  Many accounts of his activities emphasised his brutality and erratic behaviour but Morgan also had many sympathisers. He was an expert bushman with sup...

George Howe was the first government printer in 1801 and created the Sydney Gazette in 1803. This is the story of George and his family.

*Warning: this episode contains graphic information that could be distressing to some* Thomas Jeffrey was a convict bushranger in the mid-1820s in Van Diemen's Land.  In newspaper reports of his crimes, he was frequently described as a 'monster' When Thomas Jeffrey was executed, an entire island breathed a sigh of relief. 

Jessie Hickman was an outlaw in NSW in the early 1900s, and one of the few women in the early colony who was able to survive in the bush and evade police.

I came across Lady Janet Marion Clarke’s name when researching Harry Power the bushranger from Episode 23. After accounts of Power's ill health, he was released in 1885 based on the application of several women, including  Lady Clarke . Sir William  Clarke , gave Power work on the Clarke property as a gamekeeper for the next decade in peace. Janet Clarke was a society hostess and leading patro...

This episode is about Charlie Lee and his family. Charlie was one of the most notable Cobb & Co coach drivers with the Hay to Deniliquin and Deniliquin to Moama runs in southern NSW in the mid to late 1800s.

William Ah Ket was the first Chinese-Australian barrister in Australia. He fought against the White Australia policy and racist laws targeting Chinese workers. I came across William in my family tree research.

Sarah Maria Hyatt was known by many names throughout her lifetime. I was approached by her descendants to delve into her story - and what a story it is!