Genealogy
My Family Tree
Please click here to view my ancestor chart.
Over the last couple of years I have spent a lot of time researching my family tree. Yes, it is a pastime usually reserved for retirees, but I have found it fascinating. What strikes me as amazing is that most people, including myself a year or two ago, are only able to name their immediate ancestors. In most cases about 6 ancestors. Of course there are so many more ancestors that have not only donated their DNA but also led extraordinary lives.
My immediate aim has been to identify as many direct ancestors as possible, currently 174, over time I hope to build on each individual with more qualitative information about their lives. So far I have uncovered some long forgotten and incredible facts about my ancestors.
Recently I was able to trace one branch of my family back as far back as 1466, they were French Huguenot’s fleeing religous repression on the continent, they went on to become incredibly succesful merchants, Sir John Lethieullier even held the title of Sherrif of London. Another ancestor was Sir William Hooker, Lord Mayor of London in 1673 and my great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great Grandfather. The portrait of him on the left is owned by the City of London and is the oldest image I have of any ancestors. It has been one of my goals to obtain pictures or portraits of as many ancestors as possible. So far I have obtained photos of 43 of the 174 identified ancestors.
Another branch goes back to the first fleet, making me a ninth generation Australian. William Hambly was an adventurous 27 year old carpenter on the Sirius. His future wife Mary Springham was a Londoner transported for pickpocketing on the The Lady Penrhyn. Other interesting family members included John Henry Keating, the youngest Senator of the first Australian Parliament in 1901. Amongst other interesting individuals there was an Italian opera singer, and a furniture craftsman who had an article written about him published almost 100 years after his death.
So far I estimate that I am 55.44% English, 17.97% Irish, 9.38% Scottish, 3.13% Italian, 0.02% French and 14% that are so far undocumented but appear to be mostly English.