Children of George and Sarah BLISS, Yass and surrounds NSW

I've decided to start an entry string on the children of George BLISS and Sarah nee FURRILL (and spelling variations). Here is a list of the children with the fundamentals. Like my HALL list of siblings, I hope to find photos and headstones for each.

1. Eliza Jane BLISS (1852-1925). Baptised at Murrimbidgee 1852, married William HALL (1843 Cambridge England - 1912 Koorawatha NSW) at Yass River (probably their farm) in 1868. Had 15 children in Yass NSW where they farmed on a property. The HALL and BLISS properties were adjacent to one another. Family moved to Koorawatha around 1900-3, perhaps due to drought. There she ran a store, and died 10 Jan 1925 aged 72. Eliza is buried 'back-to-back' with her husband William in Koorawatha cemetery. Have picture of her.

Grave of Eliza Jane HALL nee BLISS
Koorawatha Cemetery, NSW
In loving memory of
ELIZA HALL
Died 10 Jan 1924
Aged 78 years

2. William BLISS (1854 - ?). Born and baptised in 1854 at Boambolo, Murrumbidgee. Probably died as an infant as a second William was registered in 1857.

3. John BLISS (1856-1909). Born Blackrange (near modern day Canberra) in 1856. Died 1909, aged 52, at Euralie (Bliss farm), a 'farmer and intestate' according to probate announcement of 9 Sep 1911 in the Sydney Morning Herald. No marriage record is found, however death of a Hannah BLISS (NSW BDM 7379/1905) is registered in 1905, father John and mother Margaret. Buried at Yass Cemetery with his parents.

Grave of Henry BLISS

Yass Cemetery, NSW

In loving remembrance of

JOHN BLISS

Who Departed This Life 31st Oct 1909

Aged 52 Years

At Rest

Also

GEORGE BLISS

Died 3rd Nov 1915 Aged 96 Years

SARAH ANN

Wife of Above

Died 14th July 1919, Aged 87 Years

4. William BLISS (1857-1903). Birth registered in Yass in 1857. Only other information I have is that in 1878 Electoral Roll for NSW he was living at Devil's Pass, Yass (where the BLISS properties were situated). Death registered in 1903 in Queensland. Family (if any) not determined.

5. Joseph BLISS (1858-1927). Born Blackrange (near modern day Canberra) in 1858. Married Anne JACKSON (1872 Yass - 1946 Yass) in 1889 registered at Yass. They had at least 10 children from 1889 to 1915, all registered in Yass. One son (Claude Harwood Stanley BLISS) served in WW1. The youngest two sons of Joseph and Anne apparently changed their name ever-so-slightly to BLYSS after a family dispute. Joseph died in 1927, and Anne in 1946 (registered as BLYSS). Not determined where they are buried.

6. Susannah BLISS (1860-1934). Born Yass River (Bliss farm) in 1860. Married Edward George COBLE (1843 Camden NSW - 1923 Burrowa NSW) in 1884, registered at Goulburn. Susannah and Edward George share great grand-parents Michael FURRILL and Judea nee WATSON from Woodchurch, Kent. Susan(nah) and Edward had at least 11 children from 1879-1900 all born in the surrounding districts. Susan died in 1934 aged 74. Place of burial not known. Have picture of her.

7. Henry BLISS (1862-1897). Born Yass River (Bliss farm) in 1862. Died 189 aged 35. Bliss Yass Courier 24 Sep 1897: Mr Henry, son of George Bliss of Yass River, died Tuesday in Yass Hospital aged 35 years. Buried in Yass Cemetery, close to his parents.

Grave of Henry BLISS
Yass Cemetery, NSW
In loving memory of
HENRY
Beloved SonOf
George & Sarah Bliss
Died Sep 21st 1897
Aged 25 Years

8. Charles George BLISS (1864-1901). Born 1864 at Yass River, baptised Charles but registered as George (perhaps a NSW BDM transcription error?). Died 1901, registered as Charles in Granville (western Sydney) NSW. Buried in Anglican section MMM, Grave 143 at Rookwood Cemetery.

9. Judith or Julia Ann BLISS (1866-1951). Born 1866 at Yass River. Married Arthur Albert Hall (1851 Cambridge England - 1921 Narrandera NSW) in 1885 in Yass. They had 7 children from 1886-1897 registered mainly in Narrandera. She died died 3 May 1951 aged 81 years. Buried at Narrandera cemtery.

Grave of Arthur A. HALL and Julia A. nee BLISS

Narrandera cemetery, NSW

In loving memory of

Arthur A. Hall

Died Feb 10th 1921 Aged 71 Years

Frederick O. Hall

Died July 27th 1945 Aged 55 Years

Julia A. Hall

Died Mar 3rd 1951 Aged 81 Years

10. James Stephen BLISS (1870-1948). Born 1870 at Yass River. He married first Harriet Ellen Margaret OWEN (1878 Yass - 1905 Yass) in 1898, and had four children with her. After her death he married secondly Mary Ann GOWING (? - 1955 Junee NSW) in 1908 at Junee NSW. They also had four children. He died in 1948 at Junee.

11. Elizabeth Louisa BLISS (1872-1943). Born 1872 at Yass River. She married George Crew (1861 Bristol England - 1933 Canterbury NSW) at St Clements Church, Yass in 1891. They apparently met on Valentine's Day 1891, and hence their first son was named Valentine (1892-1969). They had 7 children, mainly in the Yass area, and later lived in Picton then Sydney. Elizabeth died in 1943, and is buried with her husband at Rookwood cemetery, Anglican section 12, Grave 498. My father visited this grave in May 2012, and found that the grave had no headstone.

12. Farrell BLISS (1874-1961). Born 1874 at Yass River, and named after his mother's maiden name (though misspelt from Furrill). He apparently inherited and ran the family farm 'Spring Valley' from his father. Married Rebecca PRIVETT (1880 Yass - 1967 Yass) in 1904. The couple had 10 children in Yass, including one son (Stanley) who enlisted in WW1 and one son (George Leonard Farrell) who was killed in PNG in WW2. Farrell died in 1961, and the couple are buried together at Yass cemetery. I have a photo of Farrell.

Grave of Farrell and Rebecca BLISS
Yass Cemetery, NSW
Sacred to the memory of
FARRELL BLISS
Passed Away
22nd Nov 1961
Aged 87 Years
REBECCA BLISS
Passed Away
18th Jan 1967
Aged 86 Years
At Rest

 13. Mary Jane BLISS (1880-1916). Born 1880 at Yass River. Married WIlliam ARMOUR (1874 Burrowa NSW - 1958 Bowning NSW) in 1899 at Yass. They had 6 children in Yass and Bowning. Mary Jane died in 1916, registered at Bowning, and buried at Bowning cemetery with her son.

Grave of Mary Jane ARMOUR nee BLISS
Bowning Cemetery, NSW
In loving memory of
MARY JANE ARMOUR
Died 17th October 1916
Aged 36 years
Also LINN EDWARD ARMOUR
Died 13th February 1915
Aged 3 years  

I am in interested in hearing from descendants of these BLISS children, including details, photos and headstones to add to this post. I count 68 grandchildren of George and Sarah BLISS so there should be plenty of descendants!!

HALL family in Yass NSW

Tom ELEMENT visited Yass NSW recently and dropped in on the family history society there. While he is a Moloney descendant, he kindly checked in on the records on my HALL family line there. He came up with a few very interesting pieces of information.


While the 1868 civil marriage certificate (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2010/07/death-certificate-of-eliza-jane-hall.html) has some information about William HALL and Eliza BLISS' marriage, the parish records (St Clements C of E, Yass) also gave that William was 25 yrs old when he married Eliza, and that Eliza was 16yrs of age when she married William. The register also notes that they were married on 20 May 1868 at Boambola, NSW (i.e., not in the church but celebrated by the priest).

William and Eliza HALL had fifteen children registered in NSW following their marriage. The parish register lists the following (with date of birth rather than date of baptism listed) - I have numbered the below against their order in the family.

Date (of birth), Surname, First name, Parents, Residence, Occupation of father
(2) 16 Jan 1870, HALL, Alfred Ernest, William & Eliza, Yass River, Farmer
(3) 2 Mar 1872, HALL, James Samuel, William & Eliza, The Pass, Yass River, Farmer
(4) 5 Oct 1874, HALL, Edward, William & Eliza, Yass River, Farmer
(5) 3 Nov 1875, HALL, John, William & Elizabeth, The Pass, Yass River, Farmer
(6) 8 Jul 1877, HALL, Arthur, William & Eliza (Bliss), The Pass, Yass River, Farmer
(7) 22 Apr 1879, HALL, Thomas, William & Eliza (Bliss), Yass River, Farmer
(8) 13 Jan 1881, HALL, Sarah Jane, William & Eliza, The Pass, Yass River, Farmer
(9) 21 Feb 1883, HALL, Katherine, William & Eliza, Yass River
(11) 17 Jan 1887, HALL, Norman William, William & Elizabeth, Yass River

The page terminates with Norman William - it is possible that the missing (1) Mary Ann and (10) Martha Emily were transcribed under a similar name.

Also of interest is that the baptism of William HALL's brother Arthur Albert appears between Oct 1884 and Feb 1885.
Date (of birth), Surname, First name, Parents, Residence, Occupation of father
2 May 1851, HALL, Arthur Albert, Samuel & Mary Ann, Yass River

While Arthur Albert was born in the Cambridge area in 1851 (to parents of William and Arthur Albert, Samuel and Mary Ann nee WELLS), he was either not baptised, or not baptised into the Church of England. As the family was Protestant, it seems that the former option is likely. Arthur Albert married Eliza's sister Judith/Julia Ann BLISS on 7 Feb 1885, so it seems he was baptised immediately prior to the wedding.


Tom also found some information on the farm itself - I'd never been able to tell what kind of farming the Hall family did - in 1877 William & Eliza had 270 acres, 25 cattle, and 500 sheep. So it was likely a wool farm.

UK Prison Hulk Registers

I've been a little quiet because I'm working hard on my ALLEYNE line and it's overwhelming (thanks to a lot of help that I'm getting).

Anyway Ancestry just released an index of UK hulks, on which prisoners were held. Hulks were old ships, moored (usually permanently) in harbors and serving as floating jails. Conditions were generally poor.

This is a rare 'mixed' post as I'm putting in information from various convict ancestors.

1. From the hulk 'Fortitude' (1837-1843)
5364, George Bliss, aged 20, crime: stealing meat, sentenced Maidstone (Kent), 3 January 1839, sentence: life, single, cannot read or write, occupation: labourer, Gaoler's report: Character very bad, once convicted + 4 times in prison for poaching, How disposed of: NSW, 'Parkfield', 8 May 1839.

He spent about five months on board the hulk before being transported (several more months on a ship).

2. From the hulk 'York' (1805-1836)
Reading, 2800, Edw Ewer, 23, crime: shop lifting, sentenced 28 Feb 1820, sentence: life, how disposed: 22 Aug 1821 NSW.

He spent more than 18 months on a hulk before transportation! On the same page are listed his three consorts in shoplifting, John Green (age 20), James Talbot (age 22), and Edward Wedge (age 23). It indicates that all three on 12 Jul 1820 (much earlier than Edward) - this is important as James Talbot appears not to have arrived in Australia, and so must have died in transit. If the surgeon's diary for their transport ship still exists ('Hebe') it should record his death.

3. From the hulk 'Hardy' (1805-1836)
There appear to be two separate books. These have been copied:
Priestly Saml, Conv before 1 time
York, Saml Priestly, 20, Stealing money, Sentenced Leeds 15 April 1833, sentence 14 years, How disposed: NSW 26 June 1833

He spent just over two months on the hulk.

My ancestors Jane Fletcher and Rowland Edwards were convicted too early to be captured in these records.

Marriage and death certificate of Eliza Jane HALL nee BLISS (1852-1925)

Eliza Jane BLISS was born in 1952 to parents George BLISS and Sarah nee FURRILL in 'Murrumbidgee' near Yass. She was baptised into the Church of England by the Yass missionary Charles Ferdinand Brigstocke who also married her parents. Four months before Eliza's baptism, Brigstocke was to bury 75 people killed in the flooding at Gundagai. When Eliza was born, civil registration was not yet in place in NSW, and so it is instead an extracted baptism record that the NSW Government collected in its place.

New South Wales Baptisms
Number 2032 Vol: 38A
CHILD
Christian name: Eliza
When born: 3 May 1852
Date of ceremony: 5 November 1852
Where ceremony performed: Parish of Yass in the County of Murray
Where registered: Not stated
PARENTS
Father: George BLISS
Mother: Sarah BLISS
Abode: Murrumbidgee
Quality or profession: Labourer
Sponsors: Not stated
By whom the ceremony was performed: Charles Ferd. Brigstocke, Church of England


She married William HALL (born in England but son of a Yass farmer) in 1868 and they had 15 children (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2010/06/children-of-william-and-eliza-hall-yass.html). Among the certificates I've been provided by cousin David SHERLEY is their wedding certificate, which does not contain a great deal of information unfortunately (presumably it was not recorded by the priest). It appears that they married on either the HALL or BLISS property at Yass River. The COBLE family were also present at the marriage of Eliza's parents in Yass eighteen years earlier - in this case E.G. COBLE is probably Edward George (1842-1923), who married Eliza's younger sister Susannah in 1884 (sixteen years after this marriage).

NSW Marriage Certificate

1868/003699

569

Date and place of marriage: 26th May 1868 at Yass River


Husband
Name and surname: William Hall
Conjugal status: Bachelor
Usual occupation: Farmer
Usual place of residence: Yass River


Wife
Name and surname: Eliza Bliss
Conjugal status: Spinster
Usual place of residence: Yass River


Married at Yass River
According to the rites of the Church of England
This Marriage was solemnized between us
William Hall (signed)
Eliza Bliss x her mark
In the presence of us
E.G. Coble
A.E. Coble
By me F.A.E. Sillingeton

In the early 1900's they moved from their Yass farm to Koorawatha where William died in 1912 and Eliza in 1925.

NSW Death Certificate
1925/001260
2.
Date and place of death: 1925 10th January, Young Municipality
Name and occupation: Eliza Jane Hall
Cause of Death: (a) Cirrhosis of Liver (b) Biliary Calculi
Duration of last illness: (1) 2 months
Medical attendant: W.H. Cook Registered
When he last saw deceased: 1925 9th January
Name and occupation of father: George Bliss, labourer
Name and maiden surname of mother: Mary Ann Jane ---
Informant: W.H. Hall, Son, Koorawatha
Particulars of registration: ?, 10th January 1925, Young
When and where buried: 1925 11th January, Church of England cemetery Koorawatha
Name of undertaker: John J. Patterson
Name and religion of minister: Sidney G. Davis, Church of England
Names of witnesses of burial: H. Porter, R.T. Watkins
Where born: Yass N.S.W.
Place of marriage, age and to whom: Yass NSW, 16 years, William Hall
Children of marriage:
Living:
Alfred 56
Edward 51
James 49
John 47
Sarah 44
Thomas 43
Catherine 42
Martha 37
Florence E 35
Norman W 36
Cyril 34
Walter H 32
Ethel M 29
One male and one female deceased

The certificate listed all fifteen children accurately! This is not true of her husband's death certificate in 1912 (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2010/03/death-certificate-of-william-hall-1843.html). The informant was William Henry Hall, the second youngest son who lived in Koorawatha along with his mother. While William knew his grandfather's name he did not know his grandmother's, yet Sarah BLISS nee FURRILL lived later and the eldest daughter was named after her.

Eliza is buried 'back-to-back' with her husband William in Koorawatha cemetery. Several people including Angus Bliss and Tom Element have sent me copies of pictures of these headstones. Note that William's side must have a sunnier aspect - Eliza's has accumulated moss both on the headstone and the grave itself.

 In loving memory of 

ELIZA HALL

Died 10 Jan 1924

Aged 78 years

In loving memory of

WILLIAM HALL

Died 26 July 1912

Aged 70 Years

WT JONES COWRA

The children of William and Eliza HALL - Yass, NSW

Occasionally I find my posts act as fishing expeditions to find common descendants. Google brings those looking for an ancestor to my blog, and thankfully in contact with me. If posts are fishing exercises, then this post is a big hook. I'm going to list all I know about the offspring of William HALL and Eliza BLISS of Yass, NSW. William came to Australia from England with his parents Samuel HALL and Mary Anne nee WELLS - as outlined elsewhere (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2009/04/samuel-hall-headstone-yass-nsw.html).

William and Eliza had 15 children together from 1868-1896, all registered in Yass, NSW. William's death certificate in 1912 (reported by one of his children) lists only 13 children (11 living, 2 dead) but there were another 2 living children that were missed (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2010/03/death-certificate-of-william-hall-1843.html).

In putting together this list I have benefited greatly from the work of my grandfather's brother, Francis 'Frank' Michael HALL (1923-2005). He did a lot of work his family tree, the BANFIELD, MOLONEY, BLISS and HALL families, including meeting a lot of fellow descendants. While the HALL children were born from 1868-1896, the birth of most of their offspring occured after the 1909 cut-off for publicly availabe birth records in NSW, so in some cases all I know comes from Frank's notes - information passed to him by the living children and grandchildren of William HALL that Frank drove all over NSW meeting.

I'll list what I know of each child. It can be assumed where not cited that the information came from Frank, though I have added to this using NDW BDM records, Australian newspaper announcements (newspapers.nla.gov.au) and the Ryerson index (www.ryersonindex.org) for more recent deaths. I have not made personal contact with descendants of any of the below families, and it would be great to make contact and exchange information on these people.

While all William and Eliza's children were born in Yass, they moved with their younger children to Koorwatha about 1900 (reason unknown) and so the elder children married in Yass, the younger ones in the Koorawatha area (90 miles away).

It is clear from the below that there is a great deal yet to be learnt. It appears that the family were not all in close contact. When my great grandfather Norman HALL (son of Afred E HALL, 2 below) wrote up a family tree, he 'thought' his grandfather's name might be William (true), but more than this he did not know. He sketched out the names of six of his aunts/uncles but the remainder he was not aware of. This may just be a refletion of the fact my ggrandfather Alfred E HALL left home when he was about 15 - he only met his youngest sister for the first time when she was 16!

1. Mary Ann HALL (1868-1909). Born Yass, NSW 1868. Married Frederick COSTELLO in the nearby Goulburn district in 1895. They had six children around Goulburn and Yass, and a seventh child in the Narromine district in 1907. One daughter, Amelia Alice 'Millie' COSTELLO was burnt to death in 1908 (registered in the Warren district of NSW) and Mary Ann drowned there a year later (1909). Whether the drowning was accidental or suicide is not know but she apparently blamed herself for not smothering the flames engulfing Millie. Frederick COSTELLO re-married to Jessie M BROWN in Granville (western Sydney) in 1911 and they lived in Lidcombe for a time - it appears that Frederick died in Queensland in 1956, his second wife Jessie pre-deceasing him in Queensland in 1942.

2. Alfred Ernest HALL (1870-1954). Born Yass, NSW 1870. Died Croydon, NSW 1954.The second eldest son, Alfred Ernest Hall, was my great-great-grandfather. I have posted a number of times on him: http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2009/11/alfred-ernest-hall-1870-1954.html . Buried at Rookwood cemetery, Catholic section with his wife Bridget nee MOLONEY. No headstone.

3. James Samuel HALL (1872-1955). Born Yass, NSW 1872. Married Lavina Jane HEATH (1878 Yass - 1969 Sydney) at Goulburn district in 1895. James (called 'Jim') was a surveyor's assistant and miner and lived mainly at 50 Cross St Corrimal. Jim, Lena and eldest son John ran a catering  business in the Wollongong district and in 1987 son John was a partner in Bills Sports Bar Corrimal. James like his older brother Alfred was fairly short and stocky and Lena was tall and thin. They had four children: Ave Maria (1907-1984 married Robert Michael POSITTI), William (1909-?), Mary and John. James died on 17 Mar 1955 registered in Wollongong ('late of Corrimal'), and Lavina died in 1969 (registered in Sydney).

4. Edward HALL (1874-1952). Born Yass, NSW 1874. Informant on his father's death certificate living at Koorawatha, NSW in 1912. He was a surveyor and travelled through western NSW as a young man. Around 1908 he moved to Koorawatha (where his parents lived) and operated a general store in Boorowa St Koorawatha. He never married and died in 1952 in Cowra (or perhaps Koorawatha).

5. John HALL (1875-1950). Born Yass, NSW 1875. He married Eliza Jane Clarke (1889 Yass - 1954 Yass) in 1907 at Yass and they lived in the Yass district for the remainder of their lives. In the 1936 NSW Electoral Roll John is described as a grazier, and the family is living on O'Brien St, North Yass. Their only child Arthur James HALL (1909 Yass - 1979 Yass) married Stella BALLARD in 1932 - nothing known of their family. John died on 02 Feb 1950, and Stella exactly four years later on 02 Feb 1954. Buried together in the Church of England section of Yass cemetery.

6. Arthur HALL (1877-1899). He accidentally shot himself while 'rabbiting' near Devils Pass (adjacent to the family property at Yass River).

Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday 18 Feb 1899
SAD SHOOTING ACCIDENT
YASS, Friday. A sad accident happened this afternoon on the
Yass River about seven miles from Yass. A young
man named Arthur Hall, a son of Mr. William Hall,
farmer, started out about 2 o'clock in order to indulge
in wallaby shooting. Before he got out of
sight of his house he had to crawl through a fence.
After he had done so he was dragging the rifle
through after him, when it went off. The bullet
entered behind one ear and passed out at the top of
his head. His brother saw him fall, and on running
to him found him dead.

He was not married. He is buried next to his grandfather Samuel HALL in Yass Church of England cemetery.

Headstone of Arthur HALL
Yass C of E cemetery

In Loving Remembrance
Arthur Hall
Who Accidentally Shot Himself
Feb17th 1899
Aged 21 Years
I little thought my time so short,
In this world to remain
I {thought?} when I left my home
I should return again

7. Thomas HALL (1879-1961). Born Yass, NSW 1879. Perhaps named after his uncle Thomas HALL (1846 Cambridge, England - 1928 Manly, NSW). Married Margaret Ann RICHARDS (1883 Yass - 1905 Orange) at Yass in 1905.  He was a railway gauger and lived in various towns in NSW including Orange, Ilabo (near Junee) and Bowning. Apparently had about nine children, but only two are identified: Annie R HALL (1906 Yass - ?) and Lyle J T HALL (1909 Yass - 1982 late of Dee Why), also a railway worker. A side note is that the name 'Annie R' appears in a number of related families back in England - the significance has not been identified. Thomas died at Orange in 1961, and his wife Margaret Ann in 1968 also at Orange district.

8. Sarah Jane HALL (1881-1946). Born Yass, NSW 1881. Married Richard Thomas WATKINS (1872 Young - 1943 Cowra/Koorawatha), a farmer, in 1908, probably at Koorawatha (registered at Cowra). They had one daughter Margaret WATKINS (1908 - 1963 Cowra) who married Thomas Garner BOYD at Young in 1936, and they had two children Brian and Peggy - both were living in the Koorawatha area in the 1980's. Sarah was a fine dressmaker. Richard died in 1943, and Sarah died in Koorawatha in 1946, and is apparently in an unmarked grave at Koorawatha cemetery. Her daughter Margaret apparently had a simple wooden cross in the same cemetery.

9. Catherine HALL (1883-1951). Born Yass, NSW 1883. Married Edward Michael RYAN (1869 Yass - 1915 Yass) at Yass in 1902. Lived at Grace's Flat near Bowning just out of Yass. They had numerous children including Leslie V (1902-?), Arthur W (1909-?), Margaret, John, George and Claude. She was widowed early when her husband 'Edwin' RYAN died 29 March 1915 aged 46 years and was buried at Yass C of E cemetery. Catherine died 29 April 1951 aged 68 years. After she died, her son Arthur ran the property - but it had been sold by 1987. In 1987 Claude was at Lightning Ridge (previously he worked at Burrunjuck Dam) and John with wife Millie ran a home, Warmington Lodge, Rossi St, Yass.

10. Martha Emily HALL (1885-1930). Born Yass, NSW 1885. She married James FAHEY (no details known) at Yass in 1905. Apparently they had children, and by 1930 had moved to Sydney (Summer Hill). Martha was killed by a car on 10 Apr 1920.

The Sydney Morning Herald
Friday 11 April 1930
WOMAN KILLED BY MOTOR CAR
A middle-aged woman, believed to be Martha Fahey, of Summer Hill, was knocked down and killed by a motor car while crossing Parramatta-road late last night.

Martha was buried at Rookwood cemetery in the Catholic section (Mortuary Mortuary 2, Area 10, Grave 2049), suggesting she had converted to Catholicism (her brother Alfred did also).

11. Norman William HALL (1887-1967). Born Yass, NSW 1887. Married Edith Maud LACK (1883 Campbelltown - 1946 Lismore) in 1908 at Yass. They had at least five children, including William Edward HALL (1909-1973), Thelma V HALL (?-1913), Keith N HALL (?-1922), George S HALL (?-1926) and Cecil Henry HALL (?-1964). While William was born in Boorowa (west of Yass), Thelma's death was registered in Byron Bay and Keith and George's in Ballina, so they'd made their way to the far north coast of NSW. Cecil is buried Alstonville Cemetery (CEM-A2-243) and William at Goonellabah Lawn Cemetery (por G sec 11 num 29), both in Riverina district of NSW. Edith died in 1946 and Norman died in 1967 - buried in the same plot at their son Cecil at Alstoneville cemetery.

12. Florence Eva HALL (1889-1952). Born Yass, NSW 1889. Married Allan Low MCPHAIL (1885 East Macquarie - 1944 Lithgow) at Cowra (probably Koorawatha) in 1908 and they lived at Vale of Clwydd, Lithgow. They had seveal children, one being, Cecil MCPHAIL , born 1908 in Wallerawang district and married Doris COWARD at Lithgow in 1932, and again in 1941 to Bedelia Marjorie DOYLE at Condolbin. Allan died in 1944 at Lithgow and Florence Eva in 1952 also at Lithgow, and the are buried at Lithgow General cemetery (austcemindex.com).

Headstone of Florence Eva PMCPHAIL (nee HALL)
Lithgow General Cemetery
In loving memory of
My dear Husband and our Dear Father
Allan Low McPhail
Died 10th April 1944, aged 59 years
and our dear mother
Florence Eva McPhail
Passed away ??? 63 years

13. Cyril HALL (1891-1948). Born Yass, NSW 1891. Married Margaret WATKINS (1892 Cowra - 1951 Auburn) in 1913 at Koorawatha - he apparently also converted to Catholicism to marry. They had at least six children: John, Kathleen, Mary, Nita, Olive and Sidney. Mary, an ex-nun, married Robert MCQUILLAN in 1944 and lived at Taree (no children). Kathleen became Sister Cyril HALL of the St Joseph's order, living at Temora in 1987. Lillian married Reginald George GRAYSON at Wollongong in 1938. Olive married Arthur HILL of Koorawatha at Murrumburrah in 1946 and in 1987 was living on Rossi St, Yass. John (Jack) married and lived at Unanderra. Sidney (Sid) also lived in Wollongong.

In the 1943 NSW Electoal Roll Cyril and Margaret are living in Koorawatha, Cyril a labourer. Cyril died of Parkinson's disease in 1948, and Margaret died in 1951, both buried in the R.C. section of Koorawatha cemetery.

Headstone of Cyril HALL

Koorawatha Cemetery

In Loving Memory of
Our Dear Mother & Father
MARGARET HALL
Died 19th June 1851
Aged 59 years
CYRIL HALL
Died 16th July 1948
Aged 58 years
R.I.P

14.Walter Henry HALL (1893-1950). Born Yass, NSW 1891. Enlisted in Australian Infantry Forces in early 1916. His enlistment records show he'd previously failed the entry test for the Australian Light Horse, and he gave his mother as his next of kin (Mrs Eliza Hall, Koorawatha). Enlistment also reveals he was 5' 8" tall, dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He was assigned to B Company of the 45th Battalion AIF. He was wounded in France, shot in the leg that resulted in a fractured femur, and returned to Australia in 1918. This injury resulted in a limp for the rest of his life. Walter lived most of his life in Koorawatha,  at one time he was a postman. He married Marjorie A DONGES (1902 Young - 1930 Young) in 1928 - she died in child-birth in 1930 leaving a daughter Maureen. Walter died at Concord Repatriation Hospital in 1951 after finally losing his leg, and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Anglican Section (Section 16, Grave No. 0003673).

15. Ethel May HALL (1896-1967). Born Yass, NSW 1896. Married Joseph W HODGES (1897 Dubbo - 1983) at Lithgow in 1918. Joseph William 'Bill' was a pastry cook who ran bakeries in several towns including Harden and Moss Vale. Ethel was petite, and Bill a fine violinist who played at local dances in Koorawatha and surrounds. They had five children: Joyce married John Thomas SCHUBERTH in 1943 at Murrumburrah, Gloria married Maurice MCNALLY in 1954 in Sydney, Betty married ? KIPPER, Paul, and Jill married ? BRYANT. Joyce owned a photo of Eliza HALL nee BLISS. Ethel died in 1967 and is buried at Rookwood cemetery, Anglican section (Section 15, Grave 0001124). Bill died in 1983, late of Belmore.

Death Certificate of William HALL (1843-1912)

From what I can tell I haven't posted this death certificate yet. William HALL (1843-1912) was born in Chesterton, Cambridge, England, son of Samuel and his wife Mary Anne nee WELLS. When he was 14 his family sailed to Australia, arriving in Sydney on the 'Boanerges', and appear to have moved straight to the greater Yass District where his father found work and ultimately obtained their own farming land. In 1868 he married Eliza Jane BLISS from an adjacent property, and they had fifteen children all registered in Yass. Shortly afterwards William, his wife and some of their younger children moved to Koorawatha, and there William died in 1912. It is not clear to me whether William worked, or in what capacity he worked, in Koorawatha.



New South Wales Death Certificate
1912/10123
Date and place of death: 1912 26th July, Koorawatha, Shire of Burrayong
Name and occupation: William Hall, Farmer
Sex and age: Male, 76 years
Cause of death: Paralysis
Duration of last illness: 4 years
Medical attendant: Burial ordered by F.B. Irsatt, Coroner. Inquiry unnecessary
Name and occupation of father: Samuel Hall, Farmer
Name and surname of mother: -
Informant: Certified by Edward Hall, Son, Koorawatha
Particulars of registration: James Milller, 6th August 1912, Cowra
When and where buried: 27th July 1912, The Church of England Cemetery Koorawatha
Name of undertaker: J,S, ?
Name and religion of Minister: ? McKettue, Church of England
Names of witnesses of burial: H. Shoemark and J.H.Hilder
Where born and how long in the Australasian Colonies or States: Cambridge, England, Unknown
Place of marriage, age, and to whom: unknown, unknown, Elizabeth Bliss
Children of marriage:
Alfred J 39
Edward 37
John 36
Sarah 31
Thomas 29
Catherine 27
Martha 25
William 23
Thomas 21
Walter 19
Esther 16
Deceased
Male 1 Female 1

A numeber of points come out of this. William probably had a stroke around 1908, as that would account for the paralysis. Given that his wife was alive, I find it curious that their son didn't know where or when William married Eliza Jane Bliss. Two living siblings are not listed - James Samuel HALL (who was living in Wollongong at the time) and Cyril HALL (who was living in Koorawatha).

George Bliss Ticket of Leave 1847

Jan Balfor visited the Kingswood State Records and obtained a copy of the 'Ticket of Leave' for George Bliss, number 47/9.



The entries can be difficuly to decipher, as it has been over-written.

Transcript:

TICKET OF LEAVE
No. 47/9 4 January 1847

Prisoner's No: 39/867
Name: George Bliss
Ship: Parkfield
Master: Whiteside
Year: 1839
Place of Trial: Kent QS
Date of Trial: 3 January 1839
Sentence: Life

Allowed to remain in the district of Yass on recommendation of the Queanbeyan Bench, Dated Oct 1846.

Overwritte with: Ticket of Leave torn up as Bliss having received a Conditional Pardon No 54/236 Dated 15 April 1854.

As Jan wrote: "the most interesting thing about it is that at the bottom of the document it records that in October 1846 the Queanbeyan Bench decided that George would be allowed to remain in the District of Yass on receiving the Ticket. So now we have documentary evidence that George was in the Yass area prior to 1846."

Children oF George and Sarah Biiss

George Bliss (1819-1915) arrived in Sydney NSW in September 1839, and in July 1850 married Sarah Ann Furrill in Yass. George's residence was listed as 'Mullion Forest' - and i have no information on his life for the prior ten years in Australia. George and Sarah had at least thirteen children between 1852 and 1880 (his death certificate states twelve), and their registration could help piece together the family's movements from 1852 onwards.

Joyce Prowse obtained the following document from Faye Singleton, who she met in the 1970's or 1980's, and Faye sent on the following typed document. It lists nine of George's children (and I've added one more as it's the only Bliss child certificate I have). Clearly Faye went to the parish records to prepare this record, and in doing so has captured the residence and occupation ('quality') at each point in time. A very interesting and valuable document.




A quick search did not unearth 'Blackrange' in the Yass area, however the dates clearly indicate that George moved to Yass proper from 1858-1860, twenty years after he arrived in Australia, and aged about 40. After serving as a Publican, it seems he moved to farming proper around 1862-1864. This document will work as a good basis for trying to learn more about George's life before settling as a farmer.

1838 George Bliss sentence

George BLISS was born at Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent, England son of Richard and Elizabeth, and baptised there on 21 Feb 1819. His next appearance was in 1838, when on 26th July 1838 he was charged with theft in the nearby Parish of Seal, and found guilty the following month.

The following document provided by Jan Balfor, stamped 'Home Circuit' and signed by the Deputy Clerk of Assizes outlines his crime.



Transcript:
".....of the Gaol of our Lady the Queen holden at Maidstone in and for the County of Kent on the Sixth day of August in the Second year of the Reign of her present Majesty Queen Victoria, George Bliss, late of the Parish of Seal, in the County aforesaid, Labourer, was in due form of Law tried and convicted on a certain Indictment against him for feloniously Stealing on the Twenty sixth day of July in the Second year of the Reign aforesaid at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid, One Round Frock of the value of Eighteen pence, One Jacket of the value of Two Shillings, One Knife of the value of Threepence, One Tobacco Box of the value of Two pence, and one half handkerchief of the value of One penny of the Goods and Chattels of Thomas Hunt, -- And was thereupon ordered to be imprisoned and kept to hard labor in the House of Correction Two Calendar Months, Seven days thereof in Solitary Confinement and once whipped, Dated this 28th day of December 1838.
signed
Deputy Clerk of Assizes"

George was not transported for this crime, but following his imprisonment and whipping, he was again convicted of theft and transported in 1839. His great grand daughter Joyce Prowse was told by her father that the scars were still on his back as an old man.

Death Certificate of George Bliss, 1915

Jan Balfor obtained the deaeth certificate of George Bliss.

NSW Death Certificate
1915/016465

Date and place of death: 1915 3rd November, Euralie, Goodraigher(?) Shire
Name and occupation: George Bliss, Old age pensioner
Sex and age: Male, 96 years
Cause of death: "Senile decay accelerated by an accidental fall". Finding at inquiry held on November 1915, ?, Euralie, NSW
Name of father and occupation: Not known
Name and maiden name of mother: Not known
Informant: Farrell Bliss, Son, Euralie
Particulars of registration: 3rd November, Yass
When and where buried: 1915, 4th November, Church of England Cemetery, Yass
Name of undertaker: Edmund Pearce
Name and religion of minister: Y.OMinlon(?), Church of England
Witnesses of burial: G Newman, Robert Knox
Where born and how long in the Australasian colonies: Kent, England, 65 years in NSW
Place of marriage, age and to whom: Yass NSWales, 30 years, Sarah Ann Furrill

Children of marriage:
Eliza 64
Joseph 57
Susan 55
Juda A 47
Jame S 45
Elizabeth L 43
Farrell 41
Mary 35
living
4 males deceased

-------------

The certificate has a number of interesting points; George was in receipt of a pension, and died on his property at Euralie near Yass. His son Farrell reported the death, and was unaware of the name's of George's parents, though knew he was from Kent. George had actually been in Australia 75 years! Intrigingly, Farrell (sic) was named for his mothers maiden name of Furrill, though this was incorrectly recorded - despite this he spells his mothers name correctly on the certificate. Finally, Farrell reported a total of 12 children, though a 13th child is recorded on the NSW BDM - a William born in 1854 who must've died in infancy was probably not known to Farrell - a second William was recorded being born in 1857.

George Bliss, born Otford 1819

I wrote a few entires below about the confusion over the birth of George Bliss, and whether his birthplace was Rochester or Otford in Kent. The middle name George 'Henry' Bliss came from the Rochester baptism in 1819.

I wrote to the church of St Bartholomew in Otford, Kent, and they sent copies of three Bliss children baptised at the church in the early 1800's:

John Bliss, baptised 20 Feb 1813
Eliza Bliss, baptised 1 Dec 1816
George Bliss, baptised 21 Feb 1819

All three children were born to Richard and Elizabeth BLISS, abode Otford. Richard's occupation was baker in 1813 but changed to labourer for 1816-19. This location fits with the area George committed his crimes.

IGI gives a marriage entry for Richard BLISS and Elizabeth HOLLOWAY at Seal, Kent - just 3 miles from Otford - on 2 Dec 1810.




---------

Notes on Otford from various web sources:

Otford is a Kent village on the river Darent two miles north of Sevenoaks and twenty-five miles south east of London. The Pilgrims Way passes through the village and its centre is the duck pond, which is unique in being designated a listed building. Passing through Otford is the Pilgrims' Way, the historic route supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, England, to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

The village is located on the River Darent, flowing north down its valley from its source on the North Downs. The name is a contraction of Otterford, possibly derived from Offa, the King of Mercia who fought a battle at Otford against the Kentish Saxons in 776 at the Battle of Otford.

The parish church is dedicated to St Bartholomew. The village has always centred around the church, the first stone church being built between 1050 and 1080, and the Bishop’s Palace. St. Bartholomew’s Church much added to and altered down the years is steeped in history. Part of the original 11th century wall is still to be seen.

George Bliss - where was he from in Kent?

I've been working to confirm what I've read in a number of places about where my convict ancestor George Henry BLISS is from. The Hall family historian before me (Frank HALL, 1923-2005) went to England a few times on family history quests, and he wrote that George was son of:

"John BLISS and his wife Mary lived in Rochester, Kent, UK and had 4 sons, including John Edward, George (1818-1915) and William Samuel."

This baptism is found in the IGI indexes - one of two George Bliss's in Rochester to different sets of parents:
1. GEORGE BLISS - Parents John and Sarah
Christening: 05 MAR 1815 Saint Nicholas, Rochester, Kent, England
2. GEORGE HENRY BLISS - Parents John and Mary
Christening: 17 JAN 1819 Saint Nicholas, Rochester, Kent, England
(I have a copy of the parish register, John's occupation: carpenter)

So here is the George Henry BLISS I knew of, and one other. The problem is that I believe BOTH these George Bliss' are present in the 1841 census.
1. George, born 1815 (with son George), born Rochester, Kent in 1815 census.
2. George, born 1819 living in St Margaret, Rochester City. Born in Kent. In his baptism, his father's occupation was carpenter, and in the 1841 this George's occupation is carpenter.

So the Rochester George Bliss's are out.

The alternative is that I’ve also read “George Henry Bliss - the son of Richard and Elizabeth Bliss Born on the Janurary 1819 in Otford near Sevenoaks in Kent at England” on the Coble site. I’ve not found on-line Otford parish registers, but am still digging to confirm this.

Adding weight to this are the locations of his two crimes from court transcripts, the first he was jailed for 2 months for and the second he was ultimately transported for:
First: “George Bliss, late of the Parish of Seal, in the County aforesaid (KENT), Labourer”
The village of Seal is 3 miles from Otford.
Second: “stealing a piece of meat, value Three Shillings, the property of John Spencer at Wrothham”
The village of Wrotham is 5 miles from Otford.

Compounding this is the following:
Has anyone actually seen our George Bliss' name written as George HENRY Bliss on any document? I haven't. Perhaps some of you have birth certificates for children of George Bliss post-1856 - if so could you let me know where George's place of birth is given as?

I believe the George HENRY Bliss is incorrect and based on the assumption that he was from Rochester, Kent rather than Otford, Kent.

George Bliss obituary

Yass Courier 4th November 1915
DEATH OF MR GEORGE BLISS

There died at his residence, Yass River, on Wednesday, in the person of Mr George Bliss, another of the pioneers, one who had seen the district pass through varied fortunes, was in the prime of life when Lambing Flat was at it's zenith, had seen the struggles of his brother pioneers, and was within a few weeks of his ninety-sixth milestone on the road of life when claimed by Death. A widow, seven sons, and five daughters, survive to mourn their loss. Mrs G Bliss is totally blind.

At an inquiry held on Wednesday by Mr O'Brien, deputy Coroner, it was elicited in evidence that the deceased had had an attack of paralysis some years since, but had been able to potter about. On Friday he had a fall, slipping at his back door, and had been confined to his bed. No doctor had attended him for eight years. A verdict of death from old age and natural causes was recorded. The remains of the deceased were interred this afternoon in the Church of England Cemetery, Yass, and were followed to their last resting place by a large number of friends and relatives. The Reverend Menlove officiated at the graveside, Mr R Pearce conducting the funeral and controlling the mortuary arrangements.

The Hall family from Fenstanton, Hunts to Yass, NSW

Samuel HALL was probably born in or near Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England in 1816, the son of William HALL, a shoemaker, and Catherine nee SETCHELL. He was baptised in the nearby Hemingford Grey (probably Catherine's home village) on the 4th September 1816, their abode being entered as Fenstanton.

On October 13 1839 Samuel married Mary Ann WELLS in the parish of Chesterton, a village 2 miles to the north of Cambridge University. Mary Ann was born in the village if Isleham Cambridgeshire to Richard WELLS (a labourer) and Mary nee NORMAN, in 1813 and baptised at the General Baptist church there on 10th Aug 1813. Both Samuel and Mary Ann had not previously been married, and Samuel's sister Sarah was one of two witnesses. At least two of Samuel's sisters moved to Cambridge fom Fenstanton, though there are no records to indicate when the siblings moved there.



The 1841 England census shows Samuel, a brewers labourer, and Maryan (sic) living on Back Street in the parish of Chesterton. With them was their daughter Catharine aged 4 months - she had been baptised in Chesterton, Cambridge on 28 Feb 1841. In 1851 Samuel (listed as 'Jas'/James and a Brewers Labourer) and family are shown living at 54 Newmarket Rd in the nearby parish of Cambridge St Andrew the Less (also known at Barnwell). Cambridge St Andrew the Less seems to by no means have been a salubrious location, and was regarded in the Cambridge Chronicle as "the focus of villainy, the refuge of the common thief" in an article of 1853, and a 1849 report on sanitation and water describes sanitary conditions in the parish as wretched and a disgrace to humanity.

Two sons, Thomas James (3) and Arthur Walter (10 months) both born in Cambridge are present, though Catharine, who would have been abt 10, apears to have died in the previous 10 years. The family also had a servant, Mary Hayner, aged 22 and unmarried.The 1851 census presented some difficulties, and reveals the first of several examples where Samuel uses the name James ('Jas'), however in each case all other data confirm that this census entry is the correct one. Baptisms for Thomas and Arthur have not been found (nor have records of Catharine's death). The eldest of Samuel and Mary Ann's sons was William, baptised in Chesterton in 1843, and in 1851 he is a Visitor at the home of Robert Moore, a College Porter in the same parish of Cambridge St Andrew the Less.

The 1851 census is the last the Samuel and family appear in as they sailed from Liverpool to Australia on the 'Boanerges' in 1857 with their three boys, arriving in Sydney on the 20th October of that year (they probably travelled the more than 100 miles from Cambride to Liverpool by train). The ship had only been built the previous year and carried 472 'government immigrants' (or assisted passengers) and one stow away, Thorney Smith. This means that their passage was subsidised or paid for through one of the assisted immigration schemes that operated in New South Wales - Frank Hall's family history states that the reasons they decided to move to Australia are unknown. The immigration records reveal a great deal about the famiy at this stage, and confirms many details:

Passengers per Ship Boanerges , as Inspected by the Immigration Board, arrived on the 20th October 1857.

Hall, Samuel; Age: 40; Calling: Farm Labour; Native place and country: Fenstanton, Huntingdon; Parents Names, and, if alive, their residence: William + Catherine, mother dead, father at Fenstanton; Religious calling: C.E.; Read or write: Both; Relations in the colony: Cousin Childs, residence not known. State of bodily health: Good. Remarks: 1 pound sterling.
Hall, Mary Ann; Age: 40; Calling: Wife; Native place and country: Islham, Cambridge; Parents Names, and, if alive, their residence: Richard + Mary, dead; Religious calling: C.E.; Read or write: Read; Relations in the colony: None. State of bodily health: Good.
Hall, William; Age: 14; Calling: -; Native place and country: Chesterton, Cambridge; Parents Names, and, if alive, their residence: on board; Religious calling: C.E.; Read or write: Both; State of bodily health: Good.
Hall, Thomas; Age: 11; Calling: -; Native place and country: Barnwell, Cambridge; Parents Names, and, if alive, their residence: on board; Religious calling: C.E.; Read or write: Read; State of bodily health: Good.
Hall, Arthur; Age: 7; Calling: -; Native place and country: Barnwell, Cambridge; Parents Names, and, if alive, their residence: on board; Religious calling: C.E.; Read or write: Read; State of bodily health: Good.

All members of the family were in good health, and Samuel and his son William could read and write (his younger brothers could only read) suggesting education in the Hall family. Samuel had to pay only 1 pound for their journey to Ausrtalia. One interesting piece of information was in answer to the question of relations in the colony: "Cousin Childs, residence not known". Four CHILDS brothers came to Australia, sons of Henry and Elizabeth (nee Hall) born in Hilton, three miles from Fenstanton: William, Edward, Thomas and Samuel who had all arrived by 1857, though none settled in the Yass district. While Elizabeth Childs nee Hall has not yet been shown to be Samuel's aunt, in the 1851 census in Hilton she states her town of birth as Fenstanton, but no baptism has yet been found for her - but she is three years older than Samuel's father William and likely to be his older sister. That Samuel described the Childs boys as cousins adds further weight to this.

Samuel Hall and family settled in the Yass area, 183 miles south of Sydney - though why they settled in this area in unknown. We know that they travelled to that district fairly quickly because less than three years after arriving, Mary Ann died of 'epilepsy', which apprently last 6 days. At the time she died the family were living at 'Bendanine' near Yass, probably the name of the property (still being determined). Again, in registering details Samuel gave his name as 'James', and he stated that they had 3 sons living (William, Thomas and Arthur) and 2 daughters deceased, so apart from Catharine Hall they had another daughter who also died. Mary Ann was buried on 14th May 1860 at St Clements Cemetery, Yass.

Samuel continued farming, though whether he held his own land is not yet clear. The 1871 Electoral Roll and 1872 Greville directory both state that Samuel was a farmer, living at 'Devil's Pass', Yass. By 1878 Samuel had moved to nearby Cavan where he had a freehold property. His son William married Eliza Jane Bliss at St Clements Yass on 26 May 1868, and 17 years later Arthur marred Eliza's sister Judith/Julia in Yass on 7th Feb 1885. No marriage for Thomas has been found.

Samuel, farmer, died on 16th May 1884 from 'congestion of the lungs' at 'Spring Creek' near Yass, which may have been the property name at Cavan. His son William registered the death stating his father was William Hall, boot and shoemaker and that he was born in Fenstanton. He was buried at the C.E. Cemetery, Yass. A photo taken by Frank Hall shows his headstone which reads:

"In affectionate remembrance of
Samuel Hall
Died 16th May 1884
Aged 69 years

And I heard a voice from heaven
saying unto me, Write, Blessed are
the dead which die in the Lord
from henceforth: Yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from
their labours; and their works do
follow them."

The quote on Samuel's headstone is from Revelation 14:12. Samuel died intestate (without a Will) and as the oldest brother, William was appointed adminstrator of his fathers estate. The legal documents describe Samuel Hall as 'late of Cavan' who died with no debts. In signing their letters, William and Thomas can read and write, but Arthur appears not to be able to (he signs with his mark), and all describe themselves as farmers from Cavan near Yass. The Estate and Effects of Samuel consisted of seventy nine acres of selected land valued at nineteen pounds fifteen shillings, moneys invested amounting to eight hundred and fifty pounds and a horse saddle and bridle valued at four pounds. After paying funeral and testamentory expenses the estate was divided between the three brothers, the seventy nine acres being part of William's share. William ultimately applied to sell the land in 1891.

Eliza BLISS

The Hall family historian for a long time was Frank Hall (Francis Michael Hall, 1923 - 2005). Frank, Eliza BLISS' great grandson, wrote up an amazing family history (he visited England several times as part of this). Frank traced descendents everywhere in NSW and visited them, and in doing so Frank visited Joyce Schuberth nee Hodges. Frank wrote in 1987: "I met Joyce Schuberth at 13 Hilda Rd Baulkham Hills and she has a photo of Eliza Bliss (Eliza Hall) my great grandmother" and elsewhere "A photo of Eliza - held by Joyce Schuberth (Table 1, No 15) shows Eliza at about 65 years to be slightly plump, about 5'6" tall with sizable hands". Frank took a photo of the framed picture of Eliza (you can see his reflection in the glass), and as the Hall family members look after the family history now, this photo was scanned.

Here is the photo:

I tried to track down Joyce Schuberth last year, but believe she may have passed on (though there is nothing in the Ryerson index). Joyce was the daughter of Ethel May HALL (1896-1967) and William HODGES. Ethel May HALL was the 15th child of William HALL and Eliza BLISS.

Eliza's story, adapted from Frank's hadnwritten history:

ELIZA BLISS (1852-1925)
The eldest of twelve children born to George BLISS and Sarah Ann FURRILL was Eliza BLISS. Eliza was born on the family property at Yass River - Spring Creek, NSW on 3rd March 1852, formally baptized at St Clements C of E Yass on 5th November 1852 and married William HALL (born 1843 in Chersteron, Cambridge, England) on the Yass Rive property in 1868 at the age of 16 years. She signed her marriage certificate with an 'X'

All fifteen children born to William and Eliza were born at Yass River, the last in 1896. It is estimated about 1903 to 1907 William and Eliza moved to Koorawatha near Cowra, NSW with their younger children Edward, Walter, Cyril, Sarah and Ethel. Edward ran a general store and Eliza a fruit shop. William HALL had a stroke about 1908 and died in Cowra on 26th July 1912, and is buried head-to-head with Eliza at Koorawatha C of E cemetery. She died at Sacred Heart Hospital, Young on 10th January 1925, aged 73 years, of cirhossis of the liver. She is reported to have been a firm mother but loving, and must have been competent, for all 15 children reached maturity.

More HALL family work

Another e-mail I've written on the HALL family, as I try to trace back their genealogy.

My HALL lineage hails from Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire in England.

I'm still putting the tree together, and the main uncertainty is the earliest ancestor listed - I'm Australian and live in the US so researching the UK isn't always easy!

Edward HALL m. Mary ? (that's all I know)
Lived Fenstanton, Huntingdon late 1700's.
I've worked out the marriages of most of his children, but need to confirm that Elizabeth HALL was their child - there's no record of her in the Fenstanton registers but she is living in Fenstanton with her husband Henry CHILDS/CHILDES in the 1841/51 censuses. Four CHILDS sons also moved to Australia. Samuel Hall (see below) stated on his arrival papers that he had cousins in Australia named CHILDS. Elizabeth HALL may have been born in another village, as Edward and Mary were not married in Fenstanton, and based on census data she's older than her siblings born in Fenstanton.

Their son:
William HALL, bapt 6 Jul 1794 in Fenstanton, Huntingdon, and married Catherine SETCHELL in Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon in 1915. They had several children together before Catherine died between 1841 and 1851. William re-married to Charlotte WARRINGTON of Swavesey, on 25 Jan 1853 in Fenstanton, Huntingdon. William died between 1861 and 1871 (based on census entries). William was a shoemaker, and is listed as such in several Fenstanton directories.

Their son: Samuel HALL b. 1816 in Fenstanton but baptised in Hemngford Grey. Married Mary Anne WELLS in 1839 at Chesterton, Camb (1816 Isleham, Camb - 1860 Yass NSW Aust), and they had five children before sailing for Australia, arriving in 1857 with their three surviving sons. Mary died shortly after their arrival, and Samuel died in Yass NSW (farming country) in 1884. He also seems to have called himself James on occassion.

Their son: William HALL, born 1843 Chesterton Camb, sailed to Ausrtalia with his family and married Eliza Jane BLISS from the adjacent farm in Yass NSW in 1868. She was one of 13, and they had 15 children in Yass. William died in Koorawatha NSW in 1912, where they'd moved to some ten years earlier.

This HALL tree connects down to William's son Alfred Ernest HALL, who Norman HALL writes about in his letters in earlier posts.

The Hall-Bliss connection

Norman Hall's tree 2 (of 4) shown down this page reveals that he was unsure of his grandfather's name, and unaware of his grandmother's name - they were William HALL and Elizsa Jane BLISS, married at St Clements C of E in Yass in 1868. While Norman knew little of his paternal heritage, his newphew Frank Hall determined a great deal about the BLISS and HALL family connections.

I was contacted by a member of the BLISS family this week and wrote an e-mail to them that I've used as the basis of this entry.

My ancestor William HALL (b. Chesterton Cambridge 1843, arrived Australia 1857 on the Boanerges with his parents and two borthers, died 1912 Koorawatha NSW) married Eliza Jane BLISS. I believe Eliza Jane BLISS is the eldest daughter of George Henry BLISS and Sarah Ann FURRILL. My info indicates that Eliza Jane BLISS was born in 1852. I’ve not got the birth certificate yet, though it’s not registered at Yass as most are - though at their marriage George Bliss states he is of the Parish of Mullion Forest, so it’s possible they lived closer to another place of registration. Eliza BLISS died in Young, NSW in 1925, after she and William HALL had 15 children, all of whom seem to have survived adolescence! My great grandfather Alfred Ernest HALL was among them.

The HALL family settled in Yass after they arrived in Australia in 1857, and their farming property(ies) abutted those of the BLISS family properties. I have a copy of an old property map (shown below) that Frank Hall turned up 20 years ago showing the BLISS and HALL properties on the Yass River.


Original caption by Frank Hall: 'Location of properties. Take Good Hope Rd out of Yass (not Wee Jasper Rd) some 10 km turn right into Glenroy Rd and follow track keeping left at Glenroy. The Good Hope Rd is between ? down to a holiday camping ground. Euralie also is off the Good Hope Rd.'

While unfortunately the combination of pen marks and photocopying obscures the property names, the three lower highlighted properties are marked 'George Bliss' (2) and 'Susan Bliss' (1), along with the topmost property owned by George Bliss. The three properties in the centre that hug the bend in the river are owned by 'William Hall'. This proximity explains (to some degree) the multiple Hall-Bliss pairings. The area was known as Devil's Pass.

Note the Hume properties nearby (related to Hamilton Hume who opened up the area - http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010527b.htm).

William COBLE and his wife Mary Ann nee DITTON were witnesses at the marriage of George BLISS and Sarah Ann FURRILL at St Clements Church, yass, in 1850. Mary Ann DITTON was born in 1825 at Woodchurch, Kent, England. She was the daughter of Robert DITTON and Drucilla FURRILL. Drucilla FURRILL was the sister of Sarah Ann's father William FURRILL, and Mary Ann DITTON travelled to Australia from Kent with the FURRILL family on the Westminster in 1838. So Mary Ann COBLE nee DITTON was the cousin of Sarah Ann BLISS nee FURRILL. Clearly properties were tied by more then geography.

To further reinforce these family connections, William HALL’s brother Arthur Albert HALL (b. 1851 Barnwell, Cambridgeshire, England, d. 1921 Nerrandera NSW) came to Australia with the family in 1857 (he was 7 at the time). He married Eliza Jane Bliss’ sister (9th of 13 I believe) Judith (or Julia Ann) BLISS, in 1885 at St Clements C of E, Yass, NSW (20 years after her older sister married at the same place)!

So two HALL brothers in Yass married two BLISS sisters from the adjoining property.

Frank Hall put together information on the BLISS family - if he made copies of transcripts when visiting town in the UK, we do not have them, however being a scientist he always sighted originals before believing anything. I also confirm everything prior to entering it into my GED or posting it here.

Frank's notes on the BLISS family in England are:

"John BLISS and his wife Mary lived in Rochester, Kent, UK and had 4 sons, including John Edward, George (1818-1915) and William Samuel. It is possible that he only, or both of them, emigrated to U.S.A. leaving son George in England almost as a young orphan. This could account for George having trouble with the law in England before arriving in Australia as a convict in 1839 and then settling down to become a worthy Australian.

George BLISS was born Rochester, Kent in 1819. He had several confrontations with the law in England before being deported to Australia as a convict. He was given a life sentence at Maidstone Kent on 3-1-1839 for stealing beef and sailed from Sheerness (Scotland) on 15-5-1839 on PARKFIELD arriving Sydney on 1-9-1839. He obviously behaved himself in Australia for he was granted a provisional pardon in 1854 by Governor Fitzroy. However, as was normal, the pardon did not apply to Great Britain meaning he could never return to his homeland even though he was a free man in Australia. George was 5' 3" tall with dark brown hair, sallow complexion and brown eyes. On 15-7-1850 George married Sarah Ann FURRILL at St Clements C of E Yass - actually on the Yass River property - with neighbours, the Coble family - as witnesses.

I assume Cobles & Bliss were neighbours at Spring Creek before the Hall's arrived in Australia (1857) for a property shown as Susan BLISS on the above map apparently belonged to the COBLE's because Susan married a COBLE. I guess George BLISS sold his holdings about the same time as the HALL family, and wheras the HALL family moved to Koorawatha, some of the BLISS family went to Narrandera. But George BLISS (died 1915, Yass, aged 96) and Sarah Ann FURRIL (died 1919, 'Euralie', Yass, aged 87) must have remained nearby their old property for both died at 'Euralie', a nearby property owned at the time by F.W. HUME, a brother of Hamilton HUME.

George died of senile decay, accelerated by a fall from a horse, no 3-11-1915, aged 96 years. Sarah died on senility on 14-7-1919 aged 87 years. Both are buried in the C of E cemetery, Yass. I assume both George and Sarah were God-fearing folk because all their children were baptized at St Clements C of E Yass (officially that is)."

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I'll look into property records I have access to on-line to determine the property ownership.

William Furrell or Furrill?

A post on ancestry as I try to piece together the Furrill family. Sarah Ann Furrell married George Henry Bliss, a convict from Kent, England, in Yass NSW in 1850.

"Seeking descendents or knowledge of William FURRELL/FURRILL who was born in Kent, England around 1811, and married Susan Ann Percival there in 1834. They embarked for Australia on the Westminster (which left from Gravesend, Kent apparently) on 26th March 1838. They arrived in Sydney on 27 June 1838, William describing himself as a farm labourer age 26, with his wife aged 30. They brought at least one child with them, Sarah Ann FURRILL, born 1835 in Kent.

On arrival, William, Susan and whatever family they had located to Yass, NSW (a journey of 280 km!), and Susan died just a year later.

Their daughter Satah Ann FURRILL married George Bliss in 1850 in Yass (transcribed at the NSW BDM site as George BLESS and Sarah FARRELL) at St Clements Church, and two years later in 1852 William FURRELL married for a second time, to Ann Foley (transcribed in the NSW BDM site as William FARRIL and Ann FOLEY).

I've found one potential offspring born in Australia:
V18391245 23A/1839 FARRELL, STEPHEN f: WILLIAM m: SUSAN
, but none to his second marriage to William's second marriage, nor have I uncovered the date/location of William's death."