The children of Agnes Woodlands (nee Cahill)
I admit to being a family history tragic and getting hooked very quickly. Much of this is down to my picking the right relative to research first up!
I only have four group photos including Jim and this is the best - circa 1944, two years before his death.
Much searching and purchasing of transcripts of birth, death and marriage registrations, led me to the conclusion that, while Agnes Woodland (nee Cahill) was James Oswald's mother, it was improbable that James Woodland was his father - he was too young - and Agnes and James snr were not married until 1901 in West Maitland. A brick wall.....
I'd always known my grandfather's sister, Lorna, her husband, Stan, and children, Ronnie and Gail.
There was another "mysterious" sister that I'd heard stories about but no-one knew what happened to her. I didn't know her name! As well, there was discussion of the family name originally being Woodland and the "s" being added along the way.
Locating the birth registration of Lorna was straightforward - Lorna Mae Woodland born in 1914 in Newcastle to James and Agnes.
 |
| Lorna Woodland - from the collection of her daughter, Gail. |
Then the next surprise, a son, Frank, born to James and Agnes in 1903 who had died in the same year.
But still no birth registration for my grandfather, James Oswald, or his "mysterious" sister.
Late one night, I got the breakthrough that I needed - a birth registration for Oswald Cahill. He was born in 1891 in Newcastle with mother, Agnes, and no father named. My next find was Myra Cahill born in 1898 in Newcastle with mother Agnes and again no father named....the "mysterious" Myra! And finally, Annie Cahill born and died in 1890 with mother Agnes and no father.
So finally, I had the children of Agnes Woodland (nee Cahill)-
- Annie Cahill, was born on 04 November 1890 and died on 06 November 1890 at Wickham Street Newcastle. The birth registration shows her mother as Agnes Cahill, born in Branxton, aged 22 (birth about 1868). Annie is shows as illegitimate. Annie died at 36 hours from asthenia (asthma weakness). Agnes was the informant and there are no details of a father. Annie was buried on 8 November 1890 at Sandgate Cemetery, Newcastle.
- Oswald Cahill, known as James Oswald Woodland, was born on 20 September 1891 at Dawson Street Newcastle. The birth registration shows his mother as Agnes Cahill, born in Branxton, age 22 (birth about 1869) and no father.
- Myra Cahill, known as Myra Woodland, was born on 05 November 1898 at Union Lane Newcastle. The birth registration shows she mother as Agnes Cahill, born in Branston, age 27 (birth about 1871) and no father.
- Frank Woodland was born on 26 May 1903 at Union Lane, Newcastle. The birth registration shows James Woodland, a baker, born in Newcastle, aged 30 (birth about 1873) as the father and Agnes Kale, born in Singleton, age 31 (birth about 1872). It also shows that James and Agnes were married on 22 January 1900 at West Maitland and there was one child, Myra, aged 3, previously born to the couple. On 13 Jun 1903, Frank died at his home in Union Street. "Premature birth" is shown as the cause of death. Frank was buried on 15 June 1903 at the Catholic Cemetery, Sandgate.
- Lorna Mae Woodland was born on 04 November 1914 at Church Street West, Newcastle. The birth registration show James Woodland, a baker, born in Newcastle, age 42 (birth about 1872) as the father and Agnes Kale, born in Singleton, age 38 (birth about 1876) as the mother.
You'll have picked up the varying birth years for Agnes - 1868 to 1876. More of that later!
Young Oswald Cahill's name change to James Oswald Woodland seems to be around the time Myra was born. The chart above shows the family of James and Agnes Woodland.
This photo is from a family bible and is simply inscribed "Town Beach". I'm confident that the child is Lorna Mae and speculating that the lady is Myra circa 1918 in Newcastle. Myra would have been about 20. More likely than Agnes in her 40s, I feel. Let me know what you think.
