Stories of Agnes Cahill

Born Myra Cahill, known as Myra Woodland(s), Marie Constance Woodland and Jean Olive Whitworth  Part 1 of Myra's story was originally published in August 2017. The time has come for an update. Myra is the third child of my great-grandmother, Agnes Cahill.  She was born on 5 November 1898 at Union Lane Newcastle. Her birth is registered as Myra Cahill. A father is not named. Anges was the informant on the registration and records that she's 27 years of age, born at Branxton and a spinster. I've located a newspaper report dated 10 September 1898 which shows that James Woodland was living at 10 Union Lane Newcastle at the time. Although Agnes and James weren't married until 16 January 1901, James is probably Myra's father. The only record that I can find of Myra's early life is in March 1911 when she was twelve. It's reported that, at the "Operative Bakers' Picnic", the members' daughters' race was won by Myra. She was presented ...

Lorna Mae was the youngest child of Agnes Cahill and James Woodland.  She was born at Church Street West, Newcastle on 04 November 1914.  Her birth was registered by James, on 26 November 1914, with her given name as "Lorna May".  He's shown as a baker, 42 years of age and born in Newcastle.  Agnes's family name is shown as "Kale" with her age as 38 and born in Singleton. Lorna Mae Woodlands from collection held by her daughter, Gail The family lived in an area of Newcastle known as "The Junction".  First in Union Street and then  in Watkins Street.  The area is between the CBD and Merewether Beach.  When Jim, Lorna's brother, enlisted in the First World War on 31 May 1917, his address is "Cavan", Watkins Street, The Junction.  The family were still living there in October 1919, when Lorna's older sister, Myra, married Robert Hollyford Whitworth. The Junction Newcastle with Union and Watkins Streets highlighted On 0...

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! My choice was James Oswald (Jim) Woodlands, my paterna l grandfather.  He was the only grandparent that I didn't know and it seemed like an opportunity to get closer to him.  Even for a novice, it was easy to find Jim's 1946 death details but, after many weeks and knowing that he was born about 1891 in Newcastle, I couldn't locate his birth registration!   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'...

Since early in 2016, I've been looking at my paternal grandfather's family - researching, questioning and sharing with a few of "the cousins" along the way.  There've been a few surprises!  The biggest being that Cornelius Bray was my grandfather's biological father and James Woodland (Snr) was his step-father.  We knew my grandfather as James Oswald Woodlands but his birth name was Oswald Cahill. So it's probably time that I started to record some of what I've uncovered...  After all, there's a lot more to research - my grandfather's biological Bray family and his known (or social) Woodlands family! My grandfather's biological pedigree My grandfather's "social" pedigree Agnes Cahill is at the centre of the story.  Agnes's descendants are a small groups these days - one granddaughter, great-grandchild (including me) and great-great-grandchildren.  Maybe we'll find out how many as more join our Facebook group! Here...