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 ...

Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day on which we remember all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service past and present. The spirit of Anzac, with its qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. J ames Oswald (Jim) Woodlands was born on 20 September 1891 in Newcastle.  He was the son of Agnes Cahill from her relationship with Cornelius Bray, a Cornish stonemason who was living in the area at the time.   You can read more about Jim, Agnes and Cornelius here.   As far as we know, Jim never met his father and was 10 when Agnes married James Woodland. James Oswald Woodlands On 31 May 1917, aged 25, Jim enlisted in the 32nd Battalion 1st Australian Light Horse at Newcastle.  He showed his occupation as a grocer of "Cavan", Watkins Street, The Junction, Newcastle.  Jim left Melbourne on 28 October...

The last weekend of February was my first opportunity to visit Newcastle since I've become interested in my family history.  In planning and executing my "field trips", I'm looking for places that were significant to my family many years ago and getting a sense of the current "vibe" - great accommodation and eateries add a lot to the experience. To recap... Agnes Cahill is my "Woodlands great-grandmother".  She was born in about 1868 in Patricks Plain near Singleton, NSW - thought to be the tenth of the eleven children of James Cahill (abt 1822 to 1877) and Eliza Dunn (abt 1830 to 1890). Here's a photo of Agnes taken  in about 1937 in Sydney with her daughter, Lorna, and grandson, Ron. You can read more about Agnes and her family in these previous blog posts- The Children of Agnes Woodlands (nee Cahill) James Cahill and Eliza Dunn's children including Agnes  and Agnes Cahill - My Woodlands great-grandmother Agnes h...

To set the scene...Margaret Ryan is the mother of James Woodland who married Agnes Cahill in 1901... On 18 August 1887, Margaret Ryan married George Austin Woodland at St Mary's Catholic Church, Newcastle.  So this was the day that the Woodland/s name came into our family but I very much doubt that any of us are descendants from George! It's also seven years today since my dear dad, Frank Woodlands, died.  My interest in our family history stems from Mum and Dad but I'm not sure they could have foreseen the journey I'm on.... So, what better day for a post! By now, we know that the story of Agnes Cahill is a complicated one.  James Oswald Woodlands' father was Cornelius Bray but James Woodland snr was in James Oswald's life from about the age of 8.  James Woodland snr was the father of Lorna Mae Bisgrove (nee Woodlands).   When I went to look for the birth registration of James Woodland snr, the next twist in the story unfolded. ...

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...

In the last post, I covered my search for the birth details of James Oswald (Jim) Woodlands, my paternal grandfather. In brief, Jim was born, Oswald Cahill on 20 September 1891 at Dawson Street, Newcastle. His mother was Agnes Cahill but his birth registration didn't give any details of his father. Was I going to find Jim's biological father?   As I look at the photograph of Jim on the left, I see that strong resemblance with his son, my father - Frank! Back to my search, technology has completely revolutionised family history research! You can sit at home tapping away at your computer and you're presented with information that you'd have been hard pressed to find a few years ago. "Trove", the National Library of Australia's digital service, provides access to most Australian newspapers up to the mid 1950s.   So a search under "Agnes Cahill" and I have the answer! In a case reported on 7 November 1891, Charles Bray, a sto...