The Ruth Family
 Arrived in Feb 1867 age given as 28 with sister Esther on the 'Morning Light'.  According to Emily Kealy's 'The History of Bringalbert South', he worked on  Bringalbert Station (marriage certificate lists occupation as gardener) where he met  Maria Ann, a maid there. They moved from Bringalbert to their selection 'Rosebank'  (which was next to her father Peter Fox's, which they eventually bought) whenMary  Ellen was a baby, with 100 pounds in savings. '... he built a comfortable little  poise dwelling for his family, which they occupied until the large family was grown  up. Then, with his own labourand very little assistance, he built a good, substantial  homestead and fenced in a large garden. While he was at home he turned it into the  most beautiful garden on Bringalbert South, and when, for several years, he competed  for a 5 pound prize given for the best flower and vegetable garden within a certain  radius of Apsley, the 'Rosebank' garden won the prize.' He worked on Newlands,  Beneyeo andLemon Springs [stations?], and had 'the first and only white stone chimney  on Bringalbert South, he got the stone from Mt Gambier.' She also says 'He was a very  handy and hard-working man, and honestto a degree. He was the first on Bringalbert  South to get 1 shilling a pound for his wool all round; before that 9 pence and 10  pence were the usual prices. He was so trustworthy that he often had torefuse work.  He had regular work on Newlands, and Mr Laidlaw Snr thought a lot of him, as did also  his family.....the choicest dainties and the best of wines were always sent to him  from Newlands, with a message that he was not to go short of anything.... after a  hard day's work elsewhere the ring of his axe would be heard until 12 o'clock on a  moonlit night', and 'they were a clever, brainy family, and were all educated at  Bringalbert South State School, some of them attaining high educational positions'.  She says that 'When he came on the land in 1870 [must have been a few years later if  they already had one baby], he bought a mare and foal out of Edenhope Pound, and the  breed is still on the place.'

The Unwin Smith Family
 On 23 June 1848 arrived at Geelong, Victoria on board the “Anna Maria” as an Exile. (Exiles were granted a conditional pardon or “ticket of leave” on their arrival in  Australia after serving part of their sentence in England and being of good behaviour) Between his arrival in Victoria, in 1848 and his marriage in 1855 George Unwin  changed his surname to Smith. Interesting to note that the Master of the “Anna Maria”  was Edward Smith. Maybe that is why he chose the name smith and named his first son  Edward.But the true reason may have been because he left a wife and children back in  England. It appears that he went by the name “George Unwin Smith” as shown on the  death certificate of Frances Unwin Smith who died on 21 March 1918.

The Mills Family
 Robert Mills was born in Kingston, Cambridgeshire, England in 1808 he was the son of  Richard Mills and Elizabeth Rutter.
 Jane Sarah Gregory was born in Shoreditch, London, England in 1806 she was the  daughter of James Thomas Gregory and Sarah Rogerson.
 The children of Robert Mills and Jane Sarah Gregory were - Jane Elizabeth Mills born  1833 (she did not accompany the family to Australia, it is not known if she died  prior to their departure or stayed in England).
 The children who came to Australia were the next born William Gregory Mills born  1834followed by Eleanor(Helena)Rebecca Mills born 1837, Frances Sarah Mills born  1838, Roseanna Mills born 1843, Emma Maria Mills born 1846 and Robert Mills born 1849  on the voyage. After their arrival two more children were born, Elizabeth Mills born  1850 and George Mills born 1852.
 Robert Mills sadly died only six years after arriving in Australia in 1855 before the  marriage of his daughter Frances.

We require assistance, if you are reading this and you can help, we are looking for  connections to the following families, Fanning from Lisaroon prior to 1731 , Darmody  from Thurles, Hayes from Thurles and Ruth from Clane, Kildare prior to 1805. If you  can help please contact us teresamfairbairn@gmail.com

Thank you to my first cousin for all of the research she has done on the Fanning side  also thank you to my third cousin for all of the research she has done on the Ruth  side.