Comments on: Family stories 3 — About the Whitfields: from convict days

By: Merrick Bailey

Merrick Bailey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:00:27 +0000

Isn’t this a coincidence, my grandfather was the other blacksmith Dick Whitfield Uncle Bills Brother,and I too would like the E-Mail address of Bob Starling so I can aquire a copy of that much sought after CD. You would not believe how I found this site! I was working on Jacob Whitfield and Decided to put Ballyhagen, Kildare Co. Ireland onto Google and your site came up without puting his name in or any other clue. Must be my Christmas Present! Look forward to hearing from you.
Merrick.

By: kerry roach

kerry roach — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:50:56 +0000

i would love to know how to get a copy of that CD. My grandfather was William Clive Whitfield. He was from Braidwood. I have alot of the same information about the early day so I am pretty certain I am on the right track. My grandfathers name was William as well I think he died 1988 Braidwood about 96yrs old, he was a blacksmith there with his brother

By: Dennis Whitfield

Dennis Whitfield — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:08:06 +0000

Just a Whitfield in Texas

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:58:27 +0000

Thanks, Michele. This thread seems to be delivering lots of interesting things.

By: Michele Brownley

Michele Brownley — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:41:16 +0000

I’m more than surprised to be posting this less than 1 hour after my first post, but I have managed to find the information on Edward & Susanna’s children via google.

For anyone who is interested the website is: http://users.bigpond.net.au/leslies/tree/f111.htm#f1228

Michele

By: Michele Brownley

Michele Brownley — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:12:02 +0000

Thank you for a wonderful site – full of information. My great-grandmother, Ethel Holmes, is the daughter of Edward Holmes & Susanna Whitfield. At this point in time, I don’t have any information on Ethel’s brothers and sisters – but will keep you updated as my search continues. If anyone else has this information it would be very much appreciated.

I would really love to get a copy of Bob Starling’s up-to-date family tree.

Thanks
Michele

By: Mary Cook (McFarland)

Mary Cook (McFarland) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:59:22 +0000

I am looking for someone by the name of Kathy Whitfield. We were friends in Fresno, CA.
This was in late 1940’s.
We both attended West Park Grade School. Kathy may have married, I really have no ideal. She and her parents lived close to us. We lived on Valentine and they lived on the next street over.
I would just like to get in touch with her if ever I could. We both were in a May day dance at Washington Union High School in Easton, CA. and I have many picture although that is all from those days. We played at each others home a lot.
Thank you if any of you might know of this Kathy Whitfield.
Mary Cook (McFarland)

By: Marie Simpson

Marie Simpson — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:35:05 +0000

Thank you for a wonderful site. Am very interested in finding more on the Whitfield family. Also any information on the Randall/Ratcliffe family connection.
My husband’s great grandfather Everett Randall married firstly Ann Ratcliffe on the 26th February 1881 at the Private Residence of William J.L. Whitfield.
Then on the 23rd March 1903 Everett then married Caroline Philadelphia Tickle nee Whitfield.
Caroline was the daughter of William and Caroline Philadelphia Whitfield nee West.

Regards
Marie Simpson

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:05:58 +0000

You will find a series about Jacob and his hut appearing on the main posts for this site. Use the tag Looking for Jacob to find the posts. They will appear in order of publication -- that is, backwards! The introductory post is here.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:46:51 +0000

I opted for a minor revision, with additional information prefacing it. I have also added a new picture of my grandfather.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:08:33 +0000

That is an excellent lead, Lyn. Thanks.

I have also had some further emails with more information. I can see a big revision may be necessary.

By: Lyn Luke

Lyn Luke — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:54:59 +0000

Neil, I have followed your Whitfield history with much interest. I am a descendent of Jacob Whitfield.My grandmother was Mary Ada Whitfield,(born at Picton on 12th August 1874) the daughter of Jacob Wwhitfield and Eliza Ratcliffe. Jacob was the second son of William Whitfield and Carolina Philadelphia West. William was the son of Jacob Whitfield. My great grandfather, Jacob was the brother of your great grandfather William Joseph John and my great grandmother, Eliza was the sister of your great grandmother, Elizabeth. I am aware of the Vacchini connection with the Whitfields of Picton. I am a teacher and for many years taught with Ian Vacchini’s daughter.She told me about her dad meeting Annie Whitfield at a reunion in Picton. There is a lot of research published on the Whitfield family in Australian Biographical and Genealogical Record Series 1 1788-1841.This reseach was submitted by a relative of my grandmother’s eldest sister, Jane.Regards, Lyn.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:36:22 +0000

That issue is now resolved, so as soon as possible I will be adding some very interesting new information.

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:50:45 +0000

I am unable to edit at the moment for reasons that link to my name makes clear. Some excellent information just arrived from Stuart but I cannot revise the information above yet.

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:28:22 +0000

Thanks, Stuart. I have sent you an email. I hope my use of some of Bob’s work helps put him in touch with more family members, and I have referred all the enquirers above to him. I hope that in some cases that actually helps Bob fill in any missing pieces.

And yes, I did once meet Ian Vacchini many years ago. He was highly respected by all English and History teachers.

By: Stuart Daniels

Stuart Daniels — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:23:47 +0000

Neil, what is your email addres as I only have a 2004 address. Also Iam Vacchini now lives at Hornsby and was an Inspector of schools and was an English inspector. You could have met him as I believe you were an English teacher.
stuart daniels

By: Stuart Daniels

Stuart Daniels — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:02:41 +0000

Neil, Jacob was born May 1774 and was sent to Australia for life after being convicted for horse stealing 1820. The details was published in “The Belfast News Letter” of Friday 4 Aug 1820, no 8084, page 4 column 3.

Bob Starling has never stated that only two children of Jacob’s came to Australia as we know that Four came out. The only remaining mystery is when & where Jacob died.

I think you should have asked Bob for permission for the use of his photos as a courtesy.
Stuart

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:50:57 +0000

There have been some developments in the story of Convict Jacob, coming via email from John Van Luyn.

…We then went to the familysearch website and did a search on Jacob Whitfield with a DOB of 1760 +/- 15 years which yielded two possibilities:-

Jacob Whitfield b Feb 1759 Grange Co Tyrone.

Jacob Whitfield b May 1774 Ballyhagen Kildare Co Armagh.

I have since found a third possibility:-

Jacob Whitfield b April or August 1787 Grange Co Tyrone.

I thought I had the 1759 Jacob nailed in 2003!! But I recently looked on the website http//www.myheritage.com and have found that the 1759 and 1787 versions died in Ireland in 1832 & 1834. The Jacob born 1774 has no death recorded on either website. The myheritage website has additional information supplied by someone that the 1774 Jacob was transported on the Isabella. The familysearch site now has some additional information that the 1774 Jacob was also transported on the Isabella and was married to Mary Gowrie (which I knew) born 1781 Co Armagh which tallies with the 1774 jacob from Armagh, submitted by:-

Vicky P BAILEY Queensland

The mystery behind Jacob Whitfield of the Isabella deepens. Why would his children come to Australia when his wife Mary was left in Ireland (& died in 1841 according to myheritage.com) is rather confounding.

The only way to check his background is the prison records in Ireland….these are available in the National Archives. The transportation records were destroyed by fire in 1922.

I would have to concede that the info from the Isabella’s ship muster/log at http://members.pcug.org.au/~ppmay/cgi-bin/irish/irish.cgi now doesn’t appear to match up.

He promises more to come.

By: Robyn Trouville

Robyn Trouville — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:45:36 +0000

My grandmother was Annie Allen nee Crawford, the daughter of Alexander Crawford and Martha Whitfield. My father, Laurie, is now aged 87 but has no knowledge of the family history. This is a fantastic site and I too would like to purchase a copy of the CD. Also, hi to Vicki above – she is my second cousin.

By: Kaye

Kaye — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:30:07 +0000

Hi, Ive just happened upon your startling website and I’m hoping to get Bob Starlings details. I too am descended from Jacob the convict via WJJ’s daughter, Susan Caroline Whitfield and Jonathon McInnes. Susan C being my great grandmother. Thanks for getting me past Jacob as the convict records did not have his parent’s names. I was a bit stuck and have just joined SAG in the hope of obtaining further info. Appreciate the help. Many thanks, Kaye