Our Family's Journey Through Time
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In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again. To tell the family story and to feel that somehow, they know and approve.
Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called, as it were, by our genes.
Those who have gone before crying out to us: Tell our story. So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have we stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have we told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us.". How many times have we walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for us? We cannot say.
It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who we are, and why we do the things we do.
Use these links to view history pages, people and our favorite resources.
The stories for our families begin with Jonathan Staley born in Glasgow 9 July, 1794, the fourth of five children of Thomas Staley and Mary (nee Ritchie). Jonathan was an Iron Miner like his father. He married Mary Goldie in Muirkirk, on 30 June, 1820 and together they had twelve children, three of them are believed to have died before adulthood. One child, Jonathan, went with his family to America in 1849 and his family tree grew there, whilst eight migrated to Victoria.
Mary was to become a widow, for Jonathan died 27 February 1847 in Scotland, not too long after that time, our forebears were to begin their long journeys to our shores.
On the other hand, is the Duddy side. They originated in the west of Ireland in County Mayo. They were farmers, however it all changed in the 1930's when my father and his siblings left Ireland. The majority went to USA and Dad moved to England, got married and then left for Australia. Only one sibling remained at the family farm and it fell into disrepair.
The immigrants to USA prospered and made the area around New Jersey and Maryland home. My Dad settled in Melbourne, Australia, worked hard and had a good life
We make every effort to document our research. If you have something you would like to add, please contact us.
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