RootsChat.Com

I'm just tuning into this line.  My GG Grandmother was Hannah Ronan (Ronayne in some records) her father was Cornelius and mother Mary Donovan.  Hannah was born about 1835 in East London but her first brother, Jno, was born in Ardfield and Rathbarry Parish of Cork.  Hannah married John Driscoll in 1860 (Deptford, but marriage in Rotherhithe Church....don't know why), and had 4 children, including my Great Grandmother, Annie, who was the last one born on 17 March 1867.  Her mother died exactly a year later.  Annie was raised by her father's mother, Margaret.  Long/short of it....and why I tuned in.  Annie (who had 4 children illegitimately to William Hollingsworth) named her children Maggie (after the grandmother who raised her) and Hannah (mother) but also an Edward, and a Lily.  I have always wondered why......and saw this post and wonder if the families connect somehow?

You know what it is like with genealogy when things look odd and you go fishing.....?

Anyway, hello.

I am a descendant of William Sutherland born 1781 died about 1861 and married to Elizabeth (Lilly) Mackay.  Their son, Benjamin, is recorded as born in Latheron, Caithness, in 1810.  He married Elizabeth Gunn in 1842 (daughter of John Gunn and Mary Sutherland).  Their daughter Lillias was my GG grandmother and she and a number of siblings came out to New Zealand and settled around Dunedin and Lawrence.
I am going to visit their home areas in June/July this year.
Keen to chat to any of the many 'cousins'.
Kerry Driscoll
Christchurch
New Zealand

Oh bother, it looked hopeful for a while.  Thanks anyway.

Yes!  They were from Tarson.  Richard lived in an adjoining house to his brother, Robert.  So that looks like another sibling that I have not known of.  Thank you very much.

Richard b 1812 (son of Thomas Atkinson and Elizabeth Bullock) came out to New Zealand with his two teenage daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, and nephew John, in 1864.  He was murdered in Waipori, Otago, NZ, the following year leaving his daughters orphaned.  I have never been able to find any details of his marriage or of his wife.  I am assuming she died before he left.  Family info has her name as Eleanor and her last name Askin, but one of her grandchildren has the middle name Erskine and I know these can be interchangeable.
There are records that there was another daughter, Jane, who went to America with her maternal grandparents but she remains elusive apart from commentary that she wrote (I have no evidence though) to her family until 1905's earthquake when no more was heard from her.
I would very much like to find out more details about Richard's wife and her family.

kind regards
Kerry