Hi Jamison,
From memory, I think we had settled on the Patrick Hart who died in Parramatta Mental Asylum, buried in Rookwood cemetery, Sydney.
He seemed to be the most likely candidiate, but we could not be absolutely sure it was him because the DC details were vague.
The Steve Hart descendants have not been able to find any connection at all with our Hart ancestors.
Interestingly a book, Eureka, written by Peter Fitzsimmons, has just been released re the Eureka Stockade which occurred in the 1850s in the area where our Patrick Hart and his family were living. I wondered whether Patrick had been part of that rebellion.
I recall telling you that one of MAHs children, Charles Arthur, stayed with a Day family after he came out of the orphanage.
I think we are very distantly related because you have not only Hart but also Day connections.
Charles never discussed the family history matter with his own children, he was so young when put in the orphanage.
It was 100 years later before my uncles found his descendants and told them about their ancestry.
We have decided that all the Harts were living below subsistence level, very tragic marginal lives, unlike most new settlers who grasped the opportunities which abounded in those times. So we have relinquished pursuit of tracing all their whereabouts. We were not able to find MAH's grave or her mother's in Narrandera or surrounding cemeteries, so we assume they lie in unmarked graves. Elizabeth Owens and many of her children lie in unmarked graves also.
I did receive a copy of Elizabeth's marriage certificate from St Patrick's Church Albury.
If by chance I happen upon something new, I will share it with you.
best regards
May Hem
