Hi Luke,
Here I am, finally - I haven't forgotten you. Thanks for your last two messages - that's amazing that you're now living a short distance from Bogend Farm. Did you know that's where your ancestors were from before you moved there?
As I mentioned, I drove all around that area last year, leaping around ancient graveyards searching for ancestral headstones, and one of my exciting finds was the grave of our 4x and 5xgrt grandparents George Dickson & Jane Mosman. The headstone is barely legible, if at all, but the inscription (and photo) can be found on the Lennel Cemetery page of the Coldstream History Society website (God bless them for their great work):
"Lennel Kirkyard
Middle – Row 21 – 12 – Dixon/Yule/Mosman/Dickson/Pringle
Transcription:
Sacred to the memory of JANE DIXON wife of WILLIAM YULE who died 10 December 1874 in her 74th year. (On the rear, which is unreadable) In memory of JANE PRINGLE spouse to GEORGE DICKSON died 26 August 1795 aged 28 years. Also MARGARET daughter died 8 June 1810 aged 12 years. Also GEORGE DICKSON died 17 February 1829 aged 71 years. Also his wife JANE MOSMAN died 18 August 1839 aged 80 years."
The grave was very hard to find but I persisted (in blustery heat would you believe). If you ever go there and are unable to find it, let me know and I can send you a little video I took the day I was there which might help you find it. Lennel Cemetery is just outside the town of Coldstream.
Sounds like you've caught the family history bug from your cousin! Once you start there's no looking back (or perhaps I should say looking back is all you do!). It gets confusing when you come across so many ancestors with the same names, such as with Matthew Davison Jeffrey 1863-1876. He was the son of William Jeffrey & Alice Dickson and died of scarlet fever. Four years later their son William & wife Mary Ann Lloyd named their second son Matthew Davison Jeffrey 1880-1947 (my grandfather). Sadly, William & Alice also lost two of their young daughters, Alice & Barbara, who died of diphtheria two days apart in 1862. By the way, in case you ever wonder, THE Matthew Davison was Jane Dickson's husband. They came on the ship with the rest of the family but never had children.
Yes, I've seen the name Coimadai which is part of Bacchus Marsh where William & Alice and family lived on a property called Glencairn. I once visited the Bacchus Marsh Historical Society where I photocopied a bunch of documents and articles about the Jeffrey/Dickson families (I don't remember a picture of the watch though). Lots of Jeffrey/Dickson graves can be found at Maddingley Cemetery, BM. I've also seen some excellent family trees on Ancestry if you ever have access, some of them with photos of people attached too. Subscriptions are rather expensive but usually free to access in libraries. Does your book contain any pictures of William & Alice? If not, I can send you some if you like.
Email me - lois 'at' rabbit 'dot' com 'dot' au - if you're interested in any particular documents that I may have and can send you.
Cheers,
Lois
