Good evening members, thank you to those from many years ago taking the time to reply to this thread. I am writing today, thanks to DNA (and some living relatives that DNA allowed us to be in contact with), to inform you we have answers.
My family search related to my late Grandmother, Nelly McNally’s life. We knew, from the account of my uncle and mother (her two children), that she grew up in an orphanage and had no recollection of her family. A tremendously sad set of circumstances for anyone and it brings me great thinking of the pain she must have experienced in her life.
Recently my mother and I undertook Ancestry DNA’s testing, which identified a living first cousin on our maternal side. We reached out to her and she told us the most incredible story.
My Grandmother was one of 7 children my Great Grandmother had, with 5 of those, including my mother, were born to an Aboriginal Father, John (or Jack) Bell from Blakney Creek area. All 7 carried the McNally name. Sadly 2 of the 7 (a boy & girl) were taken and placed into orphanages. At the time of writing it is unclear why and a mystery I am determined to solve.
In my earlier messages i explained the we did not have a birth certificate for Nelly. This has been explained, albeit a little romantic deceit of my Grandmother 😊 In speaking to my Mum’s cousin, identified through DNA, the girl taken from the family was born 1913 and since being taken has never been seen or heard from since; her name was Lillian (recorded on BDM as Lillia). I reviewed my detail as to how we concluded Nelly was born 1917, I realised this was only ever assumed from my mother’s birth certificate (which listed her age as 43 in 1960). We had birthday cards that listed her birthdate as 14th of February but these cards never listed an age. There didn’t appear to be any solid detail as to her age. I reached out to my uncle and found a ground breaking clue. My uncle’s birth certificate listed her age, in 1945, as 33 years of age (c. 1912 birth date). I considered my Grandfather, who was born in 1918. Could my Grandmother have lied about her age to appear young as a means of impressing him ? I pondered whether the 1913, was my grandmother. I wanted more detail.
Through the upgrade to NSW BDM search facility, I could search the database for an exact birthdate (month & date), I searched 14/02/1913, this confirmed a match for Lillian McNally; that she was born on the 14/02/1913. This to me, in combination with the above, was conclusive prove that my Grandmother was Lillian.
The story does include some mystery, why was her name changed ? I have reached out to AngliCare, who have suggested they have very little records from this era; a formal request has been submitted and I am awaiting their response. Was her name changed when she was put into the orphanage ? I have read this happened. Is this an intention of the orphanage to disguise her true identity. I hope not. Was she removed due to her Aboriginal heritage; I always hope not.
Today I found out her brother, Harold McNally (the boy) was put into an orphanage too. He was taken at the same time of Nelly/Lillian. A very sad set of circumstances.
Thank you again for your earlier replies, helping and reading the update. This is a happy & sad ending to a very special set of circumstances.
