INTRODUCTION:FROM MILLER TO ROPE, THE MATRIARCHS

 INTRODUCTION

Beginning with Eliza Ann this series presents as much is as known of my direct maternal line, from Ardstraw, Ireland to Mudgee, NSW Australia.

The original research, which included birth, marriage, death, land and cemetery records, was undertaken by my mother, Madge Rups (nee Rope) in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s.  I have extended her work in an effort to view these women’s lives in context of what it may have been like for them at the time.

Before embarking on these stories I would first like to acknowledge the First Peoples of Australia and their elders past and present, especially the Mowgee clan of the Wiradjuri nation on whose country Eliza Ann and her family made their home. I would also like to acknowledge the devastation of Australia’s First Peoples which was the result of British and other arrivals, especially the massacres that were part of the settlement of Mudgee, the Proclamation of Martial Law in 1824, which gave tacit permission for Wiradjuri peoples to be shot on sight, and to honour those who fought and died to protect their Country, especially 'Sunday', 'Blucher' and warriors of the Mowgee, Guntawang and Dabee peoples whose names have not survived – Australia’s first wars.

The series includes,

Eliza Ann’s story

Mary Ann's story


Also of interest

Stories and paintings of Maitland Bar, Avisford and Meroo River (1900's) by Kay Frances Gorringe

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Eliza Ann's story

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 Introduction and Contents On 9 th August 1841 Eliza Ann Miller arrives in Sydney on the Cadet, having left Liverpool on 10 th March 1841 [1] .  The journey had taken five months, probably a little longer than normal as the ship had been blown off course off the Cape of Good Hope, ending up anchoring at Rio de Janeiro where it picked up a large supply of fruit, and just escaped being wrecked coming out of port. [2]   Eliza had been brought out to Australia by A. B. Smith & Co, who had an arrangement with the commonwealth government to bring out immigrants under a ‘bounty scheme’; being paid 4,956 pounds for each safe arrival.   Eliza’s details are listed as: Age: 21 [3] No registry of baptism Character certified by Mathewson and two others Calling: farm servant State of bodily health, strength & probable usefulness = Very good Remarks: can read and write, no complaint (attested by Samuel Mc Cropen & wife) Episcopalian religion early years Eliza was b...
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