Australian Connections

Mary Kate James and Ernest Hale were married in Cinderford in 1912.
When Mary Kate's father William died the women of the family were left the contents of the house and the men were left the house itself.
On the proceeds of this Mary Kate and Ernest left for Australia.
They eventually settled in Weston, Tarro Shire
There they had four children;
two boys who died young, another boy, Ivor born in 1916 and finally a girl, Iris Lillian who was born 2nd September 1921 in Aberdare Street, Weston.
Iris, who is still alive and well, married James Sanderson and they had four children; Kay, Anne, John & Colin.
Key retuned to England some years ago but the other children remain in Australia.
Ivor married Lillian Smith (1939 Kurri Kurri) and had a son, Ken.

My thanks to Kay who provided a lot of the research that has been used to compile the pages of the James family.

Bessie too went with Mary Kate and Ernest to Australia.
She was originally going to Africa to marry a man to whom she was engaged. He was a patient in a sanatorium there.
He died before she went and as a result she instead travelled to Australia where she worked as a domestic in a boarding house in East Maitland.
There she met George Strong. They were married in St. Peter's Church, East Maitland 22nd April 1916
They had one child, a boy, Jack.

George Strong (plate layer) born 1888, Keswick, England. Son of Isaac Strong (road contractor) and Mary Cowman. died 1936 Hamilton District, NSW

I'm a bit sketchy over the details of the Australian connections and as always, if you have any further details or know something to be incorrect the please get in touch.