52 Ancestors #23 - Patricia Dorothea McCann - a favourite wedding photo

This post is for Week 23 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge - 2015 - by Amy Johnson Crow from No Story Too Small. Prompt for Week  -  wedding.

June weddings, so popular in the northern hemisphere as the weather could be expected to be better. Perhaps not so popular in Australia as winter commences however the beautiful weather we are currently enjoying in Brisbane would be ideal though I don't know about strapless bridal gowns!

Patricia Dorothea & Joan Douglas McCann 1946

I have a favourite wedding photo on my mother and her sister Joan on Mum's wedding day the 14th October 1946. They are seated in front of a mirror at Denmora my great-grandparent's home at Bowen Hills. To me, the picture shows two happy sisters enjoying the day. All the preparation over and the excitement of the day to come. This photograph was taken after the wedding ceremony and before the reception which was also held at Denmora.

I remember looking into that very mirror many times as it was just outside Granny McCann's bedroom. A favourite photo of two wonderful women both now reunited in heaven.

52 Ancestors #22 - Emanuel Vero & Joseph Antoney - a great and a 2nd great grandfather

This post is for Week 22 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge - 2015 - by Amy Johnson Crow from No Story Too Small. Prompt for Week  -  commencement.

Thinking about commencement meaning 'a new beginning' two of my family came to mind. My maternal 2nd great grandfather Joseph Antoney and my paternal great grandfather, Emanuel Vero. What a coincidence, two people from the Azores Islands, Portugal from two sides of the family.

I wonder what made them come to Australia, they could have chosen any country after all couldn't they? Emanuel is a mystery to me as I have not been able to correctly identify him from shipping lists. He married Dorothy Oswald on 20th June 1874 in Newcastle, New South Wales and went on to have nine children.

Joseph was a sailor and left the Fiery Star in Brisbane, Queensland on 20 November 1864. He married Elizabeth Hannah Young on 30 July 1867 and settled in Bowen and later the Mackay district. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, Joseph was declared an Alien in 1920 and applied for and was granted Naturalisation. I say fortunately because Joseph listed all the places he had been as a sailor which has allowed me to build up a picture of his life before Australia. I wonder why Joseph chose to leave the ship in Brisbane when he had been all around the world, I guess he saw opportunity.

Thinking of these two men, they both had 'new beginnings' and new lives in Australia. Emanuel found work at the docks in Newcastle as a coal trimmer and life was hard as I have mentioned in previous posts. Joseph had a more fortunate life in that he selected property and farmed the land. A strange occupation for a seaman perhaps? Maybe he came from farming stock in the Azores, I will never know. I also wonder how they managed with the language, no English classes then for migrants!