Our Magills

Our Magills

Updated May 8, 2013
I am currently researching the family history of Ralph Magill who originated from Bambridge County Down Ireland and settled in Ballarat Victoria Australia around 1857. Ralph Magill married Ann Jane Gilmore originally of Ballywalter (Ballyferris) County Down Ireland, in Ballarat on the 15 December 1865. Ralph and Ann were my Great Great Grandparents.
Some of the other surnames linked to this tree that I am researching are Hughes, Archer, Beasy, Beckman (Finland), Marshall, Gantner (Switzerland) Bachmann (Switzerland),Gilmore (Ireland), Richardson, Flowers, Gilchrist, Naughtin, Sheridan and Absolom.
MAGILL
The Journey…….
In August 1998 I travelled with my wife Vanessa to Ireland. While I was there I looked up the origins of the Magill name. I gathered some information and bought it home to Australia with me. Once home, I showed my father John. He mentioned to me that his Aunty Grace (originally Grace Magill) was interested in genealogy as well, so I wrote her a letter and sent her copies of what I had found. She wrote back and mentioned that she had some information to send me too. She was extremely happy that someone else was interested in the history of the Magill family. Shortly after that a parcel arrived in the mail. I was astounded with what I found.
Years earlier Grace had purchased a book called Land of the Lyrebird. The book was about the early pioneers of Gippsland Victoria. Ralph Magill, my Great Great Grandfather, was one of these pioneers and is featured in this book. Over the years Grace had added her own personal touches to the book. Inside I found footnotes of all the information she had gathered on the family’s history together with photos and cards that she had collected over the years, some dating back as far as 1856. What a collection.
At the time, I did not know why she would pass on such a valuable collection. As far as I can remember I had not even met her before, if I had I would have been very young. It was only when I found out months later that she had passed away, I realised why.
What a wonderful gift!
I now feel that I owe it to her to collate this information along with the information I have collected over the years and put it into some sort of format for all of the family and for future generations to benefit from.
I am eternally grateful for the information she has passed on to me. Without it my journey researching the Magill side of our family tree would have been a lot harder and a lot more time consuming and with this I would like to dedicate that part of our family tree to her. Grace Catherine (Magill) Fletcher…….thank you!
There is still much more research to be done and I’m sure many holes to be filled. I am very grateful for all the people who have given me input in the past and would be most grateful to anyone who can help me with more information or any corrections that need to be made in the future.
As this is an ongoing project I will be adding to this page at various times, so keep the link for future reference and pass it on to other family members so that they too can enjoy our family history.
My email address is listed below so if you have any information, photos etc. that you would like added please send them to me and I will do my best to add them in.
Long Live the MAGILLS!
Please enjoy.
Paul Anthony John Magill

Paul Anthony John Magill
[email protected]


My Family History

 

Family Photos

 

Related Files

 

Related Links