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Descendants of Diana Mudgee

This is your website!

We are here to help you share your family history information - but the most important input is yours!

If you have any information, photographs or stories that you would like to contribute to the website we would love to hear from you. Your feedback, suggestions and comments on the website are really important.

Since 1997 the Family History Unit has helped over twenty clients with their research into Diana and her descendants. As part of our research processes in the Unit we endeavour to put people in touch, where we believe they are connected. However no personal or contact details are given to anyone unless we have a client’s express written permission.

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Comments (54)

Hi.Im Terry Bloomfield my great grandfather was William David Bloomfield his wife My grt.Grandmother was Jane Collins her mum My grt grt grandmother was Sarah Night Rayner Her mother was Diana Mudgee my grt grt grt Grandmother.

#54 - Terry Bloomfield - 03/06/2012 - 00:41

Hi Everyone, I don't want you to make a rush on the AIATSIS site but a lot of the information you are looking for has been collected by Brian Joseph Kennedy and he has allowed us a copy of this information in The Curly Headed Gin , The Diana Mudgee Story and you can order a copy from this website. I am working on the reunion with my cousins and will let you know soon what we have come up with!

http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/collections/exhibitions/mudgee/descendantstories.html

Suzi Kohl

#53 - Suzi Kohl - 01/22/2012 - 20:15

Dianna Mudgee
Sarah Knight - Grattai, NSW
Harriet Collins - Mitchell Creek, NSW
Beryl Hodges - Wellington, NSW
Carol Olsen - Narromine, NSW
Rachael MacDonald (Me) - Carlton, VIC
Huntar Hakim - Baulkham Hills, NSW

#52 - Rachael Hakim - 01/17/2012 - 17:38

A strange thing. I am currently studying to be a primary school teacher and was using this website as a resource. After, getting totally interested in all the information I discovered my GG grandmother was the same Sarah Collins. I am the Great granddaughter of Harriet Collins.

If I hadn't been working on my university studies my mother, sisters and I would never have known about our Aboriginal heritage, as we were also kept in the dark.

Rachael

#51 - Rachael Hakim - 01/17/2012 - 17:26

Steven Raines, i am interested in speaking with you more, i am also on the vitnell side of the family and strangely enough have relatives that are raines. Except we were made believe that she was a only child. my email is tarran.backhus@hotmail.com

I would love tohear form you

#50 - Tarran Backhus - 01/10/2012 - 17:04

Hi. How interesting to discover I have descended from Diana Mudgee. My great Grandfather was George Williams who married Caroline Raynor (daughter of Shadrack Rayner).

#49 - Anastasia - 12/30/2011 - 20:12

Diana Mudgee
Shadrack Robert Rayner
Pheoby/Pheobe Rayner
Violet Williams
Ronald Evans
Paul Evans
Beck Evans(Me) :-)

#48 - Beck Evans - 12/14/2011 - 14:58

Hi everyone.

Just wanted to say how happy I am to see so many comments and especially to see you all connecting up with one another.

It's been a thrill and a privilege to be just the tiniest little part of your journey.

#47 - Rebecca - 11/30/2011 - 10:36

Hi Steve my father was Fredrick Williams Bills' brother. Judith

#46 - judith williams - 11/17/2011 - 15:27

my fathers is Hilbert (Bill) Williams born at Merrindee son of George Wiiliams & Coraline Jane Rayner who is Sadrracks daugther enjoying reading all of your comments

#45 - Steve Willams - 10/31/2011 - 11:21

I am the great granddaughter of Shedreck, Diana Mudgee's son and I am desperate to find out more about living descendants and family history. My grandmother Sarah was Shedreck's daughter.

#44 - Diane bull - 10/19/2011 - 07:45

Hi Everyone - what a fabulous website - I am so grateful to have some great info about Diana and her family and a way to connect in with other descendents.
My ancestory is :-
My Grandmother Edith Blackhall - is Daughter of Robert Blackhall - Son of Elizabeth Raynor - Daughter of Diana and Robert Raynor.
I am starting a journey with my 4.5 year old daughter in October. Our plan is to ride a tandem bike from Ballina, NSW along the coast to Mudgee hoping to connect in with country, spirit and any family who would like to meet us and share family stories.
Please send me an e-mail if you would like us to come visit you on our trip!
I'm looking forward to meeting as many of our extended family as possible
:-) Courtney and Tataria O'Connor
o_connorcourtney@hotmail.com

#43 - Courtney O'Connor - 08/20/2011 - 19:43

Congratulations to AIATSIS for developing this fantastic site for Diana.
My father is Neville Lowe
His mother was Noeline Evelyn Collins
Her parents were Thomas Collins (son of Sarah Knight and William Collins) and Elizabeth Blackhall (Daughter of Elizabeth Raynor and John Blackhall).
Sarah Knight was the daughter of Diana and James Knight.
Elizabeth Raynor was the daughter of Diana and Robert Raynor.
I recommend that fellow descendants also have a look at ancestry.com as there is a lot of information and some photos of family members.
Would love to meet the rest of the family.

#42 - Jeni Ritchie - 08/17/2011 - 14:50

I am also a GGG grand daughter of Dianna.Julie Stanbury I can help identify the photo it is my GGrandmother Caroline Williams nee Rayner the baby is my Grandfather.

#41 - Tina Barber - 08/12/2011 - 13:35

I am a decendent of diana she is my 7th generation grandmother on the hydes collins knights side would love to here more my great grandmother was evelyn hyde and died 1987 so I knew her really well and would love to know more about before my gm if anyone could help me that would be great thanks

#40 - monique luck - 07/25/2011 - 19:01

I started working on my family connections with John Blackhall and his wife Elizabeth Reyner (married 1866). My mother was keen for me to pursue this line in her family tree (Daphne Lee nee: Blackhall) Marcia was a great help. Mum became ill and passed away last year and I am trying to pick up the thread again.

#39 - Susan Lee - 07/09/2011 - 21:52

I think a family reunion...would be great
Mobile 0451 463 537

#38 - Geoff Sentance - 07/05/2011 - 11:04

Trying to get my Aunt recognized by Gandangara Land Council, Liverpool. They want the Birth Certs of Madge Alica Frances Collins (her Mother) as well as Shadrichs and Ellens BCs ( Madges parents) and including Sarah Nights/Collins and Elizabeth Raynor/Blackhall birth certs can anyone help as it's way to expenise for me to get them all. Maybe next will be DNA

#37 - Darrell Fabar - 06/02/2011 - 18:06

Hi my great grand mother was Emily Harriett Davis, Shadrack
and Sarah's daughter. I have recently found out who they are.
I am still researching my other ancesters. I find this so very interesting. Cheers Roz

#36 - Roz Cooper - 06/01/2011 - 15:51

Hi Julie Stanbury, I would love any old photographs of Shadracks line! I have been lucky enough to be given some photocopies of Jane Vitnell and a report on her line of her family. This was given to me by S. Redway SA. My email is susan.m.kohl@gmail.com

#35 - Susan KOHL - 05/04/2011 - 14:15

Descendant of Jane Vitnell

#34 - Steven Raines - 04/30/2011 - 14:16

I am a descendent of Diana Mudgee. My line is from John Blackhall and Diana's daughter Elizabeth Rayner. I am at present researching the extended family of Diana and was wondering if anyone has photos of the Blackhalls, Collins, Fabars, Townsends, Hydes or Towells or other descendents of Diana that they would be prepared to let me have copies of. I have quite a few already that I am happy to share with others. Regards Patricia

#33 - Patricia Knowles - 04/13/2011 - 15:42

I to am a descendant of Robert Rayner and Diana and Shadrack is my gg Grandfather and his daughter Harriett Emily Rayner my g Grandmother and her daughters Ethel Mona Davis and Mary Anne Davis my Grandmothers. I have an original picture of Shadrack taken approx 1910 with George Williams. My Nan has given me many old photos. One that she did not know was taken in the same period of a woman sitting in bushland with a young, possible teenage girl, 2 small girls a boy and a baby, all very dressed up. I am more than happy to share these with you.

#32 - julie stanbury - 04/12/2011 - 18:42

This is the greatest website i have found,
My mother was Lurline Williams.
Her mother was Florence Williams.
Her mother was Pheobe Rayner married to Charles Williams.
Her father was Shadrack Rayner.
Would love info from any one on the Williams side as it all seems to be a bit of a secret. Reunion of the Willaims sounds great.

#31 - Margaret - 03/27/2011 - 19:31

Hi Everyone,

I have noticed that a few people would love a family reunion, here is my email address susan.m.kohl@gmail.com ! Thank you to Bec and Rosemary and to all the family members that contributed. I think it is important that if we have a family reunion that we go back to country! Email me and let me know! Maybe a camp out !
Would love to correspond to all my cousins!

#30 - susan.m.kohl@gmail.com - 03/01/2011 - 19:44

Hi, I am Dianne Collins, my Grand Father was Shadrack Collins, married to Eileen Collins, and I am from Wellington NSW. I am related to Simone Smith. I would be happy if someone could point me in the right direction regarding Shadracks background.

#29 - Dianne - 02/25/2011 - 15:26

Hi everyone..I am Shadrack Rayners..GGG daughter. .I am new to this information as my side of the family did not talk about family history...but I love it..and would love to come to a reunion...if anyone would like to contact me that would be great..

#28 - denise forbes - 02/16/2011 - 22:46

Hey Everyone!
I'm Phoebe Williams, daughter of Ron Williams, grand daughter of Ethel Williams,great grand daughter of Charles and Phoebe Williams,great great grand daughter of Shadrach Robert and Sarah Ann Rayner,great great great grand daughter of Robert Rayner and Dianna!
Love all the photos and info on here, like my cousin Suzi I think a family reunion is well overdue and called for!!!
xo

#27 - Phoebe Williams - 02/05/2011 - 22:26

Hi, my name is Corrine Chapman and I am the great great grand daughter of Phoebe and Charles Williams, great grand daughter of Violet Rose Evans(nee Williams)and Clarence Gordan Stanford Evans known as Gordan. I was hoping to get some more information on the family tree. So if anyone has anything that they would like to pass on I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

#26 - Corrine Chapman - 01/11/2011 - 16:12

Hi Everyone,

Just like Carol Mccullock my cousin. I am the daughter of June Williams grand daughter Ethel Williams,g grand daughter of Charles and Phoebe Williams,I(also Indigenous from the Wellington area) gg grand daughter of Shadrack Robert and Sarah Ann Rayner,ggg grand daughter of Robert Rayner and Dianna ,and our family is huge !!!!!

I think I can smell a reunion coming on ! If anyone thinks this is long over due then please contact me and let us see if we can get something happening! I think it would be great to really start to put this family tree together. I am sure that Rebecca if you ask will pass on my email address to anyone that would like to help!

#25 - Susan Kohl nee Eather nee Cole - 12/23/2010 - 06:40

Hello all,
My name is Carol Mccullock,Iam the Grand daughter of Ethel Williams,g grand daughter of Charles and Phoebe Williams,gg grand daughter of Shadrack Robert and Sarah Ann Rayner,ggg grand daughter of Robert Rayner and Dianna ,my family is huge !!!!!

#24 - carol mccullock - 12/17/2010 - 20:51

Thankyou all so much for you comments. I am so thrilled to know that you are all enjoying the website about your amazing forebear and using it to connect with one another too. That is why we created it - for you!
Keep enjoying!

#23 - Rebecca, AIATSIS Family History Unit - 10/13/2010 - 12:55

Photos are truely a blessing! !

#22 - tim - 09/15/2010 - 12:56

I did some research on Diana a few years back, I am a descendant of Jane Vitnell (Raynor) and the family history has always been a secret in our family too. Some great info here. Would also love to hear what anybody else has to share.

#21 - Stacey McCarthy - 09/06/2010 - 18:05

I was only introduced to this site two weeks ago and have already, thanks to the work of Brian and others been able to trace my mother's (Alice Edna Blackhall)line back to Diana Mudgee, something we had no idea about.
Thankyou to Cheryl for the photo she passed on too

#20 - Helen O'Grady - 07/30/2010 - 22:37

This is fabulous for helping all family members make contact and fill in missing gaps in our trees.
Photos are a blessing in disguise which along with stories of how our ancestors lived really bring our past into the present thereby making it all a little more real.
It is wonderful that there are so many who are willing to share what they have in the hope that someone may have something for them in return.
I have been in touch with many such people and look forward to the future. congratulations on such a wonderful site and I am very pleased that all the work Brian has put into his manuscript will benefit so many
.

#19 - Cheryl Dal Pozzo - 07/24/2010 - 11:01

Thanks for all the great info on this site. I would love to hear from anyone who knows any info on the Blackhall side. I am the great Grandaughter of John Blakhall (1st) and grand daughter of the younger John Blackhall and Alice Elizabeth O'Neal. I look forward to receiving any info at all. Regards Patricia born in Orange and now Bundeena NSW.

#18 - Patricia Knowles - 07/19/2010 - 17:10

I have just come across this great site and am thrilled to have found a link to the past on my mother's side. My mother Alice Edna Blackhall is the great grand daughter of Diana. My mothers family history was always kept a secret and I have always wondered about it. How happy am I to have found such a wealth of information on your site. Patricia

#17 - Patricia Knowles - 07/17/2010 - 17:31

Geoff, i am also on the Vitnell side, and by coinceidence also now live in Canberra, would love to catch up and chat if u would like

#16 - tarran backhus - 05/12/2010 - 21:53

Yet to thank Brian for such excellent research- and thus manuscript, but thank you also Marcia Rutter and the many others who had input to supply such difficultly earned information and the encouraging comments here and elsewhere to spur them on.Surely our our lives will never be the same.How about a family gathering?

#15 - Martin d - 05/05/2010 - 00:20

I am great great great grand-daughter of Diana through Shadrack and Sarah,Emily Harriet Rayners great grand daughter. Have information about this side of tree if interested

#14 - Roz Cooper - 05/04/2010 - 11:33

hi everyone,I have just come across this amazing website and yes I am another
decendent of Diana Mudgee and this is where i fit in -
My name is Simone Smith
My mother is Maureen Smith nee Darney,
Her mother is Hazel Eileen darney nee Collins,
Her father is Norman Collins,who married Vera May Sherring,
His father is Shadrack Collins who married Isabella Linen.Isabella was Shadracks 1st wife.My G Mother is 85 years of age and still living in Wellington NSW.I would love to assist and help out where I can. cheers Simone

#13 - simone smith - 04/27/2010 - 22:00

A HUGE thank you to all who have contributed to this site especially Brian Kennedy. From this information I now know that through the Collins side of the family (Thomas 1870) I am also related to the Knights, Blackhalls and Raynors, and of course, Diana Mudgee. I am in Orange. Best of luck to all. Lyn

#12 - Lynette Barden - 04/19/2010 - 01:25

Great Website! I am part of the Vitnell line. (William Wooger Vitnell/Martha Avery Wood) Their children were; George (who married Jane Rayner), William (who married Mary Anne Conner - my descendants), Mary, Charles, John)I am always looking for more information on the family.

#11 - Michelle Collet - 04/14/2010 - 10:41

What a great site filled with great information, lets all get in touch, we are part of the Vitnell line.
I believe it goes like this,Charles Vittnell, then Ada Kathleen Vitnell married George Albert Sentance.
So we are keen to catch up with any one, we are in Canbera.

#10 - Geoff Sentaance - 04/08/2010 - 18:50

Very Interesting. I always thought i knew everything about Diana, however this has shown me many things i did not know. I come from Jane Vitnell(Raynor)'s side. Be intterested in knowing and hearing from others.

#9 - Tarran Backhus - 03/27/2010 - 10:41

This is a very good web site.
Congratulations to AIATSIS for this new line of information.
Diane Swan

#8 - Diane Swan - 03/09/2010 - 11:40

Just loved this collection of information of Diana and the great photos of early Mudgee. My Great gradmother Catherine Gudgeon nee Mc Guiness married Eli Gudgeon and they had a selection on Kaludabah. My Grandmother Sarah, daughter of Eli and Catherine spoke of the neighbours, Rayners and Vitnals. Lovely to see a picture of Jane Vitnal. The selection paddocks are still known as the Rayner paddock etc. Thanks so much. Helen Shearman

#7 - Helen Shearman - 03/05/2010 - 21:34

Congratulations and thankyou AIATSIS for this family history resource and all others inluding 'relos' involved in this wonderful tribute to GGG Grandmother, Diana. I received Uncle Brian's manuscript only a few weeks ago and now this.

#6 - Dennis E.G Barber - 02/19/2010 - 09:26

My mother is Beverley Blackhall (maiden name).
Her father was William Augustus Blackhall.
His father was William Blackhall.
His father was John Blackhall, mother Elizabeth Blackhall (Rayner).

#5 - Douglas Hannaway - 02/03/2010 - 16:51

Its just fantastic well done.
heaps of Family Information

#4 - Pj Williams - 01/27/2010 - 10:20

Fantastic website. lots of family history information. Well done Bec and Rosemary.

#3 - Judy Martin - 01/14/2010 - 13:08

Please leave a message here and help us connent with Diana's relatives

#2 - Kate - 01/13/2010 - 13:46

Great website. Can't wait to hear from Diana's descendants.

#1 - Rebecca - 01/13/2010 - 12:24

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