McAllister of Ireland
I began researching the McAllister family in 2004 with little more than a pile of photographs and some information supplied by my cousin, Liz Healey. Assuming that the origins of our McAllister family were in Scotland, Liz and I tried unsuccessfully to find a record of the arrival of Arthur McAllister in South Australia. I was able to contact my mother’s cousin, Mavis Fathers, who kindly provided copies of the research into the McAllister family of the late Arthur Pascoe. However, we were still no closer to finding out where Arthur McAllister came from.
In May 2005 I visited the South Australian Genealogical Society (SAGHS). With the assistance of a SAGHS volunteer, I was finally able to locate a record which stated that Arthur had arrived on a ship called the Roman Emperor. With a little more research into that particular ship, I discovered the story of the Irish Orphan emigrants and the origins of our McAllister family were revealed. With the assistance of Trevor McClaughlin, author of Barefoot and Pregnant: Irish famine orphans in Australia, I was able to have Arthur McAllister acknowledged as one of the Irish Orphans remembered on the Irish Famine Memorial Website.
In 2010 I wrote "McAllister of Ireland" for a reunion with my McAllister Cousins.
In May 2005 I visited the South Australian Genealogical Society (SAGHS). With the assistance of a SAGHS volunteer, I was finally able to locate a record which stated that Arthur had arrived on a ship called the Roman Emperor. With a little more research into that particular ship, I discovered the story of the Irish Orphan emigrants and the origins of our McAllister family were revealed. With the assistance of Trevor McClaughlin, author of Barefoot and Pregnant: Irish famine orphans in Australia, I was able to have Arthur McAllister acknowledged as one of the Irish Orphans remembered on the Irish Famine Memorial Website.
In 2010 I wrote "McAllister of Ireland" for a reunion with my McAllister Cousins.
The Entertainers
Estelle
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Joseph
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Violet
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Florence
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Harold
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Ethel
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Gordon
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In late 2012 I was asked to assist in a project planned by Andrew McDonough to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of his mother, Ethel Margaret McDonough (nee McAllister). I was then able to add Ethel's story to "McAllister of Ireland" and Andrew shared this with his family at their very successful McDonough Family Day on 6th January 2013.
In researching Ethel's story I became aware that she came from a very musical family and Ethel, as well as most of her siblings continued to enjoy entertaining people their whole lives. This has led to wanting to put together a story about all seven of the children of Joseph & Ethel McAllister.
I am very grateful firstly for the continued assistance from Andrew McDonough in being able to tell these stories. Also I want to acknowledge the wonderful help I have received from Mavis Fathers over many years. I appreciate also the assistance of Lyn Jacobs, Peter Strawhan, Dianne Reid, Robyn Styles and Beth McAllister for their contributions of photographs and insights.
In researching Ethel's story I became aware that she came from a very musical family and Ethel, as well as most of her siblings continued to enjoy entertaining people their whole lives. This has led to wanting to put together a story about all seven of the children of Joseph & Ethel McAllister.
I am very grateful firstly for the continued assistance from Andrew McDonough in being able to tell these stories. Also I want to acknowledge the wonderful help I have received from Mavis Fathers over many years. I appreciate also the assistance of Lyn Jacobs, Peter Strawhan, Dianne Reid, Robyn Styles and Beth McAllister for their contributions of photographs and insights.