Twenty years ago today, Avril and I were married. And we still are happily married. BTW: didn’t Avril look totally beautiful here?

Comments in the chat stream from Thursday 18th’s #understil 7 (Conked Out and Stoked) ended with a suggestion from @LafinBoy to change the name of the show. Not because Stilgherrian Live! nor being his understudy is a bad thing: just it is just time to graduate. Up the ante. Grow up, maybe.

After 4.2 minutes of thinking, the only name that fell into my head is “atNickHodge” (@nickhodge). That will do for the moment. At least it is consistent with my strict personal branding guidelines. And I will probably change my mind and call it something else one day.

Thanks to all my previous guests, and the future super sekrit guests. And a big thanks to @dekrazee1 for her help and support. Oh, and @mrsnickhodge and @yin_0x7f for their guidance. Doing a weekly show seems to add structure into my life; and is becoming a new hobby.

Onto way more important topics.

Nick at Arromanches (D-Day Gold Beach) May 2004.

The next show is scheduled for 8.30pm, Thursday 23rd April 2009.

URL: http://tinyurl.com/atnickhodge

Topic this week: “The Lost Uncles”. It is Anzac Day this Saturday. In Remembrance, I am going to reveal the histories of four individual soldiers from World War 1 and 2; each of which I have a personal connection. This show is not to glorify war; nor create false heroes. It is an episode just to remember four men.

Three from WW1, one from WW2; Two I am related to, two have other connections; Two survived the war, Two did not. Three were enlisted men, one an officer. One was married and had a child prior to enlistment; two had no children and I am directly descended from one. One I met in person; all are in my being and thoughts.

This show is for Lock, Roberts, Mason and Hodge.

Lest We Forget.

Please pop this into your diaries. See you on Thursday night.

This is page 2 of a contract between Charles and Robert Fall of Dunbar, Scotland and the fishermen of Crail, Fife, Scotland.

Charles and Robert Fall held many interests in Dunbar in the 18th Century. They also had family connections in Fife. In an agreement signed by them on the 9th November 1745, the fishermen of Crail agreed to deliver their catch of white fish to them for a period of 6 years. This shows the final part of the contract made between the Falls and the fishermen of Crail. Here, agreement is made for the carriage of fish, notably saithe, to the Fall’s cellars, to be paid by them. At the end are the signatures or ‘marks’ of the fishermen of Crail. The most easterly of Fife’s fishing ports, Crail Harbour dates back to the 16th century. At one time the village was an important herring station. The few fishermen left today fish inshore, mainly for shellfish.

On the left hand side, just below the fold, there is the follow text: “George GH Hodge mark.” In this instance, George Hodge could not sign his name, and therefore marked with a “GH”. I am related to this George Hodge.

George Hodge was born in 1717 to George Hodge (himself born in 1686) and mother Katherin Moncrief in Crail/Fife, Scotland. He was 32 when he marked this document. His younger brother was a James Hodge, where my paternal line descends.

Crail Harbour: The harbour was ‘new foundit’ in 1610, destroyed in 1707, and what is shown here dates from the rebuild of 1728.

The fish stocks in this area started to drop in the later part of the 18th Century, and therefore there was not enough room in the family business. As the younger brother, James Hodge left the family business and slowly drifted north to St Andrews in the latter half of the 18th Century. From 1764 in Crail, 1766 in Kingsbarns (3.5km north of Crail) and 1771 in Brown Hills (just south of St Andrews). This George Hodge is also the witness to the birth of James Hodge’s first and second children: Andrew and Mary. The third child of James Hodge is a John Hodge; again from where my paternal line descends. This John’s son, Melville, emigrated to South Australia in 1853.

In the 1841 census, Mary Hodge (daughter of James Hodge, born in Kingsbarns in 1766) is listed as living in Thorgate, Crail. Based on the position in the census, it is likey she was living with the Scotts of Crail at this time.

I suspect that James travelled north either as a farm labourer, or as a hand loom linen weaver; as was his son. Kingsbarns has a noted history of both. And golfing, but I doubt my family was of the correct glass for golfing.

Note: This information was found using the http://scran.ac.uk system. Scran is:

Scran — part of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland — aims to provide educational access to digital materials representing our material culture and history. This is provided through the wholly owned trading arm Scran Ltd. We are one of the largest educational online services in the UK supporting over 4,000 schools, libraries, colleges and universities.

It is possible that my paternal ancestor, some 11 generations ago, was born in Duns. Very close to Blackadder. Maybe not the same Blackadder, but interesting in a historical sense.

Epic laughs.

In the recent research of my paternal family history, I found reference to David Melville Hodge signing the papers for an Angus Hodge. These papers were permission given by David for Angus to join the Australian Infantry in 1916 for service abroad. He was only 18 years and 2 months old.

Private Angus Hodge was my Great-Grand Uncle.

Based on my recent research into a Private Albert Lock, I knew I could find Private Angus Hodge’s service records at the National Archives. A few personal notes where an injured right leg from a horsing accident in 1912, and many teeth missing. He was also noted as “stocky” at only 5 and a half feet tall. His denomination was listed as Methodist.

Private Angus Hodge became a part of the 6th reinforcements for the South Australian 43rd Battalion, AIF. The 43rd Battalion made up the 11th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division of the AIF. Landed in the UK during the early part of 1917. (note: This Order of Battle is extremely useful and the War Diaries of the 43rd Battalion are insightful)

At this stage, Private Hodge started to have a bout of Measles and Mumps and finally arrived in France 30th July 1917. He joined the front line on 24th August 1917. Just in time for the 3rd Battle of Ypres. (also known to Australians as Passchendaele)

From this time, there were many times in hosipital listed as “NYD” and “PUO” : not yet determined and pyrexia unknown origin (ie: fever)

Then there is a note from 18th August 1918 “admitted old wounded leg, slight” back in the UK ; fracture from tibia, based on the fall from a horse some 6 years earlier. Repatriated back to the UK, Private Hodge spent time getting better at the end of the first world war.

On the 23rd November 1918, exactly 90 years ago today, the Medical Board in the UK awarded Private Angus Hodge a 20% permanent disability due to service; fit for home service.  He would have limped for the rest of his life.

Discharged from the AIF on 19th March 1919 in Adelaide. Merely a year after returning to Australia, Angus was dead.

Nearly 3 years away from home, Private Hodge served his country. The records fail to detail the mental and other injuries suffered whilst in France.

Angus Hodge died ages 22 and is buried 23rd March 1920. The gravestone states “Son of DM and FJ.” Last residence is recorded as Gulnare South Australia. Where David Melville Hodge was farming at the time.

Lest We Forget.

NB: this page will be updated as more info is found. Dots will join back to here

Inspired by recent family events, I decided to revisit my June 2006 research and go further back. The previous searches had stopped at David Melville’s grandfather: John Hodge

Thanks to Scotlands People, the official government source of births, deaths, marriages, census data and other bits and pieces: searching is easy and relatively cheap. Certainly saves travelling to Scotland and spending days in a library or archive.

My ancestors were not catholic but rather “free kirk” Presbyters, they freely recorded their details in the Old Parish Records kept since 1553 in Scotland. I am 100% of my ancestors to 1734; The movements prior to Crail in 1662 is a little more tenuous, although this was a time of much upheavel in Scotland.

Using Maps.live.com, I have created a visual map collection that details the movements of these people in Scotland.

So, this is where we are in reverse chronological order; the left hand column has the male line and birth year, with the following row their respective father. The number is the generation from Liam back (ie: Liam is zero, and I am number 1)

Firstly, a connection to my Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Mary Milne was made in October 2007. Mary Milne is David Melville Hodge’s mother.

Now, a relative in South Australia forwarded me this picture of my Great– Great– Grandfather: Mr David Melville Hodge.

More interestingly, a series of biographical stories appeared. He seems quite the pioneering character.

I think if here were around today, he would probably be a blogger. And mercurial, too.

Short Biography from the Encyclopedia of South Australia

Mr David Melville Hodge, Chaff and grain merchant, Alexander Port Pirie, is a native of South Australia, having been born at Angaston in I860. He is a son of the late Mr. Melville Hodge, who settled in the Angaston district in the early days of the Province.

At the conclusion of his education, which was received at Saddleworth, while still quite a boy he came to Laura at the opening up of the Northern areas for settlement, and engaged in farming pursuits and outdoor life generally, roughing it in the manner well known to many of the young Australians of that pe­riod.

He visited the Kimberley “rush” in the north of Western Aus­tralia, Mount Brown, in Queensland, and has made himself acquainted with all the gold-mining centres in the Northern Territory and through­out the Commonwealth.

At a later period Mr. Hodge engaged in farming and teamstering in the northern parts of South Australia, and in 1901 established himself in his pre­sent business, that of a chaff and grain merchant, in Port Pirie. He has since worked up a satisfactory connection, and enjoys his full share of the trade of the district.

Mr. Hodge is a member of the Caledonian Society. In 1885 he married Julia Florence, daughter of Mr. John Pilgrim of Gawler, latterly of Laura, and has a family of six sons and two daughters.

Golden Wedding Anniversary (1936) Newspaper Clipping

Mr Hodge, Senr, of Lock, recenly celebrated the anniversary of his Golden Wedding. Mr Hodge was a successful farmer in the Gulnare district some years ago, and at one time was shearing for Mr Niel McGilp, who was widely known in pastoral areas. At Lock, Mr Hodge is one of the most interested workers in the Methodist Church, and to attend the services he drives his car 12 miles pracically(sic) every Sunday. Mr Hodge still drives a team of bullocks when clearing scrub on his farm, and this proves that he is a true son of the soil. A few years ago Mr Hodge gave up retired life, and returned to farming. On his Golden Wedding day, Mr Hodge composed the following poem.

Australia: A Poem by Mr. D. M. Hodge

AUSTRALIA

Australia, I love thee,
The land that gave me birth,
And reared me up to manhood,
From the products of the earth.

Thou has let me roam in freedom,
From mountain top to plain,
And always gave sufficient,
To relieve my hunger pain.

I have seen thy silver mines,
And gold and copper, too,
Deep down into your bowels,
All shining bright and new.

Your wheat and wool I’ve carted,
From far inland to the sea,
To feed and clothe the hungry
In England or where’r it may be:

I’ve seen your men and women
Leave here to go and fight
And join up with dear old England
For justice, honor, and right.

I’ve seen your towns and cities
Grow up about your land,
And helped the pioneers to clear
Mallee and stones on every land.

And now I’m growing old and grey,
On this, my Golden Wedding Day;
Great Master wilt Thou hear me say,
’Tis here in Australia I wish to stay.

Obituary

Mr. David Melville Hodge, 76, died at the home of his son-in-law (Inspec­tor M. M. Bishop), of Fourth street, Port Pirie West, on September 5. His earliest juvenile experiences included the sight of mobs of wild natives at North Rhine surrounding the home of his father. The latter died there when David Hodge was a small boy and he moved with his mother to Coghill’s Creek. At 11 years of age he became a farmer’s boy with a wage of 2/6 a week, but he soon afterwards obtained employment with Mr. Hugh Aitken, a famous coltbreaker of his day, and from him learned the art of handling horses.

After a brief spell at home he left, on a horse he had purchased for £4 10/, finding his way to Kapunda and thence to Adelaide, where he obtained employment with a farmer at Balaklava. At Port Wakefield later he obtained a passage by ketch to Port Adelaide, but soon trekked north again.

His next job was that of woolpicker on Paratoo Run. then jointly held by Sir Thomas Elder and Mr. Peter Waite. Later, purchas­ing a team of bullocks, he engaged in carting sleepers from Wirrabara and took loads to the Silverton silver fields. He claimed to have carted the first consignment of silver-lead ore from Thackaringa to Terowie to be sent from there by train to Port Adelaide.

In 1886 he and two mates, W. Duck and F. Lindsay, set off for what was reported to be a rich gold find in the Kimberleys. Mr. Hodge returned to South Australia and started a chaff store, sawmill, and woodyard at Port Pine.

Seven years later he moved to Pirie Springs, near Laura, and from there to Gulnare. Five years’ retirement in Adelaide followed, but 10 years ago he took up land at Lock, on the West Coast, returning from there to Port Pirie. At Laura he married Miss Florence Julia Pilgrim, who survives. Mr. and Mrs. Hodge celebrated their gol­den wedding in 1935. Four sons and two daughters are left Messrs. Frank. Hector, Kenneth (West Coast), and William Hodge (Iron Knob). Mrs. J. N. O’Brien (West Australia), and Mrs. M. M. Bishop (Port Pirie).

Why blog your family history? Because it helps others out, and you find out more. Others doing searches for common ancestors will stumble on your site, and send emails.

The above photo is of one Mary Milne. She married a Melville Hodge in 1853 whilst on her way to South Australia. Her first son was my great– great– grandfather.

In other words, she is my great– great– great– grandmother. A small part of her is in my genes. This photo was taken in March 1904, 103 years ago.

And speaking of genes, if you look at her eyes and mouth: they are not aligned. It’s not “an error” in posing. It’s probably Bell’s Palsy.

Thanks to Darryl, also a decendent of Mary Milne for sending the photo and a detailed history.

An email from my mother-in-law, who emigrated to Australia in the mid 1950s, connected more dots. And some family skeletons in the closet fell out.

Before jumping aboard the ship to Australia, she worked at the BBC — with The Goons! She typed their scripts and attended recordings. I am related to famous, and only a few steps removed from The Goons. I am connected to British Comedy royalty, even if only by marriage.

If you are a teacher or parent, welcome to the new internet generation gap.

An article published in the New York magazine, Say Everything, details the online lives of Generation Y. The article takes a moralistic-angle to create a story; and asserts that the generation gap is greater now than when Elvis, Cliff Richard and The Beatles rock-and/or-roll perverted the lives of Generation-X’s parents in the 1950s/1960s.

It’s more than morals. It is about how the world is at the pivot point of a dramatic change.

This quotation from Clay Shirky summarised where we are at:

“Whenever young people are allowed to indulge in something old people are not allowed to, it makes us bitter. What did we have? The mall and the parking lot of the 7-Eleven? It sucked to grow up when we did! And we’re mad about it now.”

The moral side is important,Look at your internet-connected kids: what are they doing, right now?

As a comparison, I took a photo of Liam over the weekend that illustrated this major gap:

1. Liam has both MacOS X Tiger and Microsoft Windows XP running, and is using both fluently. Vista will not be installed until he’s backed-up his PC, and he’s sure his games work.
2. MSN Messenger is his connection to the outside world: rarely will one of his friends call on the phone; but I am sure he communicates more widely than I at the same age. His peers are world-wide, not local.
3. There is a Firefox session running on the Mac with his favourite web sites (forums, not blogs) going. He says that he’s had a Firefox browser window running for 2 weeks, solid. 
4. On the Windows box, he is creating an Adobe Premiere video clip (adding titling+encoding). Not only consuming content; he is actively adding bits to the world. The video comes from capturing an animation created using Garry’s Mod for Half-Life 2.
5. He is listening to ABC’s Triple-J not via radio, but via Internode’s stream.
6. Liam watches less broadcast TV than Avril and I. Way less. Yet his knowledge of what is current and newsworthy is no different. There  is no manufactured scarcity (either in time, or in physical atoms)
7. Wikipedia answers everything.

Hyper-connected & digitally-creative.

Compare this to your world.

Making a ‘social networking’ platform that assumes you are connected and are writing, not just reading from the web: that’s next. THe next generation is creating these tools as the Baby boomers and Generation-X keeps looking at its collective navel.

Liam and Avril, and some of the wider relatives in the SA clan took this photo of C/2006 P1 (alias “Comet McNaught(y)”) whilst on holiday in South Australia.

In a not-so-typical hardware/farmer mashup: the old Canon IXY450 was put behind a pair of binoculars sitting on Rebecca’s head to get an image result worthy of Wikipedia inclusion!

Go gadget Liam!

As I gather data, I’ll throw it here. It will also appear in search engines — and we’ll see what linkages and comments appear from all and sundry!

This data shows that Liam is a 6th generation Australian, on his father’s side, and has roots into the Lutheran-German community now in South Australia. I can confidently show Liam’s ancestors to 1686: 9 generations back in time; always on the far eastern shores of Fife, Scotland.

From Relatives who found this page, and have provided more information:

• Meet Mary Milne, my Great– Great– Great– Grandmother
• Meet David Melville Hodge. My Great-Great-Grandfather
• Hodge Family History Update — November 2008
• Private Angus Hodge

From research:

According to Whats in your name?, Hodge means: [also Hodg, Hoge, Hog]

English, patronymic derived from HODGE, the common nickname for ROGER ‘fame, spear’; the name was made popular after the Norman Conquest by Roger of Montgomery who distinguished himself at the Battle of Hastings.
Also, according to Hodge
Hodge/Hudge/Hodgin/Hodgen: English Patronymic name from the pet name Hodge, which was derived from the given name Roger. Roger came to England as Rogier courtesy of the conquering Normans.

In reference to Hodge Hill Common: a precious piece of undeveloped land around the junction of the Coleshill Road and Bromford Road. Hodge is probably the family name of a medieval landowner, but this was also a by-name of Roger, used as a patronising nickname for an agricultural labourer, ie. ‘a country bumpkin’.

“Hodg” is a servant mentioned in this 1575 document.

Melville Hodge, son of John, father of David Melville Hodge came out on the Joseph Rowan to Adelaide on June 16th 1854 from County Fife Scotland via Liverpool (County Fife). It looks like he wasn’t alone: Joseph Rowan Search; there were 376 other government immigrants into a colony that had just been pronounced (South Australia, 1836) and found gold (1851). His occupation was described as Ploughman and Miner, and religion as Presbetyrian. He was 51 when he arrived in Australia, had a son when he was 57 and died later in the same year. The name is sometimes written down as: Melvil Hodge, Melvill Hodge or Melville Hodge.

Janet Crombie died of bowel inflammation at sea on the 28th March 1854, only 7 days out of Liverpool. Only one other person died on this voyage. Her age was listed as 48 years old; although she was 58 if the birth certificate is correct.

On the Josepth Rowan are Jessie Hodge (21, a servant) and a Melville Hodge (47, Farm Labourer). It may be possible Janet was also known as Jessie. Where is Melville’s other son, Thomas Hodge? He seems to have gone missing, and certainly did not emigrate at the same time as Melville.

A recent search in the 1841 Scotland Census shows that Melvill was married to a Janet Crombie in 28th December 1828, and at this time had two children: Janet (born 8th Sep 1836) and a younger Thomas (born to Melvil and Janet on 23rd December 1834 in parish of Cameron, Fife, Scotland). Other census details: Where born: Fife, Scotland; Civil parish: Monimail; County: Fife; Address: Carslogie O Its Cottages; Occupation: Ag Lab [Agricultural Labourer].

From Google Maps, there is Carslogie Road coming from a town called Cupar. Carslogie Road, Forfar, Scotland. A similar search of this county/region of a similar age returns: ‘Culross — Saint Cyrus’, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland (1846). Monimail is a parish to the west of the town of Cupar; and the Carslogie Cottage is now in ruins on this road. By 1851, 3 years before the family moved to South Australia, he had moved to Leuchars; Janet was 42, he was 40 and Thomas was 15. Both Thomas and Melville are listed at Agicultural labourers.

Apart from Fife’s wild history, further research about this Carslogie and Cupar (It is pronounced Cooper!) brings us to history: History of Cupar Parish Church

Further research is interesting. (at Scots Origins) A Melvil Hodge (note the recorded spelling) has a birth registered on 23rd November 1803, son of a John Hodge and Elspeth Clark (married 29 March 1793).
The parish, St. Andrews And St. Leonards, is strangely in the region where golf was invented! The east-coast of Scotland. This school, having similar name to the parish, has an interesting location map St Andrews & St Leonards Parish School and Parishes of Fife, Scotland. The Fife Family History Society provides an interesting perspective on the life and times of the shire, including industries etc. during Melvil’s lifetime.

John Hodge, born in the same parish, 28th March 1771 to a James Hodge and Mary Scot. No record found of a James Hodge birth in this parish (although there are many James Hodge’s in the county of Fife within the range of years, and the only James Hodge in Kingsbarn is too young to be married in 1763), but there is a record of a birth of Mary Scot on 24th April 1753 in this parish to a Hary Scott and Mary Sivess. James Hodge married Mary Scot at Kingsbarn, Fife, Scotland on 23 November 1763. Kingsbarn parish is directly to the east of St Andrews.

Janet Crombie born 1806, married Melville on 28 December 1828 at St. Andrews And St. Leonards, Fife, Scotland and evidently died at sea. On this voyage there is also a Thomas described as a agricultural labourer and a Jessie described as a servant. (born 1836, died in 1854 at about 18 years of age in Scotland — therefore not on the voyage? There is no record of parentage in the database, so it could be a different person)

So what drove Melvil Hodge to leave Fife in Scotland? 1854 is about the same time as the Crimean War, and by my calculations he was at least 45–50 when he left Scotland. A rather old age (in those times) to up and leave. Hodges in Fife, Scotland. If his daughter, Jessie died in 1854 as recorded, did they leave for other reasons? This story about Caroline Parish provides a perspective on the mid 19th century.

Melvil remarried a Mary Milne (born 26th December 1830 in ForFar, Angus, Scotland) whose mother was a Jean Stewart and father James Milne which with my new info comes up in the family, which seem to have come out on the same boat.

Melville himself died in 1860 and Mary remarried a James Couzins. David Melville Hodge left home at about 11 due to not getting on with his step father but he got married at his stepfather’s home.

David Melville Hodge, born 18 Oct 1860, Cockatoo Valley/North Rhine, South Australia. Died 6th September 1937. Married Julia Florence Pilgrim 2 October 1885, Clare, South Australia. (parents: John Pilgrim born Essex 13 Apr 1834 and Judith Brown, Naomi Frost born Essex 26 Apr 1831)

David Melville was a miner of sorts. He went to Broken Hill and also went by boat up to the Kimberleys; the family has of a diary that he wrote about this trip. He also wrote poetry, and was a bit of a wanderlust. Family talk is that he had a fierce temper and would whip a bullock til it fell. After living in the Midnorth of South Australia, he then “retired’ in Adelaide, and subequently purchased land over on the Lock-Elliston road with his sons.

The last piece of farming land on Eyre Peninsula owned by this Hodge family was Section 36, Hundred of Cowan, District Council of Elliston (Eyre Peninsula, South Australia). This property bordered the Bascombe Well Conservation Park on the western-side of the centre line (railway line) that splits Eyre Peninsula in two. The property was bordered the “western side” of the Dog Fence running from south to north on Eyre Peninsula. This side of the Dog Fence is where the dingos where “free to roam” and eat sheep. The eastern side was protected from the dingos due to the fine almost chain-link fencing.

On my mother’s side, one family came out to South Australia from Silesia. They were Wends in 1848 on the ship “Victoria”. On the other branch of my mother’s family, only 2 brothers came out and their parents are not known. They came out from Prussia in 1860 on the “Emmy”. One was a cooper by trade.

The Wends, according to Wikipedia, is a transliteration of Vandals. So, on my mother’s side — our ancenstors vandalised the known, civilised Roman world. Cool. If you know my mum, you know exactly out of character this is!

There is a saying in my family: if you’re German and from South Australia, then we’re probably related. Somehow! Fleeing persecution of a state-mandated Catholic religion (there was nothing scarier to a Lutherans in the 16th through 19th century than Catholic overlords), many emigrated to South Australia. More info is here: Germans in Poland

From The top Shiraz from Down Under by Michael Franz of the The Washington Post

The place itself is a study in contrasts. Most wineries are stunningly modern, at least on the inside, with futuristic laboratories and all manner of glistening steel gizmos. But if you take a walk down the street of a Barossa town, past an old stone Lutheran church and shops selling everything from strudel to sauerbraten, you’d swear the place was transplanted from 19th-century Prussia.

And in essence you’d be correct. The Barossa was settled in the mid-19th century by entire towns from Silesia (now part of Poland), led by Lutheran pastors who preferred relocation to adopting the revised religious service mandated by Prussian King Frederick Wilhelm III. The land was surveyed and the towns were laid out even before the settlers arrived, and every family received about 30 acres. These plots were prudently planted with several different crops, and wine grapes were almost always included.