http://www.vintagekin.com/ 

TANGLED TWIGS is dedicated to all my ancestors, who travelled to Australia 
aboard three-masted ships, who despite the odds, survived the cramped living 
conditions, the everpresent threat of disease and lack of food.
 
The Stigwood family were first recorded at Stetchworth as Stegood. The 
spelling then evolved to Stegwood and finally to Stigwood, with a sprinkling 
of Stickwoods thrown in. It all depended on the current parish clerk. Since 
hardly anyone could spell it rested on him to write the name as he heard it. 
Different clerks recorded the same family under different spellings.
 
 The STIGWOOD'S originated in Swaffham Bulbeck Cambridge and left Liverpool 
and arrived in South Australia aboard the JOSEPH ROWAN in 1854. In the South 
Australian Government Gazette,(Page 85)dated 25th January 1866 there are 370 
listed as passengers. There were 3 deaths and six births and the surgeon was 
Robert Pridie. Henry and Eliza lived  near Stirling in the Adelaide Hills. As 
Levi grew older he decided to try his hand at farming at Cavanagh, not far 
from Petersburg.  I have placed all Stickwood and Stigwood names under Stigwood for 
continuity.                               




 The THREADGOLD/THREADGOULD family who arrived on these shores aboard 
the "SHROPSHIRE" from Knottingley, Yorkshire in 1850 and on the 
ship 'SHACKAMAXON" in 1853 from Yorkshire, England. Nearly 10% of the 
passengers on the Shackamaxon sucumbed to Scarlett fever either on the voyage 
or after their arrival.
This unusual surname is of early medieval English origin, and derives from an 
occupational nickname for an embroiderer, specifically one who embroidered 
fine clothes with gold thread.The first recorded spelling of the family name 
is shown to be that of Reginald Tredegold, which was dated 1199, in 
the "Memoranda Rolls of Wiltshire", during the reign of King Richard 1, known 
as "Richard the Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. 
 
The MARTIN'S originally came from Redruth,Cornwall,England.
Nicholas Martin worked as a blacksmith in Jamestown for many years and his wife lived 
to a great age. Most of the Martins lived in South Australia with one family group 
immigrating to New Zealand.


The CLARKE family from England who arrived in 1855 aboard the ship 'PUNJAB' 
carrying Cornelius Clarke and his wife Susan and daughter Mary. The Punjab 
carried 279 immigrants and there were 5 births during the trip. The surgeon, 
Henry Lannigan made a note that stated " While in the Tropics, measles 
prevailed," Cornelius had been a trumpeter with the 10th Royal Hussars and 
fought in the Battle of Waterloo as well as being a Captain's Steward on any 
sailing vessels. 

Arriving in the Antipodes after a sea voyage of nearly three months, they 
were anchored offshore where they could be still aboard for up to two weeks 
before being rowed ashore with their belongings to Port Adelaide. Those 
without accomodation could stay in a row cottages built by the government of 
the day, or make the eight mile trek to Adelaide.
  
A few good years, in the midnorth, heralded the promise of good harvests and 
profitable farming but the Surveyor General persistently warned against 
farming beyond the Goyder's "Line of Rainfall". The low long term rainfall and 
recurrent droughts allowed only the growth of saltbush. Unfortunately he was 
correct and the poor returns saw many families driven from their farms because 
of adverse weather patterns.All of these families and their descendants tried 
to glean a living from the harsh landscape of the midnorth of South Australia, 
mainly the Peterborough, Jamestown, Yongala and Dawson areas.

 
 MARTIN CREST 


I would also like to thank the following for their invaluable help with my 
research: BRIAN STIGWOOD, DOREEN KENNEWELL, STANLEY THREADGOULD, MARY RIDLER, 
DETECTIVENET -GENEALOGY CONNECTION, for information on Australian Electoral Rolls 
KELLIE - DUYA and all other indivduals who have helped in any way.

 
Genealogy is my pastime - I shall not stray.
It maketh me to lie down and examine half buried tombstones,
It leadeth me into still courthouses,
It restoreth my ancestral knowledge.
It leadeth me into the paths of census records
And ships passenger lists
For my surnames sake.
Yet though I wade through the shadows
Of research libraries & microfilm readers,
I shall fear no discouragement,
For a strong urge is with me.
The curiosity and motivation they comfort me.
It demandeth preparation of storage space
For the acquisition of countless documents.
It anointeth my head with burning midnight oil.
My family group sheets runneth over.
Surely birth marriage & death dates
Shall follow me all the days of my life
Then I shall dwell in the house of the great seeker Forever and Forever
                        Amen

                   Author Unknown