SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

Most of us are familiar with the concept of six degrees of separation in that everyone in the world is connected by six steps.

However, when confining one’s genealogical research to a particular region or locality, everyone appears to be less than a few steps away.

In just 10 months since this blog was launched, in which the various characters and stories have been collected, it has now come to a point where lives begin to intersect and characters take on a sense of familiarity. Chalk it up to serendipity, if you will.

It goes to show just how much you can learn about your background and local history, and about what connects us all as humans.

​The following story is a case in point:

Robert Jones standing at centre with fellow railway employees moving a boiler through Burnie circa 1910

Thomas David Swain with his wife, Edna Doris Cousins

In October 1939, Thomas David Swain married Edna Doris Cousins. Edna was just nine when her father passed away in 1926. Three years later, Edna became an orphan when her mother passed away in 1929.

Edna and her siblings were separated and placed with different families. Edna went to live with her aunt, Millie. Millie was known for her kindness and generosity. Not only did she take in Edna and her four younger siblings, Millie also nursed her sister, Rita, who was suffering from tuberculosis. When Rita passed away, Millie adopted her three year old daughter.

When Millie’s mother became ill, she also nursed her mother until her passing. Millie’s mother was the daughter of Amos Eastwood and Elizabeth Davies (read their story). Millie’s father was Robert Jones.

Robert Jones’ father was another notable pioneer of the Tasmanian Northwest. His name was Captain William Jones, a Welsh master mariner who left his mark on the pages of Burnie’s history. He was connected with almost every local public institution, which later earned him a title, the King of Burnie.
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After his death in 1907, the funeral procession included 125 horse drawn carriages, 40 horsemen and the Burnie Federal Band (read the bandmaster’s story).

It was serendipitous that Thomas David Swain’s grandfather had a chance encounter with Captain Jones many years earlier (read his story). Thomas’ grandfather was David Blizzard who was then a young man when he ran into the Captain on his journey to fetch for a doctor.

So there you have it. With social networking and advances in technology, we appear to be closer than ever before. Many of us are experiencing greater connectivity, which continues to grow, more so in this part of the world. Who knows who we might run into to define our six degrees of separation.

Monument to Captain William Jones at the Wivenhoe Cemetery, completed in 1909. Above Captain William Jones.