The English counties of Essex and Suffolk (see detail maps below). The main family branches from this part of England are: Edwards, Finch; Shorter, Wright, Brand; as well as Drake and Cobbin. Robyn’s great-grandparents Susanna Shorter and Thomas Edwards married at Plumstead in 1866, and left for Australia in 1873.

For my side of the family, the records seem to show that, in 1901, my 2g-grandfather James Brown was in hospital at Holburn, London, and died at Mile End shortly thereafter — his wife and children were in Hutchesontown, Glasgow. My family left for Australia in 1950, and sailed from Tilbury Docks aboard R.M.S. “Mooltan”.

This detail map of West Suffolk shows the towns in the Thingoe, Thedwestry, Risbridge and Babergh Hundreds. The Shorter and Wright families lived to the west of Bury St Edmunds near the village of Barrow, while the Drake and Winter families lived further east around Tostock and Rattlesdon. Mark Brand was born in Barrow in 1704, while his wife, Elizabeth Jermyn, came from Hessett, 8 km (5 miles) southeast of Bury St Edmunds. Some genealogies show Elizabeth as a possible descendant of the Jermyn/Drury families of Rushbrooke Hall; however, more research will be needed to confirm this link.

This detail map shows the Chelmsford district where the Edwards and Finch families originated. Thomas Finch was possibly born in Maldon. He and his wife, Sarah (surname unknown), had eight children between 1809 and 1824, the first born in Stock, but baptised in the Quaker Church in Chelmsford. The next seven children were baptised at a ‘dissenting independent’ (Congregational or Baptist) church in Stock. In census records, Sarah gave her birthplace as Great Burstead.

Their daughter, another Sarah (possibly born at Bures, Suffolk), married  John [3] Edwards of Springfield in 1834 at Great Baddow, on the southern edge of Chelmsford. This family lived in north Chelmsford, variously at: New Street (1841); Prospect Row (1851); and Compasses Row (1861 & 1871). Their firstborn was also baptised at the Quaker Meeting House (1835), but no baptisms were recorded for the next five children.

John [3]’s parents were  John [2] Edwards and Sarah Fryant, and they lived most of their lives around Springfield Road, which runs from Springfield to Chelmsford centre. Sarah Fryant seems to have have died in 1848 at Springfield, and buried at All Saints Church, while a possible record for John [2]’s burial in 1871 comes from Purleigh, about 12 km (8 miles) south-east of Chelmsford.