I am compiling my family history, Coming Through The Ryes, which is due to go to the publisher soon. I have come to a standstill on a branch of the family tree in regards to two Witchell sisters who were born in Newington.

The sisters, Louisa Mary born 1887 and Edith Alice born 1885 lived in Croydon. Edith Alice married Albert Richard Davis in 1907 in the Holy Trinity Church, Selhurst, and they were living at 63 Johnson Road, Selhurst,s at the time. The only known child of this couple was Ivy E. M. Davis born 1911 in Croydon.

A witness to Edith and Albert's wedding was a person called R. Catlin. A Mr and Mrs Catlin (maybe Ethel) are connected in some way to the girls' mother, Sarah Ann Witchell nee Hammerton, who was living at 23 St James Road, Croydon. If memory serves well, Mr. Catlin worked in a silver mine in Persia - now Iran.

It is believed that either one or both of the sisters immigrated to either Australia or Canada but no records have been found. Louisa and Edith are both Rye descendants.

If anyone has any knowledge of the above people, I would be interested to hear from them.

HELEN MURPHY

14 Frederick Street

Shoalwater W.A.

Australia 6169

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.