I only started to research my maternal ancestor line this year, my search lead me to generatons of my famliy in Tasmania.  There names appears in the pioneer family index.  I knew nothing about our history.  I have recently been in contact with the archives of tasmania as I wanted to know if I was right and find out more information about  Private john and Mary anne kirkwood.  The archive office gave me the information about their daughter Mary Ann being at Queen's orphan school but didn't know why the 2 daughter went there as both parents were alive.  Your record in search states their mother was sick.  I am the direct line from Mary Ann their daughter, she was apprenticed to William Cleary a pub owner I think???  she married a convict from england named William Cordwell in hobart and at some stage went to Bendigo Victoria in search of gold. They  lived in Eagle Hawke and had several children Annie cordwell being my direct line she married John Snow  their names appear in the pioneer families index of Tasmania also but I think they were in Victoria at this stage.  I would love to go back futher on my maternal side after a DNA test earlier this year but at this stage don't know much about Private John and Mary Anne Kirkwood, I want to know her maidien name so I can go on.  I am unsure where they came from. I am able to reply to the Archive's of Tamania and intend to do so, it stated John Kirkwood, born Landee, blacksmith, I am unsure what Landee means if this is where he was from or a former surname.  I have googled Landee but can't find a place called that....

If you have any further information I would love to know more ...
thank you carolyn black