My grandfather Saunders BLESSINGTON was born in Brisbane on 7th February 1884 to Mary BLESSINGTON and unknown father. On his Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates there is no father listed so it seems I am unable to trace his fathers side. His mother Mary was born about 1840 in Ireland to a James WELSH and Mary WELSH. She married a John BLESSINGTON in 1858 in Bradford England. They went on and had 8 children of which 5 died before immigrating to Australia in 1874. After their arrival in Australia they had another son, and a couple of years later John died leaving Mary with the children.

In 1884 Mary then went and had my grandfather to an unknown person.

Mary died when Saunders was 9 years old and he and is brother John were sent to Lytton Industrial school for 5 years as neglected children.

After his time at Lytton Saunders went to Hughenden where he later met his wife Mary BOURNE.

Mary was born in Hughenden on 29th November 1881 to Mary MCKENNA/KENNA
and James Elliott.

Mary MCKENNA had been married to a John TURNER in 1876 then after his death she married a George BOURNE.

After she left George BOURNE she met up with James ELLIOTT and had Mary (my grandmother). Grandmother Mary kept using BOURNE as her maiden name even though he was not her father.

Mary McKENNA was born in Glasgow Scotland in 1855 (supposedly) to Alexander McKENNA and Mary Anne COPELAND.