James Herring born 1817 in England was 20 years old when he arrived in Sydney in 1837. Mary Gilmore born 1816 was 25 years old when she arrived in Sydney in 1841. They were living in Picton, NSW when they married on 6.4.1842 in the Roman Catholic Church at Campbelltown.

They had a family of 8 children: Margaret born 1843, James born 1845, Thomas born 1846, Mary Ann born 1848, Elizabeth Bridget born 1852 (named after her grandmother Bridget Gilmore), William born 1853 and Rose born 1855. Another son John died in infancy.

The book contains the family tree charts for the children who married.

James was employed as a mail contractor. He carried out his duties on horseback on the Southern Line. In 1847 the contact was given to Francis Gray. The price had been under cut.

Mary Herring was run over and killed by the Sydney train on 17.9.1863 only weeks after the train line was opened. She was buried in the Catholic Section of the Upper Picton Cemetery. Her grave has a headstone and a foot stone as per the times.

James moved to Goulburn where he died in Grafton Street, on 9.7.1874, aged 57 years. He is buried in Goulburn in an unmarked grave but the exact location is unknown.

The book contains detailed information on James and Mary's son William Herring. William married Jane Isabella Jenkins (daughter of William and Eliza Jenkins) 5.1.1876 at St. Matthew's, The Oaks (near Picton). The book contains a list of William and Eliza's 11 children born from 1839 to 1862.

A celebration was held with 200 family members to acknowledge the 150th Wedding Anniversary of William and Eliza on 2.10.1988. A church service was conducted at St. John's Anglican Church at Camden and a picnic lunch followed in the Church Hall.

The following year, on Sunday 17.9.1989, a bronze plaque was unveiled on the unmarked grave of William and Eliza in the St. John's Cemetery graveyard in the church grounds. William died 8.11.1875 and Eliza died 9.4.1902.

Many of William and Eliza's descendants are also buried in the cemetery.

THE ROAD FROM GUNDAGAI
Published 1991 by Paul Williams
Written by Catherine Herring Williams nee Herring
Printed by Fast Books
A4 size, soft cover, 130 black & white photos, newspaper articles and Obituaries
Total pages 158
Cost: $60.00 (includes postage throughout Australia)
Available from author, cheque and details to:
Mrs. Catherine Williams, PO Box 4, CAIRNS, QLD. 4870
Enquiries: Email the author