Topic for this week: Fast.

‘Fast’ has many meanings. I chose to interpret it as ‘a Fast Breeder’ (!)

My GGF Edwin Hunt 1837-1895 married fellow schoolteacher Margaret Morgan 1838-1920 on 19 July 1862 in Reading, Berkshire. Almost exactly one year later they had the first of their ten children, Fanny Elizabeth Hunt, on 25 July 1863.

She was followed within 14 months by her sister Margaret Hunt in 1864, then brothers Edwin, William and Arthur in 1866, 1867 and 1868; then another two sisters Florence and Alice in 1869 and 1870. Another son Walter followed almost exactly a year later in 1871. After a gap of 3 years a baby boy Ernest was born who only survived 6 months, and finally another two years later, my grandmother Edith Lillian Hunt made her entrance to the world on 1 March 1876.

All children with the exception of Alice and Ernest reached adulthood, and all emigrated to Sydney, Australia with their parents in 1879. Most married – there are a great many descendants. Many stayed in close touch throughout their lives.

Photos of an older mother Margaret show a calm, well-dressed old lady. One wonders how she coped on the long ship voyage from England to Australia. Probably NOT the way these ladies in a photo found on the web are depicted!