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There are a few Matchetts in Australia who descended from three brothers who emigrated from Armagh Northern Ireland in 1852. These Matchetts originated from Surrey England. The brothers prospered and there are many Matchetts scattered along thousands of miles of rich farming land. Unfortunately for me my side of the family was disowned because when my grand father was widowed in the late 1800s he remarried an O'Connor, a Catholic. As a result of this, the family disowned him. My father the youngest of three sons from the second marriage often referred to his half brothers and sisters from his fathers first marriage, but I only ever met his half brother Jack who suffered from Cerebal Palsy. Another half sister was Frannie and one of his half brothers Henry William was killed at Gallipoli in the first world war. This makes him a key man in Australian history and his name is forever displayed on the Wall of Remembrance in the Australian War Memorial , one of the finest war memorials in the world. The family has a tradition of names like Sid, Sam and George. I recently met a Matchett who is now sixty and when he married a catholic in the late 1960s, he too was almost ostricised. Fortunately in Australia, the catholic, non catholic issue is fading and many folk could not care less about one's denomination. So if any Matchetts know anything they can add to this, please let me know. Michael Matchett mjmatchett@optusnet.com.au

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