Anna, If we are related, it is a very long time ago. My Biven ancestors moved from Maryland to Kentucky in 1803. Before that, I don't have a lot of firm records. However, I do know that two Biven brothers were thrown out of England on a (debtors) prison ship to the colonies in the mid-1600's. Unless your ancestors moved from the (US) states to Australia, we're not connected unless it is WAY back in time (further than I have researched so far). Interesting thing is our Biven family re-uses first names. My great-great-grandfather was a James and his grandfather was a James. I have a first cousin (my father's brother's daughter) named Anna also. It was supposed to be an old family name according to my grandfather. It has been a tradition to re-use the first names so that there is additional evidence as to what line a Biven came from. Our name has been, on various official documents, been spelled Biven, Bivens, Bevin, Bevins, Bivan, Bivans and, on one document, my gggrandfather signed James Bivn (although, the census for that timeframe lists him as over the age of 20yrs and cannot read or write). I do know the name originates from Wales and was a very old Welsh name. I also know that some people get incensed to think it has anything but a very good meaning. I won't go into it here but, I've been slammed on the internet by pseudo-historians that want to give it a high minded meaning and anything less infuriates them. As far as I can tell, we come from common stock, were generally farmers and don't seem to mind moving a lot. My parents have been moving most of my life. I moved 13 times by the time I hit the fourth grade. They've moved another three times since then. I've moved over 30 times in my life (interstate moves; not counting the in-state moves) and I'm only 49. Currently, I'm in Iraq at a base called Anaconda. I've seen and talked with a number of your country-men here and down in Kuwait (mostly at Doha, Kuwait) where I was stationed 6 months. I've enjoyed their company. I'm not counting these deployment type moves in my total either. If I did, the total would skyrocket. I'm not an Active Duty soldier (Army Reserve) but, I've been Active Marine Corps and Army both. Currently, I'm an LTC (Lieutenant Colonel).

I wish you success in chasing the family tree and, if I get leads that go to Australia, I'll try to keep your address and forward them. If you have any connection to the Griffith family, I'll send you some interesting copies of a 1640 King James Bible. There are pages in it where the owners recorded Griffith family births, deaths and marraiges from around 1621 up until 1799. So, if you meet a Griffith, let me know. The Bible entered my aunt's husband's family's possession sometime in the late 1800's in San Francisco, CA (a out port to places like Australia). Griffith's in Australia could very well have originally owned the book. I'ld be happy to share computer copies of the pages with anyone in Australia that thinks they might have a link. The copies I've made are all there is in the Bible so, there is no need to review the original. Besides, my aunt is secretive and doesn't want anyone bothering her directly. She puts up with me because I'm a nephew. Take care and God bless you and yours, James Robert Biven; LTC, CM, USAR