But organisers of the first Brown/Long family reunion are keen to hear from descendants to help complete a family history tree and a book.

Port Macquarie's Ellen Brown is helping coordinate the family history and the reunion.

Surnames connected to the family are: Lawrence, Dawson, Carroll, Gillies, Hudson, Trickett, Foran, Salmond, Waters, Brown, Smith, Felton/Felten, Warr/Waugh, Houghton, Borock, Cartright. Dawson, Carol, Gillies, Blog, Maddelena, Mitchell, Farrawell, Curnoe, Sydenham, Malcolm, Turnbull, Laws, Larkin, Hughes, Stokes, King, Reedy, Freeman, Sly, Haliday, Henry, Russell, Lyall, Moffat, Graham, O'Mullane, Daley, Walmsley, Anderson and Hilton.

The Brown/Long reunion will be held on the Easter weekend 2021, with the main day on Saturday April 3.

"The Brown/Long family history book will also be launched with information on all lines going back to England," she said.

"The committee is seeking contact from descendants of John Brown/Long and Matilda Goodchild Betts and we are particularly wanting contact from Elizabeth Brown/Long and James Brown's descendants, but we hope to have all lines traced.

"We are building the family tree and would like to ensure they have all living descendants' names included.

"An expression of interest form is being circulated as an open invitation along with a Brown/Long family tree with the first three generations listed, so that descendants can look at the tree and hopefully identify a grandparent, great grandparent or great, great grandparent."

A large number of very old family photos has already been collated.

The group has also accessed the McNeil Photo Collection at Macleay River Historical Society and Museum and are wanting contact from older members of the family to try to put names to faces of as many photos as possible before the reunion.

"We need to make contact with people now, so that people who are interested in the reunion can be kept up-dated with the reunion progress and where it will be held and to ensure we have the living descendants' names, birth order and spelling correct.

"On the Saturday - the family friendly day - we hope to have activities for children including a jumping castle and slide, gum boot throwing contest, period clothes to dress up in and have photos taken and other activities."

Mrs Brown said John Brown/John Long and Matilda Goodchild Betts were one of the Macleay's pioneering families and settled and lived in Euroka, near Kempsey.

Matilda married a John Brown on December 13 1863 at Euroka, and they had four children - Frederick born 1864; Elizabeth born 1865 and married James Brown; Emily born 1868 married Albert Lawrence, and Christina born 1869 married Felton.

Matilda married John Long on April 17 1869 and had a further four children; Arthur Joseph born 1872; Jane born 1879; Albert James born 1881; and, Frederick born 1889.

Mrs Brown admitted there was some "confusion" around John Brown and John Long with the family considering DNA results to help solve the mystery.

"We want to make immediate contact with any of Matilda and John Brown/John Long's family descendants to ensure everyone is included in the family tree for the book," she added.

The form and family tree can be obtained by contacting Ellen Brown, 27 Sherana Place Port Macquarie, calling 6581 1728 or emailing ellenbrown17@optusnet.com.au

If people are unsure if they are connected, they can contact Ellen or Carol 0412 136 069.

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