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Messages - aussiegrrl

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1
Cork / Re: Spike Island
« on: Saturday 04 September 10 03:32 BST (UK)  »
Hi Ken

thanks for your help. I did find the reference to my gg grandfathers being sent to Spike Island in the NAI some 6yrs ago (in their Mountjoy prison records), but didn't  have time to wait for the Spike Island records (I think the lift was out of order at the warehouse and they weren't brining records down the stairs or something). I couldn't find reference to Michael's crime in the Kilkenny papers, but I didn't think to look at Thomastown records, so thank you - this is another thing to try. And fabulous that the newspapers are now online. (As are many old Australian newspapers, through our National Library - www.nla.gov.au)

Kind regards
Karen

2
Kilkenny / Re: Thomastown CO Kilkenny Ireland
« on: Sunday 29 August 10 10:36 BST (UK)  »
Hi I'm new to this forum, but since you asked, I would love some help!

I'm looking for my great great grandfather, Michael MURPHY, who was convicted of housebreaking (probably - one record suggests sheep-killing) at Thomastown on 27 June 1849 and later transported to Tasmania. His records only say that he was from Kilkenny Co, but if he was convicted at Thomastown (rather than in Kilkenny city), might we assume he was a local lad? Convict records suggest he was 30 at the time of conviction, so dob c. 1819. The only other info I have is that he had a sister Ellen and was married with 2 or 3 children (wife Margaret). He was transported in 1852 and I think that his wife may have emigrated to 'America' by that time (based on info in his convict records).

I would love to track down his family, as poor Michael was a tragic figure - he married again in Tasmania, but suffered from depression and made multiple suicide attempts before he successfully took his own life on St Patrick's day 1890 (taking rat poison).

Cheers, Karen

3
Cork / Re: Spike Island
« on: Sunday 29 August 10 10:12 BST (UK)  »
Hi

I'm new to the list, but would be interested to hear more about the book on Spike Island that Valerie mentioned, and whether prison records may be available. I have two great great grandfathers who were imprisoned in Spike Island before being transported to VDL in 1852. None of their other records give info on where they came from beyond the name of their county, so I guess I'm hoping that the Spike Island records might.

One was Michael MURPHY of Kilkenny, convicted at Thomastown on 27 June 1849 at age 30 of (probably) housebreaking (one record says killing sheep, but two housebreaking, so I'll go with the majority). The other was Martin CONNOLLY of Galway, convicted of sheep stealing on 14 March 1850. Interestingly, they both spent time together in Mountjoy prison before being sent to Spike Island in 1851, from whence they were transported to VDL on the same ship. Perhaps it should be no surprise that the relationship kept going in Tasmania, where Michael's daughter married Martin's son.

Michael is listed in the Mountjoy records as having a wife, Margaret, and 3 children, although his later papers say 2 children. I think his wife  may have emigrated to 'America' while Michael was in prison. He later married again in Tasmania, but was a tragic figure, attempting suicide on a number of occasions, eventually succeeding on St Patrick's day in 1890 (taking rat poison). I'd really love to track him down, but 'Michael Murphy' is like looking for a needle in a haystack!

Cheers, Karen

4
Cork / Re: Leahy of Midleton, Cork
« on: Sunday 29 August 10 09:42 BST (UK)  »
Hi

I'm new to the list. I'm not sure I can help you, but I'm hoping you or someone else may be able to help me with a similar Leahy query.  My great great grandmother, Margaret Leahy, was transported from Cork to VDL in 1852, for shoplifting. She was 17 at the time (so DOB c 1835). Her convict records give her mother's name as 'Mary', brothers as James, John & Edward (so father's name likely to be one of these?) and sisters Honora, Mary, Catherine and Bridget. I know I'm clutching at straws, hoping that someone researching Leahy in Cork may have stumbled across Margaret's family (I don't even know what town she came from!). Her first daughter, to an English convict in Tasmania, was called Mary Ellen - which sounds more Irish than English, so I suspect there was an Ellen in Margaret's family too - grandmother or favourit aunt perhaps?  The only other clue I have is that the shoplifting conviction was her second - she was previously convicted at Cork for stealing money from a Mr Power.

Cheers
Karen

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