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My 3rd great grandmother, Sarah Edwards nee PETERS, was born in Cork circa 1839.

If anyone is related, or able to assist in giving me more information on my ancestors, I would greatly appreciate their help.

Sarah's parents were James PETERS ( reportedly a cutler by profession) who married Catherine PRESTON.

Family lore is that both of her parents died in their home of starvation after giving their children all the food during the potato famine, leaving Sarah and her younger brother to go to the poorhouse.

Later, Sarah arrived 8 Dec 1854 in New South Wales on the Lady Kennaway, aged 18 years, she was a Childsmaid from Cork, Ireland, and could read and write and listed as Religion Church of Rome.

I would really like to know if her brother survived to have his own family...

Thanks,
Michele

Hi Casey,

Michele Jurlina here, and Robert and Bridget are my fourth great grandparents.

I have sent you messages in other forums, but have not had a reply, although you may be in contact with my cousin, Glenys Shorter.

I do wonder that Robert Sherwood (84) could be confused with Robert Sherwood (39). However, it is quite feasible that Bridget, as a 30 year old woman, would have started her family, and it is certainly possible that her aged husband could be the father.

Our own research and oral family history confirms that our ancestry is from Monasterevin, and the passenger information from the Premier reinforces our existing information that:

Bridget (35- daughter of John and Ann Dunn) arrived on board the "Premier" 1 July 1840 with her husband Robert (39??  - son of John and Mary) and children Alice (25), WIlliam (19), Emily (17), Robert (16), Nelson (14), Joseph (10), Emily (6), and Margaret (4). They were "Bounty Immigrants" to New South Wales from Monasterevan, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

The records I have sourced at NSW State Archives state that Robert , son of a farmer, was a Cotton Weaver (not a farmer) and of the Protestant religion and Bridget is described as a House Servant by occupation.

There is a also document which has been transcribed from the original for immigration records held by the NSW State archives, which clearly describes Emily, the daughter of Robert and Bridget on board the same ship (Premier), as a 17yo single woman, a Child's md. by occupation, and of the Protestant religion. It also says she is sister to Alice and William.

I believe that a  discrepancy has occurred as Emily would have been 16 years at embarkation, and therefore listed as a child (perhaps a transcription error has made "6" years, not 16?). Having turned 17 years en voyage, she is now entered on immigration in NSW as a single young woman, hence her own separate entry as for her older siblings, Alice and William. 

Also, as Robert and Bridget's marriage March 20 1818 in Monasterevin, Leinster, and given Bridget's age, she may only be mother to William (my 3rd GGfather), Emily, Robert, Nelson, Joseph and Margaret. The older children being presumably from his Robert's first marriage. As Alice married a Baker, and the names are so common, I have not been able to document this (yet).

William Dunn Sherwood married my 3rdGGrandmother, Catherine, on arrival in NSW.  She travelled with the family (according to my grandmother's recount) as a nanny to the younger children. Catherine Ryan, daughter of William Ryan and Margaret nee Sheridan) is certainly listed in the passenger list of the "Premier", and was also from Monasterevin.

I do have more info of their descendants, if you are interested...

Regards,
Michele