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ELLEN NEENAN (c1829 – 1873)
also known as ELLEN MUNDAY and ELLEN LYON

WILLIAM MUNDAY (c1808 – 1857)
THOMAS LYON (c1810 – 1895)

Ellen Neenan was born circa 1829.  No record of the birth.  Birth place is currently unknown, but probably in the St. Marys’ region, west of Parramatta. Ellen married William Munday at All Saints Church of England, Sutton Forest  2nd June 1843.  Ellen could read and write, but William was illiterate.  No consents given for that marriage.  The marriage record does not reveal any of their parent’s names.

Witnesses at the marriage were John Wales and Mira Waite, both of Mittagong. (The Waite family owned property at Sutton Forest).

William Munday was from Somersetshire in England and arrived in Australia as a convict on the ship “Burell” 19th December 1830.  He had been convicted for housebreaking and also had a previous gaol term of  3 months. On the 30th March 1828 at Taunton England, he was sentenced to transportation to Australia for life.

He was described as age 20,  5 feet 7 inches tall, ruddy complexion, brown hair, hazel/grey eyes, no education, protestant, blacksmith for 3 years. He had tattoos of a sailing ship on the upper part of body, anchor on lower part, anchor on right arm, the initials WMMMWM on left arm.

An 1837 NSW General Return of Convicts describes William Mundy  in the service of Willmott Jasper of Berrima NSW.  He was later granted his freedom and soon after, apparently enlisted in the NSW colonial army. He died 15 May 1857 at Goulburn hospital and was buried 17 May 1857 at Goulburn. On his death certificate it states that he was 45, married to Ellen Neeman. Upwards 20 years in NSW. Farmer – soldier – then nightwatchman.
 
Six known children to the marriage.

MARTHA MUNDAY  born 14 July 1844 at Mittagong.
WILLIAM MUNDAY  born 26 December 1846 at Bumbolloway.
JOHN MUNDAY  born 19 March 1849 at Bombarlow.
JAMES MUNDAY  born 14 November 1851at Bombarlow.
MARY MUNDAY  born 2 August 1853 at Bombarlow.
ELLEN MUNDAY  born 3 July 1855 at Bombala. (Probably meant to be Bumballa).

A research of land records does not reveal a property or parish called Bumbolloway. In 1822, a Mr. Jenkins and his family were the residents and land owners of a large property called Bumballa (in the county of Camden), which was located south of Sutton Forest.  Old land maps reveal Bumballa parish joined onto the parish of Marulan in the county of Argyle. In the parish of Marulan, there was a large property called Bombarlow and in 1828, the landholder’s name was William Chisholm. William Munday probably was a labourer or farmer  employed by William Chisholm.

Prior to 1857, all references to the above Munday family reveal them located in areas between Mittagong and Marulan. Research by Berrima Family History Society in 2004, revealed that Bumbolloway and Bombarlow were the same large property known as Bumballa.

Ellen Neenan (the widow of William Munday snr) was recorded as  39 years of age when she had a 2nd marriage to a Thomas Lyon at the C of E Queanbeyan 30th January 1868. Those marriage records show Ellen’s surname recorded as Mundy and her parent’s names were recorded as Denis Neenan (a sergeant) and Margaret Scully.

photo Martha Orme/Davis/Howard with some of the Maher family c1920

NOTES…..Photos of William and Martha’s daughters, Ada, Martha and Annie, reveal dark skin and aboriginal features.  An elderly descendant (in 2002) recalls Frances Ellen Davis (another of William’s daughters) was also dark skinned and had aboriginal features. Those same features are also evident in a c1925 photo of Ada’s daughter Ethel Maude Rogers.  (In contrast, Ada’s mother (Martha Orme) had her father’s English features and Ada’s 1st husband (Martin Rogers) was born in England).  Dates, places, descriptions, photos and other information, collectively indicate that the aboriginal, William Davis, who died at Berry on 27 November 1892, was Martha Davis’ husband.

Copies of various documents and certificates, show many variations insofar as dates,places and names are concerned.  Some errors could be due to illiteracy. The variations would normally indicate more than one William Davis involved, or maybe unofficial adoptions, but all the above children were definitely raised by Martha.

William’s marriage certificate of 1869, states he was born at Mittagong in 1837.
A son’s birth certificate 1885, states William Davis as age 57, born at Mittagong 1837.
William’s death at Berry 1892, states age 50, born at Burrawang.  (i.e. born 1842).
A daughter’s certificate 1890,  father William Davis age 44, born Sydney. (i.e. 1846).
A daughter’s birth certificate 1869, states father’s name is John William Davis.
A daughter’s baptism certificate 1873, states her father as William George Davis.
A daughter’s birth in Dec. 1877  father William Davis age 40 born Sydney. (i.e. 1837).
The William Davis at Braidwood Gaol  c1890, is shown as age 45.  (i.e. born c1845).

OTHER INFORMATION AND NOTES    page 1

It is most certain that our Davis and Mundy related ancestors were originally in the Robertson, Sutton Forest, Bong Bong, Burrawang, Bowral, Berrima and Mittagong areas.  There are too many instances of same surname related births, deaths and marriages registered within those areas, especially at Bong Bong and Sutton Forest.  There are instances of one or two day journeys being made from other locations, even from Yass, despite church facilities being in place at those other locations. This indicates that our Davis related family roots were probably long established and widely spread within the above mentioned areas.  In 1828, a James Davis (life sentence convict) age 30, was a shepherd indentured to the McArthur family at “Arthursleigh” Sutton Forest. Our ancestor, William Davis, was aboriginal and was born between 1837 and 1840 at  either Mittagong or Burrawang (both close to Sutton Forest and Bong Bong). That James Davis could possibly be the father of our William Davis.

A child named Henry Lucas was christened at Bong Bong in 1837. Parents were Samuel Lucas and Susan Davis, both of Inverary.  Why travel from Inverary?  Reason probably due to Susan’s siblings and family members (Davis) probably resided in areas near Bong Bong.  Susan Davis was possibly an aunt or related to our William Davis. In 1828, there was  a Martha Davis, age 20, a servant in the Futter family homestead called “Lumley Park”. Martha was a convict arriving Australia in 1828 and had been sentenced to 7 years.  Lumley is very close to Inverary.

Also in 1837, a William Clee Tomkins (aboriginal) of Yass married an Elizabeth Davis at Bong Bong. Both in the service of  I. Waite of Yass (property owner).  Abode shown as Maneira (probably a large property name or possibly meant to be Monaro). Elizabeth was a daughter of a George and Mary Davis.  Probable relatives of our William Davis.  Why travel from Yass to Bong Bong?  Could the reason be Elizabeth Davis’ parents and relatives probably all resided in areas surrounding Bong Bong?  Elizabeth Davis was most likely family related to Susan Davis mentioned above. Several members of the Waite family (mentioned above), lived in the Berrima and Mittagong areas (near Bong Bong). Myra Waite of Mittagong, signed as a witness at the marriage of our other ancestors, William Munday to Ellen Neenan at Sutton Forest  in 1843. Sutton Forest is also near Bong Bong.  In 1828, a John Waite was a stock and land owner at Bong Bong.

Another early ancestor, Jane Meggett (adopted name Orme, but recorded as Arms), married a James Henry at Goulburn in 1857. An Elizabeth Jane Henry died at Robertson in 1894 and parents were James and Jane Graham. Could Elizabeth Jane
Henry be a daughter in law of Jane Meggett?  Jane’s mother (Ellen Peters) married John Meggett at Bong Bong in 1837 (Bong Bong is very close to Robertson).  In 1875 at Braidwood, a Jane Henry married a James Abernethy. They had 6 children (1876 – 1887) and all born in the Shoalhaven area (Nowra). Could she be our Jane Meggett having a 2nd marriage?  In February 2003, a Sydney Morning Herald newspaper had a photograph of the disgraced detective, Roger Rogerson with an underworld mate whose name was Graham “Abo” Henry.  Possibly a descendant of Jane Henry (nee Meggett) or her husband’s relatives.

Jane Meggett’s mother was Ellen Peters (married names of Meggett and then Orme) but have not been able to find a death record for Ellen. Ellen was also the mother of Martha Orme/Holmes who married our William Davis.  In 1893, an Ellen Holmes died at Cassilis (north of Mudgee) and parent’s names recorded as unknown. That Ellen was born c1839 and was age 54 when she died. She was probably related to our Ellen Orme. It is known that Ellen Orme died prior to 1899.  One of Ellen Orme’s daughters had a 2nd marriage in 1899 – but mother’s name was shown as Helen Walker and deceased.