Hi Robyn,
Been pretty busy being a grandmother lately - looking forward instead of back. The time off has given us time to gather our thoughts and think again more clearly.
Haven't found anything new re Catharine pre VDL - but bits about her life in Tasmania. Chasing off bushrangers, having stuff entered into the Great Exhibition in London and also, a few years later, in Paris -( gloves in both cases! I wonder if she made them herself?) Being proprietor of an Inn and chatelaine of Killymoon. She had an interesting life it seems.
I doubt if we will ever find her past - as you yourself commented quite early in the thread. Unless, that is, something new comes to light with new records made available. I'm pretty sure she was not a convict - but that is not new!

That has been my position most of the time - not blinded, but just what I've been led to believe. Also the more I find out about Frederick, the less likely I think it that he would have married an ex-convict. ( Not impossible but . . .

Unless he married her before finding out - he only arrived in VDL after Thomas died it seems.) Trying to find him leaving the colony to return to Ireland now! He was still here early in 1858. He didn't muck around 'cos he married again in 1859.
Ah well! I'm going sideways now and finding out as much as I can about her life and times. Interesting to put her in context. It will be interesting to see if something just drops into the picture which really clears things up. While looking for other things, that might just happen. Not giving up, just going more slowly.
Many thanks for yours and JM's interest and assistance on this thread. You've been a great help. We've surely turned up many, many Catherines and managed to knock out quite a few of them . . . . and if anything else turns up - well, the thread is here to add to!
I appreciate your research skills and your access to things to which I don't seem to have entree.
Cheers

Wiggy