Hugh GAFFNEY Tasmania

[redmr2red]

Hi all, I'm trying to find when Hugh Gaffney arrived in Tasmania.

The first I have of him is his marriage to Catherine Whelan in 1851.  They have 13 children to 1876, I have all them.  I have also found the Beta Newspaper article on his unfortunate demise under a train in 1886.

But I can't seem to find him in arrivals to Tasmania nor in any Convict lists to Tasmania. 

Any help appreciated, Kevin

[jorose]

http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=2
 - if you look at the departure lists you see a couple records for Hugh Gaffney in the 1850s, heading to Melbourne (presumably just visiting?).  It says he was free/free by servitude, and came on the Isabella Watson.

In the convict records he is listed as "Hugh Gafney" came in 1842 on the Isabella Watson, also there is a Francis Gafney on the same voyage (brothers?). There are parts of the convict records that are online that you can look at.

[redmr2red]

Thanks Jorose, yes I did see those two listings, I assume he had business in Melbourne.  One of his sons was Francis b. 1867 so it could be a brother.  One of those listing says "free by servitude", does that indicate he was a convict?

I am unable to find when he first came to Tasmania.  He married in 1851 so it had to be before then.

Kevin

[jorose]

Yes, "free by servitude" indicates he had been a convict (but his time had finished) and the name of the ship, Isabella Watson, that he came on is also listed.  (That's what 'Ship to Colony' means, the original ship which he came on from the UK).

If you look at the convict records he is there. The surname is just listed as "Gafney". The ship - "Isabella Watson" matches the departure records.  Some of the records have been digitised - in the conduct records he is on page 73, summary of that info:

Convict "Hugh Gafney" was tried at Cavan in 1842 and sentenced to 7 years for Robbery, he was a Roman Catholic, aged 27, b. Co Cavan. He was tried with his brother, who was also on the ship. Francis has similar details but was aged 19.

[redmr2red]

Many thanks Jorose,     

Now off to Ireland to find out what I can.
 
Kevin

[redmr2red]

Anyone got any Irish contacts to find the parents of Hugh Gaffney (or Gafney) born 1814 in Co Cavan and his brother Francis Gaffney born 1822 possibly in Co Limerick, assuming the parents moved around.

I have tried on the Irish section

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=420721.new;topicseen#new

with no luck with finding the parents so far, and the Irish Roots pay site is unbelievably expensive at 5 Euro a single search.

Kevin

[kwhite6]

Hi Kevin,
I too am stumped with Hugh Gafney. I know quite a lot about his Australian family, have some photos (but not of him) and a copy of his marriage certificate and his death certificate. Both of which are unhelpful in getting me further back. His wife was born at sea and on her death certificate it is listed that she had 11 children. Is it possible that Hugh had other children in Ireland or a previous marriage??? His eldest daughter Catherine - born in TAS -  was one of the founding members of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration so I have contacted the Catholic Church in the hope that they may have some biographical information. Catherine aka Mother Stanislaus, travelled to Ireland later in her life and died in Wexford. I don't know if she had relatives there or not. I also know that there is some connection to Nenagh, Tipperary but cannot be sure that the connection is through the Gaffney line. But might be worth looking into. There were certainly a higher concentration of Gafneys in Cavan than in Nenagh around that time though. I would love to know any information you might come across. I will be sure to share any that I find or have.
Kindly
Kate

[kwhite6]

Hi Kevin,
Will do. Check emails.
xK

[redmr2red]

Thanks, BTW Welcome to Rootschat.  It is a fabulous Forum.   

Kevin