Samuel Dick and Susan Moody arrived in Sydney on board the Hyderabad on the 19 February 1848
The Illustrated London News of 12 August 1848 mentions that the immigrants of the ship Hyderabad were among the first ship loads of 5000 adults sent to the colony as “fresh supplies of labour.”
The Immigration Board’s list for the Hyderabad reveals Samuel Dick was a 26 year old farm labourer from Forkill Armagh. He was single, of the Church of Ireland and could read and write. From information on various documents it would seem that Samuel was born some time between 1818 and 1822 in county Armagh, the son of William and Jane Dick (as stated on arrival).
The Board’s list for the Hyderabad shows Susan Moody as 25 years old, single and of the Presbyterian faith. She was a farm servant from “Litter Row” Armagh and was able to read. “Litter Row” may be an interpretation by a clerk. The clerk would listen to each immigrant’s details on arrival and then record the information. Susan was unable to write so would not have been able to check the clerk’s entry. There is at least one place called Lissaraw in Armagh and this may be what Susan meant.
Her parents were Robert Moody, a labourer, and Letitia Donaldson.
Two months after the arrival of the Hyderabad, Samuel Dick and Susan Moody were married on 27 April 1848. Samuel signed the register and Susan put her mark. The witnesses were Thomas McGivern and Mary Goulden.
Samuel and Susan Dick lived in Redfern Sydney and had five children. Just short of their tenth wedding anniversary Samuel Dick “came by his death from injuries received by falling in a well about a height of 40 feet.” When he died, Samuel’s age was given as 40 and his occupation was stated as a labourer.
Susan was two months pregnant with Samuel’s fifth child whom she named John when he was born in October 1858. With five small children to raise, it is not surprising that Susan Dick remarried in 1860. When Susan died in 1870 she was buried as Susan Dick in the same plot as Samuel. Her second husband had predeceased her.
Are there Moodys or Donaldsons still in Lissaraw, Cloghoge or Ballymore who would have information about Susan Moody?
