Mary Keefe and James Diggins ?

[lyn22]

My third great grandparents Convict James Diggins transported 1832 on Lady Harewood 2 he got his ticket of leave 1841  born 1815 England died 1879 N.S.W. They had 12 children first born 1852 N.S.W. Mary Keefe born 1833 Ireland ? died 1869 N.S.W. Australian Cemetery Index Cowra N.S.W Daughter of Michael Keefe and married James Diggins. I cannot find a Permission to Marry or when they married or how Mary arrived in Australia might be Irish Famine Orphan arriving on the John Knox in 1850. Can anyone see something I have missed or point me in the right direction. I hope I have not asked this before. Thanks Lynette

[Dundee]

Hi Lynette,

If James served his full 14 year sentence he would have been free by 1846 so wouldn't have needed permission to marry after that year.  Do you have a birth certificate for any of their children born after civil registration started in 1856?  This should give a date and place of marriage which you can then check to see if the marriage actually happened.  The birth cert. of the youngest known child is usually the best value as it will detail the numbers of children previously born to the couple. 

It should also give Mary's place of birth so that you can look for an immigration record.  There were two girls named Mary KEEFE on the 'John Knox' and neither named their father as Michael; both were from Co. Cork, one with parents Patrick and Ellen, the other with parents William and Elizabeth.

Debra 

[judb]

You have probably seen this informative and detailed Obit for one of the sons, also James d 1936.

From the Burrowa News
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/102509719

Mention of death
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/102500294

Family Thank You for condolences
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/102509657

There are some In Memoriam notices as well.

Judith

[lyn22]

Hello Debra thank you for that I will get the youngest child birth certificate. Would there be much information on Mary's Death Certificate.

[lyn22]

Hello Judith I had not seen the notices from Trove I am not very good at finding records on there. It was lovely to see what a well liked man their son James was. I have saved the articles and will add them to my tree. Thank you for your time.

[Dundee]

Hi Lynette,

The amount and accuracy of information on a death cert depends on the knowledge of the informant.  You can see here http://www.jaunay.com/bdm.html what you can expect to see and the questions relating to place of birth, age and how long they lived in the colony are the most useful for finding an immigration record.  The birth certificate would be more accurate regarding Mary's place of birth as the info would likely have been given by her or her husband.  Often it will just say England or Ireland but at least you will know you have the right country.

Transcriptions are cheaper than official certs and contain the same information, details are here http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/bdm_fh.html#transcription

Debra 

[lyn22]

Thank you Debra I will give it a go and see thank you for helping Take Care Lynette 

[Aussie1947]

Hi Lynette,

Nothing on the marriage but

In August 1832 James Diggins (Lady Harewood), weaver, allocated to W. B. Carlisle, Hunter River.

Gerry

[lyn22]

Thank you Gerry I will see what I can find on W. B.Carlisle. James trial was at the Old Bailey and I have the record from his trial November 1831. He stole a parcel that had 2 pieces of paper and 14 pairs of drawers. It was his second offence and in April the same year he was caught by the same Policeman using the name of James Thompson he stole a book. He did not seem to get in to any trouble here in Australia that I have found. PS I love my Convict relatives I always say that is were I get my strength from. Take Care Lynette