Hi there!
I have a Heaney issue that is driving me nuts and need your help really really badly.
My 3xg-grandfather was Henry Heaney (Heany) but he was never born, never arrived in Australia and isn't dead yet! 
He did, however, marry my 3xg-grandmother and have 9 children with her 
.
The facts I have been working with to trace his origins are scant. this is what I know...
- Henry Heaney was in born in Co. Cavan, Ireland. I think it was around 1820-1823. I have his birthplace from 2 of his children's birth cerificates.
- He married Ellen Elizabeth Mooney (abt. 1824- 1898) in the Scots Church, Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on the 26th August 1850.
- Their 9 children were all born in Back Creek, Boroondara, (Kew).
- In 1865 he was a gardener as per his son Fred's birth cert
- Henry and Ellen split up in about 1867 and according to family "legend" this was due to religious differences
- In 1887 he was in QLD according to his daughter Matilda Brash's marriage certificate
- In 1894 he was a bacon curer in Ballarat as per his son, Brigham Henry Heany's death certificate
In 1931 his son Arthur's death certificate tells us he was an orchardist[/li]
Now here is the kicker...
In 1844 There is a Henry Heaney arriving with his presumed older brother Hugh, who were born in Cavan, Ireland onboard "The Wallace". I thought woohoo! but...this record is attached to another Henry Heaney on many Ancestry trees who married a Catherine McCarthy on the 29 Sep 1846 at St James' Church, Melbourne. This Henry is well documented as far as Electoral Rolls etc go and was a Carpenter living in Collingwood. This Henry had 7 children with Catherine whilst living at Rokeby St., Collingwood. He died in 1909 at this address at the age of 81.
I cannot find another Henry Heaney arriving in Australia nor born here nor dying here.
Venting to a friend, she suggested that perhaps either "my" Henry (or Ellen) were Mormon due to the name of their 6th son Brigham which would allow Henry to have 2 wives!
I also have random sightings of a Henry Heaney;
1. Grazing cattle in 1870 in Ballarat
2. In Deniliquin Gaol in 1871 age 49 for larceny of a cheque
3. Cab Horse racing in 1873
4. In 1878 there was a Henry Heaney working as a shepherd in Buckimguy, Mara Creek, New South Wales. This is near Dubbo where his eldest son, George was a carpenter/builder.
5. dying in Kew Asylum in 1894 but the problem with this is that this Henry was 41 and in 1894 my Henry was 74. This could have been his son Brigham who preferred Henery as a name but Brigham was 36 when he died.
6. living in Jolimont aged 86 working as a carter
So in this case, too much information just muddies the water.
Would anyone be able to direct me to what my next steps could be to find my Henry Heaney's birth, death, parents etc?
I have attached some certificates mentioned above.
Kind Regards
Kim
