Some info on Johanna Sullivan:
Johanna Sullivan was also a convict, convicted of stealing clothes County Cork, Ireland in 1832. She arrived NSW on the "Southworth". Interestingly, a Johanna Nathan was a witness at the marriage of Rachel to James Mullins. The other witness was a Dorindah Nathan. Is it too much of a coincidence that Johanna was the mother of Rachel Lewis and the person witnessing my Rachel's marriage was a Johanna.....this changing of the surnames Lewis and Nathan is doing my head in.
I have searched high and low for a death record for Johanna/Joanna Lewis. The only appropriate contender I could find is the death of Johanna Lewis in 1881. I purchased this death record, although the age at death is off. According to convict records, Johanna was born c1804. The death certificate states this Johanna was 62, giving an approx birth year 1819. I'm inclined to think, however, that this is the correct Johanna. Like Abraham/Judah, she lived a hard life. Newspaper reports show she was living at Durands Alley, an extremely poor part of Sydney and known as a haunt for prostitutes and layabouts.
This Johanna died 9th July 1881 at Bay View House, Cooks River, Canterbury. Age stated, 62.
Place of birth, Ireland.
Time in Aust. Colonies - None recorded
Married, but to whom, unknown
Children of marriage - 2 females living.
Informant - J F Grady, Superintendent, Bay View House, Cook's River
Cause of Death - Brain disease, Gastritis, Hepatitis
Length of illness - 13 years
Medical Attendant - Dr Grady
Date last seen - 9th July 1881
Place of Burial - Necropolis
Undertaker - W & H Kinsela, Sydney
Witnesses - C H Ferguson, William Smith
Bay View House was a private lunatic hospital, but it also took in patients from overcrowded state hospitals.
https://researchdata.edu.au/agy-68-bayview-house-tempe/164331The death certificate states she has 2 daughters...I've searched but cannot find any records of a birth of another daughter, pre and post marriage to Abraham. I have no clue who Dorindah Nathan is. Rachel Nathan and James Mullins were married by the Rev. James Fullerton, who was considered a "renegade" clergyman who would marry anyone. Rachel would have been under age, but there was no permission to marry. I used to wonder if the witness names were made up, but since recently formulating my theory, I'm wondering if one of the witnesses was actually Rachel's mother.
