#22 Griffintown shooting leads to Riots in Montreal Streets – Shooting of James Fennell 1844

There were so many conflicting stories written of the events below. Depending on which newspaper the events were reported the slant was defined for the politics of the paper. My take is there is accuracy and exaggeration in both. The undisputed fact is that James Fennell born of County Kings, Ireland at the age of 27, was shot and killed by a man named Charles Colborn on the Griffintown streets of Montreal, the evening of December 28, 1844. 

Unfortunately, only the recount of Mr. Colborn is available because James Fennell died immediately and was not able to recount his side of the event.

Mr. Colborne, a man of well known Conservative politics was passing along by the College wall in the direction of McGill Street, and according to his recount, James Fennell and two other Irish had be following him for some time and at some point, the two others parted ways and left James to walk alone down the same street as Colborn.  Mr. Colborne states that the “Irishman cried out the known Irish cry of attack”. This was when Mr. Colborne pulled out his pistol and shot James Fennell to his death.

Mr. Charles Colborn then states he fled and took refuge at his brothers home. He then states that a “mob” of Irish attached the home, turning over tables and setting rooms on fire. He said he did escape with his life, barley. He then took refuge at a friends home, however, the “Irish mob” found him again and he fled and hid.

The other accounts of records from the Irish papers report quite differently. That James Fennell was going about his business when he was shot down by LCP (Loyal Protection Society) member Mr. Charles Colborn. At this point the LPS gangs left their ‘dens” in Hondlow’s Hotel in McGill Street and paraded the streets cheering, arriving at the widows home as she was weeping over the body of James. The LPS gang were throwing stones at the windows and screaming names at the friends and family in residence.

It’s important to know that Charles Colborne is a leading member of the organization called Cavaliers Loyal Protection Society, an unauthorized group of, militia that were trying to keep the Irish from voting on Monday next, Municipal Elections.

The following day, Sunday 29, 1844 Mr. Charles Colborn, surrendered himself to the authorities and admitted to killing Mr. James Fennell by pistol. He stated “he feared for his life”. He was not arrested, nor jailed for this murder.

Sunday evening a “Coroner Inquest” took place at the home of the deceased. During the inquest upon the body of James Fennell, 5 of the jurors returned a verdict that the deed was committed by “self-defense” and the other remaining 7 jurors stated the Mr. Colburn “willfully killed Fennell”. The transcript states that the Inquest was “unusual”. The transcript also states that some of the jurors were denied entry by friends or family of the deceased. The brother of the deceased, Michael Fennell was said to have behaved most violently, waving a bayonet about. The question also, remained as to why such a “rush” for the verdict of death. The final a legal verdict was that “James Fennell died of pistol wounds by Charles Colborn, in self-defense.” No charges for Mr. Colborn.

Election Day Monday December 30, 1844:

The disturbance began almost as soon as the poll was opened.  A group of Irish laborer’s took possession of the front of the polling place, which was merely a window in a house.  A party on horse back charged them to drive the back, possible LPS.  Some severe injuries were received on both sides.  Shots were fired and some were wounded.  By 10 O’clock a detachment of artillery were called, then the election polls opened and voting went smoothly and quickly.  

At 3 o’clock, the riots began again. A house occupied by a person named Brennan, and from which shots were said fired contained persons pledged and armed for the purpose to take “blood for blood” for the death of James Fennell.  This led to an attack on the Brennan’s house, shots were fired from both sides.  One shot took the life of a young man named John Johnson who was in the streets outside the house of Brennan, a shots entered his chest and killed him instantly.  It is unclear if he is a member of the Loyal Protections Society or just got caught up in the riot.

Eventually the military arrived and sent volleys of musketry into the house, the soldiers charged and took eighteen prisoners, amongst the names of the prisoners was Michael Fennell, brother to deceased James Fennell. None of the persons outside of the home firing guns and rioting were arrested.

10 Aug 1845 Trial for the Murder of John Johnson. Two of the Eighteen men arrested the day of Dec 30th 1844 were tried for the murder of John Johnson. Michael Fennell and John McKeon. Both men in late twenties, both men Irish. The trial lasted three days and the verdict of “Not Guilty” for both prisoners was declared.

James Fennell, leaves a wife and young family and John Johnson leaves a wife and three children.

James Fennell

b. 1817 Birr, Kings, Ireland

d. Dec 28 1844 Montreal, Ontario, CANADA

Ring Mountain / Turtle Rock Hike

 

101 North California Hikes; a book my husband picked up for me some time ago.  I am determined to do all hikes.  So, I #31 Ring Mountain /Turtle Rock.

The trail is on Paradise Ave and easy to find by the parked cars and signage on the side of the road.  This was March and the weather was perfect for a hike, no rain yet, a bit cloudy, which was great because there is no shade on this trail. The trails were a bit muddy from a previous rain.  This was a treat for Abby who made it a point to find the deepest puddles and run through them.  Ring Mountain trail is uphill and to the left is a creek that was flowing pretty strong considering California keeps complaining about a water shortage.  There is a stair way that leads through the only patch of trees on this hike, which is absolutely beautiful.

We made it to the top in 30 minutes seeing the beautiful native flowers of this area.  California Poppies, still closed, not quite ready to bloom, the red flowers and some sort of lily, blue and white.

From the top of the trail the view was is the whole SF Bay area.  San Quentin Prison, the coast of the San Francisco Bay and the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Oh, yes and of course the city of San Francisco, such a classic view.

Turtle Rock is at the top of the hike, however, it does not look like a turtle to me.  There was a family with children climbing all over the rock, laughing and taking pictures.  I’m not a geologist and know nothing about rocks etc., however, I do know that Turtle Rock and the rocks we saw while hiking had colors of blue, green, yellow.

The hike back down the loop was less beautiful, we did not go by the creek or the stairs through the trees.  It was straight down the hill side, looking at San Quinten the whole way down.

The whole hike took about 2 hours total.  A nice days hike, close to home and yes, I’d go again.

but, no dogs allowed;

Jack London Trails, Glen Ellen, CA

Hiking, Cemeteries  – but no dogs allowed;

My husband and I planned a hike at the Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen, CA on a wet spring Saturday afternoon.  We packed our backpacks for the day, water, food, hats etc., all that you would need for goods day hike and oh, yes on big dog.  I hate hiking without Abby. I had a 4 mile hike mapped out and we were ready.  We parked the car, got our backpacks, and started walking to the Wolf House and were abruptly stopped by a ranger stating that dogs were not allowed on the trail.  Are you kidding me. . . We were however, allowed to walk her, on leash, on the paved trail that looped the Wolf House, Ruins and the grave grove.  Ok, so not a total waste of time. Abby however hated every step, having to be on leash.

It had just rained and the path was wet with leave and mud puddles galore for Abby.  As I said the The House of Happy Walls was the first sighting of a past civilization.  The home Charmain London after the death of her husband from 1934-1955;  The House of Happy Walls is now a museum, however, again, No dogs allowed.  So we started the “paved” trail, not a hike more like a walk in the woods.  About a mile into the woods we came to the “Ruins” of the Wolf House which was to be the home of Jack and Charmain.  So beautiful, that my words cannot express so I’ve posted some pictures.  Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the building before completion and it was never rebuilt.

As I said the paved trail is a loop, so we continued on along to find Grave Grove.  The beauty of this grove is without words.  The first gravesite is that of the Greenlaw children.  Pioneer children that were buried there well before Jack & Charmain bought the land.

The story told is that one day Jack & Charmain were riding on the property and came to the grove were the children were buried.  At that time Jack was so moved by the lonely grave he told Charmain that if he were to die before her to bury him in the grove so he could be with the children.

Jack London died 11/22/1916 at 41 years; Jack’s ashes were laid to rest under a rock from the ruins of the Big House, in a small knoll overlooking the Valley of the Moon.

Jack London: writer, socialist, farmer and adventurer.

born 1/12/1876 San Francisco, CA

died 11221916 Glen Ellen, Ca

Charmain Kittredge London; 1955 her ashes were buried with Jacks

born 1871Wilmington, Los Angeles, CA

died 1955 Glen Ellen, CA

 

Calvary Cemetery, NY – Disappointed

Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY

49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd

Woodside, NY 11377

Re: Cemetery index received.

To whom it may concern,

I’m very disappointed in the integrity of work that I received from Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY.

It took me a long time to order archived cemetery records due to the high cost you charge.  The charge 3 times the amount of any cemetery I’ve ordered records from in the past. I decided that maybe the cost would be worth the information, since I can’t get any further with my New York ancestors.

From other cemeteries I have received the actual copy of the cemetery records, if it was still in existence, also at times there were obituaries attached, bill of sale receipts for the grave or coffins, parish records, this made me hopeful of finding information.  Thinking I would receive the same type document copies I paid the high cost and waited for my record copies.

The only information I knew previous to paying and requesting these cemetery records was; Ann and Michael Marnell were two of the six grave.  Also that Thomas Quene purchased the grave sites and Ann’s sister was married to Thomas Quene.

When I received my letter from Calvary, it was a one page typed letter, not copies of any of the six g raves.  Only 4 pieces of information was pulled from the six records from varies times in history was supplied to me. (Information decided for me from the original cemetery records.)
1) Name of the deceased; Also, each name was spelled differently and incorrectly. I find hard to believe that each record was incorrect. Therefore the person at Calvary was either not paying attention or just didn’t care about the records transcribing. I will never know.

Marnell, Murnell, Quene, Quinn, Quane and Quain.  This lead me to have little confidence in any of the information I paid for.

Also, information copied was;

2) date of interment; 3) age of deceased; 4) place of birth – nothing regarding the parish or mortuary used.

If Calvary Cemetery does not want to provide “cemetery records” then they should let family researcher know and not take payments.  Also, incomplete and incorrect information should never be passed on, this is not acceptable nor professional.

If I pay for something I’d like the whole of it and decide for myself what is important and what’s not important for my research.

Oh, and to add to this there was a letter attached requesting a payment of $1801.00 for unpaid upkeep charges. Serioursly. . . I’ll bet they have past payment records of upkeep somewhere, if they would only take the time to look.

I’m not expecting a responds, however keep this dissatisfaction in mind next time you pull records for a paying customer.

 

#21 Manuel Franco Aliphat – Wives and children (known)

The Marriages & Families of Manuel Franco Aliphat

My g.g. grandfather Manuel Franco Aliphat was what my daughter today would call “a player”. Having children in Mexico and California, from his many marriages and relationships. I don’t know where in Mexico he was born, however according to the San Francisco, CA Funeral Records his parents were Manuel Alipaht & Matinana Franco and he was born in 1856. His obituary does read. “originally from Colima, Mexico”.

The first time Manuel married he was 20 years as was his bride Mercedes Del Refugio Villegas Bovadill. They married at the Catholic Church – San Felipe de Jesus in Colima, Colima, Mexico on 9/27/1876. Mercedes and Manuel had a child that died sadly, the same day his was born in 1878. Mercedes died shortly after at the age of 24.

On April 17, 1893 in Colima, Mexico Manuel tied the knot again to the very young and lovely, Carmen Pineda (daughter of Juan Pineda and Simona Navarro) – see wedding pic.
Young Carmen gave Manuel three children.

Manuel Celedonio Aliphat
b. 3/3/1893 Colima, Colima, Mexico
Registered birth: 4/21/1893 Manuel Celedonio Aliphat Pineda
d. 11/23/1857 Alameda, CA

Maria del Carmen Aliphat
b. 10/29/1894 Colima, MX
d. 8/27/1989 Sacramento, CA

Eugenio *(Diego or Digno) Aliphat Pineda
b. 8/11/1896
c. 1896 records San Felipe de Jesus, Colima, Colima, Mx
d. 1924 San Francisco, CA

Carmen and the children came to San Francisco, California and lived with her sister in the late 1890’s. Manuel, started a grocery business in Chiapas and traveled back and forth from Mexico to California for many years.

Manuel must have liked family life so much, that while he was working in Chiapas he starts another family with Maria Granados Pintor.

Sofia Aliphat Granados
b. 9/30/1904 Tapahula, Chiapas, MX
d. 2/16/1996 Benito Juarez, MX

Horacio Aliphat Granado – b. 1903
d. 9/2/1984 Gustavo A Madero, Federal Mexico

Maria Elisea Aliphat
b.1/1907 Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

Manual died 4/17/1920 in San Francisco, California of an Asthma Attack. He is buried with his 2nd wife Carmen Pineda Alipaht Morris in Holly Cross Cemetery. I wont be surprised as I continue research Manuel that other wives/women and children surface.

#20″I Have No Brother Now” by Michael Fennell – 1865 b

“I Have No Brother Now”

 (Ballad)

 Words written by   –  Michael Fennell

 (Author of Erin Shall be Free)

 Inscribed to his son Charles E Fennell

 Music by -P. R. Nicholls

 

“I have no brother now”

 Oh, mother dear, come near to me

And sooth my aching brow

Since little “Bobby’s” gone above

I have no brother now.

Tell father comes and ease my mind

He knows his father’s vow

For since our little Bobby died.

I have no brother now.

Oh listen dear, you need not cry

To death we all must bow

You still can charm my heart, although

I have no brother now.

The spirit land to which he’s gone

With garlands on his brow

He’s happy there – yet I’m alone,

I have no bother now.

 Attached is a copy in Michael’s hand the rough draft of the poem he wrote to his young son Charles after the death of his youngest son Robert.

Robert E Fennell died at the tender age of 6 years in the city he was born, San Francisco, California. The obituary in the Sacramento Union states:  Robert E Fennell, son of Michael and Ellen Fennell died age 6 years, 6 months and 22 days, date of death, December 7^th, 1865   He is buried next to his older brother William H Fennell who died July 13^th, 1863, also at the age of six years.  Both boys are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, CA.

Charles Emmett Fennell, was four years when he lost he second brother and this poem was written from his father heart to help him understate the loss and to always remember his brother Bobby.

Michael & Ellen Fennell had nine children between the years 1841 – 1859. Sadly, only five of their eight children lived to adulthood.

 

 

 

#19 Finding Marnell’s

A while back I wrote a blog about Mary Charlotte Cobine, my paternal great grandmother.

At the end of my blog I throw a question out regarding Mary’s obituary and the reference of three names with the surname Marnell. The obituary was read by a few family members and some of us read it as the Marnell’s were Mary’s uncles and some of us (me included) read it as though they were Mary’s brothers.  Ok, but, how,  I knew that Mary’s mother’s maiden name was Guilfoyle, unless she had been married before and had three sons with the surname Marnell.

All resources were exhausted trying find a connection with the surnames Marnell to Cobine and Guilfoyle.

 

SF PUBLIC LIBRARY 

June 28, 1921 (pg 6) 

FENNELL – In this city , June 27, 1921 Mary C , beloved wife of Martin M Fennell, loving mother of Marion, Martin Jr., Paul and Edwin Joseph Fennell, and sister of Mrs. Howard P Anderson and John, Michael, James Marnell, a native of New York City. (New York paper please copy)

Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral tomorrow (Wednesday June 28^th, 1921 at 8:30 o’clock a. m. from her late residence 56 Parnassus Ave , thence to St. Agnes Church, where a requiem mass will be offered for the repose of her soul, commencing at 11 o’clock.  Intermit to Holy Cross Cemetery. 

So here I am two years later and I’m randomly searching in the Newspaper archives of the San Francisco Chronicle (such fun) and there is answer to my question.

May 12, 1893 SF Chronicle page 5 

Court Notice:

John & Kate Cobine granted permission to adopt Mary 12 & Annie 6 Marnell.  Parents Michael & Annie are both dead.

Michael Marnell & Ann Guilfoyle, both from Ireland, married in Manhattan, NY and had five children. Michael died in 1888 and Ann died in 1892.  The boys were sent to Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, Mt Loretta Orphanage, Staten Island, NY.  The two girl were adopted by they’re mother’s sister, Kate Cobine (nee Guilfoyle).

Michael Marnell   –                   Annie Guilfoyle

b.1830 Ireland                            b. 1843 Ireland

d. 11/2/188 Manhattan, NY     d. 1892 New York

 

John b. 9/1879

Mary Charlotte b. 1881

James Joseph b. 1883

Michael b. 1885

Annie b. 1887

#18 Joseph Cobine, Fencible to New Zealand

Joseph Cobine – Anne Coyle
B. 1801 Down, Ireland
D. 3/15/1866 Otahuhu, New Zealand

1847 – Cobine Family leaves Ireland for Auckland, New Zealand:

The British Government agreed to recruit and send a detachment of retired soldiers to New Zealand, to be known as the Royal New Zealand Fencibles Corps. The word Fencible, derived from the word ‘defence’ which was what the “Fencibles” were required to do. Defend the citizens if needed. Defend from whom you ask? Well the local natives of New Zealand, the Maoris;

Joseph and wife Ann Cobine (nee Coyle) came to New Zealand on the Fencible ship ‘Ann’, captained by C. S. Walker the ‘Ann’ sailed the end 1847. Most of the Irish Pensioners were from Northern Ireland and the passengers were picked up in Belfast. 73 fencibles, 66 women and 107 children, 37 of which were over the age of 14.
The voyage was marred by an epidemic of influenza which caused 12 deaths during the trip. Four births were also recorded. A five day stop was made at the Cape of Good Hope starting April 12th. Taking seven months in all to arrive in New Zealand the “Ann” recorded the longest Journey of the Fencible Ships.
Fencible families endured long voyages in cramped and small quarters. There were no separate cabins, or even dormitories. Families had an area about 10 feet square, with just a blanket hung around their space for privacy. They were only allowed a few possessions with them, the bulk of their belongings were stored in the hold with only limited access throughout the voyage. They cooked their food in a tiny galley, provisions consisting of salt beef and pork, preserved fish, flour, rice, ships biscuits, oatmeal, dried carrots, potatoes, dried peas, cheeses, butter, raisins, sugar, mustard, pepper, pickles, tea and coffee.
Washing was done in salt water.
On board each ship someone was designated as a school teacher so this helped keep the children occupied. A lot of the Pensioners and their wives were illiterate, as was the case with Joseph and Anne Cobine as shown on various certificates where they have signed their name with the mark of a X.

Ship records reflect
Cobine, Joseph b. 1801 DWN CNTY Ireland
Cobine, Ann
Cobine, Robert
4 Children

I guessing Robert is Joseph’s brother or cousin, Cobine is not a very common name.
Also, reflecting is a Peter Coyle, also from DWN CNY. I know that Ann’s maiden name is Coyle so this may be a tie for her family.
Posted in camps in the British Isles where pensioners were stationed were the acceptable requirements of a Pensioner that would qualify for New Zealand as a Fencible. “The men had to be of good character, under 48 yrs, (this was later lowered to 41) with a minimum of 15 yrs service. They needed to be over 5ft5inches in height, have industrious habits, robust frame and be medically approved of as fit for the occasional military duties. Those approved would be enrolled to serve for seven years. They would receive 1/3d a day in addition to their pension. They would receive free passage to New Zealand for themselves, wives and families, with rations at the public expense. They would receive an advance of three months pension on embarkation with a further advance of one months pension for each child to purchase the necessary outfit for the voyage.”
The conditions also stated that on arriving in New Zealand each pensioner would be put in possession of a cottage of two rooms, with an acre of land attached thereto, one-fourth of which would be cleared and made ready for cultivation at the public expense, preparatory to his arrival.
On taking possession of the cottage a pensioner would receive an advance of money as found necessary under the direction of his officer, for articles of furniture, cooking utensils, stock etc, as might be required.
Once embarked on the ship no pensioner would receive pay, but on landing in New Zealand would be employed on public works. If not required he would be allowed to charge out his labor provided he went no further than 5 miles away from his place of residence. If he couldn’t find work the government would find him work for the first year at a rate of 1.6d a day. They were not required to pay rent for their cottages and on completing 7 years the cottages and land were given to them.
Fencibles were required to attend regular military exercise on 12 days in each year, and on every Sunday to muster under arms, at Church Parade.
When you consider the life that most of these pensioned soldiers had in England and Ireland these conditions would have been very appealing. Most would have been living under harsh economic conditions, and the possibility of owning their own cottage and a piece of land, would have been beyond their reach in the United Kingdom. Most would have then been living in rented accommodation – often with more than one family per lodging. At that time work was hard to come by in the British Isles.
Leaving their homeland to go to a new place was nothing new for most of the Pensioners and their families, who had already travelled around the world, enduring hardships as soldiers. Their wives and children, following the regiment, would have marched behind them through India and other parts of the world. .

Joseph & Ann Cobine had 7 children
– Mary Ann b. 1828
– William b. 1832
– Sophia b. 1838
– Joseph b. 1843
– John b. 1846
– Robert b. 1849
– Elizabeth b. 1852

Wow, lots of activity on this post form 2 years ago.

This blog started off as a writing challenge to post an ancestor every week for a year. I failed as you can see only making it to the 18^th week of the year 2014.

Now that my daughter has left for college I find I have time on my hands so I started posting again for my personal enjoyment. I never felt a need to cite my findings on a blog post, and I have no plans of publishing. However, I would like to give credit to Rhonda Wood for her abundance of information regarding the Joseph & Anne Cobine.  She sent me a 10 page article she wrote from her research which I used for my post.  She is definitely the person to contact should anyone need or want Cobine information – Michael.wood@xtra.co.nz.  Also, Maureen O’Conner, has all the copies of the baptismal and military information of Joseph – zazu1pukekohe@gmail.com. This are not on the post however some may find this helpful.

I also found online the Ship Log for the Ann 1848, which references the  Cobines and Coyles arriving to Auckland and multiple books regarding life in Auckland for the Fencilbles.

Regards, Jenna

 

#17 Marna Bell – Marine Corp. Nurse

Marna Gertrude Bell
12/29/1907 San Jose, Santa Clara, CA
8/1972 San Francisco, CA

Father: Alfred Buhrman Bell
Mother: Lona C Sherburne
Husband: Herbert Sydney Stewart

With Memorial Day just around the corner I am going to pay tribute to my maternal grandmother who served in World War II as a Lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corp. That’s right women in the military. Sometimes we all forget that women played a vital role in the military during war time. My grandmother, Marna G. Bell was a Nurse, stationed a Marine Hospital on the Presidio Army Base in San Francisco, California during World War II. The picture above is with her Marine Corp Cape as she poses on the grounds of the base.

My grandmother was born in 1907 San Jose, California to Alfred Buhrman Bell and Lona C Sherburne. She graduated San Jose High School in 1925 and then attended Santa Clara County Nursing School and graduating September 14, 1927. The picture of the three nurses below was taken in front of the Santa Clara Nurses School, none of these nurses are my grandmother, she had a photo album of her time there with loads of pictures of her fellow student friends. I have a large photo of the graduating class in front of the building, however, haven’t quite figured out how to scan it.

Marna’s father died when she was a baby and her mother died right after her graduation from Nurse training. Her mother was so proud of her, she had always wanted to be a nurse herself, however, her father never allowed it. To see her live this dream was of great comfort to Lona.

In 1930, 22 year old Marna was working in a Private Hospital in San Jose and living with and caring for, her 74 years grandmother Lizzie Sherburne who was very ill at this time. Lizzie passed in 1934 and the house sold and Marna still unmarried moved in with her sister Grace and her husband Otis, in Berkeley, CA. There she got a job as a Private Nurse. This was a time in history when jobs were few and families had to pull together to keep food on the table. Grace’s husband Otis was unemployed during these times and while he was grateful for his young sister-in-laws financial help, he also felt a little put out that he was not the provider of his family. However, times were tough and Otis, accepted Marna financial assistance. Not long after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Marna, like many other nurses, joined the US Armed Forces. Marna was stationed at Marine Hospital at the Presidio Army Base, in San Francisco, CA. She moved into the Nurse’s housing, which was one of the best times in her life and where she made lifelong friends. She attended St. James Episcopal Church, walking distance from Marine Hospital. This is where she met my widower grandfather, Herbert Stewart, and his two pre – teen daughters. They married Easter Sunday, 1944 and moved to the Richmond District of San Francisco, and almost exactly nine months later my mother was born. Below is a picture of my grandmother Marna Gertrude Stewart (Bell) and my mother Anne Marie Stewart on the back porch of their home in San Francisco.

My grandmother always was a nurse, after my mother was born and the war was over, she worked at French Hospital on Geary Street in San Francisco. I remember going to visit her at the hospital with my mom and all the other nurses hugging me and giving me candy. She died August 1972 of Cancer, in her home with my mother caring for her.

 

#16 Sarah Bird – Convict, Publican and Mother

Sarah Bird

b. abt 1770 Surrey, England

d. 9/23/1842 Sydney, Australia

This is the second time I’ve written about Sarah Bird, my convict ancestor. Sarah was sentence to seven years in Australia for Grand Larceny.

25 years old Sarah was transported from England on October 1795 on “The Indispensable”, a female convict ship bound for Sydney, Australia. The travel was less interesting then some ships with only 2 deaths during the voyage. On April 30, 1796 the women arrived and were sent to Botany Bay where work duties where assigned.  Sarah worked hard and was smart about trading her valuables for the right price. She stayed out of trouble and within a short amount of time was allowed certain freedoms within the community. One of the freedoms was to engage in her own business. Sarah applied and was granted a license to open her home as a “public house”. She was still “unpardoned” however the application was granted in 1797 and Sarah Bird was the first women granted a Publican License in Australia. The “Three Jolly Settlers“ was the name on the sign that hung on the small whitewashed structure made of timber shingles, four walls, a few chairs and tables and in the back latter to the loft where Sarah slept. It was important the Sarah kept what the government called “a moral character”; otherwise the government would remove her license claiming she was of “unfit character” for the community.

A short time after she opened The “Three Jolly Settlers”, Sarah became involved with a convict by the name of John Morris. We will never know the relationship between the two, however, in 1798, just one year after she opened the “Three Jolly settlers”, John convince Sarah in leaving her home and business and move with him to Hawkebury, where he was granted a license for an Inn. During this time in Hawkebury, Sarah and John had two daughters, Sarah born 1801 and Anne born 1803. John was not a strong business man and went bankrupt and lost the Inn shortly after Anne was born. The family then moved to Norfolk Island to start fresh.

Things were never the same, John reverted back to his convict ways and became more violent with time. In 1804 he attempted to kill Sarah by slitting her throat. John was sentence to thirty years hard labor.

Sarah and her daughters returned to Sydney and there she raised her girls with the surname Bird. Sarah died in 1842, there is no obituary that has been found or death record or grave site. Sadly, the first female publican of Australia dies without a mark.

Sarah is one of my favorite ancestors, so brave and strong, sent half way around the world to a place very different from her home. She endured and clever wits and strength was passed to her daughters. Her daughter Anne became a published writer and printer for the ‘Syndey Gazzette” and Sarah married and had a large family that help build and shape New South Wales, AU.