Hannah Lynch
Hannah Lynch was the daughter of Maurice Lynch and his wife, Mary Moynihan, who lived in Listowel, a town near the Southwest coast of Ireland in County Kerry. Griffiths Valuation for 1852 indicates the Lynch family lived at a place called Glanaphuca, a street near the river which is now a carpark.
The shipping records for the “Anglo Saxon” which arrived on October 24, 1854 indicate that Hannah’s parents, Maurice and Mary were both dead (perhaps because of the Great Irish Famine), but that Hannah’s brothers, Andrew and Maurice (a former convict) were already in Australia and living in Hartley, near Lithgow. Aged twenty-one, and a cook, she came along with her brother, sister-in-law and their child. They were all remittance immigrants. Co-incidentally, she was on the same ship which carried James and Mary Goward who were also my g-g-parents through a different line.
Between 1848 and 1870 there were two methods opens to Irish women of gaining a government-assisted passage to NSW. Under the Assisted Immigrant of Act of 1852 (NSW), she was obliged to pay Đ1 to the Commissioners towards her fare, to provide herself with a sea chest of stipulated clothing for the voyage and to pay her fare from home to a port in Ireland where she could obtain a cross-channel steamer to the port of departure in the United Kingdom. The cross-channel fare and all her other travel costs were paid by the NSW government. She would also have been obliged to sign an indenture binding herself to seek employment in NSW and form her wages, over two years, pay back the Đ13 it had cost the colony to provider her with a passage. Alternatively, she could pay the money and be free to do as she wished on arrival in Sydney .
According to the shipping records, Hannah Lynch was a cook and she could both read and write. However, the historian, Richard Reid, in “Irish Female Assisted Immigration”, published in Irish Women In Colonial Australia (edited by Trevor McClaughlin), argues that such statements need to be taken with a grain of salt. He argues that many of the assisted immigrants had no history of work at all and that many were looking for their first paid employment. He also argues that many of those who said they could read and write were unable to sign their own names.
Under the name Honorah, it appears that she married James Hayes very soon after her arrival in Australia (V1854699 100/1854). In fact, considering the timing, you have to wonder if there might have been some arrangement for a marriage already in place. Or, it might just be that arriving in Australia from a background in poverty, marriage was just the thing you did.
James Hayes (also originally from Ireland) had come to Australia with his family on the Sir George Seymour which left Falmouth (Cornwall) on December 26, 1851 (?) and arrived in Sydney on March 22, 1852 (NSW Records 2136, 2463). The shipping records lists the following members of the Hayes family as Daniel (40) and Hannah (39), James (19), John (23), Margaret (14), Mary (17), Michael (22), and Patrick (24).
James and Hannah married at St Mary’s in 1854 (V1854699 100/1854) and they had three children together: Hannah (registered as Ann) V18563918 72/1856; Mary 2580/1856 (at St George); and James V18593658 142B/1859 (at St George). James Hayes died on September 18 1860 at George St, Redfern 580/1860.
Sometime over the next few years, Hannah relocated from Sydney to Braidwood which is where she married John Noonan on April 26, 1867 (1725/1867) under the name Hannah Hayes. As to how and why she ended up there, I don’t know at this stage. I note there’s a Michael and Ellen Hayes who had children in Braidwood around this time. Perhaps this was Hannah’s brother and sister in law?
There is some debate amongst those researching the origin of John Noonan. If you have further information which can clarify things, please comment.
John Noonan
SCENARIO ONE:
There is a shipping record for a John Noonan who came to Australia (along with his brother, Daniel) as an Assisted Immigrant in 1858. Leaving Liverpool, England on March 10, 1858 on board the Herald Of The Morning, they arrived in Sydney in June 25, 1858. It is possible, though totally unconfirmed, they come from Scrowmore, Kilbeheny, Limerick, bordering on County Cork.
The shipping records indicate they were both Catholic, farm labourers from Limerick, Ireland and that neither could read nor write. They were Assisted Immigrants, which means their passage was subsidised or paid for through one of the several assisted immigration schemes which operated to New South Wales from the United Kingdom and other countries.
They were, undoubtedly, looking for gold as they soon headed to Araluen, near Braidwood, NSW and listed at marriage their occupations as Gold Miners.
Daniel married Mary Conroy, born in County Clare, the daughter of John Conroy and Mary Waters (both born in Ireland) on October 10, 1868, at Araluen. They had two children; Johanna and Margaret. Daniel died on September 5, 1900 and was buried on September 6, 1900 at Araluen. Mary died on October 25, 1920 and was buried on October 26, 1920 at Araluen, NSW.
SCENARIO TWO:
A couple of researchers have located …
shipping records for an Ellen Noonan aged 50 and her 3 children, Daniel 30yrs, Mary 22yrs and Ellen 20 yrs. They arrived from Tipperary in Jan. 1860 on board the Alfred. They were remittance passengers. We think John had arrived ealier and helped pay their way. Pat found an indication that John sponsored Ellen, widow, Daniel, Mary and Ellen. A deposit was made by a John Noona(i)n on the 7/3/1859. There is a film for this but I haven’t seen it. The family settled in Araluen. On Ellen’s death certificate (1875 age 61) it states she has 2 sons and 2 daughters living. It also says she has 4 boys and 5 girls deceased! Her spouse is listed as Matthew Noonan. She married in Ireland when she was 17. At John and Hannah’s wedding the witnesses were a Daniel and Ellen Noonan both who made their mark. The shipping records state that Daniel and Ellen could not read or write.
Daniels d.c states he was 70 in 1900 and he’d been in Aust. for 40 years which fits with the 1860 shipping records If this is the right family them John would have arrived about 1856 and been about 24 years old but like the Herald of the Morning John Noonan we haven’t been able to track him down.
Under this second scenario, there is evidence John Noonan came from Tipperary.
SCENARIO THREE:
Recently, researcher Lyn Byrne has also raised the prospect of John have coming to Australia in 1841 with his parents. She writes “My grandfather was Patrick Francis Noonan Son of Joseph Noonan and Mary Smith. I have records from National Archives which have Timothy Noonan and Wife Elira travelling to Australia from Limerick Ireland. They arrived in 1841 on Portland They had 4 children Timothy John Thomas and Ellen. I believe the son John married Hannah Hayes. Very excited to find your web site thank you”
Do you have any information which could clarify any of these scenarios?
THE STORY CONTINUES…
For at least 10 years after their marriage John and Hannah continued to live at Araluen and this was where their children were born.
While John’s brother, Daniel continued to live in the area until his death in 1900, John and Hannah at some stage moved to the Bega District (probably about 1885, according to the Electoral Rolls).
After arriving at Bega, they lived at Candelo (spelled Nunan on the 1886-1887 Electoral Roll) and then at Carralla at Sandy Creek, near Candelo (according to the 1892-1893 Electoral Roll)
Death of Hannah and John
Hannah died on March 26, 1900 at Buckejo (4767/1900) and was buried the following day at Candelo. I cannot locate a death notice in “The Bega Standard” unfortunately.
Although I haven’t cited his death certificate, he apparently died of chronic nephritis, which is a chronic inflammation of the tissues of the kidney.
Unfortunately, his death record (and that of his brother Daniel) lists only the name of his father, Matthew, so far making the search for information about his earlier life in Ireland difficult to confirm details. So far.
Children
* Mary Noonan was born April 30, 1868 at Araluen West, NSW (7326/1868). She married James Collins on September 11, 1893 at Candelo NSW. She died on April 1, 1953 at Lismore and was buried in the RC Cemetery at East Lismore. With thanks to Ted Noonan’s site, their children were Annie Alice Collins
(born Candelo 1895, died LIsmore 1954), James Lawrence Collins (born Candelo 1900), and buried September 10, 1974 at Lismore) and Leo Patrick Francis Collins (born at Candelo on April 18, 1904) and died at Lismore on October 27, 1955.
Her funeral notice appeared in “The Northern Star”
COLLINS – The funeral of MARY COLLINS will move from St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) following a service commencing at 11am for the Roman Catholic portion of the Lismore Cemetery. WILL RILEY AND SON Funeral Directors.
On March 31, 1953, The Nothern Star reported…
MRS. MARY COLLINS: The death occurred in Lismore yesterday morning of Mrs. Mary Collins (83), a resident of 114 Alexander Parade, North Lismore. Mrs. Collins was born on the South Coast, and as a young woman came to the Richmond River and had since lived in the Lismore district. She is survived by two sons, James (North Lismore) and Leo Collins (South Lismore). One daughter, Mrs. A. Hayward (North Lismore), and one sister, Mrs. J. O’Brien (South Lismore). The funeral will move from St. Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore, on Wednesday, following a service commencing at 11 a.m., for the Lismore cemetery.
On April 2, 1953, The Nothern Star reported…
MRS MARY COLLINS – Mrs Mary Collins who died in Lismore on Monday was buried yesterday morning in the Roman Catholic portion of the Lismore Cemetery. A service was conducted in St Carthage’s Cathedral Lismore by Rev Father P. Galligan, who also conducted the service at the graceside. The pall bearers at the Cathedral were Jim and Leo Collins (sons), Kevin, Vince, Mick and Sam Hayward, and at the cemetery, Leo Collins, Kevin, Mick and Sam Hayward, L Layton and Peter Birrell. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Will Riley and Son
* Matthew Noonan was born September 4, 1870 at Braidwood, NSW (7718/1870).
* Joseph Noonan was born about 1875 at Braidwood, NSW. He married Mary Smith on February 7, 1895 at Bega. He also married Maude Lillian Easdown on October 22, 1913 at Casino. He died on May 18, 1926 at Collins Creek, near Kyogle. With thanks to Ted Noonan’s website, there is a list of the children from both marriages.
1st Marriage – Mary Smith on February 7, 1895 at Bega
1. John Joseph NOONAN
2. Denis James NOONAN
3. Matthew Augustine NOONAN
4. Michael Sebastian NOONAN
5. Patrick Francis NOONAN
2nd Marriage – Maude Lillian Easdown on October 22, 1913 at Casino
1. Thomas Ettrick NOONAN (Died at Kyogle on March 17, 1989)
2. Florence Emma Mary NOONAN
3. George Edmund NOONAN
4. Charles Hamilton NOONAN (Died at Toowoomba on March 20, 1989)
5. William Albert Allenby NOONAN
6. boy NOONAN
7. Ellen Kathleen NOONAN
8. Lena Joan NOONAN
The following two funeral notices demonstrate a common family trait: to call people by their second name or a variation of their first, or something totally differet altogether.
NOONAN, THOMAS ETTRICK – March 17, 1988 at the Cedars Nursing Home, Casino late of Colin St, Kyogle. Loved brother of Lillian Hayes (dec’d), Mary Moor (Urbenville), George (dec’d), Charlie (Toowoomba), Bill (dec’d), Nell Reeves (Collins Creek), Joan Coleman (Sydney) and loved uncle of their families. Aged 73 years. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral to leave Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Kyogle, TOMORROW (SATURDAY) after a service commencing at 10.00am for the Kyogle Lawn Cemetery. AC. RAYMOND Funeral Services, FDA NSW Ph Kyogle 321720
NOONAN, CHARLES – Of Joyce Street, Toowoomba, formerly of Kyogle, passed away 20/3/89, loved husband of Nancy, loved father and father-in-law and Pop of Debbie, Billy, Mike and Jenny Groth and Loban and Sandy, loved brother and brother-in-law of Lil Hayes (dec), Tom (dec), Mary Moore (Urbenville), Nell Reeves (Kyogle), Bill and Joan Coleman (Sydney), George (dec), Bill (dec). Interred Toowoomba 20/3/89. RIP
* Ellen Noonan (Lena) was born 1876 at Braidwood, NSW (8810/1876). She married James Joseph O’Brien at Bega in 1895 (717/1895). Their first child, Matthew James (known as Robert) was born at Candelo in 1896 (2309/1896). The birth records for their other children indicate they lived at a number of locations around the South East including Bemboka (1898 and 1899), Candelo (1900), Bega (1901 and 1905). Soon after the birth of their daughter Mary, the family moved to the NSW North Coast, probably in about 1908 or 1909. They continued to farm at Ettrick until the early 1920s. Over the next ten years they lived at a number of locations including Boorie Creek (1926), 89 Bridge Street North Lismore (on the right hand side, just past the pub as you head towards RRHS) (1928), James Joseph O’Brien died on the weekend of June 10-11, 1944 and was buried in an unmarked grave in the East Lismore Cemetery on Monday, June 12. Throughout the 1940s, Lena continued to live at the house in Kyogle Street, along with her son and daughter-in-law, Albert and Bertha. She died at Lismore in May 1953 (21816/1953) and is buried with her husband and son, Matthew in an unmarked grave in the East Lismore Cemetery.
Notes
1. Griffiths Valuation 1851 lists a “Matthew Noonan” (the name of Daniel and John’s father according to their death certificate) as well as a “John Noonan” both living Scrowmore, Kilbeheny, Limerick. There is also a Timothy and a William in Scrowmore. There are only three listings for a Matthew Noonan in the whole of County Kerry, and all three are in Scrowmore, so it’s possible, though not guaranteed they were from Scrowmore, which is located in Kerry, not far from County Cork. This needs further investigation, as Noonan was the third most common surnames in Kilbeheny in 1851, with a total of 25 households with the name Noonan. Graveyard records for Kilbeheny spell the name Nunan.
2. I received the following information from Listowel Library, following a request for information about Glanafhuca, where Hannah’s family lived in 1852 according to the Griffiths Valuation.
The Information you require can be found in J.Anthony Gaughan’s book Listowel and its Vicinity.
Pound Lane seems to be the main street with Church street and Glanafhuca branching off it.
Glanafhuca runs west from Pound Lane. It is named after a spirt which at one time haunted this area. It extends on one side as far as the Ballybunion road and on the other almost to a point opposite the Presentation convent.
3. There appears to have been a siginificant number of famine orphans from Listowel including one called Johanna Hayes. Perhaps there was a Listowel connection to James Hayes, her first husband?
4. Hannah’s First Husband was James Hayes. James Hayes (originally from Ireland) came to Australia with his family on the Sir George Seymour which left Falmouth (Cornwall) on December 26, 1851 (?) and arrived in Sydney on March 22, 1852 (NSW Records 2136, 2463). The shipping records lists the following members of the Hayes family as Daniel (40) and Hannah (39), James (19), John (23), Margaret (14), Mary (17), Michael (22), and Patrick (24). James and Hannah married at St Mary’s in 1854 (V1854699 100/1854) and they had three children together: Hannah (registered as Ann) V18563918 72/1856; Mary 2580/1856 (at St George); and James V18593658 142B/1859 (at St George). James Hayes died on September 18 1860 at George St, Redfern 580/1860. Note, the death record says James was 26 years old when they married, but this just doesn’t add up. That said, ages on certificates tended to be fairly rubbery in these days.
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