Fairy Meadow 1841

Fairy Meadow in 1841 was the region between Wollongong in the south and Corrimal in the north. It was also referred to as Para Meadow. This study of Fairy Meadow in 1841 is aiming to identify all the residents who gave their location as Fairy Meadow in the 1841 Census as a demographic study and also to discover more about each household group.

1841 Census

Abbreviations

Status
BC	Born in colony
AF	Arrived free
OF	Other free
PA	Private assignment
TL	Ticket of leave

Religion
CE	Church of England
CS	Church of Scotland
RC	Roman Catholic
WM	Wesleyan Methodist
OP	Other protestant dissenters

Age – age categories for the 1841 Census have been simplified:
*Original return category*	*Simplified*
Under 2	0-2
2 and under 7	2-7
7 and under 14	7-14
14 and under 21	14-21
21 and under 45	21-45
45 and under 60	45-60

The Householders

Statistical Charts

The Residents

Return number – Householder name

141 – Michael Flanagan

Michael Flanagan was the owner occupier of a completed wooden building. There were seven occupants – I born in colony, 5 arrived free, 1 other free person. Three were children – Elizabeth, another female child, and son John. Michael’s wife was Elizabeth Mullins 1815-1883.

Michael Flanagan 1803- 29 Dec 1893 – Obituary

Michael and Elizabeth Flanagan’s children:

Elizabeth Flanagan 1831 -1902 married John Reed 1828-1914
John Flanagan 1832-1893
Michael Flanagan 1844-
Rose Flanagan 1849- married James Anderson 1849-1907 son of George Anderson and Mary Kell Tate.
Ellen Maria Flanagan 1841 – 14 Sep 1928 married 1876 Francis O’Brien 1843-1912

Michael Flanagan remained at Fairy Meadow for the rest of his life. He purchased 33 ½ acres in 1883, lots 41 to 48 of Bolan’s grant, for £10 per acre. The newspaper report for the sale states that he had been a tenant of the property for about 30 years.^141-1 Just two years later Michael sold 12 building allotments with 33’ frontages to the main road at Fairy Meadow in 1885.^141-2

141-1. ↑ “ALBION PARK.” Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950) 21 December 1883: <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136458369>.

141-2. ↑“Advertising” Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950) 27 October 1885: <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132345595>.

142- Charles Kelly

Not yet identified.

143 – James Rogers

Not yet identified

144 – John Smith

Not yet identified

145 – Henry Angel

Eight residents, five born in colony, two other free, one ticket of leave. Henry Angel Henry had arrived on the Neptune in 1818 with a life sentence. He was assigned to Hamilton Hume at Appin and accompanied Hume on his overland trek with William Hovell in 1824. He and another of Hume’s assigned convicts James Dennis purchased adjoining blocks at Fairy Meadow in 1834.

The other residents included Henry’s wife Mary Brooker 1812-1890 and their children Henry 1836-1924 and William 1838-1891. Mary’s two sons from her second marriage to Christopher Ledwidge were also part of the household – John Ledwidge 1832-1873 and Christopher Ledwidge 1834-1869. All four children were born at Fairy Meadow. Three more children were born at Fairy Meadow – twins Keturah and Robert in October 1841 and Richard in 1844. The family moved to the Riverina region in the mid 1840s and had four more children – Mary 1847-1932, James 1850-1926, Edward Jonathon 1852-1860 and Samuel 1853-1938.

Henry retained ownership of his land at Fairy Meadow until the late 1880s and purchased other portions of land in the Illawarra. His sister in law Elizabeth Brooker resided in his Fairy Meadow home until her death in 1889 and Henry along with other members of his family probably stayed at the home when visiting the Illawarra. Neighbours James Brooker and Edward Harrigan, brothers in law of Henry, acted as his agent for his land dealings in the Illawarra.

146 – Henry Doncaster

Probably the H Doncaster who arrived 20 June 1840 with an E Doncaster per Charles Jones. Henry Doncaster was a tenant of James Brooker and a relative of Dr Cox of Corrimal. He was possibly living at the northern end of Brooker’s land which would place him quite close to Cox. Henry Doncaster died at Fairy Meadow on 21 January 1868.

150 – Thomas Hill or Hile

151 – Charles Thorpe

Possibly Charles Thorpe per Mary (2) 1822, 7 years labourer from Ipswich, Suffolk. Certificate of freedom 20 June 1828.^151-1

151-1. ↑ State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; Series Name: Butts of Certificates of Freedom; Series Number: NRS 12210; Archive Roll: 983

152 Matthew Dignam or Dignum

One male (Matthew), one female (Frances) married. Matthew arrived free 4 February 1841 per Marquis of Hastings as a single 27 year old male. His parents are given as M Dignum a farmer of Dublin and Margt Kennedy. Also on board the Marquis of Hastings was 29 year old Frances White, daughter of Ann White, father deceased. Matthew and Francis married quickly after their arrival. They had one daughter Mary A Dignam in 1842 who was probably the infant Mary A Dignam who died in 1842. What became of Frances is not known.

Matthew married Maria McNamarra on 1 November 1855 at St Francis Xavier’s Wollongong.

1856 residing on Mount Keira Estate. ^152-1

152-1. ↑ “COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS.” Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW : 1856 – 1950) 3 November 1856: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136438127>.

153- James Robinson

Not yet identified

154 – John Richardson

Not yet identified

155 – James Dooley

Owner occupier of a bark hut with five occupants. Four are other free, one born in the colony.

156 -James Cummins

Tenant of George ?. There were eight occupants, all of whom arrived free, and all were Wesleyan Methodists. The building is wood and unfinished. This was James Cummins who had arrived in Australia with his first wife Ann (nee Robinson) and their six children in February 1841 just a month before the census. James and his family purchased 100 acres near Wollongong (Unanderra) in 1844 which was known as ‘Wesley Park’.

157 – John Mackay

Tenant of James Swan in a completed wooden building. Two persons were other free and one born in the colony.

158 – Thomas Rock

Thomas Rock was a tenant of Condell Ousley in an unfinished wooden building. There were five people, three born in the colony (Thomas and daughters Mary Ann and Jane), one ‘other free’ (Michael Rock, Thomas’ father) and one arrived free (Bridget). All were Roman Catholic. Thomas Rock of Appin married Bridget McCarthy of Menangle at Menangle on 7 November 1837. The marriage is recorded in the St Mary’s Roman Catholic Register, Sydney. The minister was not named but the witnesses were Joseph Bent and Elizabeth Veardy.

Thomas and Bridget Rock stayed in the Illawarra until at least 1846 but by 1849 had moved to Tarraville, Victoria where Thomas died on 28 November 1854.

Thomas Rock’s father was Michael Rock, a convict with a life sentence who arrived per Barwell in 1798. During the 1820s he is listed in the Colonial Secretary’s Papers as a sawyer permitted to cut cedar in the Illawarra for George Johnston, Samuel Terry, James Jenkins and Robert Cooper.

159 – John Morgan

The household of John comprised five people, four of whom arrived free and one who was born in the colony living in a completed wooden dwelling owned by ? Nash. The married couple (John and his wife) and two girls aged 7-14 arrived free. A boy under 2 was born in the colony. All were other protestant dissenters.

160 – James Brooker

James Brooker was the head of a household in a completed wooden dwelling. One was born in the colony (James) and the other resident was ‘other free’ (Mary Wade, James Brooker’s mother). Both were Church of England. Mary Wade had arrived per Lady Juliana in 1789 as a young girl.

At the time of the 1841 Census James Brooker also had three tenants on his land – Henry Doncaster, George Organ and James Robinson.

James Brooker was born 30 May 1814 to Jonathon Brooker and his wife Mary Wade. James purchased the grant promised to Jonathon Brooker from his brother William Brooker. James eventually married Elizabeth Willison Wood, the sister of his half brother Edward Harrigan’s wife Jane Wood.

161 – James Dennis

James Dennis was the owner and head of a household of six persons. One was ‘other free’ and five were born in the colony. James had arrived per General Stewart in 1818 with a life sentence. The five born in the colony were Elizabeth Spinks 1820-1867 and their children John James and Ann Elizabeth, along with Elizabeth’s sister Sarah Spinks and one of her brothers, either John or Robert Spinks. All were Church of England.

James’ land was adjacent to that of Edward Harrigan on the west side and along with the next portion to the east was a joint purchase by James Dennis and Henry Angel. James Dennis and Henry Angel had both been assigned to Hamilton Hume at Appin. James had been cutting cedar in the Illawarra for Hume as early as 1821 and was probably camped on the their land from his first visits to the region.

162 – Edward Harrigan

Edward Harrigan was the owner and head of the household. He was born in Sydney in 1803 to Teague Harrigan per Salamander and Mary Wade per Lady Juliana. Edward’s 60 acre grant was adjacent on the eastern side of the land granted to his step-father Jonathon Brooker and occupied by his half-brother James Brooker..

The household comprised Edward Harrigan, his wife Mary Webber (arrived per Grenada 1827) and their children Mary Ann 1835-1870, Elizabeth 1837-1915 and James Edward 1839-1929. All were Church of England. After Mary’s death in an accident in 1854 Edward married Jane Wood and they had four children all born at the same Fairy Meadow farm.

163 – George Rose

George Rose was the head of a household of four living in a completed wooden dwelling owned by Gerald Anderson. Two were born in the colony and two were ‘other free’. All were Church of England. A married male 45-60 and single male 21-45 were the ‘other free’. A married female 21-45 and a male child 7-14 were born in the colony.

164 – James Smith

James Smith was the head of a household of six in completed wood and bark dwelling owned by Gerald Smith. James was aged 21-45, married and had arrived free. A female aged 14-21 was married and had been born in the colony. Two males aged 2-7 were in the household. There were also two single males in private assignment aged 21-45. All except one the assigned males were Roman Catholic.

165 – Luke Burke

Luke Burke was the head of a household of seven in a completed wooden dwelling owned by the Reverend Matthew Devenish Meares. Six of the inhabitants had arrived free and one was born in the colony. All were Roman Catholic. Five were children with one male and one female both aged 21-45 years.

Luke may have told a fib about arriving free, he may have been the Luke Burke who arrived per Earl St Vincent in 1818 with a seven year sentence. This Luke Burke was granted permission to marry both Mary Caulfield and Catherine Fitzgerald in 1826, and also Eliza Loftus in 1836. He was also refused permission to marry Sarah Duggan in 1842.

A Luke Bourke attempted to save Mrs Anastasia Walker in 1856. Mrs Walker was in the service of Evan Evans of Penrose Villa and drowned herself. (“ILLAWARRA.” Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1875) 31 December 1856: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64982274.)

166 – John Knox

John Knox was the head of a household of five living in a wood and brick dwelling owned by William Wilson which was not completed. Four of the inhabitants had arrived free and one held a ticket of leave. John Knox was 21-45, married and his religion was ‘other protestant dissenter’. The married female was 45-60, another female 7-14 and a male 14-21. All were Wesleyan Methodists. The ticket of leave holder was a male aged 21-45 who was Church of England.

167 – William Ricketts

William Ricketts was the head of a household of four living in a completed wood and bark dwelling owned by Henry Tunny. Two were born in the colony (sons of William, Thomas born 1838 and Mary born 1839), one arrived free (William’s wife Frances Hart) and one was the holder of a ticket of leave.(William). The census states that three are Church of England and one is Roman Catholic.

William was a teenage convict who arrived per Phoenix in 1828. He was married to Frances Hart in Wollongong in 1836. Three children were born by 1841 but the second child William died shortly after his birth in 1839. Mary, the child who was born in 1840 died in October 1841. William and Frances had six children in all. Some were baptised in the Church of England, some as Roman Catholics. The fourth child Mary Ricketts was baptised in both the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church.

William died on 22 January 1857 and was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Wollongong.

Henry Tunny, stated as the owner of the property, was an Irish immigrant from Donegal who arrived in 1837 per Adam Lodge. He purchased a town lot at Paterson in 1838 but no record of his ownership of land at Fairy Meadow has been found at this point. Henry died in 1843.

168 – James Barry

Ten inhabitants lived in a wood and bark completed dwelling owned by James Barry. Nine were Roman Catholics, one was Church of England. This was the family of James Barry and Johanna Elliott. Johanna’s first husband Patrick Lysaght had drowned at sea in 1837. There were three persons who had arrived free (James, Johanna and a single female 21-45). Five were children born in the colony – Ellen Theresa, Jane Elizabeth, Andrew, Mary (children of Patrick Lysaght and Johanna), and John Edward Barry (son of James Barry and Johanna). James and Johanna went on to have another eight children between October 1841 and 1853.

169 – Archibald Kelly

Five persons living in a completed wooden dwelling owned by William Wilson. Two arrived free (Archibald and Emma), three were born in the colony (Mary, John and Archibald). All were Roman Catholic

Archibald married Emma Cayford who arrived free per David Scott in 1834.

Archibald may have been the Archibald Kelly, farmer from Ireland, aged 29 years who arrived per Lady East 1833. He died accidentally on 10 October 1842.

170 – Mr McKay

171 – William Danson

172 – Isaac Ray

Isaac Ray headed a household of seven persons living in a completed wooden dwelling owned by John McLoughlin. There was one married male 21-45 with a ticket of leave, Church of England (Isaac), a married female 21-45 who came free and was Roman Catholic (his wife Jane). Also two children under under 2 and 2-7 (the children of Isaac and Jane) both Roman Catholic. Another female 14-21 was Church of England and had arrived free. The other two in the household were two males 21-45, single, ‘other free’, one Roman Catholic and one Church of England.

Isaac Ray arrived as a convict per York in 1831. Jane McCarthy arrived free on the Canton in 1835. They married at Campbelltown in 1837 and by the time of the 1841 Census they had two daughters Esther born 1838 and Annie born 1840. The Ray family did not remain in the Illawarra.

173 – William Smith

William Smith was the head of a household of seven in a completed wood and brick dwelling that he owned. All were Roman Catholic. There is a male 60+ who is ‘other free’ and married, female 60+ married who arrived free, two females (7-14 and 21-45) one whom arrived free and the other was born in the colony and a male 14-21 who arrived free. Two other males aged 21-45, one of whom was ‘other free’ and the other in private assignment.

This is probably William Smith and his wife Mary Maguire and three of their children. William and Mary both died at Fairy Meadow in 1856.

174 – Thomas Dundon

Thomas Dundon’s household comprised of himself, his wife Mary and three children, Martin and Elizabeth Lynch and Mary Dundon. They lived in a wood and bark dwelling owned by Samuel Peck. All were Roman Catholic.

Thomas Dundon was a convict from Limerick, Ireland born about 1796. He arrived per Pilot in 1817 with a seven year sentence. He married Mary Lynch (nee Lachlan/McLachlan) in 1833, a widow with two young children Martin and Elizabeth (Betsy). Mary had arrived in Australia as a convict per John Bull in 1821. She married James Lynch in 1823 but four years later James was murdered at Appin. Thomas Dundon and Mary had one child together, Mary born about 1833.

175 – Amelia Share

1841 Census

The Householders

Statistical Charts

The Residents

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