| Notes |
- Mary Ann Cavanagh (1815 - 1893)
Born in Lancashire, England on 1815. Mary Ann married John Chilvers. Mary Ann married Patrick Coughlan. Mary Ann married George Walker and had 9 children. She passed away on 7 Oct 1893 in Gunning, New South Wales, Australia.
Mary Ann Cavanagh315, 316, 317 was born Abt. 1815 in Manchester, England318, and died 07 Oct 1893 in Gunning, New South Wales, Australia319, 320. She married George Walker on Abt. 1833 in England320.
Notes for Mary Ann Cavanagh:
MARY ANN CAVANAGH
1815-1893
Mary Ann Cavanagh's life is well documented, however due to the various change of names recorded throughout her life, positive connection to our family ancestry is difficult. Regardless, she is more than likely one of the first of our ancestors to be transported to Australia.
She was born about 1815; there are no records to confirm where she was born. Her surname and religion suggest she may have been of Irish origin.
It is of popular opinion that she was married at the age of 18, in approximately 1833 to John Walker and through to around 1837 she had given birth to two daughters and possibly one son.
She was aged 22 years when charged with larceny and sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Australia. She was tried Lancaster Quarter Sessions on 22nd May 1837.
She is recorded on the shipping list of the John Renwick as Mary Ann Walker, aged 23, had no degree of instruction and could not read nor write, was Roman Catholic, married with two children and her Native Place was stated as Manchester.
She was a maid of all work and her offence was stealing clothes. She had no prior convictions. Her height was five foot and three-quarter inches, was of ruddy pock-pitted complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes with a small mole on her left cheek and another on the left side of her chin. She had a scar on the back of her left thumb and had lost the top of her forefinger of her right hand.
On 31st August, 1838, the John Renwick arrived in Sydney. Mary Ann Walker was aged 23 years and both she and her daughters Teresa aged 6 years, born August 1832 at Manchester and Ann 18 months old, born March 1837 in Manchester arrived safely.
On Monday, 17th October, 1842, at age 27, she received her "Certificate of Freedom" No. 42/4568 and was allowed to remain in the district of Goulburn.
For reasons of survival, or maybe kinship, she developed a relationship with a fellow ex-convict named Patrick Coughlan. In 1843, their first daughter, Bridget, was born, followed by Mary in 1845, Margaret in 1847 and finally their fourth daughter, Maria was born in 1851.
For some reason, maybe due to a better offer, or because her original husband, then living in the British Isles died, she officially married an ex-convict and land owner, named John Chilvers.The marriage took place on Wednesday, 1st February, 1854.
Mary Ann and John Chilvers witnessed the wedding of Elizabeth Walker to John George Howard later in 1854.
Elizabeth Walker is possibly one of the two daughters who journeyed on the John Renwick to Australia*. This is not correct. Elizabeth's birthplace was Parramatta. See notes following.
In 1863, John Chilvers suffered serious injuries after falling from a dray and broke his back. These injuries led to his death. Mary Ann Chilvers was recorded on his death certificate as being the informant. Bridget Coughlan's death in 1865 records Mary Ann Cavanagh as being her mother.
In 1874, Patrick Coughlan died at 91 years of old age, and Mary Ann Chilvers is recorded as being the informant.
Mary Coughlan married James Volney Cooper in 1880, with Mary Ann Walker recorded as the mother of the bride.
Mary Ann Chilvers died on a large property named Lareda which is situated between Goulburn and Yass, on Saturday, 7th October 1893 aged 78 years. The cause of death was senile decay. Her death certificate records her father as Mr Cavanagh, the informant Patrick Worthington, who was her son in law by his marriage to her daughter, Margaret. Mary Ann Chilvers was buried in an unmarked grave in Gunning on Monday, 9th October, 1893.
NH. 1997
*Author's comment - These notes were written by Noel Howard in collaboration with David Howard. They contain many assumptions that have not been substantiated by later research into this lady.
The authors of this history offer further suggestion in the notes which follow.
These notes are not intended to detract from the impressive work done by Noel and David, but are offered as further research into the CAVANAGH - WALKER connection.
MARY ANN CAVANAGH ( WALKER)
The frequent appearance of her name or "mark" on family documents substantiates the theory that Mary Ann Cavanagh (Walker) is indeed the mother of Elizabeth Walker and based on the comparison of the "age statements" on available certificates and other records it may be that Mary Ann was at least seven months into her pregnancy with Elizabeth Walker at the time of her arrival in the Colony.
Evidence shows she and her two daughters Teresa and Ann were sent to the "Female Factory" at Parramatta where female convicts who were pregnant or breast-feeding their children were accommodated.
Female inmates at "The Factory" were able to have their children baptised by a visiting minister or priest, however as the baptism was not performed in a consecrated church nothing would have been recorded in a parish register which was the only source of pre-registration certificates.
This may be the explanation as to why a birth certificate cannot be found for Elizabeth Walker.
Archival documents show that Teresa Walker was transferred to the "Orphanage School". There is no information found of the other children who would have remained with their mother.
Children of this school were usually re-united with their mother on the completion of the mother's sentence.
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1815 - 1893 (78 years)
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