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Orphan Number: 2260
Orphan: Alice GURNIN
Mother:DWYER, Margaret
Father:GURNIN/ENNIS, Daniel
Mother's ship:Lord Auckland
Father's ship:London
Age when admitted:4yrs
Date admitted:23 Jan 1873, 19 May 1879
Date discharged:21 May 1883
Institution(s):Queens Orphan School, St Josephs Orphanage
Discharged to: St Josephs Orphanage, Miss Roope, New Town
Remarks: won Infant School prize 1873,reading, writing and religious prizes 1875 - father in prison
References: SWD26/13, 27, 37, Mercury 9 Jan 1874 & 29 Dec 1875


This orphan has been claimed by: Robert Bellenger

Alice is my great grandmother. She married William Thomas White 1888 in Campbell Town. This is a very interesting story with many twists, way too long for here. All Alice told her family was that she was brought up in a Catholic Orphange and the discovery of her real identity has remained unknown for over 100 years. The only story my mother was told by her was that they were never allowed mirrors and that she never new the colour of her hair until one of the nuns mistook her for another girl because they had the same colour hair. The fathers name given in the application is incorrect. Who knows what the reason may have been. Alice was born Alice Girvan to Thomas Girvan of Pontville. Various spellings have confused research, Givin, Girvin, Girvan and Gurnin. She apparently had a beautiful singing voice and made extra money by singing at the back of St Michael's Church Campbell Town.

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 Site last updated June 2021