Orphan Number: 2878
| Orphan: | Thomas JOHNSON |
|---|---|
| Mother: | SALMON, Mary |
| Father: | JOHNSON, James |
| Mother's ship: | Tasmania 2 |
| Father's ship: | |
| Age when admitted: | 5yrs 4mths |
| Date admitted: | Apr 1863 |
| Date discharged: | |
| Institutions(s): | Queens Orphan School |
| Discharged to: | |
| Remarks: | father deserted, mother a prisoner |
| References: | SWD26/6, 27 |
You can claim this Orphan here
Dianne Snowden wrote:
Thomas Johnson was the son of James Johnson, a convict who arrived on the ‘Joseph Somes’ and Mary Salmon, a convict who arrived on the ‘Tasmania’ (2) in 1845.At least four of Mary Salmon’s children were admitted to the Orphan Schools (then known as the Queen’s Asylum): James Johnson and Thomas Johnson in 1863; and Ellen Johnson and John Johnson in 1869.
At the
time of the application for the admission of Ellen and John Johnson in December
1868, Mary and her children were living at Mangana, near Fingal. Mary
was out of work and James Johnson, a labourer, was in gaol in Launceston
for felony. James and Mary were not married. Three other children were
named in the admission application: James Johnson aged 12; Thomas Johnson, aged
11; and Mary Johnson aged 2. The application also noted: ‘This woman is
also known by the name Marr’.
Mary Salmon, a young housemaid from Kildare, arrived in the colony on the
convict ship ‘Tasmania’ (2) in 1845. Her convict records note that she was also
known as Lyons. In September 1849, she married John Kewley (or Rewley) at
Longford. An infant daughter, Hannah, died in 1852. A son, Richard, died in
1854 after Mary had separated from her husband. Mary had many colonial
offences for drunkenness and for being idle and disorderly. She died on 23
December 1896 in Launceston, as Mary Salmon or Kewley.
Ref: SWD 26/1/1
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