9 July 1859 application made by James Kerr, 69 Liverpool Street, Hobart for admission to Orphan School of James Burns aged 8, Roman Catholic

Father: unknown

Mother: Mary Burns 'now dead’, formerly of Harrington Street, arrived Tasmania (2) 1845

'The Father is unknown, and the mother died in November last. It is impossible to give any further particulars than those ... and but for the kindness of Mr Kerr [the] Boy would be turned out into the streets’

He was considered 'a genuine case’ for the Orphan School.

30 August 1859 application made by James Kerr, 69 Liverpool Street, Hobart for admission to Orphan School of James McCann, 10 years 8 months, Roman Catholic

Mother dead, supposed to be Tasmania (2) 1845; father not known

'The mother has been dead about 8 months and left no more children’

Also noted an application was sent for this child’s admission on 9 July and which has been mislaid at the Comptroller’s Office.

James Kerr wrote the Colonial Secretary:

I most respectfully beg leave to bring under your consideration the case of an Orphan Boy, who has been left completely destitute in consequence of the death of his mother, Mary McCann, who resided in Harrington Street near the 'Queen’s Arms[?]’—After the mother’s death I took the boy into my house, clothed and sent him to school but owing to the vicious habits contracted by him, he is quite incorrigible, and all amendment, under me, at least, is hopeless. Being therefore under no parental control I would respectfully suggest that the State takes him under its protection by placing him in the 'Orphan School’ before he becomes absolutely irreclaimable.

[Ref: SWD26/1/1]

James McCann, son of Mary Byrne 'Tasmania' (2), was admitted to the Orphan School in September 1859. An earlier application for his admission in 1859 was made in the name of James Burns.

He had been admitted earlier as James Burns, aged 3, in 1851. He was probably Mary’s illegitimate child born in January 1849. He was discharged to his mother in 1853; she married Thomas Cann or McCann in 1851.

His sister Ann arrived with Mary on the Tasmania (2) in 1845 and was admitted to the Orphan School shortly after arrival in December. She died there in May 1849.

James’ other siblings included Henry Cann (b.1852); Ann Cann (b.1854; d.1858); and Charlotte McCann (b.1856; possibly married George Rowley in Launceston in 1877).

 

Mary Byrne or Burns died as Mary Cann in Hobart on 19 October 1858. Thomas McCann married Jane Allen in Hobart in 1860.

 

Mary died as Mary Cann in Hobart on 19 October 1858. Thomas McCann married Jane Allen in Hobart in 1860.