Orphan Number: 725

Orphan:	Catherine BYRNE
Mother:	BYRNE, Mary
Father:	KINCKLEY, James
Mother's ship:	John Calvin
Father's ship:
Age when admitted:	4yrs
Date admitted:	22 May 1848
Date discharged:	7 Jan 1851
Institutions(s):	Queens Orphan School
Discharged to:	mother, Ticket of Leave and married
Remarks:	surname Kinsella on Grangegorman Gaol records
References:	SWD7, 28

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Claimed by Margaret Soliatis. You can send a message to Margaret Soliatis by email here

Margaret Soliatis wrote:

Catherine Byrne's mother Mary married Abraham Whitaker/Whittaker and I am a direct descendant  through their son John who came to NSW after marrying Eliza Goyen.

This Whittaker  family had a tragic life.  Catherine died from burns received when her clothes caught fire from  candle when she was placing sugar on a shelf. (She was only 7 years old).

Mary came from County Wicklow, Ireland and was sentenced to 7 years for stealing 5 stone of potatoes in 1848.

I have located both Mary & Abraham in the historical newspapers.  It appears they both had a drinking problem.  Abraham was also charged with the murder of Mary, found not guilty but guilty of manslaughter with a strong recommendation for clemency.  He was sentenced to one year in gaol.

Abraham was from Yorkshire, England and was sentenced to 15 years for highway robbery.  He spent 2 years on Norfolk Island, arriving on the Blundell in 1844.  He came to Hobart on the Lady Franklin.

I have both Catherine's & Mary's Inquests and both Abraham's & Mary's convict records as well as the newspaper articles about Mary's death.

Abraham is buried in Cornelian Cemetery (as well as his son Joseph) but I was unable to locate any graves when visiting.  Have been unable to locate where Catherine and Mary were buried.

Mary & Abraham were married in St John's Church, New Town.

Happy to supply further information.  Contact has been made with relatives in England, i.e. descendants of Abraham's sister.

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