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Archiver > AUS-WA-CONVICT > 2001-01 > 0978832458


From: "Pat Ricketts" <>
Subject: [WA-CONVICT] Fw: CAHILL - ex "Robert Small"
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2001 09:54:18 +0800


-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Ricketts <>
To: <>
Date: Sunday, 7 January 2001 9:52
Subject: CAHILL - ex "Robert Small"


Hi to all fellow researchers:

Despite having subscribed some time ago, work commitments have been such that I am only just getting around to introducing myself and indicating my research interests. My name is Pat and following is a brief account of what I have gleaned regarding my great, great grandfather and his brother.

My convicts are Edmond (2254) and Joseph (2255) CAHILL, sons of John CAHILL and Catherine (HERNEY/HAINEY) of Tipperary Ireland. The brothers were convicted at the Clonmel Assizes 11 Mar 1850 of stealing a cow and were sentenced to ten years transportation. After spending approximately 12 months in each of the Clonmel (Tipperary), Mountjoy (Dublin) and Spike Island (Cork) prisons, Edmond and Joseph were transported to WA per "Robert Small" and arrived in Fremantle 19 August 1853.

They appear to have remained in the Chief Establishment for about 8 months ( T/L granted in April 1854) and by Dec 1854 they were in York (Salvado's List). Edmond married Bridget REDDIN (ex "Travencore") in York Nov 1855 and spent the next 33 years farming and raising a large family in York. Joseph, who never married, remained in Edmond's household.

In 1888, after selling the York properties and, following in the wake of his gold-seeking nephew, Michael TOOMEY, Edmond proceeded to Golden Valley before settling with his family in the newly established town of Southern Cross as a storekeeper. Joseph remained in York until his death in 1897. Edmond's life in the goldfields was relatively short lived as he died from typhoid fever in 1895 at Southern Cross. His obituary in the Southern Cross Herald (26 Apr 1895) indicates he was one of the first residents of Southern Cross, highly respected and prominent in raising funds for the erection of a Catholic Church both in York and in Southern Cross.

I would love to hear from anyone interested in the above families or anyone researching passengers/crew of the "Robert Small" 1853 journey.

Currently, I am endeavouring to research the family in Ireland (mixed results). I would like to ask if anyone out there knows if the convict registers for Spike Island or associated hulks are extant for the period 1852-1853? The Clonmel and Mountjoy Registers failed to indicate place of birth or parental details. I would like to think that the Spike Island Registers would contain these details as this prison would be readying its inmates for transportation.

I am also interested as to how/why the CAHILL's went to York following their T/L. Did they choose to go there or were they simply sent to a Depot lacking in labour?

Until next time

Pat

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