The photograph was taken around 1883 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is believed to have been taken before the overland cattle drive undertaken by the Duracks and Kilfoyle from New South Wales, through Queensland, the Northern Territory and onto the Kimberley region in the north of Western Australia. The photograph is of the McConnell boys along with Jim Waley (an Australian native) and a friend (possibly James Daley from an Irish family who had settled in New South Wales). Samuel the youngest, is seated in the middle of front row and William Alexander is seated next to Samuel on the right. We do not know which of the other boys are John and James. The photograph was held by James Sherlock McConnell a son of William Alexander McConnell.
We don't have a clue how the boys arrived in Australia but believe they arrived around 1880 in New South Wales, Australia.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 7th May 1864 | |
| Date of Death | 11th Aug 1927 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | James McConnell, farmer of Ballynadrentagh, Killead, Antrim. | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Helena Sherlock, daughter of James Sherlock, farmer of Crosshill, Killead, Antrim. | |
| Townland born | Ballynadrentagh, Killead, Antrim. | |
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | Jessie Blair Parker, daughter of Robert Parker (Scotland). | |
| Occupation | Drover, Miner, Victualler, Builder. | |
| Place & Date of Marriage | 153 Hay street, Perth, Western Australia, Australia on the 21st of September 1897. | |
