James O’Brien, a native of Templeport, County Cavan, migrated to Australia sometime between 1850 and 1853. On May 17th, 1853, he married Miss Alice Quinn in Maitland, New South Wales. In 1855, James sponsored his mother, father, sister Bridget, and his three younger brothers, Peter, Philip, and Patrick, to come to Australia. The family travelled to join James and Alice in New South Wales aboard the ship Lloyds, arriving in Sydney in September 1856.
James initially served as a warder at East Maitland gaol before resigning from government employment to pursue a life of farming and grazing. He and Alice first farmed at Scott’s Flat, Singleton. In 1872, they moved to Keepit, a locality between the New South Wales towns of Tamworth and Gunnedah, where they continued their farming and grazing.
James lived a long and healthy life, reaching the grand age of ninety. His wife Alice had predeceased him by eleven years when he passed away in 1919. James and Alice had a large family, and many of their descendants continue to live in the Namoi and Gwydir River districts of New South Wales to this day.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1829 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1919 | VIEW SOURCE |
