My gg grandfather James was born in Bagenalstown about 1804 and died 22 July 1896 at Carngham, Victoria. He married Julia Welsh/Walsh on 23 Jun 1840 in Bagenalstown. She was born about 1809 and died on 22 October 1886 at Carngham.
A family story is that James came to Australia with some Lord or official as a groom. When this man returned "home", James decided to stay and apparently received a grant of land. Was married before immigrating. However, from records he was a bounty passenger with wife Julia. According to Murray Whelan (contacted March 1993) emigrated in 1840 on the ship "Ferguson" captained by John Virtue which travelled to London via Plymouth then to Australia, arriving on 15 January 1841. Came as Bounty Emigrants.
Also listed as a bounty emigrant was a Mary Whelan, age 26, a dairy maid, Roman Catholic, could not read or write, from Carlow. (Copy of register in file.) [Niven's Directory for the City of Ballarat and Ballarat East 1882: Whelan Mary, nurse, 11 Lyons Street.
Register of the Ferguson states: No 100: Whelan, James. Age 28. Shepherd. Roman Catholic. Reads and writes. Co Carlow. No 101: Whelan, Judy (note!) Age 27. Cook. Reads and writes. Co Carlow. James and Julia were "imported" by John Marshall. (Ref: VPRS 7310 Assisted Immigrants Bk 2 p 303)
In the early 1840s, James and Julia moved to Carngham to work for the Russells.(their son Thomas was baptised in Melbourne in 1842) From Murray & May Whelan: Also working for the Russells at that time was a Finlay Whelan. However, from records it appears that this Finlay was in fact James' son. Need to check records if another Whelan worked there in 1840s. James apparently refused to speak to his daughter Mary due to some falling out.
Unconfirmed stories from Murray Whelan 1994: James or John went to the Boer War.
Through searches for Ballyallen, the name mentioned on James' death certificate, there is a possibility that it was a large tract of land in the 17th century and does not exist as such now. Bagenalstown, where James is supposed to have married Julia Walsh had a revolution in the 17th Century and many fires. A great deal was destroyed. Bagenalstown is now Muine Bheag meaning "little grove". The Society found nothing about James' birth.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1804 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jul 1896 | |
