Joseph John Connors : Short Biography

HAA007 Main: Life and times of Joseph John Connors

Joseph Connors was born between 1810-1812 in Galway, Ireland. Some family have added Patrick and Mary Connors nee Cougling but no proof to confirm this. I recently found a baptism Joseph John Connors, 15 Jan 1810 Moycullen, Galway, Ireland father Laurence Connor.

Picture above: Joseph Connors 1810-1890 seated on left.

It is unknown as to who his parents and siblings if he had any were. Joseph had been tried and convicted of political crime "Whiteboyism" and was sentenced to Life transportation. The Whiteboys

Whiteboyism

Joseph was a convict who arrived at Port Jackson aboard the ship "Eliza" on the 6th September 1832. The ship had sailed from Cork, Ireland on the 10th May 1832. It was her 6th voyage to Australia transporting convicts. The voyage took 119 days.

Joseph Connors ship papers

Joseph shipping papers give these details 

Married/single. Single.
Trade/calling. Labourer.
Height. 5 feet 7 ins.
Hair. Dark Brown.
Eyes. Brown.
Complexion. Ruddy and pox pitted.
Religion. Catholic.
Could read and write.
No previous convictions

Freedom Certificate: CONNORS Joseph - Ship "Eliza" 1832 62/16 24 Mar 1862 4/4421 603 CCF. 

Picture above: Muster of Joseph Connors

Shortly after his arrival in the colony he was assigned to Thomas Roberts and was working for Mr. Roberts in the Monaro district by 1837. 

Convict Indents Joseph Connors

Convict Pardons and ticket of leave for Joseph Connors

He was granted a Ticket of Leave on the 8th October 1840 whilst still working for Mr. Roberts on a run at Curry Flat near Nimitybelle bordering the Williams family property.

Muster of Joseph Connors

By 1844 he had transferred to the employ of his father-in-law John Williams.

Joseph's 1st marriage was to Sarah Williams who died in 1844 after giving birth to their only son, Joseph John Connors. Sarah was daughter of John and Sarah Williams nee Nash. Sarah was born 22 Jul 1822, Castlereagh, New South Wales; died 18 Aug 1844, Nimmitabel, New South Wales; was buried, Pioneer Cemetery, Nimmitabel, New South Wales.

Conditional Pardon of Joseph Connors

Joseph was given his pardon papers Joseph and his family (wife Hannah) and their children moved to were Joseph to get work as a stockman and later in life they brought their own properties. Before Joseph Snr died he owned several properties in New South Wales these were in Bargo, Nimmitabel, Queanbeyan, Goulburn and Moonbah. No records for these properties or a will for Joseph John snr could be found.

Joseph and Hannah had nine children all boys. Hannah was daughter of Patrick and Julia Connolly nee Donoghue. Name on the Immigration Document was Judith.

The surname Donoghue is a variation of Donohoe.

Came to Australia on 5 Oct. 1840 on Ship "Elphinstone” age 38 years. The discrepancy in age is due to the baptism date on the Immigration document.

Upon her death, Julia bequeathed her property, by then valued at 100 Pounds, for the sole use of her daughter, Ellen McDonald "Free from the control of her husband - Coll McDonald".  At this time Ellen's son, Archibald McDonald was a prosperous landowner in the district. Hannah was born 1825, Tuam, County Galway, Ireland Sons of Joseph and Hannah Patrick, Thomas, John Joseph, Michael, Frederick Edward, Alfred Austin, James and George. Joseph was a stockman and his family had to move to where the work was, this is seen by looking at where Joseph and Hannah’s children were born Woolmay, Monaro, NSW; Nimmitabel, NSW; Queanbeyan, NSW; Arable, NSW; Goulburn, NSW and Cooma, NSW.

Hannah and her sons, John Joseph married Margaret Mary Gannon, they had five children, two girls and three boys in twelve years one of whom was Patrick Connors, my grandfather who had a nine children, one girl and seven boys one of whom was Raymond Connors my father now deceased. (The information was taken from Ancestry http://person.ancestry.com.au/tree/89372635/person/48587111912/story & Monaro Pioneers http://www.monaropioneers.com/connors-j.htm sites and person knowledge)