Mary Tobin : Short Biography

Mary Tobin was baptised at St John's Kilkenny on 11 July 1817.  She was the daughter of Thomas Tobin and Mary Lahy.  Mary Lahy had a farm in the township of Johnswell.  Mary had an older brother, Patrick Tobin, and three half siblings:  Martin Bohen, Ellen Bohen and John Bohen.

Mary Tobin was sentenced at  Kilkenny Summer Assizes on 22 July 1836 to transportation for life, for killing a sheep and plucking and stealing the wool off sheep.  She was 19 years old .    Her brothers Patrick Tobin and Martin Bohan were also sentenced at the same session.  She arrived in Australia on 25 December 1837 as a convict on the Sir Charles Forbes.  Her mother Mary Lahy was tried on 17 July 1836 for receiving stolen property, sentenced to transportation for 14 years, and arrived in Australia on the Margaret on 30 May 1837. Patrick and Martin were also sentenced to transportation for life and arrived in Australia on the St Vincent on 5 January 1837.

In convict records Mary was described as able to read; Roman Catholic; single, native place Kilkenny; trade country servant; offence sheep stealing; tried at Kilkenny County Summer Assizes 1837; sentence life; no previous convictions; height 4 foot 11 1/2 inches; complexion ruddy and much freckled; dark brown hair; dark hazel eyes; eyebrows partially meeting; mark of a burn on left jaw; scar inside lower left arm; mother Mary Baham and two brothers Patrick Tobin and Martin Baham arrived about 12 months ago.

Mary was initially assigned as a domestic servant at Bathurst, New South Wales.  On 22 December 1838, while at Bathurst, Mary received permission to marry Isaac Kemp, a widower, but the marriage did not proceed.  Then on 22 December 1840 Mary received permission to marry Thomas Howard, a stonemason, born free in the colony of convict parents.  Mary and Thomas married on 6 January 1841 at St Philips Church, Sydney, New South Wales.  Both Thomas and Mary make their mark on the register as they could not write.  Mary received her Ticket of Leave on 9 April 1846 and was allowed to remain in the district of Windsor with her husband Thomas.

Mary and Thomas had four children:  Martin Howard (1841-1906); John Thomas Howard (1845-1922); Mary Howard (1847-1891) and Sarah Jane Howard (1849-1922).

Thomas was working on Auburn Vale station in northern New South Wales when Mary was murdered by a Chinaman named Filley, who also worked on the station. Filley attacked Mary while she was in bed and stabbed and battered her to death.  He also severely injured three of her four children, only the youngest, Sarah, escaped unharmed.  Mary died aged 38 years on 12 December 1856. She was buried on 13 December 1856 at Auburn Vale, but the location of her grave is unknown.