Rody Spain 1853 : Short Biography

Rody was the eldest son and second child of Michael Spain and Margaret Spain (both her maiden and married name).  He was baptised in Cloughjordan parish on 8 May 1853 with a registered address of Lisgarode, and with sponsors, Thomas Spain and Ellen Spain.

I know from a family memoir that Michael Spain was the brother of Cornelius Spain (1832-1897) and also had two other brothers, Pat and John.  I believe that these brothers were Patrick Spain who married Judith/Julia Harty on 27 Feb 1854 at Monsea, while John married Mary Anne Boland on 14 Aug 1859 at Nenagh.  The memoir also reveals that Margaret Spain was the sister of Hanora Spain (1835-1899), Cornelius's wife.  Therefore, I have two brothers, surname Spain, marrying two sisters also with the surname of Spain.

Rody was one of six children to Michael and Margaret, Johanna, Rody, Michael, Mary, John and Margaret.  Following Michael's early death, Margaret took Michael, John and Margaret and emigrated to Chicago, young Mary had died at the age of 7 in 1865.  Johanna married Patrick McGrath on 20 Jan 1874 at Nenagh and remained in Nenagh to have her 10 children before also emigrating to Chicago. Rody emigrated to Australia arriving on 6 Dec 1878 onboard "Highflyer".  He married Johanna Sheehan at the newly erected St Mary's Cathedral Sydney on 29 Jul 1882.

Rody and Johanna settled in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales on rich farming property and had seven little Australians.