Thomas Toohey was born 1825/26 in or near Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Patrick Toohey and Bridget (Scully/Kelly- unable to decipher) He travelled to Australia some time before 1856 and settled in Morpeth NSW.
Thomas married Elizabeth (Eliza) Crowe on 3 March 1856 at St Josephs Catholic church at East Maitland, NSW . They are both recorded as belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Eliza Crowe was born approximately 1836 near Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. Witnessing the marriage was Ann Crowe and Francis Maguire .
Thomas was about 30 years of age and Eliza was about 20 when they married. They had six children between 1857 and 1869, all born in or around Morpeth.
30 May 1857
Patrick Toohey was born at Phoenix Park near Morpeth.
13 January 1860
John Toohey was born at Punt House, Morpeth.
30 September 1862
Thomas Toohey was born at Phoenix Park near Morpeth.
16 July 1864
Honorah (Annie) Toohey was born at Brisbane Field near Morpeth.
25 August 1866
Bridget Toohey was born at Berry Park near Morpeth.
22 April 1869
Timothy Toohey was born at Phoenix Park near Morpeth.
Thomas occupation is documented on each of his children’s birth certificate and is variously given as farmer in 1857, lessee of Morpeth punt in 1860, farmer in 1862, labourer in 1864, 1866 and 1869.
At some time after the birth of their last child Timothy at Phoenix Park, Morpeth in1869, the young family travelled North West to the large sheep station Piallaway, located in the Liverpool plains. Thomas gained work on the property as a shepherd. The position of shepherd at Piallaway would have included looking after a few thousand sheep. He would be required to account for all of them whilst feeding them up country and ensure all of them were bought down to be sheared. It was at Piallaway that on 14 February 1873, Thomas died of phthisis, an archaic name for Tuberculosis at the age of 48. Thomas occupation at the time of his death is listed as a shepherd. He was buried in an unmarked grave near the Piallaway homestead.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1825 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 14th Feb 1873 | |
