Hello, I have recently been researching my great, great, grandfather, William Hegarty, who was born about 1816, in County Clare.
William Hegarty was born about 1816 in County Clare, and his parents were William Hegarty and Catherine Callaghan. William married Catherine (Kate) Kelly in about 1842, in County Clare. Information gained from both William and Kate's death certificates, noted that they had three children, before they emigrated to Australia in 1852. These children were: Norah born about 1842, John born about 1843 and Susan born about 1849. I do remember my mother telling me that William and Kate had lost two children on the voyage to Australia.
William Hegarty and his wife Kate emigrated to Australia on board the "Maria Somes" and arrived in Australia on 9 July 1852. William was listed as being a 36 year old laborer from County Clare, a Roman Catholic, could both read and write, and that his parents were Wlm and Cath Hegarty, with his mother living in ????
Kate Hegarty was listed as being 32 years old from County Clare, a Roman Catholic, who could neither read nor write, and that her parents, Wlm and Susanna Kelly were both alive and living in Rathborney, Clare.
There were a few anomalies in the Maria Somes ship's log, relating to the details of the Hegarty family. The surname was recorded as Heagarty, instead of Hegarty. The children were listed as John age 11 (instead of 9), Honor (instead of Norah) age 10, Judy (instead of Susan) age 4, as well as two other children James and Daniel. I do believe that James and Daniel may have been the two children who died on the voyage to Australia, as they are not mentioned on the death certificates of their parents.
William and Kate settled in Unanderra, New South Wales Australia, and were dairy farmers. The photo is of William Hegarty (1st person on the left) and his family, sitting under a tree on their property in Unanderra, in about 1880.
William Hegarty died on 19 June, 1907, in New South Wales Australia, and his wife Kate died a year later on 20 July 1918.
Many thanks
Gabrielle
