I'm related to a convict James Collins who was arrested in Galway for stealing two shirts in company in 1847 and transported to NSW Australia in 1849. He was born in Galway about 1831 and died in Sydney NSW in 1895. We have not found anything about his family in Irish records or through family history groups etc. many years of searching yielded nothing which is not unusual for the time. Some years ago I put a message on these boards. Recently, however, we found something quite interesting through DNA matches with a family called Collerin/Colerin that migrated to the USA. These close matches at 2nd to 3rd cousin imply that we are from different branches of the same family. I've always understood that Collins is the anglicised version of several Gaelic names and wonder now at the Collins/Collerin/Colerin name usage. Anyone seen anthing like this before?
Annette Collins
Saturday 1st May 2021, 12:49AMMessage Board Replies
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Hi Annette,
James Collins appears to have been involved in the same burglary with a Martin Devine. Both transported for 7 years.
Perhaps you might follow up with Martin Devine, to see if you can get any information from his side!
Both were recorded as 16 years and the Irish famine was raging at the time.
Attachements:
Regards,
Credits: www.findmypast.ie
McCoy
Saturday 1st May 2021, 08:16AM -
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Hi Annette,
Further to previous post, there is a baptismal record for a James Collins with the father named Thomas Collins and mother named Mary Burke on October 10th 1832. There is no address recorded. There is a Valuation record for a "Thomas Collins" with the address Townparks, Galway in May 1845 and in December 1845 where the name - John Devine - is recorded. There is no proof that this James Collins is your relative!
Baptismal records for siblings are: Mary Ann - March 8th 1831, John - June 23rd 1835 - Margaret - March 8th 1837 - Patrick - February 3rd 1839. Those records can be found at catholicparishregisters.nli - (National Library of Ireland). No record of a marriage for Thomas Collins in Galway c1825 - 1832.
Credits: www.rootsireland.ie - and www.findmypast.ie Both are subscription sites.
Regards,
McCoy
Saturday 1st May 2021, 01:10PM -
Attached Files
Hi Annette,
In relation to your query - Collerin etc, there are families named Colleran, Colleron and Cloran recorded in Galway town in the 1800's.
It is quite possible that there are connections.
In relation to "James Collins" there was a William Murphy who appears to have been involved in the larceny of the shirts. He is described as 21 years of age, but apparently does not have a previous conviction.
Martin Devine received his freedom in Australia in 1863. The record records him as shoemaker and a native of County Mayo.
Physical descriptions of the prisoners are in attached . They may help to connect to other relatives.
McCoy
Saturday 1st May 2021, 06:26PM
