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Hi, Would anyone have more information concerning my gg grandmother Mary Foran was born in Kilfenora around 1832. Her parents were Patrick and Bridget. I believe her mother died along with other family members during the famine. The family took refuge in the Ennistymon Work House. Mary was later chosen under the Earl Gray Scheme to be sent to Australia to work as a house maid and get married (there was a disproportionate lack of females in the colony).

Mary Foran was only 16 years old we she arrived on the 'Thomas Arbuthnot' in January 1850 in Sydney. After a period of time at the Barracks she was shipped to Moreton Bay Brisbane to become nursemaid, house servant for Mr Connolly, South Brisbane. Her wage was contracted at £6-8 for 3 years work. She married Edmund Mellor who was a good friend of Mr Connolly in Brisbane in 1854 & had 3 children in which two died before age of two; she died of consumption 1859, re-interred Toowong cemetery 1913. Edmund Mellor was very wealthy owning paddle steamers & many properties. 

Her only surviving child was Edmund Foran Mellor, my great grandfather.

John William Mellor

Saturday 25th Apr 2020, 11:38PM

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