Francis REYNOLDS, Born about 1798, Mohill Leitrim, Baptised 1798 in Kiltubbrid parish, Sth Leitrim. He married Ann McCarthy/ McCartney c 1824 in Leitrim & he died c1868 in Mohill.
His son Peter Reynolds, born c1829 in Durngawna[?] He left Ireland & in 1850 was recorded as marrying Harriet Kenworthy/Kennerley, in Barnsley, Yorkshire. He was 26yrs & Harriet 23yrs.
In 1855, Peter, Harriet & son Francis immigrated to Fremantle, Western Australia, per the ship the "Berkshire". The ship also brought much needed supplies to the Swan River Colony, arriving 13 March 1855. Peter was listed as a bleacher by trade & came as free settlers to the new colony. Soon Peter applied for 20 acres at York district, north of Fremantle, where he employed at least 2-3 "Ticket -of Leave" men [ex convicts] employed as farmhands.
In about 1866, Peter & his growing family moved further northwards, to the Greenough Flats District, where he applied for a pastoral lease & in 1868 he was granted a Public House licence, where he built & kept a wayside hotel at Bookara, called the "Traveller's Rest". [Bookara was positioned half way between Dongara & Greenough.[which after extensive renovations, still serves the community & tourist trade as tearooms, Bed & Breakfast& reception venue], today]
In 1900, He & Harriet celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary [50yrs] with a great many of the Greenough settler pioneers in attendance. Peter did much towards building up the agricultural interests of the district, despite severe hardships as floods, fire & grain rust. Peter died in 1910, aged 85yrs & Harriet died in 1903, aged 75yrs & had a total of 6 children & many grandchildren.
They are both buried at the Dominican cemetery, Dongara. [Dongara is a very beautiful coastal tourist town, north of Greenough.] There is a plaque at the cemetery - "Peter Reynolds, March 1828, Leitrim, Ireland..60yrs in Western Australia".
My 3xgrt grandfather, Peter, left an amazing Irish legacy today, to be proud of. I hope to find more relations in Ireland to connect with.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Apr 1828 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 2nd May 1910 (circa) | |
