My 3rd Paternal Maternal Great Grandparents were both born in Limerick – John STEWARD/ STEWART c1822 his parents named as James STEWARD and Ellen DWYER; and Johanna HANNIGAN c1823 her parents named as James HANNIGAN and Ellen CONDON. They were married on 24 January 1846 at Knocklong and Glenbrohane in the diocese of Cashel and Emly. John was convicted of larceny at the Limerick Assizes on 14 July 1849 and sentenced to 7 years transportation. He arrived in Western Australia via the “Phoebe Dunbar” in September 1853. According to his convict records, John was 5’ 9 ½’ with dark brown hair and blue eyes and was variously employed as a matmaker or laborer. John made application for Johanna to join him in exile in December 1854 and it is believed she arrived in the colony via the “Dolphin” in November 1857. The couple are believed to have had at least one child in Limerick, perhaps Ellen baptized at Knocklong and Glenbrohane on 4 August 1849. John was a tenant farmer to a prominent Toodyay agriculturalist, James DRUMMOND. Western Australian born children include: William (1858-1954); Thomas James (1859-1934); Ellen (1861-1940); Catherine (1861-1940); Johanna (1862-1944); Mary Ann (1864-1937); Annie, my 2 x Great Grandmother (1867-1924); and John (1869-1925). John died at Toodyay on 18 May 1903 and Johanna died at Meckering on 7 October 1904 having moved there with her farming eldest son William after John’s death.
Resources are available for all of the supplied information and I am hoping to make contact with family or anyone who has knowledge of the mentioned families.
