For Jamjar
With your link, I have found the "Rookwood_Search_for_a_Grave_1485655577.pdf" but I cant find the transcription online; what is its source? The initials in "Erected by E. E. F." are no doubt those of Emma Eliza Forsayth (nee Coe), i.e., Queen Emma.
For hanes teulu
Tom's description as a wild Irishman suggests he may have had an Irish accent, so may not have been born in NSW; then again would children born in NSW of Irish immigrants inherit & retain the Irish accent? He was certainly an adventurer, he engaged in blackbirding & allegations against him included arson (of a new residence built by RC missionaries in Kokopo) and fleecing some of the victims of the fraudulent Marquis de Rays' escaping from the disastrous colony of "Nouvelle France" at Port Breton.
For Aussie1947
The article is one I have not seen before and of considerable interest, especially WRT Tom's background, viz., "In the year 1876, an Englishman named Thomas Farrell, who previous to that time had been engaged in farming pursuits in Victoria and New Zealand successively, proceeded in his own vessel, the brig Vision, upon a trading expedition to the Friendly and Navigator (Samoan) Islands, cruising as far down as the Carolines. From thence he proceeded to Samoa, where he was engaged for about twelve months in business."
While the story gives brief mention of Emma Forsayth & then only as Tom's "wife" ("Farrell's wife was already, an American, being the daughter of a United States consul at Samoa"), the chronology of events is generally consistent with those in R.W. Robson's book "Queen Emma". His classification as "Englishman" probably meant he was a British subject. Was Tom from Victoria rather than NSW? Obviously, he was a man of some means before his trading in New Guinea.
For cupoflife
The ads of 1839 & 1840 inform us that there were watermen named James & William Farrell in Sydney Harbour at that time. As you say, a connection to Tom (as a parent &/or uncle) is possible, especially as you have shown, in 1840, a Thomas Farrell was born to William & Anne Farrell. In support, there was no death in NSW from 1840 to 1887 of a Thomas Farrell with so-named parents.
Once again, many thanks for all your contributions.
KF