I’m overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of replies to my query re Catherine Downey – many thanks to all who have contributed so far. It’s going to take me a while to work through the information you have provided, but I’m sure that some of the people you have identified are descendants of Catherine.
A little background: Catherine was the daughter of Mary Teresa [Page] who married Francis Downey, a plumber, in 1831. Mary Teresa and Francis went on to have the following children:
Francis 1831
Catherine 1833
Mary Eliza 1835
Jane 1839
James 1846
Theresa 1850
Catherine’s parents got into difficulties and Francis was imprisoned for debt during the 1840s. I do not find him in the 1851 census, but his wife Mary Teresa is found as a workhouse inmate. The same year, Mary Teresa’s father Henry Page died, having made a substantial bequest to each of his children, though he stated in his will that he did not know the present whereabouts of his daughter Mary Teresa. Living with him (1851 census) was Catherine Downey, his granddaughter, who I presume was also unaware of her mother’s whereabouts. The Page family was in comfortable circumstances – in fact, one of Mary Teresa’s sisters married a naval officer who was the son of the Marquis of Queensberry.
Having yesterday searched the index of the PRO Victoria, Australia, I now think that Catherine sailed to Australia on board the Sacramento (the record gives the date April 1853, but whether that date refers to when the ship left England or arrived in Australia, I don’t know). With her, I think, was her sister Mary, two years younger In the online list, Catherine is said to be 20 (IGI – born 6 July 1833) and Mary 18 (IGI – born 1835). Whether any of Catherine’s other siblings made it to Australia, I do not yet know. In the PRO Victoria record, it is stated that Catherine and Mary were assisted emigrants, though I’m sure the Page family would have given them some financial assistance.
Catherine, I think, married a Scot called Robert Hutton in Adelaide in 1857. [Robert Joseph Hutton, born Edinburgh 28 Jan 1831, coal miner, emigrated to Australia (gold miner) to Victoria – married Catherine Downey 15 Jan 1857 in Adelaide: had 7 children then went to Tasmania (Clerk/accountant). Robert Hutton died 10 Aug 1880 Emu Bay (Burnie) Tasmania]. In 1883 in Emu Bay Catherine remarried: to Barnard Conner (b. 1813) transportee? Conner was 20 years older than Catherine. So, the people mentioned in replies born Emu Bay must surely be descendants of Catherine.
Again, thanks for all replies – I shall be noting and recording all the names so far put forward, and continuing in my search for more on Catherine’s life in Australia.
Ian
