Jane Smithers

[Sandra Skinner]

My gg grandmother was Jane Smithers or Smethers. I have reason to believe she was Irish. She would have been born around 1822 and her father would possibly have been James. He would have been born about 1806. I have reason to believe they migrated to Australia and settled first in South Australia and then moved on to New South Wales where James died in Maitland in 1849.
Jane died in Parramatta Lunatic Asylum in 1887. Her records from this institution state that she was Irish, called herself the Countess and loved being in the sewing room. She constantly crossed herself and muttered prayers. This could indicate depending on her sanity at the time that she was Catholic.
I have no idea what County they came from but am posting this in the off chance that someone may recognise this family.
Thank you in advance to anyone who reads this and is able to help in any way.
Sandra

[aghadowey]

Unfortunately there are two problems here. First, to search for records in Ireland you need to know where the family lived (parish if not actual townland not the name of the county or just 'Ireland')- although a fairly uncommon surname like Smithers might help. Second, civil registration for births (and deaths and Catholic marriages) started in 1864 so you need to search for church records, etc. which means you have to know where they lived.
Australian certificates are so much better than Irish ones- any more clues from death certificates, etc.

[Sandra Skinner]

Thank you I knew there may be problems. I'll keep trying to break this brick wall. She may well have been an Irish convict  who changed her name. There was a Smithers (English) family living in the same area as her. She was not a member of this family.
Sandra