Hi
Providing information for clarity on who Mary was, John Hill and Mary, and their daughter Elizabeth Hill b 1815 - aka Elizabeth Silvester and Elizabeth Batson
This may be a little long and with some complications but this is the story as I know it.
Now sending two parts
Mary was a young Irish lass who was transported on the Atlas (1) dep. Cork 29 Nov 1801, arr. 7 Jul 1802 in Colony of New South Wales at age 16.
The indent list supplied by the Atlas' Master records her name as Mary Fitzpatrick and gives her age as 16 years, placing her birth around 1786.
The 1828 Muster records her age as 44 years old, giving a birth year of around 1784.
Her Certificate of Freedom states she was a native of Clonmel, Waterford, Ireland.
I usually refer to my 4th great grandmother as Mary Fitzpatrick (aka Fitzgerald) because all her documents linked to her colonial government life events such as the
Ship Indent,
Ticket of Leave and
Certificate of Freedom are in the name of Mary Fitzpatrick -
such records could not be retrieved if one used the name Mary Fitzgerald per Atlas 1801.
Was Mary a Fitzpatrick or a Fitzgerald we don’t know 100%. Mary used the surname Fitzgerald once upon the shores of Botany Bay.
A report of her trial ( Freemans Journal, Thursday, 9 April 1801 p2- Waterford, April 3)
at Waterford Assize Spring 1801 session names her as Mary Fitzgerald, along with several others conjectured that they worked together in the thefts at Cappoquin fair. Only three of those before the Court were given transportation across the sea - our Mary (16 yrs) a Mary Denne (Dean) (24 yrs) and Eleanore Fitzgerald (31 yrs). How these women were related is undetermined. The two Mary’s were likely cousins.
Whether Elen was a mother or a sister or a cousin, is undetermined. She birthed no known children in the Colony.
Mary’s first husband -
Peter McCann (alias McCanna, McKenna) - born about 1769 in Ireland.
Tried in Monaghan for robbery in 1798.
Transport on Minerva , departed Cork August 1799, arrived January 1800, to the colony for 7 years.
Peter McCann married Mary Fitzgerald on 9 Jan 1804 at St John’s, Paramatta, New South Wales.
He died 21 Oct 1806 at about age 37 in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia - death by drowning in a flood,
(Sydney Gazette Sun 26 Oct 1806 p. 1)
leaving behind a wife, and two children, Nicholas b1803 and Catherine b1805.
Before Peter’s untimely death he rented acres at Cornwallis Farm.
A third child was born to Mary between 1807 and 1809, and was named James. No baptism has been found for this child. Whether he was a child of Peter McCann or by Mary’s second husband James Neale is question remaining unanswered.
This child, James, was recorded On Stores in Jun 1809 under the name of McCann along with Nicholas and Catherine. However, James was recorded in other Census / Musters and in marriage as James Neale or James O’Neil/Neil.
Her second husband -
James Neale ( aka Neil) convicted at Trim, County Meath, Ireland for perjury, transported for 7 years.
"James Neale for perjury, being a witness against Defenders, in contradicting his examinations, to be transported for seven years."
(Freemans Journal 1763-1924, Tuesday, July 30, 1793; Page: 2 TRIM ASSIZES)
transported on Marquis Cornwallis, departure: 9th August, 1795 Arrival: 11th February, 1796
The names of six men tried at Meath in 1793 and transported on Marquis Cornwallis had been left off the Indent of the ship so that there was no official record of them.
August 1806 Muster - James Neale - Rents 23 acres, Cornwallis Farm . Cultivated: 17 acres
On 2 November 1807 James married Mary Fitzgerald at St John's Parramatta. His name was recorded as "NEILL". James signed his name, Mary made her
mark.
James Neale born between 1807 and 1809- no birth/baptism located to date.
Bridget Neale born in 1810 baptised 1815
Bridget Neale, daughter of James Neale, Mary; Abode: Windsor Born 17 Jan 1810 Windsor
Baptised 24 Dec 1815 by Rev Robert Cartwright, Registered at St Matthew's Church of England Windsor.
February 1810: Petition
James had made a "Supplication to Colonel Patterson for a portion of land for his Children which was granted"
An 80 acre land grant was made to James Neal at Richmond hill, Land Grants 1810-1821 (NRS 13836 [7/447] Reg 2, p.27, Reel 2561).
Sudden death
James Neale's death is recorded in the Registers of St .Phillip's Church of England, Sydney
JAMES NEALE Aged 40; Buried 25 Feb 1811
He perished in a fire at Richmond Hill.
