William Hennessy, a Roman Catholic agricultural labourer who was able to read but not write, emigrated from his native place of County Kildare, Ireland in 1854 at the age of 39.
William, together with his wife Mary age 37 (who could read & write); his children Julia aged 15 (who could read) Bridget aged 10 (who could read) Michael aged 8 (education nil) & baby daughter Margaret (under 1 & born in Dublin), boarded the "Caroline Middleton" at Liverpool on July 2nd 1854 bound for Hobart Town. It would appear that they were selected for immigration in the county of Dublin.
The "Caroline Middleton", owned by J. Brown esquire, was a British America built ship of 1050 N.M. tons (1029 O.M. tons) and 16 feet draught. The ship took 90 days inclusive to sail from Liverpool to Hobart Town arriving at approximately 4.30 pm on September 29th 1854. The ship carried two guns and 42 crew (one of whom died). The rate of passage money for this voyage per statute adult was 24p.1s.9d. with children under 14 at half fare & children under 1 free. (This trip therefore should have cost William Hennessy 84p.6s.1&halfp. which would have had to be worked off over a two year period. However this proved not to be the case; refer to later paragraph re employment.)
The immigrants on board totalled 363 souls: made up of 81 male & 195 females over 14 years and 45 males & 42 females under 14. Of these passengers 11 died during the course of the voyage namely 2 married men; 1 female child 7-14 yrs.; 2 male children 1-7 yrs.; 4 female children 17 yrs.; 1 male child under 1 & 1 female child under 1 yrs. Ship board births totalled 3 males during this voyage. (note:- no Hennessy's)
Various members of the crew were:
Surgeon Superintendent Charles Kitching
Master Mr. William Alcock
First Mate Robert Quay
Second Mate Adam Russell
Third Mate Allen Hanson (or Lawson?)
Schoolmaster Nicholas Quirke
Matron Mrs. Francis Stone
Cook Edward Robinson
Other crew members included 2 sub matrons, a baker, a cook's assistant, 2 hospital assistants & 14 constables. These 28 crew members were paid a total of 354p.8s.0d as follows:
Surgeon Super (3 voyages) 2l7p.16s.0d.
Master 36p. 6s.0d.
First & Third Mate 18p. 3s.0d. each
Second Mate No pay listed
Schoolmaster, Matron, cook 5p. 0s.0d. each
All other members were paid either 3 of 2 pounds each.
The local newspaper, the "Hobartian Mercury" carried a report on October 2 1854 under the heading "Immigration Office, Hobart Town", part of which is reprinted here.
"The married immigrants (including some young women and lads under the charge of their parents) and the single men who have arrived by the `Caroline Middleton' will be for hire on board the vessel, between the hours of ten and two o'clock on Wednesday the 4th. instant and following days."
The article then lists 14 trades and indicates the number of respective tradesmen totalling 51 married and 32 single men. (e.g. agricultural labourers 31 married and 15 single men). Then follows:-
"These immigrants have entered into an agreement either to repay to the Immigration Agent within fourteen days after arrival from 10 pounds to 12 pounds on account of passage money, or to take service for two years with any employer who may pay at time of hiring, on account of the Immigrant, one half of the said amount, and give his promissory note
for the remainder, payable in twelve months; which amounts the employer may deduct from the wages of the Immigrant by eight equal quarterly sums - the Immigrant being at liberty, after the expiration of the first year, to terminate the service by giving three months notice, and paying the balance then due to the employer".
"The Lieutenant-General has authorized a modification of these Regulations to the following extent viz. - That any of the Immigrants who are disposed to enter into an engagement to remain in the Colony four years or to repay the sum due by them on account of passage money, may be engaged by any employer who may be willing to pay to the Immigration Agent the sum of three pounds for a single immigrant or 5 pounds for a man, his wife, and children under 14 years of age, with liberty to deduct the amount from the wages of the immigrant"
"The single females will be hired from the Depot upon the same terms."
John D. Loch
Immigration Agent.
The "Caroline Middleton" under Master William Alcock departed from Hobart Town on the 1st. of November loaded with ballast and bound for Callao Peru.
"William Hennessy"
"1809?-1897"
According to his death records William Hennessy was born in County Wexford in Ireland around 1809. (This is not consistent with the William Hennessy who came to Tasmania on the ship "Caroline Middleton" at age 39 in 1854 (therefore born 1815?) and native place listed as County Kildare).
It would appear that the family, other than Julia, spent some months as guests of the Immigration Board. According to the hiring register Mr. James Morris of 13 Bathurst St. engaged Julia on 20/11/1854 for 3 months as a general servant (after paying 3p.0.0.to the Immigration Board). Her wages were to be 13p.0.0. with rations. William Hennessy and his wife and children were engaged by Mr. Samuel Dowsette of Brighton for 2 years. The rate of wages was to be 50p.0.0. with rations. (Mr. Dowsette paid 5p.0.0. to the Immigration board on 03/01/1855.) Samuel Dowsette was leasing land in Brighton from Charles James Whyte in April 1856.
William and Mary Hennessy may have lived at Primrose Station (or Siding?) for a while after coming to the Deloraine District. When Mary registered the birth of her granddaughter, Sarah Ann Sparkes, in 1858, this was stated to be the residence of the informant.
By April 1867 William Hennessy was working a 25 acre farm at Red Hills Deloraine belonging to Mr. William Mason. Here he remained until moving to a 50 acre farm in late 1869 to early 1870. This farm belonged to William Dawson Grubb, a Launceston Solicitor and big landowner (also owning land at River Mersey and the Pipers River Estate. He also owned the large estate known as "Bengeo" between Red Hills and Forest Hall.)
The farm was located in the Red Hills District in a farming area known as IrishTown Farm (because of the Irish Catholics farming there. This district was later known as Kingsdon). Here the family lived in a split slab hut of fairly small size (approximately 16 feet by 12 feet). The house size and condition probably didn't change very much during the years of the Hennessy occupation as any improvements to the house would be given no consideration by the landlord on termination of the occupancy. The farm was a crop farm growing oats for chaff and potatoes etc. in very deep, rich red soil. This farm bordered onto the 50 acre property of Mr. W.D. Grubb which was worked by Mr.Charlie Sparkes (the son-in-law of William by virtue of his marriage to William's second daughter Bridget). The farm also bordered the 125 acre property worked by Mr John Cassidy (who married Susan McNamara). This farm was also owned by Mr. W.D. Grubb. (W.D. Grubb was the 1st cousin of the well known pioneer of the district, Henry Reed, and brought him to Van Dieman's Land as a 14 year old. He was later to become the lawyer of Henry Reed.)
William Hennessy apparently retired from farming around late 1883 at 74 years of age allowing his son Michael to take over the W.D. Grubb farm. The Hennessy farm was added to the Cassidy farm when the Hennessy's moved to Reedy Marsh in late 1889 to early 1890. The property was later sold to Mr. William Gabriel Cassidy (Gervas Stephan Cassidy's father) and Thomas Vincent Cassidy by F.W. (Fred) Grubb?.
The first of William and Mary's children to marry was their second daughter Bridget Mary. She married Charles Sparks in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Launceston, on the 23rd of February 1858, before the Rev. Thomas Butler? (signature hard to decipher). Charles was a 23 year old free man and his occupation was that of a labourer. Bridget's age was stated as 16 but was this the truth? (This would mean she was most likely born in 1842 or early 1843. However the shipping record suggests 1844 or late 1843). The witnesses to this marriage were Bridget's older sister Julia and her future husband Joseph Bunton.
Bridget spent at least the later part of her life in a house not far from the Deloraine Catholic Church and was probably the last surviving member of her family because she left money in her will to her nephew Louis Augustine Hennessy. Bridget and Charles only had one child in family, a daughter, Sarah Ann. Sarah never married and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery of the Holy Redeemer Church of Deloraine. According to the headstone, she died on the 18th of June 1925 (Requiescant In Pace). Bridget Mary Sparks, according to her headstone, died on the 13th of July 1929 aged 92 years (R.I.P). Her age would seem to be incorrect as this would mean that she was born around 1837 and is not consistent with either the marriage register or the shipping records.
The second marriage in the family was soon to follow with the eldest child Julia. The Longford Court House was the venue for the marriage of Julia Hennessy (spelt Henesy in the register), a free spinster age 19, to the 21 year old free farmer Joseph Bunton; according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Catholic Church by License. The ceremony was performed by James Hogan, the Catholic Chaplain, on 11th. of July 1858 in the presence of Julia's younger sister Bridget and her husband Joseph Sparks.
Julia's son Joseph was born at Longford on the 29th. of June 1859. With both the wedding and the birth of the first child at Longford it seems reasonable to assume that they lived in Longford and possibly owned a farm there.
The next marriage was that of Michael Hennessy to Jane Mary Featherstone on 19th. of August 1872. (Refer to the next section).
Although the shipping records state that Mary Hennessy was able to read and write, this ability to write must have been rather primitive. This judgement is made as a result of Mary making "her mark" instead of her signature on the birth register. This occurred when she was registering the birth of her granddaughter Sarah Ann Sparkes in January 1859.
At the time of Julia's marriage in July 1858, it would appear that neither Julia nor Bridget were able to write. This is because neither signed their name in the marriage register but rather made a mark, The Hennessy surname is also badly misspelt as "Henesy" (It would appear that the respective husbands were unable to write either.)
William's wife, Mary, died on the 6th of December 1891 at the age of 86 years. According to the death register she died of senility. Her death was registered on 07/12/1891 by the Deloraine undertaker Mr. Joseph Grigg. She was buried on the 8th of December 1891 in the Deloraine Catholic cemetery of the Holy Redeemer Church. The Headstone inscription states:
In Loving Memory of Mary Hennessy.
Died Dec. 6th 1891 age 86.
William Hennessy (a farmer) died at "Tongataboo" (pronounced Tonk-a-ta-boo), Deloraine on 30/07/1897 according to the Register of Deaths. This is not far from Reedy Marsh and the two names may have been interchangeable) He died of senility at age 88 years according to Dr. G.B. Morris. His death was officially registered by W. Cameron, undertaker, Deloraine on 31/07/1897.
It would seem that maybe the Hennessy's had a family plot in the Cemetery at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church at Deloraine. The following is an extract from a letter to Rodney Hennessy from the Archdiocese of Hobart Archives of 24th April 1986.
"A record made in 1949 of the inscriptions found on the tomb stones in the cemetery west of the school, Deloraine. Many of the inscriptions were difficult to read. Broken stones lay amid briar and bracken. A monument in concrete was erected close by to their memory. The remains were not disturbed.
Entry Number 45:-
In loving memory of Mary Hennessy.
Died Dec. 6th 1891 aged 86
Also William Hennessy. Died July 30 1887 aged 88
Also Sarah Ann Sparks Died June 18th 1925
Requiescant in Pace
Bridget Mary Sparks Died July 13 1929 age 92 years R.I.P.
NOTE This list was not made until 1949 and only lists those stones which were then still in existence and still legible - there may have been wooden memorials which did not survive or stones which were broken as well as unmarked graves."
The headstone inscription for William Hennessy was either mistyped, misread during transcription or engraved incorrectly. William definitely died in 1897 and not 1887.
Direct Line of descendants
William Hennessy 1809? - 30/07/1897
Michael John Hennessy 1846? - 30/08/1921
Louis Augustine Hennessy 20/05/1880 - 09/04/1950
Louis Victor Hennessy 11/03/1922 - 23/10/1982
Rodney Louis Hennessy 08/10/1948 - ?
Andrew Paul Hennessy 27/05/1973 - ?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
1:- Did William lie about his age when he immigrated to Tasmania from Ireland (to be eligible maybe?)
2:- Was he born in Wexford and lived in Kildare County therefore classing that as his native place?
3:- John Connelly had a farm at Tongataboo according to page 22 of "History of the Deloraine Municipality" by J.R.Skemp.
4:- Who was John Hennessy of Deloraine, (son?, brother? cousin?) who was married to Susan (nee Connelly). (They had a son James in 1856 and John on 12/12/1870). Did he or his son buy the Hennessy farms??
5:- Did John Hennessy live at Tongataboo?. Was he the brother of William Hennessy?. Which ship did he come out on?.
6:- When did the family move to the Deloraine area?. Bridget was married in Launceston in Feb. 1858 and Julia in Longford in July 1858
7:- Did Margaret Hennessy ever marry? ... possibly not. Margaret Jane Hennessy died 17/06/1909 according to Family Bible. Also Michael and MARGARET Hennessy were sponsors to Lily Helena Tierney b. 18/01/1900 and baptised 01/06/1900 (according to the Westbury-Deloraine Catholic Register.)
8:- Julia Bunton (nee Hennessy) had no recognisable headstone at Deloraine in 1949 when a record of all headstones was made. Is she buried at Longford maybe?
9:- Sparks name is spelt without the "e" on 2 headstones and one birth certificate. It is spelt with the "e" on 2 marriage certificates.
10:- Who was Thomas Hennessy of Deloraine (Farmer) who died of heart disease, age 60, on December 15th 1892.
11:- A Margaret Hennessy married James Sweeney in 1868 & had a son James b 20/01/1869 (record No 655) at Hamilton. Could this be the "lost" Margaret, married at age 14?? This info from Laurel Wescombe 004375261.
INFORMATION SOURCES
1:- State Archives file CB7/12/2B.15 (Descriptive list of passengers) Information extracted by Rodney Louis Hennessy on 31-1-84 & Written up on 13-8-84
2:- Bernie Regional Library microfilm No. SLTX/AO/RG/I66 RGD 35/66 (Death Registrar) No. SLTX/AO/RG/I64 RGD 35/39 (Death Register) microfilm of Mercury Newspaper Wednesday 04/10/1854 "Immigration Office" notice.
3:- History of area from Mr. Gervas Cassidy whose people have lived in the area for around 100 years and whose brother Barney still owns the original farm, which has now grown in size to 132.5 hectares (327 acres).
4:- Hennessy Family Bible lists as first entry: William Hennessy died 30/07/1897 age 88 y.o. (bible With Margaret Howard, Somerset).
5:- State archives files CB 7/15 (6), CB7/19 page 27, CB 7/16/4 book 32A also MB 2/39/18 page 302 info extracted on 26/02/1985 by R.L.Hennessy.
6:- The Hobart Gazette (Tas. Government Gazette) electoral rolls and evaluation or assessment rolls for Deloraine from 1866-1890. Info extracted by R.L.H. on 28/02/1985
7:- Launceston Examiner April 19 1856 page 6 re Samuel Dowsette being placed on Brighton Electoral Roll.
8:- University Library Arvhives letter of 24/04/1986 to R.L.Hennessy with reference to headstone inscriptions at Deloraine Catholic cemetery.
Latest Revision:- 06/02/1997
