Michael Callaghan

53

Beth Taylor on 19th September 2019

Michael Hoolahan/Houlahan (c1768-1836) Michael Hoolahan/Houlahan aged 40 (& brother? Thomas aged 51) reached NSW on the ship Atlas (2) from Ireland on 30 Oct 1802. They had been tried at Limerick on 22 Sept 1797 (surname Callaghan, tried 1798 and a native of Clonmel, Geneva (?), Tipperary County from “Irish Convicts to NSW” website) & received a life term. Michael's TOL - 714 & CP - 788 This surname has also been recorded as Callaghan, Collaghan, Holligan, Wholohan, Whoollaghan, Holohan & Houlahan. (Source: Campbelltown Pioneer Register 1800-1900, 2000) 1811 Muster: Michael Callaghan (sic), Atlas, life, tried March 1798 Geneva (?) (Ireland) 1814, 3 August – Michael (as Houlahan) per ship Atlas, received his TOL #82/714 on 03/08/1814. He was described as a labourer, aged 33, 5’7” tall, dark complexion, black hair, hazel eyes, “tried originally Limerick and lately Sydney.” (Source: SRNSW Convict Tickets of Leave, Reel 601/ 4/4427, p393) 1814, 8 October - Proceedings at trial of, in a letter from Gov. Macquarie to Bathurst. Michael had been tried with Alexander Suttar, found guilty of the murder of Rowland Edwards and sentenced to be hanged. The Gov. wrote that the public and himself thought the men were innocent and suspended their sentence. John White admitted his guilt in the murder and the other two were “fully exonerated”. Macquarie wrote asking for a pardon for Michael, a labourer from Parramatta and a pardon for Suttar. One of the witnesses at the trial was Mrs Martha Dunn, who had apparently cohabitated with Michael since her arrival in the country, “He asked me to live with him.” Another witness was Mr Henry St John Younge, Assistant Surgeon at Parramatta. Michael & Suttar had both been employed by Michael Roberts, Michael for 1 year and the other for 3 months. Michael was trusted and an overseer. (Source: HRA Series 1 Vol VIII, pp357 etc. ; suspension of sentence on, pp356, 357 ; trial and conviction of, for murder, p356 ; pardon proposed for, p357) (See also Sydney Gazette 29 June 1814, p1 re Court of Criminal Jurisdiction & 23 July 1814, p 2 & 4 June 1814, p 2 & 25 June 1814, p 2) 1815 - 17/08/1815, free pardon for, granted by Gov Macq. (Source: HRA Series 1 Vol VIII, pp631-2) 1816, 26 August – Michael Woolaghan was given a Conditional Pardon by Gov. Macquarie re his life sentence for the murder of Rowland Edwards in 1815. (Source: SRNSW Convict Pardons, Reel 774, 4/4430, p102) 1818, 10 Sept. - Michael Houlaghan of Sydney, was on a list to receive 50 acres of land Airds near Campbelltown. He had been recommended by D. Wentworth Esq. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.50) 1821 - Ann Rowley wed Michael Woolahan (sic) on 10/03/1821 at St Marys RC Sydney. Witness: Hugh Byrne; Witness: Mrs Barber. (Source: St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Marriages; ML ref: Reel SAG 7 & V1820-18-28 & V1821-20-127) [Note: Their first child had been born in 1815, 6 years before the wedding] Children (7) born to Michael and Ann Woolaghan: • Edward WOOLAGHAN born c1815 Sydney (bapt. RC Sydney 1821 as Hoolaghan), marr 1843 Liverpool to Mary Gray, died 1870 Campbelltown • Thomas WOOLAGHAN born c1816 Sydney (bapt. RC Sydney 1821 as Hoolaghan), died before 1875 • Michael WOOLAGHAN born c1818, marr 1845 Liverpool to Bridget O'Brien, died before 1875 • Bridget WOOLAGHAN born c1822 Campbelltown (Bridget Hoolahan, daughter of Michael Hoolahan, Ann, Baptised 14 Aug 1822 Airds, Registered at St Mary's Roman Catholic Sydney, Sponsor Connor Dwyer; Sponsor Henrietta Burke. Source: St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Baptisms; ML ref: Reel SAG 7), marr 1841 Illawarra John Edmond, died after 1875 • John WOOLAGHAN born c1824, died after 1875 • Mary Ann WOOLAGHAN born c1826 Campbelltown (bapt. as Hoolahan 1826 & 1827. Mary Ann Hoolahan, daughter of Michael Hoolahan, & Ann Rowley, Baptised 25 Mar 1827 Campbelltown, Registered at St Mary's Roman Catholic Sydney, Sponsor Owen Bowen; Sponsor Frances Cullen. Source: St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Baptisms; ML ref: Reel SAG 7), marr 1846 Campbelltown to John Smith, died 1881 Nimmitabel • Elizabeth WOOLAGHAN born c1829 Campbelltown (Elizabeth Hoolahan, daughter of Michael Hoolahan, & Ann Rowley, Baptised 13 May 1829 Campbelltown, Registered at St Mary's Roman Catholic Sydney, Sponsor Michael Byrne; Sponsor Nanno Byrne. Source: St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Baptisms; ML ref: Reel SAG 7), died after 1875 1822 Muster: Ann ROULBY (sic), FBS, Brox, 7 years, wife of William (?) Holligan (sic), Liverpool [Note: Liverpool was probably only the district name] (A18332) & children - Aged 8,6,5 & 4 - all BC 1822 - Michael Woolaghan (as Wholaghan) petitioned Gov Brisbane & stated that he had been a free man since 1818, had received 30 acres of land at Airds from Gov Macquarie & had a wife & 4 children. Although he tilled 20 acres, he cannot feed his family & wished to go "on stores". (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Memorial: fiche 3058, 4/1833 pp239-40) 1822, Jul 26 - 1822, 26 July - Michael Woolaghan was given permission for his family & a convict servant to be victualled from the Govt Stores at Liverpool for 6 months. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Sent: reel 6009, 4/3506 p87) 1823, Aug 9 - WOOLAGAN, Michael. Of Airds. Deposition re land grant promised to John Bryan; listed as Wollagan (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Fiche 3071; 4/1835B No.269 pp.645-8) 1823-1825 Muster: Ann ROWLEY, FS, Brox, 7 years, wife of Whoolagan, Campbelltown (38743) & children - Aged 10,9,6 & 3 - all BC & spouse - Michael WOOLAGHAN, AP, Atlas 1802, life, landholder Campbelltown (46462) & children - Edward 12, Thomas 10, Bridget 5, Michael 7, John aged 2 - all BC & children of Michael 1825, Aug 16 - Magistrate Mr William Howe wrote to the Col Sec Goulburn & stated that Michael Woolaghan treated Magistrates with contempt, re the sale of tobacco to a servant & said that he should not get any more convicts assigned to him. (Source: SRNSW Col Sec Papers, Letters Received: Reel 6064; 4/1787 p88) 1828 Census: Ann WOOLAGHAN, aged 36, FS, Brox, cath, (W2504) & spouse - Michael WOOLAGHAN, aged 60, AP, Atlas 1814 (?), life, cath, settler, Airds *(W2503) & children - Edward 14, Thomas 12, Michael 10, Bridget 6, John 4 & Mary 2 - all BC 1836 - Michael Hoolahan (sic) died in 1836 & the service was held at St Marys. (Source: NSW Church Parish Registers, V1836-535-27 & 467-128) [Note: Most probably the burial was only registered in Sydney as the headstone is at Campbelltown] Headstone located at St John’s RC Cemetery Campelltown, Section A. Inscription reads: SACRED / TO THE MEMORY OF / MICHAEL WHOLOHAN / WHO DIED 29 MARCH 1836 / AGED 67 YEARS / ALSO / MICHAEL WHOLOHAN / GRANDSON OF THE ABOVE / DIED APRIL 7 1867 / AGED 13 YEARS / AND 3 MONTHS / REQUIESCAT IN PACE / AND ALSO HIS WIFE / ANN / DIED DECEMBER 12 1875 / AGED 84 YEARS (Source: Pictorial Cemetery Register (Campbelltown NSW), CD-ROM by Campbelltown FHS) From the book “Journey to a New Life…” the story of the ships Emu & Broxbornebury by Elizabeth Hook (3rd ed. 2014). I am the author & can be contacted on hookey5609@yahoo.com.au for further info