Denis Kirwan

75

iain Frazier on 13th October 2023

Family connections for Dennis Benjamin (Kirwan) are: KIRWAN Some amendments added Dec 2025. Dennis Benjamin (Kirwi/an) was born about 1790/5 at Myshall Carlow Ireland & became a carpenter. He was tried in Calcutta on 12 3 1814, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 13 3 1816 after a voyage of about 2months on HAYESTON (not to be confused with MARQUIS OF HASTINGS, which did not bring convicts in 1816); he was Protestant 5'8.75" fair pale complexion Light brown hair hazel eyes. In 1818 he had a grant of 40acres at Sackville & he married Jessica (Turnbull) on 16 11 1818 at St Matthews Windsor. He was Free by Servitude by 1824 & recorded as a settler. He was recorded in 1827 as a farmer & in 1828 he was a farmer on 30acres at Portland Head on which he built a flour mill. He was issued his Conditional Pardon on 7 4 1829 & was appointed District Constable for Portland Head. He was recorded in 1829 as a farmer & in 1831 as District Constable. He died on 15 10 1851 age57 & was buried at St Thomas CofE/Wesleyan Sackville Reach. [Some details taken from this Website] Jessica (Turnbull) was born in 1800 in London. She arrived in NSW with her parents on 14 8 1802 after a voyage of 7.5months on COROMANDEL. She became a schoolteacher. She died on 1 4 1882 age82 & was buried at St Thomas CofE/Wesleyan Sackville Reach. Details of Jessica (Turnbull)s family are given in entry for John (Turnbull COROMANDEL 1802) on this Website. Dennis Benjamin (Kirwan) & Jessica (Turnbull) produced at least 8children: 1.Hiram John (Kirwan) was born on 26 4 1819 at Portland Head & baptised on 25 2 1824 age4 w/Elizabeth & Matilda Zilith at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He died on 6 7 1904 age85. 2.Elyth/Elizabeth (Kirwan) was born on 4 10 1820 at Portland Head & baptised on 25 2 1824 age3 w/Hiram & Matilda Zilith at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died on 14 11 1846 age26. 3.Matilda Ziliph (Kirwan) was born on 22 11 1822 at Portland Head & baptised on 25 2 1824 age15m w/Hiram & Elizabeth at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She died on 28 7 1894 age71. 4.Diana (Kirwan) was born on 12 12 1824. She died on 17 2 1914 age89. 5.Ann (Kirwan) was born on 10 12 1826 at Sackville Reach & baptised, as (Kiwin), on 4 5 1827 at St Thomas CofE/Wesleyan Sackville Reach. She died on 17 1 1876 age49. 6.Coulough (Kirwan) was born on 29 11 1828 at Sackville Reach & baptised on 9 1 1829 at St Thomas Wesleyan Sackville Reach. He/she died on 14 4 1877 age48. 7.Phoebe (Kirwin) was born on 13 9 1830 at Sackville Reach & baptised, as (Kirwin), on 2 1 1831 at St Thomas Wesleyan Sackville Reach. She died on 20 12 1867 age37. 8.Angelina (Kirwan) was born about 1844. She died on 21 5 1864 age20 & was buried at St Thomas CofE/Wesleyan Sackville Reach. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.

342

Maureen Withey on 21st July 2020

Dennis Kirwan, age 28, Carpenter, native of Co. Carlow, 5 ft 8 ¾ , fair pale complexion, hazel eyes, lt brown hair, tried at Calcutta, 12 Mar 1814, Life. Muster of eleven convicts and two returned runaways who arrived on ship Hayeston of Calcutta 13 March 1816, and mustered 15 March 1816. State Records NSW Reel 2422 2/8262 -------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. KIRWAN, Dennis. Per "Hayeston", 1816 1816 - Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3173; 4/1849 p.57) 1816 May 10 - Arrived safe per "Hayeston" from Calcutta (Reel 6018; 4/3521 p.67) -------------------------------------------------- KIRWAN, Dennis. Per "Marquis of Hastings" 1825 Nov - To be granted a conditional pardon (Fiche 3292; 4/6974.1 pp.48, 76) -------------------------------------------------- Although the second entry for Denis Kirwan states he came per "Marquis of Hastings", I think this is a mistake, as in other instances, in the 1828 census, his ship is given as "Hastings" not "Hayeston"- this would not have been a very well known ship to bring convicts, and it would be assumed it referred to the more well-known convict ship, the "Marquis of Hastings". -------------------------------------------------- Nov 1828 NSW Census: Denis Kirwan, age 35, T.L. Per Hastings 1815, Life, protestant, Farmer, Portland Head, Holds 30 acres, of which 6 are cleared and cultivated, 2 horses and 38 cattle. Jessica Kirwan, age 28, C.F? Coromandel 1804, protestant. William, age 10, Born in Colony,. Elyth, age 8, B.C. Matilda, age 5, B.C. Diana, age 3, B.C. Ann, age 2, B.C. --------------------------------------------------- 23 April 1829 Windsor.—Denis Benjamin Kirwan, holding a Conditional Pardon, to be District Constable, at Portland Head, from the 7th instant, in the Room of Philip Roberts dismissed. Sydney Gazette, 23 Apr 1829. --------------------------------------------------- Denis Benjamin Kirwan died 15 October 1851. born 1795 at Myshall, Carlow, Ireland. Jessica Turnbull, schoolteacher. Coromandel 1802. Died 1 April 1882. http://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/kirwan-denis-benjamin-17695/text29311 --------------------------------------------------- The following is from an article about the Turnbull family, John and Ann Warr Turnbull, early settlers who arrived in NWS by Coromandel in 1802. The article on Trove, has a photograph of Mrs Jessica Turnbull. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/85868665 I come now to Miss Jessica Turnbull the second English-born daughter of the pioneer, whose age was one year and seven months when Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull came aboard the 'Coromandel' 'at Deptford on the Thames in the year 1802. This very good woman when she arrived at the age of 19 years married Mr. Denis Benjamin Kirwan, who had a grant of 40 acres of land at Sackville. Tizzana vineyard and the stone house used as a residence by Dr. Fiaschi is in the main the actual building erected by Mr. Kirwan. Of course there have been many additions made to the house by the doctor, who has also vastly increased the original property in area by purchase from other holders. Mr. D. B. Kirwan had a flour mill on his grant which was worked by a water-wheel. Grain was brought for gristing to it by settlers from up and down the river for many miles distant. The memory of the old mill wheel is still mentioned by old Hawkesburyites, but it long since is a thing of the past. Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 6 April 1923. --------------------------------------------------- Buried at St Thomas cemetery, Sackville Reach, Hawkesbury: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF DENIS BENJAMIN KIRWAN DIED OCT 15 1851 AGED 57 YEARS. ALSO ANGELINA KIRWAN DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE DIED MAY 21 1864 AGED 20 YEAR. GO HOME MY FRIENDS DRY UP YOUR TEARS I MUST LIE HERE TILL CHRIST APPEARS MY TIME WAS COME MY GRAVE YOU SEE THEREFORE PREPARE TO FOLLOW ME. THOUGH SICKNESS SORE LONG TIME BORE PHYSICIANS WERE IN VAIN, TILL GOD THOUGHT TO CALL ME AND EASE ME OF MY PAIN. ALSO JESSICA KIRWAN DIED APRIL 1ST 1882 AGED 82 YEARS. Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense, To walk this dangerous road: And if our souls are hurried hence, May they be found with God. [Footstone] D.B.K. 1851 A.K. 1864 J.K. 1882