Catherine Miles

343

Maureen Withey on 24th January 2023

Surrey Assizes, Croydon. ... Catharine Miles, for stealing wearing apparel, the property of Mr. Salter and Mary Tears; ... to be transported for seven years, Morning Herald, 20 Aug 1805.

27

DJ Gleeson on 26th October 2021

A letter from Catherine Davis (nee Miles) of Cove harbour, Cork to Irish authorities in March 1825 confirms: a. Catherine had travelled to Ireland to find her daughter, Margaret Noonan, from a previous relationship; b. She located Margaret and arranged Margaret's marriage to Joseph Davis, who was a nephew of Catherine's husband, William Davis. c. The intent was to preserve the considerable property that Catherine and William had accumulated in the penal colony by having the next generation intermarried. Sadly, Margaret and Joseph David died early - they had three children: Joseph, William and Catherine Carew. A forthcoming detailed article on the Davises will be published in 'Australian Catholic Record' in 2022.

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DJ Gleeson on 27th May 2021

Catherine and William were effectively separated from 1824 until her death (1839). She retained the name Mrs Catherine Davis. Catherine had a daughter Margaret Nuanan (Noonan) from a previous relationship. This Margaret married Joseph Davis (unlcear if related or not to William) in Mitchelstown, Cork in February 1825. Davis is a 'high frequency' surname. The three then travelled to colonial NSW. Margaret and Joseph Davis had three children - these were therefore 'Catherine's grandchildren' and not William's orphans as often reported. The Joseph Davis, adopted by William Davis, was a different person and did not marry Margaret Noonan.

221

D Wong on 3rd April 2016

C1809: Married William Davis (Friendship 1800) at Parramatta - they had no children but adopted two children, Elizabeth and Joseph. Joseph married Margaret Noonan in 1831, they had 3 children, Joseph, Catherine and William. Jospeh died in 1835 and Catherine adopted the three children. William Davis had leased some land and in 1816 he was granted 80 acres in the Campbelltown district and another 120 acres in the same area. In 1819 William was granted a further 70 acres at Campbelltown. In 1820 he was granted a license to run a public house – ‘The Fortune of War’ and this was run by Catherine. 15/3/1826 Sydney Gazette: THE Public are particularly cautioned against, giving Credit to Catherine Davis on my Account, as I am fully determined not to pay any Debts she may contract on my Credit, she having been allowed by me, a liberal Maintenance, before she departed this Colony for Europe, and I have found since she has a Husband living in or near Mitchell's-town, in the County of Cork, in Ireland. William Davis 1/4/1826 Sydney Gazette: WHEREAS I CATHERINE DAVIS, of Cambridge street, Sydney, arrived in this Colony in September, 1808, and intermarried with my present Husband, WILLIAM DAVIS, in January, 1809, at Parramatta, by the Rev. Mr. DICKSON, a Roman Catholic Clergyman. The Matrimonial Ceremony was performed in the presence of Thomas Harpur and Sarah Chidley, who are since married and residing at Windsor. At the period I was married to the said William Davis, he was a Government Man to an Overseer in the Lumber-yard, named Abbott; shortly after my marriage I made application to Colonel PATERSON for a Ticket of Leave for him, which he granted. We having no property at that time, but what we acquired by our daily labours, I made application and obtained a Licence to carry on a Public-house, which I retained for the term of 12 years, without intermission, and with an unblemished character; and in the interim, obtained his Emancipation; and shortly afterwards, through my intercession with several respectable Gentlemen now living, obtained for him, from Governor MACQUARIE, his Free Pardon, and from my indefatigable exertions, acquired the property he is now possessed of. I therefore deem it an unprecedented hardship, that the said William Davis should, after a lapse of seventeen years' residence in this Colony as his lawful Wife, attempt to break through his said Marriage, as during that time there appeared no impediment as to the validity of my Marriage with him, but is now from some unaccountable motives, trying to set it aside, by asserting that I have a Husband living in Ireland, which is totally false, for I positively assert that I have not, nor ever had, any other Husband but the said William Davis. Sydney, March 28, 1826. CATHERINE DAVIS. They stayed together afterwards and Catherine died in 1839.

10

Lesley Newman on 3rd April 2016

Catherine was transported on the Alexander which departed England on 28 January 1806 and arrived in Port Jackson on 20 August 1806. Catherine was granted her Ticket of Leave 22 February 1811, and Certificate of Freedom in August 1812.