Mary Philip

71

Robin Sharkey on 22nd January 2018

Mary PHILIP had arrived on the “Wanstead” in January 1814, aged only 18, a childrens’ maid. She had a 7 year sentence. She had been tried at the Northumberland Quarter Sessions that had been held at Alnwick. On arrival, she was on the list of 68 women sent to Parramatta Female Factory by water, where {such of them are to be indentured as servants as may be required by persons of respectable character who are married”. Later in the October 1814 Muster she was still at the Factory at Parramatta. MARRIAGE to BARTHOLOMEW (“PATRICK”) CAVANAGH Two and a half years after arrival, at St John’s Church Parramatta, on 8th July 1816, she married Irishman, Bartholomew Cavanagh. He had become Free by Servitude the previous year after 7 year sentence, having arrived in 1809 on “Boyd”. He was Catholic and a stonemason, aged 40 years old at marriage (his statement). Mary was recorded in the marriage register as “Phillips”, not Philip. She was only 20 yrs old. He signed his name but Mary could not sign. There were two marriage witnesses – David Byrnes and Elizabeth Johnson. Elizabeth Johnston could have been the girl who arrived on “Northampton” in June 1815 and was sent to the Female Factory, also known as “Frances”, who in September 1816 applied to marry. OR it could have been Elizabeth Johnson “Betty” arrived per Canada (2), in 1810 who was also in the Factory then. However, she had been in NSW for several years and had been sent back to the Factory for misdemeanours/ bad behaviour. She would be less likely to have become the friend of an 18-20 yr old newly arrived girl than would another 20 yr old newly arrived girl i.e. the “Northampton” Elizabeth. Witness David (sometimes “Davy”) Byrnes/ Burns would have been a friend of Bart’s, He was also Irish and had been transported for being a United Irishman (political activity) in the 1798 Irish Rebellion and arrived on “Friendship” in 1800. He’d finally been given a conditional pardon at the beginning of 1813. After her marriage Mary is easier to locate through the movements of Patrick Cavanagh. They have a child named Ann; year unknown, no birth/baptism record found. 1816 Settler Lists – Patrick Cavanagh per Boyd 1809, tried Limerick, Emancipated, Labourer, Sydney 1820 – Labourer (no place stated) MOVE TO TASMANIA In May 1821 they moved to Tasmania. The daughter named Ann first appears here on the passenger list with them. No record found of the child’s baptism. Sydney Gazette 19 May 1821 “PATRICK CAVANAGH and Wife, Thomas Hoskisson, and Richard Dalton, leaving the Colony in the Ship Duchess of York, request Claims to be presented.” They departed NSW on the ship “Duchess of York” on 21 May 1821, which was plying between Sydney and Hobart in early 1821 and which left for England later in October 1821. On the listing of departing crew and passengers for Hobart on 21 May 1821 the family is found listed as follows:  “Barth’w Cavanagh. Free by Certificate no 9/1400 dated 6 March 1815. “Mary Phillip ux Cavanagh [ i.e. wife of Cavanagh]. Free by Certificate 5/2418 dated 6 March 1820. “Anne, child of the above.” 1824 P Cavanagh is in Index to letters received. “Memorial” Is this him? Patrick is still in Tasmania in 1826, so presumably Mary is also [1826 Tasmanian List of Convicts. Bartholomew Cavanagh per Boyd. ‘Free Certificate 5th March 1815”.] Mary and Patrick/Bartholomew had another child in Tasmania: “KAVANAGH, Elizabeth” baptised 12 July 1824 at Hobart, Roman Catholic Records Parents names (in latin) Maria [Mary] Phillips, Patricio [Patrick] Kavanagh. Sponsor: Maria [Mary] Livinson Woodhouse. However, 2 year old Elizabeth “Cavanagh” died on 27 July 1824. This is most likely the same child, meaning she was born in 1822 - in Tasmania. The baptism sponsor, Mary Woodhouse, had been formerly Mary Leavings. Aged 25 and a convict, she had married John Woodhouse aged 31 yrs, free, on 5 March 1823 at Hobart’s St Davids.