Ancestors in 52 Weeks

This is a hard question to answer because in truth I would like to meet them all. I have too many questions and there is a lot of smoke and misdirection surrounding the lives of most, particularly those who ended up in New South Wales in Australia in the early nineteenth century, either compelled to ’emigrate’ or by personal choice. 

I would like to focus on one couple, Thomas Finlan and Bridget Conlon alias Tunney, in particular for the next eight weeks worth of prompts so this will not really be 52 ancestors but hopefully close to 52 weeks of posts. Thomas and Bridget were both from Ireland, one from the east coast and one from the west coast, both convicts, and both transported in the early to mid 1830s. Their crimes were polar opposites, but both seem to have had a rebellious and independent streak, were resilient and I like to think, were at least somewhat happy with the way their lives turned out. 

Thomas Finlan was born in County Carlow in Ireland c1809. There is no definitive evidence of date, townland, names of parents or other identifying facts to help get beyond that rather sparse information found to date. The name Finlan was more common in the South East of Ireland in the nineteenth century, particularly in County’s Carlow and Kilkenny so it is likely that Carlow is correct. Further, it was given on son James’ birth certificate in 1856 and Thomas was the informant in this instance. Convict records record Thomas as from County Dublin, where he was caught and convicted.

Continue reading “# 52/1: I would like to meet” →