Family Friday, Thomas Abberton.
Family
Friday; Thomas ABBERTON
Thomas was born c1830, in Ballinakill, Co Galway, Ireland,
to Thomas Abberton and Bridget Halleran. I know that Thomas was sponsored by his
brother Patrick, of Goulburn, NSW and that he arrived in February 1852*, with
his sister Anne, on the Joseph Somes. It would appear that they had another
brother, James and sister, Catherine. This pair arrived in 1854* on the
Caroline.
Thomas married Mary Torp(h)y in the St Peter and St Paul’s
Roman Catholic Church, Goulburn, on 22 July 1854*. Mary had arrived, with her
mother and siblings, in 1850*
(As this was during the time of the Great Famine, in Ireland,
1845 -1852. It is probably safe to assume that that was the reason they left
and came to New South Wales.)
Thomas and Mary settled at Mummell, some 23km from Goulburn.
They raised a large family of 15 children, including four
sets of twins. Two children died young, an un-named female twin in 1859 and
Julia May, in 1879 aged four years. Of the remaining 13 children, 11 married
and raised large families of their own.
Thomas, as well as being a farmer, was also the Postmaster
of Mummell. From documents and newspaper articles, I have found, he was also actively
involved in the local community. He also petitioned for a school, to be built
and donated the land for it.
Thomas died on 22 November 1901 and is buried in the Kenmore
Cemetery. His obituary, in the Catholic Press, Sydney, mentions that he spent
time in the Ovens goldfields, Victoria. Something that I need follow up on.
(See Trove Tuesday, 16 August 2016).
Over the coming weeks I will tell you more about his large
family. Some will have long stories but most will be the bare bones. If I was
to do an in-depth study of each one, I would be writing a novel of epic proportions.
So Great-granddad, can you please let me know, where, when
and why you went to the goldfields? It would be nice to know. Okay, it was the
gold that took you there, I understand that but I really want to know more,
Bye, your great-granddaughter, Lilian.
*denotes that I have the documents.
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